The Best 10-Inch Subwoofer In The Market
If you are looking to add a subwoofer to your bass system, you probably have a lot of questions on how to get started. This process is very important to plan out and give much thought to. Whether you are starting small or working to get a bigger sound system than the one you already have, you will need to consider a few important things.
Car subwoofers come in many different shapes and sizes so planning to buy a new one can be the daunting process. Regardless if you are in the market for the best 8 – inch or the best 10 – inch subwoofer for your vehicle, below are some key points that you should look into before you pick a subwoofer and finally decide to make a purchase.
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How Big Should You Go?
When deciding on how much power you want from a subwoofer system, you will need to determine the type of balance and blend from your existing system. Know the difference between peak power and RMS power. Peak power subs only have short bursts of bass that some out. For the most vehicle, check out the alternative power, with is RMS. This power is the continuous power that comes out.
Many of these subwoofers have a CEA rating, which could help you in determining RMS power that would be good for you. A subwoofer with this power rating has been measured fairly and accurately for all involved. Ultimately, it is better to have more power than less power. More power gives the listener more “head room” to turn the speakers up to their liking. You want your subs to be able to play loud or soft without any distortion attached to it.
As you look at your speakers, match or exceed the measures of power that manufacturers are asking for. If you have a factory radio, you will not need more than 50 to 200 watts RMS for your bass. If you have an aftermarket receiver, Watts between 200 and 300 RMS will do just nicely. With amplified speakers with 50 watts RMS, look for 250 to 500 watts as a starting point for you. Lastly, if you have a system of 100 watts per channel RMS, have at least 1,000 RMS watts or more to get your bass booming.
Subwoofer And Enclosure Choices
The bass volume and quality of sound do not only depend on the type of subwoofer you have, but it also depends on the size and style of the enclosure where you will fit the subs in. Later on in this article, we will discuss some subwoofers that you should investigate more. For now, let’s talk about subwoofer enclosures first.
A lot of people think bass comes for the component subwoofer along, but this is untrue and unfounded. You need a tight and strong enclosure for the performance of a subwoofer. Without an enclosure for subwoofers, a full bass sound will not be delivered appropriately. The reason: the back of the speaker will cancel out sound coming to the front of the speakers. With this frequency loss, subwoofers will not work effectively or efficiently. Some enclosures can be made by hand, and the size can be determined by you. But, be sure you are talented enough to do the project well by yourself because technical issues could arise if it is not enclosed properly. You might be better off getting some that are pre-made. Some of the pre-made enclosures include sealed boxes, ported boxes, bandpass boxes, and free-air subwoofers.
Sealed Boxes have precise and deep bass. They are enclosed airtight and house the subwoofer comfortably. A sealed box is good for any music that needs accurate and tight bass sounds. Now, the response might be flat, but the extension of the bass will be deep, and the power handling will be fantastic. Sealed boxes usually need more power than any of the other boxes, and use an amplifier with a right amount of wattage to increase performance.
Ported Boxes are next. These have a powerful bass sound that use a vent to help reinforce small responses. More output can be gained with a ported box than a sealed one, due to the amplifier wattage and proficiency of the ported design. The types of music that people like to play with a ported box include heavy metal, hard-driving music, and rock.
If you are looking for a high delivery of bass, check out the ported design. Just be aware that these boxes have to be much larger than the sealed ones, and space might not be your best friend.
For maximum slam of the bass, check out the bandpass boxes. These boxes are a specially designed ported box. They work by the subwoofer being mounted in a dual-chambered box. One side is ported, and the another chamber is completely sealed. The only sound comes out of the ported side. Bandpass boxes are very efficient when placed in a certain range. Their sound is perfect for any hard rock, rap, or reggae. Now, not all subwoofers sound perfect with these kinds of boxes, so consult more information depending on the subwoofer you want to purchase.
Free-air subwoofers do not use enclosures but are rather connected to a board in the trunk or the rear deck. The car’s trunk creates an enclosure that houses not only the subwoofer but also isolates sounds coming from the back of the speaker itself. This process helps with the sound cancellation problem. With free-air capabilities, you will save space and have a frequency response time that is ultra-flat. Make sure you woofer is designed to be free-air. Sure, without a box, this helps the installation process to be quite easy, but the levels for power handling might be much lower than a boxed enclosure instead.
Get Amped
Via: bzbexpress.com
After you have decided on your subwoofer and enclosure, now thin about getting an amplifier. One-channel amplifiers (Mono) were created to connect best with subs. Mono-amplifiers usually have filter features and controls for the tone to handle bass the best. Make sure that you have an amp that will provide 75% - 150% of RMS for the subwoofer’s wattage rating.
