The best subwoofers under $500 are all about bass. Whether you need a passive or active system, want to get the most out of your music with the least amount of distortion, or simply want to shake things up in your home theater room; these 10 picks will not disappoint!
Whether you want something small or large, there is a good option on our list for all budgets. Hopefully this article will help guide your decision when looking into purchasing the best subwoofer under $500!
Contents
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- SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer Reviews – A Perfect Subwoofer
- List of 7 Best Subwoofers Under $500 Reviews
- 1. Bose Bass Module 500
- 2. Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer
- 3. Polk Audio HTS 10 Powered Subwoofer with Power Port Technology
- 4. Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer
- 5. SVS SB-1000 300 Watt DSP Controlled 12″ Ultra Compact Sealed Subwoofer
- 6. Audioengine S8 250W Powered Subwoofer
- 7. ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 400 Watt Powered Subwoofer
- How to Choose the Best Subwoofers Under $500
- Cheap vs. Expensive Subwoofers Review
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
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List of 7 Best Subwoofers Under $500 Reviews
1. Bose Bass Module 500
- The Bose Bass Module 500 was designed to compete in a marketplace that has become saturated with overly complicated and uncompromising products. With the new Bose Bass Module 500, we have stripped down our design for a sleek and modern aesthetic combined with a powerful sound from an ultraslim subwoofer under $500.
- This product is perfect for those who want all the power of deep bass without giving up their living space. This module also comes paired with two different styles of feet so you can decide how it will blend in your home’s surrounding environment. The small footprint means it won’t take up any more room than necessary.
- The Bose Bass Module 500 is a part of the newly released, state-of-the-art Bass Module family. We at Bose are known for our innovative inventions in sound, and our new modular system builds upon that tradition in ways you couldn’t have imagined before.
- With the touch of a button on your smartphone or tablet, the Bass Module 500 will connect wirelessly with any one of your compatible devices, delivering unbelievable bass to all corners of your room. The module’s sleek design ensures an inconspicuous placement in any environment, so homeowners are free to include it even in areas where space is scarce.
2. Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer
- The Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer is the perfect way to get the most out of your music and movies. This 12″ subwoofer features a high excursion spun-copper Imp woofer for deep, accurate bass.
- With 29 hertz – 120 hertz +/- 3 dB frequency response and 400 watt Max acoustic output, this best subwoofer under $500 can handle even the most demanding sounds. Plus, its 116dB Max acoustic output ensures that you’ll feel every note.
- The Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer creates beautifully rich bass that can shake the whole house. Match this sub to an existing system with the included manual, grill, power cord and cable for perfect integration.
- This product works well in both home theater and music systems; it is designed to be placed anywhere in your room. You’ll love listening through your headphones or high-end speakers while you game outside on a sunny day!
3. Polk Audio HTS 10 Powered Subwoofer with Power Port Technology
- The Polk Audio HTS 10 Powered Subwoofer with Power Port Technology is one of the best choices when it comes to finding a subwoofer that delivers great sound and looks good doing it.
- With its sleek rounded corners and a 200-watt amplifier, this sub will take your movie and music experience up a notch with its deep rumbling bass. Plus, Polk’s patented Power Port Technology ensures that you’ll get an even deeper bass response than ever before.
- The Polk Audio HTS 10 Powered Subwoofer is perfect for anyone looking to improve their audio experience. This best subwoofer under $500 comes with universal compatibility and versatility, making it perfect for any situation.
- The LFE & stereo line-level inputs allow you to use this subwoofer with any of Polk’s Signature series 2-channel stereo speakers or create a complete home theater system with the S50 tower, S15 bookshelf, and S30 center channel speakers.
- Additionally, all the controls you need are on the rear panel – volume, low pass filter, and phase toggle – so you can easily adjust your bass levels to perfection.
4. Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer
- The Bic Acoustech PL-200 II Subwoofer is designed with an eye for style. The 500-watt amplifier delivers powerful sound, while the gloss black finish makes it blend in perfectly with any decor.
- Offering room-filling lows that will not disturb neighbors or bother sensitive speakers, these best subwoofers under $500 will play music just how masterfully crafted they were meant to be played.
- This gloss black subwoofer will power up your games or movies at top volume levels without distortion or noise coming from the background thanks to their patented dynamic balance technology.
