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- #5 Sonos Sub (Gen 3), Wireless Subwoofer From Sonos
- #4 Rock Shaker, 10 Inches 600 Watt Home Theater Subwoofer From Rockville
- #3 NS-SW050 8-Inch Powered Subwoofer From Yamaha Audio
- #2 R-12SW Subwoofer From Klipsch
- #1 PSW10, 10-inch Powered Subwoofer From Polk Audio
The Best Subwoofers For 2021
Low-end bass is important in almost any listening situation, from car stereos to podcasts and even video games. In order for your music and movies to sound their best, you need a powerful subwoofer. The best subwoofers can make all the difference in your home cinema system, providing a foundation for everything from powerful bass tracks to subtleties of vocals.
You can also add a subwoofer speaker system to your existing home cinema system if you want that extra layer of sound reinforcement. The items mentioned in this guide are in no exact order, so be sure to stay to the end, so you don’t miss the perfect model for your needs.
To give you this top 5 review, we have looked at 140 products and analyzed 2721 customer reviews.
#1. PSW10, 10-inch Powered Subwoofer From Polk Audio
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Value
Polk Audio PSW10 is a 10-inch powered subwoofer that delivers powerful bass and exceptional clarity at a reasonable price. The unique design keeps these subwoofers stable and steady even at radical volume levels, for more efficient use of power. If you are looking for a subwoiner that can do more than just fill your room, you should give this a try.
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If you are looking for a reasonably priced subwoofer, you can’t go wrong with the Polk Audio PSW10. It is a 10-inch powered subwoofer that delivers powerful bass and exceptional clarity at a reasonable price. It has a decent array of inputs and outputs that will handle everything from your music library to your favorite gaming console.
It’s clear that Polk Audio paid a lot of attention to the details in the audiophile-friendly PSW10 and it shows. The unique design keeps these subwoofers stable and steady even at radical volume levels, for more efficient use of power.
You will find all the necessary controls on the back of the unit, along with the on/off toggle switch. But if you place the subwoofer too near your TV or computer, you may notice some interference or distorted colors.
That said, we believe the overall sound quality of the PSW10 is good enough to justify the price. If you are looking for a subwoofer that can do more than just fill your room, you should give this a try.
#2. R-12SW Subwoofer From Klipsch
Best Home Theater Systems
Top Pick
The Klipsch R-12SW is a great choice if you want good sound in a stylish package. The only downside is that it comes with an all-digital amplifier. You can get this one in a wireless option, but that option is almost $100 more.
- Exceptional Clarity
- Stylish Design
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With the expensive look and powerful sound of the R-12SW, you get much more than just a good-looking speaker. This one is for anyone who wants to hear great bass, clear mids, and great clarity. It is the kind of speaker that will anchor your home theater system, anchor your TV, and anchor your smart home.
The R-12SW is a fantastic option if you want exceptional clarity and bass power in a stylish package. It has a sleek and stylish design and is available in multiple finishes, including walnut, cherry, and espresso. Apart from the high price, the only downside is that it comes with an all-digital amplifier.
You can get this one in a wireless option, the R-12SWi, but that option is almost $100 more. Overall, the Klipsch R-12SW is a great choice if you want good sound in a stylish package.
#3. NS-SW050 8-Inch Powered Subwoofer From Yamaha Audio
Best Budget Subwoofer
Budget Option
The Yamaha NS-SW050 is one of the cheapest subwoofers available. It’s very small and light, and it’s incredibly compact and easy to move around. The main drawback of this subwoofer is that the bass extension isn’t as impressive as some of the higher-end models. However, that’s perfectly OK, as this speaker pulls a lot of power from a relatively modest 50 watts.
- Small & Light
- 50Watts
- Inexpensive & Compact
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Yamaha is known to make some of the most impressively inexpensive speakers, and the NS-SW050 is an excellent example of that. This subwoofer is in the low price range, and it brings a lot of value to the table, all while being one of the cheapest subwoofers available. The main advantage of this subwoofer is that it’s very small and light, and it’s ported on the side rather than the bottom.
It’s also incredibly compact and easy to move around, despite being a powered subwoofer. The main drawback of this subwoofer is that the bass extension isn’t as impressive as some of the higher-end models.
However, that’s perfectly OK, as this speaker can pull a lot of power from a relatively modest 50 watts. It’s well worth considering if you’re looking for something inexpensive and compact. If you’re looking to get started with some inexpensive speakers, we highly recommend starting with the NS-SW050.
#4. Sonos Sub (Gen 3), Wireless Subwoofer From Sonos
Best Wireless Subwoofer
Top Pick
The Sonos Subwoofer is for those who want a powerful, versatile, and elegant subwoofer that perfectly fits into any space. Its sleek, circular shape ensures that it will fit into any corner of your room. Set-up is easy since you only have to plug it in once. It has two noise-canceling drivers that eliminate any annoying buzz and ensures that you enjoy the music without interruptions.
- Elegant Subwoofer
- Ethernet Port
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The Sonos Subwoofer provides low-end power that balances the sound produced by your speakers. This model is for those who want a powerful, versatile, and elegant subwoofer that perfectly fits into any space. This latest generation from Sonos boasts of powerful internals, a sleek design, and a wireless connection that requires no installation at all.
It is the perfect companion for your home theatre system and will anchor the sound from your speakers, providing you with a versatile platform to position it wherever you want in your room.
This subwoofer has two noise-canceling drivers that eliminate any annoying buzz and ensures that you enjoy the music without any interruptions. Its sleek, circular shape ensures that it will fit into any corner of your room.
Plus, it has an Ethernet port in case your wireless connection is not reliable. Set-up is also easy since you only have to plug it in once. When it comes to performance, we found this speaker to be superb. It provides impressive bass and balances the sound beautifully.
It is available in two different color options, white finish, and gloss black. On the downside, you can only connect this sub together with Sonos products.
#5. Rock Shaker, 10 Inches 600 Watt Home Theater Subwoofer From Rockville
Budget Home Theater Sub
Budget Option
Rock Shaker 10 is a high-end all-in-one powered subwoofer from Rockville Audio. It features a 600 peak, 300 Watts RMS power supply, a top-grade woofer, and a 4 layer voice coil. The Rock Shaker has a detachable foam grille that can be removed for cleaning. Audiophiles will appreciate the detailed sound quality and low-end punch that the Rock Shakers delivers.
- Class “D” Amplifier
- 600W Peak, 300W RMS
- 88 Db SPL
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The Rock Shaker 10 is a high-end all-in-one powered subwoofer from Rockville Audio that is ideal for any home theater system or studio application. This subwoofer features a top-grade woofer, a top-grade enclosure, and a highly efficient class “D” amplifier. In addition to the impressive sound quality, this subwoofer features a low-end bass response, that is backed up by a 600 peak, 300 Watts RMS power supply.
This woofer is built with a Y30 grade magnet, and a 4 layer voice coil. The combination of these components creates a very well-rounded and powerful sound that can be felt all the way to the back of the room.
This subwoofer has RCA inputs and outputs as well as high-level speaker inputs and outputs to support any setup. The Rock Shaker 10 has a high-quality IEC power supply, includes a standard IEC power cable, and sports a stylish black finish.
It also features a crossover frequency control that lets you set a desired crossover point on the frequency spectrum. It is rated at 88 dB SPL and features a thick, dense, and tightly controlled voice coil. As a bonus, the woofer comes with a detachable foam grille that can be removed for cleaning.
Audiophiles will appreciate the detailed sound quality and low-end punch that the Rock Shaker 10 delivers.
