Home Subwoofers Review

Home theater systems are all the rage, from simple living room setups to entire rooms devoted to big screens, built-in sound systems, plush seating and mood lighting. With HDTVs, 3D Blu-ray and sophisticated DVD players, and thousands of movies and TV shows available for streaming over the internet, there are many lifetimes of entertainment readily available at the click of a button.

In addition to high-quality video, you need clear, thundering audio to fully enjoy watching movies in your home. This kind of dynamic sound requires a surround-sound speaker configuration consisting of powerful towers, a dynamic center speaker, crisp satellite tweeters and of course one or more home subwoofers. While each component is essential, only subwoofer speakers can round out the sound with low-frequency dynamics that shake the audience in their seats.

In addition to our comprehensive reviews, you can compare best home subwoofers side by side and read articles on home subwoofers to help you choose the best home theater subwoofers for your growing stereo system. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

Subwoofers: What to Look For

When choosing a powered subwoofer for your home sound system, you want to get the best value in terms of features and sound quality for the best price. The home subwoofers we reviewed are the best models available in the $300 to $450 price range. They have many features in common, and we’ve detailed what makes them similar and which features set the top home subwoofers apart. The categories we considered when evaluating subwoofer speakers include:

Performance
To rate our products in this category, we considered the technical aspects of each of these home subwoofers. We looked at the frequency response, crossover frequency, continuous and peak power output and maximum level output of each of the home subwoofers on our lineup, emphasizing the way that their design affected their overall sound quality.

Design
Not all home subwoofers are made the same. When evaluating design, we looked at the aesthetics of the cabinet enclosure, including its size, weight, shape, color and grill, as well as the amplifier type, port placement, drivers, and woofer size and placement.

Sound Quality
All the home subwoofers we chose to review have great sound quality. Some are better for music while others are better for the powerful low-frequency sound effects that make the movies we love come to life in a big way. What we look for in this category is the ability of each subwoofer to handle both these tasks with clarity, power and precision.

Features
When evaluating each sub’s features, we looked at the configuration and types of inputs and outputs that connect the subwoofer to the rest of the sound system. We also rated them in terms of the level of control a user has over the way they sound. These features include adjustable volume, phase and crossover controls, and the presence of power-saving, signal-sensing automatic on and off controls that put the subwoofer into standby mode after a period of inactivity.

Help & Support
Acquiring audio equipment is a big investment that should be covered by an extensive warranty to protect you against manufacturer’s defects and poor performance. To evaluate the help and support offered by each manufacturer, we looked at the types of support available, including online manuals and FAQs, user forums and the methods available to contact technical support, such as email, telephone and live chat support.

If you’re in the market for a high-quality, low-cost home subwoofer, check out the reviews of our top products, including the BIC America Formula Series F-12, the Elemental Designs A3S-250 and the Emotiva Ultra Series Sub 10. You may also be interested in our review of home theater speakers that evaluates home theater systems manufactured by some of the same brands featured in this review, as well as our AV receiver and home theater in a box system reviews.