Are you a music lover who wants a really high-quality speaker? Are you a gamer who wants a surround-sound system for the ultimate gaming experience? Or a movie buff who wants a music system for a great cinema experience?
A subwoofer is a great option as it is one of the most important components of a sound system. A 12-inch subwoofer is the most common size of subwoofer available today.
A good subwoofer not only offers a high level of throbbing bass but also improves its acoustic quality. These subwoofers are characterized by their great power handling.
They are not very big which makes them easy to install. This blog will help you pick the best 12-inch subwoofer. So let us discuss it.
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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12-inch Subwoofer
|
Pioneer TSW126M 12″ Subwoofer
|
IMPP cone High power handling 100 – 300 watts RMS |
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|
12-inch Subwoofer
|
Hifonics BRW12D4 2000 Watts 12 Inch Subwoofer
|
Vented aluminum former 4-ohm design 70oz magnets |
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|
12-inch Subwoofer
|
Hifonics HFX12D4 12-Inch Subwoofer
|
1600 Watts speaker 1” NBR Reinforced Rubber 4 Ohm High Temp KSV Voice Coils |
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|
12-inch Subwoofer
|
Infinity Kappa Car Audio Subwoofer
|
2000 watts peak 500 watts RMS HARMAN technology |
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Reviews of Best 12-inch Subwoofer
Pioneer TSW126M 12″ Subwoofer
Best for its Affordability
The RMS power for this model is 350 watts, which isn’t as large as some subwoofers that are 12 inches, but this is still very respectable. What makes the subwoofer stand out is its eight-layer IMPP seamless cone design, which reduces distortion.
This sub produces 50% more air movement at the same volume levels as other subwoofers, and it comes with a single 4-inch black polyetherimide voice coil offering high performance to ensure top-quality bass at lower frequencies.
One of the sub’s main strong points is its heavy-duty build quality. Constructed with tough polypropylene, it’s designed to take a beating but still performs at optimal levels.
This subwoofer provides up to 96 decibels of sound pressure level, which is pretty high on the maximum range so it won’t be too loud and hurt your ears, but it will still provide plenty of clarity and fullness.
Key Features
- 1300 watts Max power
- New Voice Coil Cooling System
- IMPP cone
- High power handling
- 100 – 300 watts RMS
Pros
Accurate bass
IMPP cone technology is known for its ability to produce tight and accurate bass tones. The specially designed voice coil can handle more power than similar models, making it a good choice for anyone looking to get the most out of their sound system. The recommended power range is 100 – 300 watts RMS.
Powerful
The new voice Coil Cooling System (VCCS) in this product allows for up to 1300 watts of max power (350 watts nominal).
With this technology, you’ll be able to enjoy your audio experience for longer periods of time without worrying about the potential damage that could come from overheating.
Affordable
This product is quite affordable for all users.
Cons
Distortion occurs at a high volume
The high-volume causes distortion.
Tester says about this Product
“Got these because I had an extra box and figured it would sell faster with subs. For this price, these subs slap. I’ve got 2 in a sealed box with a 600w RMS mono amp and they damn near vibrate my tablet/rearview mirror thing off.
Pioneer has really held their own. I am replacing my 2 kickers compare 12s with some 2000w Pioneer pro series.” By Audrey M
Hifonics BRW12D4 2000 Watts 12 Inch Subwoofer
Best for its Power Handling
The Hifonics Brutus features 2000 watts and handles 4 ohms. comes with a durable, heavy-gauge aluminum die-cast basket to protect the important components of the subwoofer.
It has a 3″ voice coil and a vented former to make sure all harmful heat is expelled from this high-powered subwoofer.
This low-frequency Subwoofer features a specialized root mean square spider tension with a 7-ply cotton surround, producing distortion-free audio performance.
This audio device is made from a piezo-activated poly injection cone and it has a back vent to allow heat transfer from the voice coil’s magnetic path.
In addition, this portable Audio System is engineered with non-pressurized damped fiberglass injected woofer basket.
The subwoofer houses a high-energy motor assembly with dual 70 oz magnets which allow it to produce high power handling capabilities.
Key Features
- Heavy gauge
- Powder-coated and aluminum die-cast basket
- Vented aluminum former
- 4-ohm design
- 70 oz magnets
Pros
Increased power handling
Specialized Hifonics dual poly cotton spider with double centering allows for a tauter suspension, giving the woofer the ability to handle more power with less distortion.
