Is your car audio system lacking the bass you crave? Then you may want to consider adding a nice subwoofer on to that vehicle audio system. The only problem is subwoofers take a lot of power to run. You will also have to go through the tedious task of matching them up to the proper amplifier and then installing that amplifier too. There is one other possibility though and that is to install a powered subwoofer (sometimes referred to as an active subwoofer). These are much easier to install because they have the necessary matching amplifier to power them built right into the subwoofer casing.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the best powered subwoofers. We will accomplish that by doing a series of powered subwoofer reviews that will give you some key insight on each active subwoofer we take a look at. When you are done reading you will have some good information that will help you choose the perfect powered subwoofer to compliment your car stereo system.
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Bazooka BTA8100FHC Powered Subwoofer |
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Blaupunkt Blue Magic Low Profile Active Subwoofer System |
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MTX Audio RT8PT Universal Powered Subwoofer Enclosure |
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Bazooka BTA850FH Big EZ Bass Amplified Subwoofer Kit |
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Rockville RVB12.1A Active Powered Car Subwoofer |
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Best Powered Subwoofer Reviews (Updated List)
Here we have listed some of the top-rated powered subwoofers on the market and you can easily find the one which will perfectly suit your car.
1. Bazooka BTA8100FHC Powered Subwoofer
The very interesting product comes to us from Bazooka, know for making powerful speakers and subwoofers. This powered subwoofer unit is designed as a big tube which has some advantages as well as some disadvantages.
On the plus side, the sound delivery is better if the speaker is mounted in a tube than if it is mounted inside thin a box, like the other ones we presented.
On the minus side, you can not say this is a compact powered subwoofer since the tube requires much more space. It also comes in few different specification levels and you can have it from 50 Watts ( with or without installation kit ) up to 250 Watts. The prices vary according to specifications and overall this is an affordable kit which provides a strong sound. It is not the space saver as some other products on the market but for those who need a simple and cheap solution with the easy installing process and doesn’t have a problem with space, this is perfect.
2. Blaupunkt Blue Magic Low Profile Active Subwoofer System
Blaupunkt is a well-known name in car audio business and it maybe isn’t your first pick when it comes to powered subwoofers but this is a great product with a decent price and nice design.
It is the 8-inch speaker in specially designed low case, perfect for small and limited spaces. It has 300 Watts of peak power and 150 Watts RMS which is more than enough for most car audio enthusiasts and small cars.
However, the cone is made of paper which is substandard but the overall quality is good. With its compact dimensions (340mm x 225mm x 79mm ) and easy installation, it is a very good proposition for starters and for people that want decent sound without much hustle.
3. MTX Audio RT8PT Universal Powered Subwoofer Enclosure
Interesting product from MTX and another tube powered subwoofer. This is a relatively weak subwoofer with only 120 Watts of RMS power which is below the levels of competitors.
However, since its 8-inch bass speaker is packed inside a well designed and ventilated tube it produces powerful and precise sound. The dimensions of the enclosure are bigger than box type competitors of course, but if you have enough space in your car and you need a powered subwoofer, you will want this PT8PT unit since it is not only affordable ( for a brand name product ) it also features clean sound and good control through its remote controls set.
The installation is very easy and on the back of the unit, you have all needed jacks and ports for easy access.
4. Bazooka BTA850FH Big EZ Bass Amplified Subwoofer Kit
We have already presented you the tube type powered subwoofer unit from Bazooka under the manufacturer’s code BTA8100FHC and this is the BTA850FH which may look the same but it has 50 Watts of RMS power and really affordable price.
The basic construction is the same, tube type with nice sound and performance coming from the tubular construction. Since the product is available in a few different specifications, this is the base model with 50 Watts RMS.
It might sound you that this is underpowered product and compare to the other 150 Watts of RMS subwoofers on the market, it is but it has very clear sound and it is very affordable which is enough for recommendations. If you want this type of powered subwoofer and you have a limited budget, this is for you.