5. SVS SB-1000 300 Watt DSP Controlled 12″ Ultra Compact Sealed Subwoofer
- Impressively Deep Clean SB-1000 Bass in a 13″ Package. If it’s time to party, SVS has your back with the SB-1000 300 Watt DSP Controlled 12″ Ultra Compact Sealed Subwoofer – it’s stylish and compact, but powerful enough to fill any room with clean incredible bass.
- It will be available in black ash gloss piano black or gloss white for those who require discreetness. Whether you have space limitations or just want something that hides away nicely into your decor, this is not a problem.
- With the SVS SB-1000 300 watt, DSP-controlled 12″ Ultra Compact Sealed Subwoofer, you’ll never be disappointed. This powerful sub features a highly advanced DSP processor with unmatched control to ensure accurate and refined bass at all drive levels.
- The precision controls are digital actuators so your adjustment is precise and noise-free from start to stop – perfect for those seeking high performance without any unnecessary bells and whistles that waste energy or cost more than it’s worth.
6. Audioengine S8 250W Powered Subwoofer
- The Audioengine S8 delivers great bass performance. With 250 watts, an 8-inch down-firing subwoofer, and a professional enclosure, this powered speaker is perfect for producing solid bass at home or in the office without taking up too much space.
- The crossover can be adjusted to meet your needs and with features like auto power-saving mode, these speakers are designed to last you through long listening sessions.
- The frequency response of 27 Hz – 180 Hz (+/-1.5dB) offers precision sound deeper than most other alternatives and has a phase switch so you can playback large files smoothly even if it’s live content from Foobar 2000!
- The Audioengine S8 250W Powered Subwoofer has an impressively loud and deep sound. It is compatible with any device with a stereo analog output, so you can use your regular receiver or amplifier for perfect harmony between the bass and trebles in your favorite songs.
- The Audioengine S8 Powered Subwoofer is easy to install and its sleek design makes it an attractive addition to any room while providing powerful lows that will instantly enhance your music experience. For more than 10 years, Audioengine’s innovative speakers have thrilled listeners around the world because of their clarity, dynamism, and musicality while providing effortless listening enjoyment.
7. ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 400 Watt Powered Subwoofer
- Looking for a powerful subwoofer under $500 that will really make your music come alive? Look no further than the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010! This incredible 400-watt powerhouse will add depth and dimension to your music that you never knew existed.
- With its advanced Bluetooth control and Auto EQ, you can operate the sub3010 from your smartphone, making it easier than ever to get the perfect sound balance. Plus, its sleek design will add style to any room in your home.
- The ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 400 Watt Powered Subwoofer represents a level of performance, bass response, and convenience not achieved by speakers at this price before.
- Mix the hidden depths of your favorite music with renewed vigor-the powerful 10-inch long-excursion driver has been matched to an 800-watt amplifier capable of delivering up to 123dB SPLs. And when you’re done listening for hours on end?
- A fantastic passive radiator diffuses the energy just enough while preserving your hearing for another day of low-frequency bliss. Now that’s something worth celebrating!
How to Choose the Best Subwoofers Under $500
If you like to listen to music and movies at full blast, you need a subwoofer. Most people simply buy whatever is available and end up with bad sound quality no matter how good their speakers are. There is so much information out there it can be hard to know what’s best for your needs. This guide brings clarity to the subject so anyone can pick the right subwoofers under $500 easily:
1. Size Matters
If you are limited on space, go for a smaller subwoofer if possible. The larger the subwoofer is, the longer it takes to produce a sound which can result in a slower response time. This might not be very noticeable for most people but if you want clean bass lines, make sure your new purchase is compact and easy to fit anywhere you want it anyway.
2. Power Is Important
Subwoofers generate a lot of energy and power needs to be supplied from an amplifier or sound system that has enough juice for it otherwise you’ll end up with a weak noise that gets drowned by other sounds or disappears altogether from no amplification. If you have the right amount of power your subwoofer under $500 will shake the whole room and the bass will be crisp and clear at the same time!
3. Cabinet Design Is Important, Too
Look for woofers with wooden cabinets instead of plastic ones. The wood used is usually high quality which means your subwoofer won’t shrink when it’s pushed too hard or vibrate in places where it shouldn’t move. This could indicate weak parts inside that might fail sooner than you’d like to see. Another great choice would be a wood laminate finish since it looks richer and comes in more colors than solid timber does.