Best design
The vented aluminum former on this speaker is designed to dissipate heat build-up, and that means less distortion for you. It’s also able to hold a 3″ voice coil for clear, powerful sound.
Durable
Hifonics BRUTUS subwoofer is built to deliver 2000 watts of quality sound. It features a heavy gauge, powder-coated, aluminum die-cast basket that ensures durability and long-lasting performance.
Increased reliability
Hifonics’ heavy-duty aluminum die-cast basket is designed to exchange heat with cool air, which results in more power handling and increased reliability.
Cons
No defect or problem
There was no problem detected in this subwoofer.
Tester says about this Product
“First of all break these subs in rt. learn how on it. After bout a week you are good to go. I have 2 of these on a 1700w Orion.
I had to cut my 12-inch hole larger. these are actually 12inch subs. great product hifonics.” By sandman
Hifonics HFX12D4 12-Inch Subwoofer
Best for its Clear Sound
The Hifonics subs we reviewed were rated to take 800 watts. That makes them a decent choice for those looking for that extra bump in the bass.
However, these aren’t going to win any competitions or be your final judgment of what constitutes high-quality sound, but nevertheless, the quality is clean and clear.
Subs need to be broken in just like anything else and failing to do so will result in both speakers burning up quickly.
Made from industry-standard materials, they’re not as sturdy as our top pick, too. When purchasing some speakers for your sound systems, it’s ultimately more important to invest in high-quality speakers you can customize rather than cheap ones that are lower quality.
Unfortunately, these speakers don’t come with a storage compartment, but that doesn’t mean you’re never going to find one or that you have to build it yourself.
You can also rest assured that the voice coils of this speaker model aren’t likely to burn out potentially destroying your speaker, however, if you’re not too heavy-handed on your volume controls, there’s no need to worry about this at all.
Key Features
- 1600 Watts speaker
- 1” NBR Reinforced Rubber
- 4 Ohm High Temp KSV Voice Coils
Pros
Clear sound
Clear and Crisp sound was produced through this subwoofer.
Great for daily driving
It is ideal for daily driving.
High power
These brand new Hifonics car subwoofers will make your music sound better than ever. With a max of 800 watts (1600 watts for the pair), you’ll be able to enjoy your tunes at a volume that you never thought possible.
Cons
Expensive
This product is expensive for some users.
Tester says about this Product
“As long as you install them correctly and don’t try to put too much power on them they are amazing speakers.” By Kyle Hodgkiss
Infinity Kappa Car Audio Subwoofer
Best for its Easy Installation
We’ll be the first to tell you that Infinity is very good at making their models sound high quality even when you have one or two of them together.
The Kappa 2000W subwoofer has a peak power of 1200W whereas they maintain their RMS rating of 500W if you have only one.
If, however, you connect these models together inside a proper box, it can seriously hit with an impact force of 2000 watts.
Sure, many of these are great for your home entertainment. And they’re far more efficient than what you get at the movies.
But one thing to keep in mind is that these tend to get very hot, very quickly so while it’s easiest to install them in your car, many people have ended up burning themselves during the process because the woofer heats up faster than expected.
Key Features
- 2000 watts peak
- 500 watts RMS
- HARMAN technology
Pros
Easy to install
This product is easy to install and user-friendly.
Good sound quality
The sound quality of this subwoofer is good.
Cons
Components will heat up
The components of this subwoofer will heat and will stop this from working.
Tester says about this Product
“Bass is accurate and very smooth, even out of the box, I expect it should smooth out, even more, when it breaks in (my previous Infinity and JBL both did). This is not a particularly punchy or thumpy 12 compared to others at comparable or even lower price points, though I won’t subtract stars for this because I didn’t pick a Kappa for thumping bass.
The real advantage over other subs I’ve heard (for the price) is sound quality. It very nicely fills in the low ranges without overpowering the door speakers. Definitely not a sub for those who want chest-pounding bass, but it seems high quality and will work for my use, not to mention it looks stunning in person.
It definitely needs a good bit of power going to it so be mindful of this when pairing with an amp. The selectable impedance is a nice feature if you decide you need more power, a second sub, both of which I may consider soon.” By Daniel
Buyers Guide
If you want to buy the best 12-inch subwoofer and enjoy the music then you must read this guide.
