If you are interested in cars, car-modification, or just a total audiophile, then you probably will have heard of a subwoofer.
If you haven’t heard of a subwoofer, they are basically loudspeakers which improve the sound quality within your car by reproducing low-pitched bass and sub-bass frequencies. Subwoofers are not stand-alone devices instead they work to enhance the quality of the sound from your existing speakers and create a better surround sound in your car.
They are available in varying sizes with different features making them unique from their competitors, but the perfect subwoofer for you will depend on the exact sound effect you want to achieve.
With so many competition subwoofers on the market, it can be difficult to find the one that is perfect for your vehicle, but we’re here to help with this quick list of the best competition subwoofers around.
We have also included a helpful buyers guide, complete with an FAQ section to answer any questions you may have and aid you in your search for the perfect subwoofer for your competition.
In a hurry?
If you are eager to get your hands on the best competition subwoofer why not try out our top pick: the Rockville Destroyer 12DI 12”.
This subwoofer is packed full of features that make it stand out from the competition, such as:
- 3 inch, 4-layer black aluminum voice coils produced in the USA.
- Triple stacked 300oz Y35 magnets which perform better than most 400oz magnets.
- Constructed with a special glue that can withstand extremely high temperatures and allow the subwoofer more power resulting in a better quality sound.
- Achieves a peak power handling of 8000 watts, with a program power handling of 4000 watts and a CEA rated RMS power handling of 2000 watts.
OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite subwoofer on the market is the Rockville Destroyer 12DI subwoofer.
This 12-inch competition subwoofer comes complete with a 3-inch, 4-layer black aluminum voice coil which helps achieve a perfect quality sound that can withstand temperatures exceeding 300 degrees and is produced in the USA.
Combined with triple stacked 300oz Y35 magnets which outperform most 400oz magnets, and stiff non-pressed paper cone this device can handle a lot more power than its competitors.
The 12DI is also constructed with a special glue that can handle extremely high temperatures allowing the subwoofer to produce excellent quality sound as it is provided with more power.
This subwoofer has the highest power outage of all the devices on this list, with an RMS power of 2000 watts and a peak of 8000 watts, so with no notable drawbacks, it is clear to see why we have rated this device as the best competition subwoofer on the market.
Pros
- 12-inch subwoofer with 3-inch black aluminum voice coils produced in the USA
- Triple stacked 300oz Y35 magnets guaranteed to perform better than most 400oz magnets
- Ultra-stiff non-pressed paper cone allowing the device to handle a lot of power
- Constructed with a special glue able to handle extremely high temperatures
- Outstanding peak power of 8000 watts with 2000 watts RMS
- Thick foam surround for incredible sound quality
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
EDITORS CHOICE
The first of two subwoofers by this company on this list, another excellent device on the market is the Massive Audio Hippo84 8-inch subwoofer.
This device is perfectly created for competition and through a variety of special features produces an excellent quality sound.
The 8-inch design features a heavy-duty textured aluminum case to prevent any vibrations produced from the sound causing a rattle within the audio system, while also allowing air to reach the subwoofer to prevent overheating.
The case contains the systems dual-impedance high temperature anodized 2.5-inch voice coil made with kevlar spunlace and double-stack strontium magnet.
The system’s cone is also produced with Kevlar fiber for an industrial finish, and stitching to the edge of the cone gives the system extra strength. The Hippo84 features 500 watts RMS continuous output and peaks at 1000 watts, making it one of the best competition subwoofers on the market.
Pros
- Perfectly designed for competitions
- 8-inch subwoofer featuring a 2.5-inch dual impedance high-temperature anodized voice coil
- Stylish with Kevlar fiber for an industrial finish
- Double stack strontium magnet
- Pure bass with a 500 watt RMS and a peak of 1000 watts
- Additional stitching to the cone for added strength
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
BEST VALUE
The next subwoofer on this list is the Skar Audio VXF-15 D2 15-inch subwoofer. This specific product is part of the Skar Audio VXF range which was specifically designed and engineered to produce perfect sound quality and sound pressure levels (SPL) for a competition subwoofer.
Through a combination of its 3-inch high-temperature copper voice coil and extremely powerful 300oz ferrite motor, the VXF-15 the device can produce outstanding bass with extremely high SPL levels of 89.7 dBA.
The coil and motor are protected by a competition-grade paper cone with stitched edges to reduce vibrations and give the subwoofer added strength.
At its peak, the VXF-15 D2 can achieve a power of 3000 watts with a continual RMS power of 1500 watts, and this combined with its excellent design makes the device one of the best competition subwoofers on the market.
Pros
- Part of a range specifically designed for competition
- 15-inch subwoofer with a 3-inch high-temperature copper voice coil and powerful 300oz ferrite motor
- Competition paper cone with stitched high roll foam surround for support and protection
- Can achieve extremely high SPL levels of 89.7dB
- RMS Power of 1500 watts with a peak of 3000 watts
Cons
- The coil can occasionally get hot
RUNNER UP
Another great device on the market is the Massive Audio SUMM0XL 104 10-inch subwoofer.
This is also an excellent device by Massive Audio with a variety of features making it an excellent competition subwoofer.
Similar to the Hippo84, this device’s 3-inch black anodized voice coil features dual impedance technology with kevlar spunlace and a reinforced kevlar fiber paper cone with an industrial finish and red stitching for enhanced strength.
