All drivers love listening to music while driving. If you possess a regular-sized vehicle that lacks space to house a big sound system, the best under seat subwoofer is just what you need to boost your radio without making your sitting in the car uncomfortable.
A small car subwoofer is advantageous for many reasons. You can mount it under your car seat and adjust the sound remotely because it is always within your reach. Some subwoofers have the built-in amp so that the sound gets even more powerful and louder. Normally, these devices are made of heavy-duty materials that promise high durability and prevent vibrations and shakes that tend to occur on the road.
Today, audio equipment is replete with subwoofer capabilities: low-end and high-end, affordable and pricey, advanced and common. Depending upon your budget and expectations, you can find an underseat subwoofer in no time.
Here is the list of the most popular driver’s choices that come from various brands and differ in cost, functions, and design.
Underseat Subwoofer Reviews
Rockville SS8P — best underseat powered subwoofer
It is a Rockville car underseat subwoofer that boasts a fascinating bass sound and offers impeccable performance with the peak power of 400W.
The design has innovative features that make the SS8P user-friendly and more advanced in comparison with other options on the list. The major advantage is auto turn-on technology based on a smart circuit that reacts to signals the user transfers. Rockville provided some customization in this model. The driver is able to adjust the volume, frequency level, and tune the input sensitivity. The built-in bass boost serves as a sound enhancer and makes your bass even more earth-shaking and powerful.
The Rockville is pretty compact and convenient to mount in a car. Since the subwoofer is extremely thin, it fits any place. The installation is simple. It requires connecting the right cables on the back, which is a one-minute activity.
The Rockville brand is much different in manufacturing. While other devices are mostly made in China, the SS8P is consistent with the US standards and promises premium quality and prolonged service life.
Pros
- The price is extremely low and suited to buyers on a low budget.
- The sound is perfect even when the gain and boost are both at max.
Cons
- The unit is too weak for high-powered stereo systems.
Kenwood KSC-SW11 — best underseat subwoofer with built-in amplifier
The Kenwood KSC-SW11 is designed to provide powerful and loud sound even in a noisy environment. With the peak power of 150W, it delivers steady and room-filling bass.
The subwoofer is compact and handy. It fits into any car and can be mounted in any convenient place. The device is remotely controlled, which is extremely important for drivers who must stay vigilant on the road and cannot get distracted by any other things. The system allows changing the parameters of frequency and volume level using a wired remote control. The KSC-SW11 has an RCA speaker level inputs that allow connecting stereo speakers if you want to enhance the sound power. The enclosure is based on an aluminum die-cast frame that increases product durability.
My word is that the Kenwood KSC-SW11 is a reasonable option for buyers on a low budget who seek an affordable subwoofer with promising specs.
Pros
- Produces minor vibrations.
- No need to use an external amp.
Cons
- RCA cables are not included in the kit.
Rockville RW10CA
The RW10CA goes in a low-profile enclosure. It’s a powerful subwoofer that has 10 inches in diameter. With its slim design, it will work great for any vehicle as it fits in limited spaces. This way, it can even work as the best underseat sub for a truck. The housing of the sub is made of plastic that can’t provide superior durability.
The RW10CA is an active subwoofer, powered by an amplifier that uses PWM MOSFET power supply. With 800W of power (200W RMS), it’s powerful enough to provide a punchy and mighty bass without sound distortion. It will enhance your music and improve your audio system.
All the connectors and control elements (frequency adjustment, bass boost, etc.) can be found on a special panel on the side of the subwoofer which allows for increased convenience. This means that you will be able to tune the sound in accordance with the music genre and your personal preferences.
Pros
- The circuit has overload protection.
- The high level input frees you from the necessity to remove a receiver when installing an amp-subwoofer combination.
- With 98 dB of sensitivity, the sub requires minimum power to play at the loud volume level.
Cons
- It should be installed in the area with good ventilation as the woofer may overheat after long hours of work.
- The bass seems to be muddy with some tracks.
Pioneer TS-SWX2502
This 10-inch Pioneer is the last model that is good at delivering deep and flawless bass.
This 10-inch Pioneer is good at delivering deep and flawless bass. The design relies on a rigid cone surface that promotes better air movement resulting in clearer and noise-free sound. The peak power of 300W is another distinct feature of this Pioneer subwoofer that offers an incredibly rich and accurate bass response at any volume level.
The enclosure is made of injection-molded resin that adds more stiffness and durability to the structure. The Pioneer’s surface has an anti-scratch non-slipping coating that makes it possible to install it in any place. This Pioneer is mostly designed to be installed under the seat of your car. Its small dimensions do not need lots of space and make the sub fit to any location.
I recommend purchasing this product if your car is not big and has an extremely slippery interior because this Pioneer model is the only subwoofer that can handle such a problematic surface successfully.
Pros
- Good bass when you turn on the radio.
- Great for low-end bass.
Cons
- The unit cannot be installed in places that can be affected by vibration.
- It does not have a built-in preamp.
Rockville RW8CA
The Rockville RW8CA is an active underseat subwoofer. It comes in a low-profile square-shaped body that is less than 3 inches thick, so it will find a place under most car seats with ease. The sub has 8 inches in diameter.
This 600W (150W RMS) sub is supplied with a powerful built-in amplifier that produces a satisfactory, tight, booming bass. Plus, it has plenty of features for sound customization.
All the controls and ports are located on the dedicated panel on the subwoofer’s side that will protrude from under the seat. This facilitates both the setup process and the use of the subwoofer.
