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Why Do You Need a Subwoofer?
The simple answer is that a subwoofer fills out or augments the lowest octaves and creates the foundation for all music and movie soundtracks. Bookshelf or stand-mount loudspeakers generally don’t have the ability to reproduce bass information below a specific frequency and that changes what you are able to experience when you listen.
Not only does a subwoofer add what your loudspeakers can’t reproduce, but it allows the speaker to do what it does best within its frequency limitations and generally improves its imaging capabilities as well.
For those who don’t have the physical space for a pair of floor standing loudspeakers, a subwoofer can be placed out of the way and augment the bass range of your existing loudspeakers.
Why Spend More on a Subwoofer?
Subwoofers come with different size drivers, typically 8, 10, 12, or 15 inches in diameter, but there are subwoofers with smaller drivers (6 inches) or as large as 18 or 21 inches.
Another factor is whether the subwoofer is sealed or ported. Ported models are typically more expensive put performance can be subjective. Ported subwoofers can provide deeper bass, while sealed subwoofers can provide more accurate bass, but not quite as deep, and they typically require more amplifier power. However, this also depends on each specific model or model series.
Every part of the design impacts bass output and quality, but so does the room in which the subwoofers are placed. Larger rooms can benefit from two or more subwoofers. Having a second subwoofer supports smoother bass response and the minimizes problems such as “standing waves” and “dead spots”.
For more on what need to know about subwoofers before buying one, read our companion articles: WTF is a Subwoofer? and WTF is LFE?
Best Subwoofer Deals Under $500
RSL Speakers 10E Speedwoofer
RSL Speakers only sells factory direct and the 10E Speedwoofer is company’s least expensive subwoofer. But don’t let its low price fool you. With a 10-inch driver and 800-watts of peak power, the 10E delivers impactful, clean bass down to 22Hz.
Best Subwoofer Deals Under $1,000
SVS SB-2000 PRO
The SVS SB-2000 PRO is the step-up from their entry-level powered subwoofer. Although it was introduced in 2019, it features a 12-inch driver in a sealed cabinet with 1,500 watts peak power. Plus it comes with an app for setup that can fine tune bass down to 20Hz.
Best Subwoofer Deals Under $2,000
SVS SB16-Ultra
The SVS 16-Ultra series debuted in 2018 as the flagship SVS subwoofers in both sealed and ported versions. Now they’re on close-out sale, while supplies last, to make room for the new 17-Ultra which costs $800 more. The SB16-Ultra is a sealed subwoofer offering a staggering 5,000-watts of peak power that can hit bass notes down to 16Hz!
The Bottom Line
These Black Friday subwoofer deals were selected because one or more team members have heard and reported on them previously. Each provides tremendous performance for their cost, so we don’t expect these offers to last long.
All powered subwoofers require a connection to an A/V receiver or integrated amplifier. The easiest way to connect them is with a single RCA cable from subwoofer output (often labeled LFE out or Sub out) into the sub input on the back of the subwoofer. If a home theater receiver has two or more subwoofer outputs use those to connect multiple subwoofers, or purchase a Y-splitter RCA cable to accommodate two subs. Alternatively, optional wireless subwoofer kits can be helpful with placement flexibility.
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