On top of these features, the device has a black anodized pole plate for added motor force, a heavy-duty aluminum basket ensuring the device is guaranteed not to rattle at any volume, and a large magnet for more power.
With an RMS power of 1500 watts and a peak of 3000 watts, there is no doubt that this is one of the best competition subwoofers on the market.
Pros
- 10-inch subwoofer featuring a 3-inch dual impedance black anodized voice coil
- Kevlar fiber reinforced non-pressure cone and kevlar spunlace for industrial finish and added strength
- Black anodized pole plate for added motor force
- Heavy-duty aluminum basket guaranteed not to rattle at any volume
- RMS power of 1500 watts and a peak of 3000 watts
RUNNER UP
The final subwoofer on this list is the Power Acoustik MOFO 10-inch subwoofer.
This speaker varies from the others as it is more tailored towards beginner competition woofers but it is still a great contender for the best subwoofer on the market.
This device has a stylish blue design and is branded with the company’s name protecting its 2.5-inch 4-layer voice coil which features large gauge wire for increased power.
This device has an RMS power of 1350 watts with a peak of 2700 watts and a 288oz motor for higher magnetic strength.
This subwoofer also features Power Acoustik’s exclusive heat sink technology which includes aluminum dust cap fins to release heat, a vented frame to reduce heat build-up, and high-temperature resistant adhesives to ensure you do not have to worry about this device overheating.
Pros
- Excellent beginner competition subwoofer
- 10-inch subwoofer featuring a 2.5-inch 4-layer voice coil
- RMS power of 1350 watts and a peak of 2700 watts
- Patent-pending heat sink technology
- Stylish design with branding and blue feature color
Cons
- A lot more basic than its competitors
Best Competition Subwoofers Buying Guide
Subwoofers are a very popular way to improve your car’s sound system because no matter what your music taste is or the volume you listen to music at, a subwoofer will still increase the sound quality.
With that in mind, it is no shock that the subwoofer market is extremely lucrative and with so many different subwoofers for sale, it can be difficult to identify the perfect one for you.
The list above highlights some of the best subwoofers money can buy you, but ultimately the decision is yours, and we are here to help with this guide packed full of the things you should consider before making a purchase.
Speaker Dimensions
It is important to consider the dimensions of the subwoofer before you buy as they are usually installed in the trunk of your car.
When you shop for a subwoofer you will notice that they come in a variety of sizes with smaller ones measuring around 6-inches to the larger ones at around 15-inches. Like everything, these products will come with different benefits, for example, smaller subwoofers tend to be easier to fit while larger subwoofers tend to offer a higher SPL range.
Before buying a subwoofer you should consider the sound quality and effect you want to achieve, as different subwoofers will be better to help you achieve this sound. You should also take care when installing subwoofers as any inaccuracies in the installation process may have an effect on the sound that they produce.
Sound Pressure Levels
One thing you may notice when searching for a competition subwoofer is that most products will not say much about volume in their descriptions.
In normal circumstances, we perceive volume as being directly linked to distance, if we hear something up close it seems a lot louder whereas the further away you move the quieter and softer the sound becomes.
This is because the “volume” we talk about is actually sound waves, and sound waves create pressure within our ears, so the distance increases or decreases the pressure rather than the volume of the sound.
Due to this professional speakers do not include volume, instead, they offer a sound pressure level (SPL) measurement, which is measured in decibels in the same way we would normally talk about sound.
So when you are looking for a subwoofer it is important to check the SPL measurement to understand the quality you are going to get out of the product. It is vital that you do not purchase a subwoofer with an SPL exceeding 80dB as this is the limit our eardrums can handle before they begin to get damaged.
Sound Qualities
The goal of subwoofers is to increase the sound quality by increasing the bass, but too much bass can damage the sound quality and so it is all about balance.
To ensure this, you should not only look at the SPL measurement when buying a subwoofer but also the peak power (PP) as this measures pulsing voltage and tells you exactly how high this can go without damaging the sound system.
Achieving your desired sound effect through subwoofers is a very intricate process so it is important to compare the technical specifications to confirm they are compatible with the sound you want to achieve.
Technicalities
Finally when looking at a subwoofer to buy you should really focus on the product specifications as there is so much to consider that has a huge impact on the sound quality that the subwoofer produces.
For example, the power is very important if you want a booming sound system, frequency is important in identifying how low a subwoofer can play audio at, and sensitivity is also closely linked to power as a more sensitive subwoofer will require less power to produce the same sound as a less sensitive model.
To achieve the exact sound effect you want it is crucial that you take into account all the different technical aspects before making a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a subwoofer?
A subwoofer is a large speaker designed to reproduce low-pitched sounds.
Subwoofers affect the sound of an audio clip by altering the bass and making alterations that a regular surround system cannot.
What is the difference between a woofer and a subwoofer?
The terms subwoofer and woofer have become interchangeably used as there are no major differences between the two terms.
Generally, subwoofers are designed to reproduce low frequency sounds below 30Hz level and woofers tend to produce sounds above this level.
Which subwoofer will sound the loudest?
If you are looking for a subwoofer with the main focus being the level of sound output from it you should consider sensitivity, enclosure type, and the available power as all of these will have an impact on the level of sound the subwoofer gives out.