4. Check the Size And Weight, Too
If you plan on moving your purchase around a lot or installing it into tight spaces, make sure you get a subwoofer with a smaller footprint and weight to make moving easier on you. If your new subwoofer is too heavy for you, ask a friend if he’d be willing to help or hire somebody to do it for you – Don’t hurt yourself doing something as dangerous as moving heavy electronics!
5. Low-frequency driver size matters
The size of your driver should be at least 8 inches so the sound waves are deeper and richer than they would be otherwise. If you go for anything less than this, expect a reduced bass response even if it’s just about 10% less than what an 8-inch woofer would provide.
6. Amplifiers Matter Too
You need your amplifier to keep up with how much power your subwoofer is generating and the load it places on the amp. If they don’t match, you might end up with a weak noise that’s barely noticeable or simply not loud enough no matter how much you turn up the sound system. Make sure you check out specs before buying to avoid this problem.
7. Getting The Best Power Output Is Important
The best power output for most people is going to be between 200 – 500 watts at 4 ohms since anything less won’t have as strong an impact as a small amplifier would have if powered by a 2000 watt generator instead! This isn’t always true but more often than not, it is so unless you plan on pushing your purchase to its maximum all the time, this power range makes for the best results.
8. Check What The Subwoofer Is Made Of
Anything that goes deep can be damaged easily by heat and vibration especially if it’s made of cheap materials like plastic or thin metal which heats up with use very quickly, creating cracks inside or creating vibrations outside that could affect your sound quality. Some subwoofers are cooled to make sure this doesn’t happen but most aren’t so check out what you’re buying before making a decision.
9. Make Sure It’s Easy To Connect
If your subwoofer under $500 is hard to connect, chances are you won’t want to put in the effort necessary to do so right? You’ll just leave it where it is until you have a good reason to move it and will go with a purchase that’s easier on you. Make sure your new subwoofer has a line-level input, speaker wire outputs, and RCA connectors for convenience!
Cheap vs. Expensive Subwoofers Review
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a subwoofer?
A woofer converts the electronic signal from an amplifier to sound by moving a cone in and out to create pressure waves of different frequencies which our ears interpret as sound. Most people refer to the whole speaker system consisting of a receiver, multiple speakers, and a woofer as a “sound system,” though some people insist that only the woofer is called a subwoofer. The term “subwoofer” has become popular among audio enthusiasts, however.
2. Why do we need Sub-woofers?
The biggest advantage of owning such expensive audio equipment like this is basically you can hear every single detail (the subtle sounds) very clearly without any interruption… I’m sure you want to hear every single detail of the action scenes in any movie or drama. (I’m pretty sure most people can’t afford expensive audio equipment… But there are others, who may seem like don’t care much about sound but they do… Who knows?)
3. Is it better to have 1 or 2 subwoofers?
Having one subwoofer connected to your receiver will be fine for most people… But two subwoofers are better than one. Although I would say that there’s not much difference between having one or two if you have the budget then go ahead and buy another subwoofer for a more satisfying listening experience.
4. What size subwoofer hits the hardest?
The size of the subwoofer doesn’t matter when it comes to hard-hitting. A 15″ subwoofer can hit harder than an 18″. Having said that, hitting lower frequencies is easier with bigger woofers because there’s more cone surface area in the woofer. But having two 10″ subs actually produce louder and deeper bass than one 15″ subwoofer, so you might want to take your room space into account as well.
5. What size subwoofer is best for bass?
Subwoofers in general are measured in diameter, but that’s not very helpful when you’re trying to figure out the best size for your setup. Instead, focus on the recommended power handling of the subwoofer you want to buy. That way, you’ll know exactly what amplifier or receiver to connect it up with. You should also get a feel for how much bass is good enough for your listening environment through some trial and error based on your preference.
6. Can I add multiple sub-woofers?
Yes! Just make sure they all go through an amplifier or receiver that can handle them all, otherwise, you might end up blowing something important along the way!
Conclusion
We’ve spent hours researching the best subwoofers under $500 and have compiled a list of our top 7 favorites. If you are in need of a new subwoofer for your home theater, car audio system, or any other application where clean bass is desired, check out these models before making a purchase decision. Let us know what you think about this list!
Even if we didn’t include one that made it on to your shortlist as well as ours, let’s hear from you anyway because we’re always looking for feedback from consumers like yourself who want only the very best products available at reasonable prices. What do you think? Are there any features missing from our list that should be included?