Get Wired
Plan out how you will wire your subs and amp together. It is essential to get an amplifier wiring kit for maximum success. In these kits, signal wires and RCA patch cords help get a signal to the sub amplifier. If you are in need, there are wiring diagrams that could help you decide what will work best for your gear. An amplifier needs to receive a good amount of electricity from wires that are large and powerful. This will help your subwoofers to work safely and properly. Depending on the wattage, the size of power wires will also be determined. Manufacturers usually have recommendations for what you should buy depending on your amps. Or, there are gauge cable charts that could help you in the process as well.
Signal wires are so important to get music from your receiver to the amplifier of the sub. Aftermarket receivers usually have RCA outputs that can be of use. But, over time, you should consider getting new patch cables to be used. However, there might be times that you will not have an output for the RCA. Don’t worry; you can tap into speaker wires from the factory with new wires all together to connect with the amplifier. To prevent any excess noise, keep the signal wires running as far away from the power cables as you can. This will prevent any unfortunate electrical issues.
Safety Fuses
Be sure to install power fuses that are in-line. These fuses will be placed near the battery to help with the power production. Fuses are so important if the back of your amp fails. No one wants a live current that is unprotected from your car, especially if it is near the engine. The area could start to heat up and a fire could ensue.
Testing Time
Before you test your new subwoofers, make sure that all the gains and volume are set to zero, and turn all the filters off. After the receiver is turned on, then the subwoofer amp should come on as well. A problem could arise if the amplifier stays on. This might mean that re-wiring should occur to fix the power source correctly. Be careful not to allow an amplifier to drain your vehicle’s battery to nothing. Then, you will need some jumper cables and a donor car to get back on the road. One tip: as you test your gain, turn it up until it distorts and then back off for the best clean sound possible.
Tuning Business
Did you know you can tune your sub? By correctly setting filters and the gain itself, you will get a great bass sound without causing any damage to your ears or your new subs. You can tune your subs by ear or by using test tones and a multimeter to target the output voltage. After a few months of using your subwoofers, you might notice the sound is starting to go. This is just the “breaking in” sequence, and you will need to tune the subs again to make your ears happy with good music.
Blowing Up Your System
Now, don’t get us wrong. We know you want to blow your friends and neighbors away with the sound of great subwoofers, but don’t blow the speakers, so they are no longer useful. First, do not overpower them. If you constantly play music at a high power level, your voice could start to burn up. Also, if your speakers start to clip, you will notice crumbling and hissing sounds that could quickly destroy your new subs.
So are you in the market for the best 10-inch subwoofers? Below are the best options available in the market
The Best 10-Inch Subwoofer – My Favorites
Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-10 Punch P3S 10-Inch 4-Ohm DVC Shallow Subwoofer
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
The Rockford Fosgate Subwoofers have great M-Roll Santoprene surround sound. There is a StampCast basket with an integrated ventilation system to keep your woofers cool, even during use. The cone of the subwoofer is made from aluminum that is anodized and a dust cap to keep it looking like new. It has excellent depth, at 3.5 inches, and only weighs 11.5 pounds. Make sure you take the time to buy a proper box or create one to fit the dimensions
Pros
- Consumer Limited Warranty
- Clean and Responsible Sound
- Good bass internal sound
- Small, shallow design
- Minimal Distortion
- Can have a homemade or professional enclosure
- Easy to Instal
- Powerful rugged clamps grip terminals.
- 20-foot cable good enough for all jumper application.
Cons
- No wireless remote
- These subs are not meant for outside bass sound
- Can start to smell when overheating
- Surround can separate from the other piece of the cone
PIONEER TS-SW2502S4 10-Inch, 1.200 Watts Shallow-Mount Subwoofer
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
The Pioneer Shallow Mount Series Subwoofers are one of a kind. They have a mica-injected cone that is made from resin. These subs have a great power range that goes from 100 to 300 watts of RMS and have a peak power of 1,200 watts. They have an excellent frequency response of 20 to 125 Hz and a mounting depth of 3 1/8 inches. The ported box volume extends from 0.5 to 0.7 cubic feet and the sealed box volume ranges from 0.35 to 0.7 cubic feet depending on your preference. These subs weigh out at 8.7 pounds, so they are quite light.
Pros
- Space savers
- Limited warranty is available
- Great subwoofer for a single cab truck
- Crisp and clean sound
- Accurate bass note
- Mirrors will shake from the depth notes
- Well-put together
- Not overly expensive
Cons
- The physical dimensions are oversized for 10” speakers, making you have to cut out a larger diameter for your mounts.
