Best budget powered subwoofers for 2025
Our expert's top picks for under $400
In this article: our top home subwoofer picks if you're hunting for a bargain...
- Best all around — Klipsch R-120SW
- Best for small spaces — Kanto Sub 8
- Best for desktop audio — Audioengine S6
- Best for music — ELAC Debut S10.2
- Best for home theater — Polk Monitor XT12
An easy way to seriously improve your home theater or music system is to add a powered subwoofer. Everything you listen to sounds (and feels) richer when you have deep bass frequencies in the mix. And the hard-hitting impact of a sub helps increase your immersion for movies and games.
If you've already dipped into the ol' pocketbook to buy the rest of your sound system, adding a sub can seem like a pricey extra. But no sound system is truly complete with a solid subwoofer. That's why finding a great deal on a sub can make all the difference in the world.
Our top picks
There's no better place to start your search than a list of some of the best. Each of our picks for this article packs a ton of value for their price.
Best all around — Klipsch Reference R-120SW
The Klipsch R-120SW has been one of our best-selling subwoofers for several years. This 12" ported sub packs a serious punch, hitting frequences all the way down to 29 Hz. The low-end impact drives the bassline in your favorite tunes and lets you feel every explosion on movie night.
The R-120SW's cone is made with Klipsch's famous lightweight IMG (Injected Molded Graphite) spun-copper for clean, accurate bass reproduction. This keeps you from losing low frequency detail amidst all that thunder.
Details
- 12" front-firing IMG (Injection Molded Graphite) spun-copper woofer
- 200-watt RMS amplifier (400 watts peak power)
- rear-firing port for increased low-frequency performance
- frequency response: 29-120 Hz
Best for small rooms — Kanto Sub 8
The Kanto Sub 8 is a great fit if you're looking to add clean, impactful bass to a smaller room. This compact sub doesn't take up a ton of space but still hits plenty hard for movie night. And its sealed enclosure keeps your bass tight and accurate.
The Sub 8 also looks pretty slick with its vinyl finish, making it easy to match it up with the decor of most rooms.
Details
- 8" front-firing woofer
- 150-watt RMS (300-watts peak) amplifier
- acoustic suspension (sealed) enclosure
- frequency response: 35-175 Hz
Best for desktop audio — Audioengine S6
Getting great bass for a desktop sound system can be quite a challenge because of the space constraints. At less than one foot per side, though, the Audioengine S6 can sit on most desks or neatly on the floor next to one.
This little thumper fits plenty amount of "oomph" into its sealed enclosure, delivering musical bass for your favorite playlists and surprising impact for your video games and movies.
Details
- front-firing 6" long-throw woofer
- built-in Class D amplifier delivers 140 watts of continuous power
- acoustic suspension (sealed) enclosure
- frequency response: 33-132 Hz (±1.5dB)
Best for music — ELAC Debut S10.2
The ELAC Debut S10.2 delivers hard-hitting beats and rich basslines. This compact sub's high-efficiency amplifier and dual-flared port help it generate the low-frequency impact you need to really feel the music you're dancing to.
The S10.2's rigid, braced cabinet also minimizes unwanted vibrations to keep your bass free of distortion. And its front-firing design makes it easy to tuck the sub right up or against a wall without impacting your bass quality.
Details
- 10" long-throw, high-excursion doped paper cone
- high-efficiency built-in 100-watt RMS BASH® amplifier
- bass-reflex enclosure with dual-flared front port
- frequency response: 35-150 Hz
Best for home theater — Polk Monitor XT12
The Polk Monitor XT12 delivers deep, low-frequency rumble with a big 12" woofer and ported enclosure. This powered subwoofer hits notes all the way down to 24 Hz, right at the edge of human hearing, adding impact and immersion to your favorite movies and video games.
This subwoofer is a key player in Polk's popular Monitor XT Series. This series has a history going all the way back to 1974, helping put Polk on the map with its powerful, value-packed performance.
Details
- 12" long-throw, high-excursion driver
- built-in 50-watt RMS Class AB amplifier (100-watt peak)
- bass-reflex (ported) enclosure
- frequency response: 24-160 Hz
Get started today!
There are tons of great subs to choose from, and we're here to help. We have even more tips in our full subwoofer buying guide. And if you need a little guidance finding exactly what you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly Advisors.
Free lifetime tech support is included with your Crutchfield purchase.
Popular questions customers ask
Powered subwoofers have one job: to produce deep, hard-hitting bass. They're especially important for home theater systems, because they produce deep, rumbling effects that "regular" speakers can't. Some music lovers also find powered subwoofers to be great additions to their stereo music systems.
Bass waves spread out in all directions, which means you have some flexibility in placing your subwoofer. Placing your sub near a wall gives you strong bass, and placing it in a corner gives you even more. Try your sub in different spots to see where it sounds the best.
There are two main considerations: speaker size, and room size. If you have small speakers in a small room, an 8" or 10" sub is a good choice. Have big speakers in an open floorplan? A 12" or larger sub might be a better match. If you really love bass, go for the biggest, baddest sub your room will allow.
Some customers choose a subwoofer from the same brand as their main speakers, to keep everything matching. However, we've found that mixing brands works just fine, and plenty of folks do that, too.
Absolutely! Using two subs gives you more even, consistent sound around your room by filling in gaps where bass response may be weak. A second sub also gives you more bass impact. We especially recommend two subs if you love cranking up action movies or have a large room.
Comments (0)