Related Post: How to Repair a Subwoofer?
Powered vs. Passive
Active sub-woofers come with a built-in amp and a special type of speaker. A passive one, on the other hand, usually takes input from an external amplifier through a dedicated connection made with RCA cables. But while active speakers are ready to go straight out of the box, powered ones tend not to be very powerful.
Passive subwoofers are musts for professional designers or car audio enthusiasts – groups of people that specifically know what they are doing. And it shouldn’t be attempted by anyone else but them.
They have to know what amps they need to pair it with, otherwise, they will distort the frequencies of their sound system.
You have more freedom over your amplifier choice when using a passive subwoofer since it isn’t hooked up directly to any preamp or power source.
Down-Firing vs. Front-Firing
The difference between down-firing and front-firing subwoofer orientation when it comes to bass performance is more apparent in larger spaces and not in cars.
Down-firing subs use the floor or tables below to turn them into a bigger resonating surface and make it easier for low frequencies to disperse throughout the room.
This is effective in large spaces but not always ideal when listening to music at home because you don’t want it sounding like drums are being played next door.
Front-firing subs are placed on walls so that they project directly in your face, giving you an intense onslaught of low frequencies, but preferably only while driving around because the last thing anyone wants at home is for their house to sound like an amplified car stereo with drums playing next door.
Frequency Response
Frequency response is different from frequency range which is the range of frequencies a subwoofer can reproduce. For the latter, the closer your lowest range to 20 Hz, the better your sound and bass will likely be from the sub.
Frequency response on the other hand is how even “loudness” at each frequency is. Ideally, every frequency should have equal loudness or be as close to the minimum as possible.
Price
As always, our experts provide you with a wide selection of products to fit your budget. You can choose from both single and dual subs, as well as cheaper and premium-priced models.
Whatever you’re looking for, we have an option to meet your personal taste and preference. The brand and type of enclosure as well as its size and materials used all factor into the price overall.
Certain brands in this industry are known for having mastered the technology to deliver better sound quality than average for their models; they may even charge more due to the technology they incorporate into their devices that is not necessarily advertised but nonetheless offers an extra feature (unnecessary or beneficial) that product consumers may otherwise never know about unless they read reviews beforehand.
Cone Construction
The type of cone in your subwoofer affects the quality and durability of your speaker. The most common ones are made out of paper or polypropylene. They’re less expensive than other options but sacrifice durability.
They can still produce good sound, though, even if their life expectancy is shorter than others. You can find sturdier materials like aluminum or magnesium in high-end subs. Even more durable ones use carbon fiber and Kevlar.
FAQs Related to the Topic
What’s a better subwoofer 2 ohm or 4 ohms?
The more electrical resistance a subwoofer has, the less power it will consume to deliver the same volume of sound. A 4ohm subwoofer will be louder playing music or action scenes at the same volume level as a 2-ohm one. So, if you want your movie to get your audience on their feet, choose an 8ohm subwoofer. But for more accurate detail in vocals and instruments, the 2-ohm option is better.
All Product Features Comparison
| Products | Best | Max Power | Impedance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer TSW126M 12″ Subwoofer | Affordability | 1300 watts | None |
| Hifonics BRW12D4 2000 Watts 12 Inch Subwoofer | Power Handling | 2000 watts | Dual 4 Ohm |
| Hifonics HFX12D4 12-Inch Subwoofer | Clear Sound | 1600 watts | Dual 4 Ohm |
| Infinity Kappa Car Audio Subwoofer | Easy Installation | 2000 watts | 4 Ohm |
Conclusion
The best 12-inch subwoofer is the one that meets your requirements. When it comes to choosing a subwoofer there are a lot of features that you need to take into consideration such as the size of the woofer, the power handling, the frequency response, and the type of enclosure.
The size of the woofer is the main factor in deciding what type of subwoofer you want. If you want a subwoofer that has a lot of basses, then you should find a subwoofer with a large woofer.
If you want a subwoofer that is small, then you should find a subwoofer with a small woofer. According to Amazon rating, Hifonics BRW12D4 2000 Watts 12 Inch Subwoofer is the best subwoofer that you can buy for the sound system. I hope that you will understand.
If you want to know more about Speakers/woofers visit other blog posts on our website.