- Sub needs to be broken into life up to its capability
- Could perform better on the lower end
- Customer Service is not up to par as some of the other companies
Rockford Fosgate P2D4-10 Punch P2 DVC 4 Ohm 10-Inch 300 Watts RMS 600 Watts Peak Subwoofer
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
This Rockford Fosgate subwoofer could be a great addition to your vehicle. It features a 2.25 Inch Copper Clad Voice Coil that is made from aluminum. Its patented Vertical Attached Surround Technique (VAST) increases the cone area for each subwoofer. A flex fit basket design helps subs to be easily placed in a mounting enclosure. Its paper cone is made of Kevlar, the same material that police officers wear as a vest. These Rockford Subwoofers also have 300 Watts of RMS and a Peak Power Rating of 600 Watts. They are high-temperature copies that have a Nomex collar that is completely reinforced.
Pros
- Limited Manufacturer’s Warranty of One Year
- Full sound that hits hard and deeper
- Easy to Install
- Smooth bass
- Comes with real hardware for mounting
Cons
- Surround will need to be re-glued or re-modified
- Subs need to be broken in
- Burn smell at 500 watts of bass notes
VM Audio Encore 10-Inch High Excursion Subwoofer | ECW100
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
The VM Audio Encore system has an RMS Power of 1300 Watts and Peak Power of 2600 Watts. The subwoofers come with dual voice coils that are low frequency. There is a suspension system that has high lateral thrust and a great wide surround on the speaker itself. At 19 pounds, this is one of the heavier subwoofers, so make sure it has a great enclosure that will protect the speaker and enhance the sound.
The VM subwoofer has enough power for you to listen to an orchestra or a bass-heavy rock band. The purity of sound is everything for these speakers. The deep-piston cone helps to keep the low-frequency sound going and going. They are built to last. The Nickel-plated wire terminals are protected from oxidation. You will know that your installation will keep you and your vehicle safe from electricity issues. The high-potency magnet structure allows for power and an increase of cooling for the speaker itself.
Pros
- Very aerodynamic with an excellent cooling system
- Can use a ported or sealed enclosure
- The frequency response ranges from 25 Hz to 360 Hz
- Sleek design
Cons
- If the gain is up too high, the speakers will blow
- More expensive than most brands
JL Audio 10W3v3-4 10" Single 4 ohm W3v3 Series Subwoofer 10W3v3
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
JL Audio has some great 10” speakers that you should consider. With a peak wattage of 600 and an RMS of 300 watts, you will get plenty of power out of these subwoofers. Some of the measurements include an impedance at 4 Ohm, a top mount depth of 5.93”, and a cutout diameter at 9.0625”. The cone for these subwoofers is made out of polypropylene and a rubber surround piece. It has a frequency response ranging from 25 to 250 Hz and can be enclosed by a ported or sealed box.
Pros
- Built with high-quality materials
- Great design
- Distortion-free bass
- Serious power
Cons
- Only a single voice coil
- Not made to be pushed to the max
- Response is sub par
Kicker 10" Solo-Baric L7 Car Subwoofer 2 OHM 11S10L72
(Image source: www.amazon.com)
Check out these subwoofers by Kicker. They have 1200 Watt Max and 600 Watt RMS capabilities. The sensitivity on these subwoofers is 86.8 dB, and the frequency response ranges from 24 to 100 Hz. Also, the impedance is 2 Ohm. Kicker has created these subwoofers with its most advanced cone creation. It is mold-injected with their patients called SoloKon.
This adds strength to the woofer and makes for great response time and a wonderful performance during every musical sound. Choose enclosures that are ported or sealed for some of the best sounds on the market.
Pros
- Great quality sound
- Crisp and powerful
- Compact subwoofers
- Shipping is quick
Cons
- Shipping issues from Kicker have been documented
- More expensive than most subwoofers that fit this category
After much review and research, these six subwoofers all have great value and purpose to customers all across the world. But, only one can be recommended in the highest regard. With that honor, we have picked the Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-10 Punch P3S 10-Inch 4-Ohm DVC Shallow Subwoofer. Why? We appreciate that many consumers have used this product and have given it a high rating. It also has less distortion than any of the other subwoofers. There is a limited warranty that you could use if the subwoofer has any issues at all. Rockford has long been the staple of subwoofers and will continue to be one for more years to come.
No matter what you choose, make sure that it fits your needs, preference, and budget. Subwoofers need to be researched for what works for your vehicle and the equipment that you presently have or will get. After you have made your choice, jam out to great tunes and see what a great 10” subwoofer system could do for you.