5. Rockville RVB12.1A Active Powered Car Subwoofer
Another great deal from Rockville and for those who want most out of their compact powered subwoofer unit but don’t want to spend much money, there is RVB12.1A. At sub 100$ price, it is amazing what you’ll get if you opt for this product.
First a big 12-inch bass speaker with 500 Watts of peak power and 250 Watts RMS. Second, a big enclosure with air outlet on the side which shows that the manufacturer was serious in delivering the cleanest and most powerful sound possible.
The downside is the dimensions and this product is easily the biggest we featured in this list since the enclosure has to be big to accommodate not only the 12-inch speaker and amp but they have space for connectors as well for air outlet.
However, if you got the room in your vehicle, this is the thing for you since you will be getting most power per $ and rich, deep and strong bass sound from the 12-inch speaker.
Also, check out top rated underseat subwoofers here!
Best Powered Subwoofers Comparison Chart
PRODUCT | PRICE | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT | OUTPUT WATTAGE | SIZE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAZOOKA BTA8100FHC 8-INCH POWERED SUBWOOFER | $$$$ | 20 x 6 x 19 inches | 15.2 pounds | 100 | 8-Inch |
BLAUPUNKT BLUE MAGIC XLF 200 A 300-WATT 8-INCH LOW PROFILE ACTIVE SUBWOOFER SYSTEM | $$$$ | 13.4 x 8.9 x 3.1 inches | 11.9 pounds | 300 | 8-Inch |
MTX AUDIO RT8PT UNIVERSAL POWERED SUBWOOFER ENCLOSURE | $$$ | 22.6 x 11.2 x 11 inches | 19.4 pounds | 240 | 8-Inch |
BAZOOKA BTA850FH BIG EZ BASS AMPLIFIED SUBWOOFER KIT | $ | 12 x 10 x 20 inches | 5 pounds | 50 | 8-Inch |
ROCKVILLE RVB12.1A 12″ 500W ACTIVE POWERED CAR SUBWOOFER+SUB ENCLOSURE BOX | $$ | 18 x 17.5 x 16.5 inches | 28 pounds | 300 | 12-Inch |
What Is A Powered Subwoofer?
Subwoofers come in two distinct types, passive subwoofers, and an active subwoofer. Passive are the ones which feature just big bass speaker and active (or powered) is the one with built-in amplifier, power source and are often packed in the enclosure for best performance and sound reproduction. The advantages of powered subwoofers are that they don’t need much space since they have everything integrated and the connection is very simple with only one cable.
Since they are often delivered with enclosure, you only need to mount them into your car and connect them to the CD or mp3 player and you are good to go. Some experts think that the powered subwoofers are a better choice since they maximize the potential of the subwoofer and bass speaker and are not limited by the output of the external amplifier.
As you can tell by now, the powered subwoofers are the ideal solution for those who need a strong bass but are looking for upgrading an existing car audio system without a long and complicated installation process. You only need to plug the powered subwoofer and find the space inside the trunk or interior and you are good to go. Most of the featured products are built for the trunk of your vehicle but some can be mounted beneath the seats or on the floor of the car.
Wrap up:
The majority of the products in this class are designed to be enhancements of the factory installed audio systems but, of course, you can use them as a part of your own custom build setup. The installation process is always simple and most of the products available have cables and jacks included. Please note that not all products on the list are fully powered and some of them, or some versions, may need batteries to operate at full capacity.
The experts claim that the powered subwoofers are in fact the best option since they have the same performance and deliver the same sound but in the much more compact package and at more affordable prices. However, the final decision is up to you and trough this product reviews you will find the best powered subwoofer for you which will perfectly suit your needs and will not take up much space in your car.
John says
Impressive list of subwoofers. I can see that you know how to choose a subwoofer based on your reviews. I will read again and decide which one i will buy for my car 😀