If you want a broader range of options, take a look at our list of the best home subwoofers. Otherwise, read on to see the best powered subwoofers to get.

The Klipsch SPL-120 makes a statement both visually and acoustically, thanks to its sleek copper-and-ebony look and, most importantly, its crisp and powerful bass output. The 12-inch front-firing woofer is made of Klipsch’s trademark spun-copper “cerametallic” material, keeping it lightweight but rigid and minimizing distortion. Its efficient class-D amplifier offers a 600-watt peak, but the more relevant number is its nice 300-watt RMS, which is the power it’s rated to handle on a continuous basis. With a frequency response ranging from 24Hz to 125Hz, it delivers booming lows that can’t be denied.

Best Overall

Klipsch SPL-120

Other features on this premium subwoofer include an energy-saving standby mode and controls to fine-tune the synergy among the subwoofer, speakers, and your room. It has dual RCA/LFE line-in inputs, and if you opt for a separate Klipsch wireless kit, you can have the speaker connected to both the wired and wireless inputs at the same time without needing to switch. When it comes to powered subwoofers, different sizes or power capabilities may suit different rooms and needs, but if you have a moderately-sized space and nice speakers to go with it, it’s hard to go wrong with the SPL-120.

Booming with 129.9dB, the SVS SB16-Ultra is the best choice for large rooms, whether you’re entertaining in your backyard or a 4,000 square foot auditorium. The ultra-powerful 122-pound subwoofer includes Bluetooth connectivity so you can control its settings and custom presets via an Android or Apple iOS device all with one-touch.

Best for Large Rooms

SVS SB16-Ultra

The sealed acoustic cabinet of the SVS SB16-Ultra is crafted with a glossed black oak veneer that houses an 8-inch diameter edge-wound voice coil connecting to its front 16-inch ultra driver that’s protected by a steel mesh grille. The built-in Class D Sledge 1500D amplifier delivers 1500 watts RMS with 5000 watts peak dynamic that pounds deep down to a 16Hz bass low frequency response and goes as high as 460Hz to capture every detail of sound in between. It comes with a five-year unconditional warranty.

The Fluance DB10 is the suitable choice on the list if you want the appropriate amount of sound for a small room that can transform into a movie theater. The powered subwoofer provides a practical approach to setting up sound for your room with a 10-inch long throw driver with an integrated amplifier of 45 watts RMS that peaks at 120 watts.

Best for Small Rooms

Fluance DB10

The Fluance DB10 gives a longer excursion and controlled linearity with low frequency response ranges from 38Hz to 180Hz that delivers deep rich bass. Its savvy rectangular design is outfitted with a polypropylene driver with a rubber surrounding and has a cabinet made with MDF wood designed to reproduce distortion-free sound with an acoustically tuned enclosure. The auto power mode will detect the signal from your audio source, powering on and off on-the-fly without having to get up. Comes with lifetime customer support and a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Boxed in mahogany wood, the Theater Solutions SUB15DM doesn’t look like a powered subwoofer, but instead, could be mistaken for a centerpiece. The tasteful powered bass subwoofer is made with moisture-resistant materials and a high-density MDF enclosure that’s designed with a port to allow for smooth airflow in and out of the cabinet, which in turn reduces rattling.

Best for Style

Theater Solutions SUB15DM

Theater Solutions SUB15DM features a built-in, high-efficiency amplifier with a 15-inch down-firing transducer conveniently located on its bottom. It includes a 0 to 180-degree phase switch and variable knobs to control both its 23Hz to 150Hz frequency response and gain that ranges from 2 to 3 decibels. Its back includes L/R RCA inputs and high-level L/R input and output spring terminals. After two minutes of non-use, the subwoofer enters a ​standby mode in order to conserve power.​

The SVS SB-1000 is a black box like most subwoofers, but its compact design makes it easy to pack away under a cabinet or tuck away in the corner. The finish looks good, and it has a 12-inch driver with 300-watts RMS and 720-watts peak power. It’s a good option for mid-sized rooms with the 24Hz to 260Hz frequency response and a max acoustic output of 115.4dB. For the size and price, it’s a great addition to a TV or audio setup in your living room.

Best Mid-Range

SVS SB-1000 Subwoofer

The SVS PC-2000 cylindrical subwoofer thinks outside the box. It’s defined by its durable, long, upright, cylindrical cabinet design that houses a 12-inch down-firing driver with 500 watts RMS, and over 1,100 watts at peak power using a Sledge STA-500D DSP amplifier to deliver powerful sound.

Best for Innovative Design

SVS PC-2000

Measuring 16.6 x 16.6 x 34 inches, the SVS PC-2000 uses its long vertical height to reproduce bass output at any drive level with low frequency responses that go from 16Hz to up to 260Hz. Its ridge-braced cabinetry is sonically and inertly custom-tuned and sealed, while the SoundPath Subwoofer Isolation System is designed to give a cleaner, distortionless bass with less rattle and bleed into other rooms. It comes in a piano gloss black and premium black ash.

  • Do I need a subwoofer?
  • Your home audio setup doesn’t require a subwoofer to sound good, but having one will add a surprising amount of depth to your audio experience. There are plenty of soundbars and speakers that can sound amazing without a subwoofer.
  • Can’t I just crank up the bass on my regular speakers?
  • Sure you could, but doing this is going to make the rest of the audio you’re listening to completely incoherent. Woofers and subwoofers operate within different frequencies that are audible and inaudible respectively, by just turning up your bass, you’re likely going to do more harm than good both to your equipment and your eardrums by completely drowning out every other audible frequency. Subwoofers make the bass in your audio playback more noticeable by broadcasting in a lower frequency band, which is where that rumble comes from each time there’s an explosion or you’re listening to Barry White. Having a broader range of frequencies really gives you the best overall listening experience without putting unnecessary strain on your equipment.
  • Where is the best place to put my subwoofer?
  • The cool thing about subwoofers is that they are meant to be felt more than heard. This means that there really isn’t a bad place to put them in your home theater setup. Typically the best answer for this is “anywhere that’s out of the way” as subwoofers tend to occupy a pretty significant footprint wherever they are. Joking aside, you can usually tuck them away in a corner of your living room, behind some furniture, or even covered with a decorative tapestry. There’s very little you can do to hamper the performance of your subwoofer as long as it’s in the immediate vicinity of your audio playback.

Your home audio setup doesn’t require a subwoofer to sound good, but having one will add a surprising amount of depth to your audio experience. There are plenty of soundbars and speakers that can sound amazing without a subwoofer. 

Sure you could, but doing this is going to make the rest of the audio you’re listening to completely incoherent. Woofers and subwoofers operate within different frequencies that are audible and inaudible respectively, by just turning up your bass, you’re likely going to do more harm than good both to your equipment and your eardrums by completely drowning out every other audible frequency. 

The cool thing about subwoofers is that they are meant to be felt more than heard. This means that there really isn’t a bad place to put them in your home theater setup. Typically the best answer for this is “anywhere that’s out of the way” as subwoofers tend to occupy a pretty significant footprint wherever they are. Joking aside, you can usually tuck them away in a corner of your living room, behind some furniture, or even covered with a decorative tapestry. There’s very little you can do to hamper the performance of your subwoofer as long as it’s in the immediate vicinity of your audio playback.