The sub comes with a special installation kit, so you will get everything you may need for installation. The outer part of the provided wires is flexible and resistant to extreme temperatures. Besides, thanks to the integrated amplifier, the installation won’t be a challenging task even for beginners.
This Rockville underseat subwoofer is compliant with the CEA standards that can confirm that the power level specified by the manufacturer is correct.
Pros
- The sensitivity of inputs is adjustable.
- The high level inputs incorporate auto turn-on technology.
- The sound quality doesn’t depend on placement.
Cons
- The woofer tends to overheat.
- The depth of the bass could be better.
Cerwin Vega VPAS10
This 10-inch underseat powered sub is another worthy option you may like. It is no way inferior to other alternatives here. With the peak power of 200W, the Cerwin delivers exceptional bass performance backed by innovative features put at the core of Cerwin design.
The subwoofer is handy and simple in use. The remote control allows tuning the sound while driving. The adjustment involves changing the parameters of input insensitive, volume, and frequency. The 180° phase control switch helps the listener choose a suitable position to achieve the most comfortable listening experience. The built-in boost ensures that the bass sound does not get weaker at the maximum volume. All these characteristics make this Cerwin model powerful and capable of generating loud and accurate bass sound in a car.
The Cerwin’s size is relatively small. The installation is fast and simple to do even for users with minimal knowledge of audio equipment. The last advantage I want to highlight is that the unit does not tend to heat up during the active use.
Pros
- Creates powerful deep lows.
- Can be perfectly placed behind a rear seat.
Cons
- The Cerwin Vega VPAS10 does not come with essential accessories in the kit.
Pioneer TS-WX130DA
The Pioneer TS-WX130DA is an active underseat subwoofer. It’s black and has a square shape with rounded edges. Inside, there are an 8-inch amp and a 5.25-inch woofer, protected by a metal mesh. The cone is made of aluminum with heat-releasing properties. The urethane surround ensures durability. The magnets are made of strontium.
The TS-WX130DA has 160W of max power (50W nominal) and uses a Class D amp. It will enhance your audio system with some deep and pleasant bass.
The present subwoofer has two modes: Deep (20 – 200Hz) and Dynamic (40 – 160Hz). These modes allow each user to choose the preferred type of bass.
The subwoofer is controlled with the help of an included remote control as there are no controls on its housing. This remote control contains a Gain knob (min/max), Frequency knob (50Hz – 125Hz), Fase switch (norm./rev.), and a Bass mode switch.
This Pioneer underseat subwoofer comes with a full kit that contains all the necessary installation hardware.
Pros
- The sub has low power consumption.
- The subwoofer’s exterior is made of durable metal.
- It works great with the majority of factory speakers.
Cons
- The knobs on the remote are overly sensitive.
- There is some hearable bass distortion at the high volume level.
Buyer’s Guide
How to Determine the Best Subwoofer for Your Vehicle
Most of the options on the list are attractive and similar in specs. If you are on the fence, there are a number of criteria you can follow to define your best underseat subwoofer.
Size
Before choosing a subwoofer, I recommend measuring the space under your car seat. Since these devices differ in thickness, you need to be sure that it perfectly fits this gap. If you prefer mounting it in the truck or somewhere else because your vehicle is large-scale, you can go for any model without hesitation.
Installation
The installation commonly boils down to the correct wire connection. To handle it successfully, you need first to choose the right subwoofer size. Then, place it under the seat so that the ports remain accessible because you will need to use them later to connect speaker and amp cables.
Power
Each subwoofer has a peak power. The higher, the richer sound you will get. If you are satisfied with standard sound power, the peak power of 150W is normal. If the deep sound is your priority, look for options with peak power starting from 200W.
Type of Control
I vote for remote control obviously. When you are on the road, the last thing to care about is pressing the buttons on your subwoofer to make it sound better. Wired devices are standard and less expensive, but the remote control feature allows you to feel free while driving because it can turn on and off automatically. This makes you less bothered and more focused on staying vigilant about driving.
How to Install an Underseat Subwoofer
There are a few simple steps to install a subwoofer under your seat.
- First wire the power from the battery. Make sure you do not mix up the battery with the fuse box.
- Next, connect RCA cables to the back of your sub.
- Configure the remote activation of the wire so that it starts automatically with the amplifier.
- Place the device under the seat.
- Wire up the amp.
- Connect the power cable to the battery.
When wiring the subwoofer, make sure that the “+” from the amp is hooked up to the “+” on the speaker, and vice versa.
Which Subwoofer is Better – Underseat or Trunk?
An underseat subwoofer is usually seen as more advantageous because the driver has a deeper and louder sound in their cabin. However, there are a number of weaknesses that can make you rethink your decision in favor of a trunk subwoofer.
Trunk subwoofers have more customization options so that the listener is able to set up the sound to their liking. Normally, the trunk exposes this device to fewer risks and threats because of less vibration taking place there while the driver is on the road. Since a trunk subwoofer comes in a larger variety of sizes, it can fit both large-scale and small vehicles. In terms of performance, it produces much more accurate and earth-shaking bass that is closer to perfection.
Nevertheless, the underseat subwoofer excels in other aspects. For instance, they are lightweight and portable, which means that you can carry them wherever you are headed for. The underseat subwoofer is not as pricey as the trunk one and therefore more affordable to lots of buyers. It also takes less time to install it in a car. On the contrary, the installation of a trunk subwoofer is a complicated and time-consuming process. Finally, the underseat subwoofer is the only possible option for small car owners because it requires a little space and can be mounted in vehicles of any size.
Hi everyone! I’m Thomas Moody, also known as Guitarzan.