SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
Dimensions: 13.5 x 13 x 14.7 inches (with grille) | Frequency response: 20Hz – 270Hz | Wattage (RMS): 325W
Best for: Deeper bass at a reasonable price.
Pros:
- Nice design
- Good power for anything but large rooms
- Works with a smartphone app
Cons:
- Power isn’t as high as some
- Different colors cost more
If you’re looking for a great subwoofer that delivers deep, booming bass at a decent price, the SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed subwoofer boasts a solid design, a frequency range of 20Hz to 270Hz and more. As with most of the picks on this list, you’ll need a good place for the subwoofer, but as long as you have a spare corner, it should blend in with most living rooms. It’s available in a few different colors too, though some cost a little extra.
The subwoofer can deliver a decent amount of power, though not quite as much as other options. It offers a wattage of 325W, and delivers enough power through its 12-inch speaker for most small and medium-sized rooms. For a large room, it’s worth considering our upgrade pick below, the SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer. The subwoofer has Bluetooth connectivity, which allows control through a smartphone app, but there are controls on the back to quickly and easily control levels.
What the reviews say: One reviewer on Amazon particularly liked using the app for the subwoofer. “The app is really helpful because you can listen to music or movie while adjusting settings. It gives instant feedback on what settings sound best.”
Best Subwoofer For Home Theaters
Big, Deep Booms For Large Rooms
SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
Dimensions: 15.6 x 15.2 x 17.8 inches | Frequency response: 18Hz – 270Hz | Wattage (RMS): 800W
Best For: Larger rooms and bigger bass.
Pros:
- Deep, loud bass
- Nice design
- App support
Cons:
- A bit pricier
- Nicer finishes cost more
If you like what SVS has to offer but have a larger room or need deeper bass, then the SVS SB-3000 is basically a step up from our best subwoofer overall, the SB-1000 Pro, giving it louder bass and a bigger speaker. It only has a 13-inch subwoofer, but that’s only part of the louder speaker story. It also offers 800W of power, meaning that it can easily deliver a significantly louder bass.—which can come in handy if you have a larger room.
You’ll get many other features in this subwoofer such as support for the app and controls on the back for easy tweaks. Plus, it looks great. The downsides? Well, it’s a bit more expensive than the SB-1000 Pro, and like that model, you’ll pay even more for different finishes. Still, if you want super deep bass and powerful audio, it’s a great option.
What the reviews say: One reviewer liked its adjustability from where you’re sitting. “The app allows you to tweak the parameters of the subwoofer’s amp from your listening position.”
Best Subwoofer For Design
Looks As Good As It Sounds
Polk Audio HTS 10 Powered Subwoofer
Dimensions: 16.6 x 15.1 x 16.1 inches | Frequency response: 25Hz – 180Hz | Wattage (RMS): 100W
Best For: Living rooms without a hidden corner.
Pros:
- Sleek design suits most modern living rooms
- Not overly expensive
Cons:
- Not as powerful as some
For a subwoofer you can put on full display without worrying about having a big cube central to your home theater, the Polk Audio HTS 10 subwoofer is a great option. It’s still a big cube, but it’s a pretty big cube thanks to its nice, rounded corners, sleek black look and cool-looking foot.
There’s more to the Polk Audio HTS 10 than just good looks. The subwoofer sounds excellent, too. Polk Audio has a long and storied history in home audio, and the HTS 10 represents why. It has a 10-inch speaker with a 200W amplifier, so while it’s not as powerful as some other options on this list, it should do the job for most small and medium living rooms. On the back, like some others, you’ll get volume control, a low pass filter and audio inputs.
What the reviews say: One reviewer on Amazon was impressed with just how powerful the HTS 10 was. “During movies it has plenty of thump, but what impresses me is how it sounds when playing music. While listening to concerts by the Dead and Company, Billy Strings and the Trey Anastasio Band, the bass is more nimble and musical. The speaker produces cleaner bass without the boomy sound some subwoofers produce.”
Best Value Subwoofer
Punching Above Its Weight Class
Monoprice SW-12 Powered Subwoofer
Dimensions: 14.9 x 18.3 x 19.1 inches | Frequency response: 33Hz – 150Hz | Wattage (RMS): 400W
Best For: Earth-shattering bass on a budget.
Pros:
- Good bass for the price
- Relatively sleek design
Cons
- Not as deep as some others
- No extra features like app support
The Monoprice SW-12 is the subwoofer to get if you still want that deep bass without paying more than necessary. The subwoofer has a 12-inch speaker, which is capable of producing between 33 and 150Hz. It has a down-firing port, and has adjustments for overall volume, as well as for phases—and all for only a few hundred dollars.
The subwoofer won’t perform quite as well as some of the bigger, more expensive options on this list. The speaker is a little smaller than some (though not much), and there’s no app to quickly make adjustments. These features, however, wouldn’t necessarily be expected for a subwoofer in this price range, and it still performs where it counts with great bass response.
What the reviews say: The price-to-performance ratio was particularly impressive for one reviewer on Amazon. “The Monoprice SW-12 400Watts RMS far exceeded my expectations. It’s a third of a price of the SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer, and the bass sounds really tight and clean without any distortion.”
Best Sonos Subwoofer
Excellent Audio If You’re A Sonos Fan
Sonos Sub (Gen 3)
Dimensions: 15.3 x 15.8 x 6.2 inches | Frequency response: Down to 25Hz.
Best for: Pairing with your Sonos soundbar.
Pros:
- Great design
- Can get nice and loud
- Wireless connectivity
Cons:
- Only works with Sonos products
Have a Sonos soundbar but want a little more oomph from it? The third-generation Sonos Sub offers a stunning design, excellent low-end boost and easy wireless pairing with any Sonos soundbar. That’s easily one of the best things about this subwoofer—it’s so easy to set up and connects wirelessly, so you don’t have to run cable through your living room. It can be paired via the Sonos app with a Sonos Ray, Sonos Beam or Sonos Arc (two of which, the Sonos Beam and Sonos Arc, made our best soundbars picks). And, because it’s wireless, you can place it anywhere in your living room.
It’s not all just looks and wireless connectivity though. The Sonos Sub sounds excellent, too. It delivers plenty of boom for even larger living rooms, and most find that it gets too loud for their situation. Thankfully, you can adjust the volume in the Sonos app. Note, if you don’t want all that boom, consider the Sonos Sub Mini, which is better served for smaller and mid-sized living rooms.
What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon love the fact that it’s perfectly set up for use with other Sonos products. “This thing works seamlessly with my Sonos soundbar right out of the box. It’s already pre-tuned to sound amazing.”
Best Small Sonos Subwoofer
Instant Sonos Connectivity In A Compact Package
Sonos Sub Mini
Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 9 inches | Frequency response: Down to 25Hz
Best for: Pairing with Sonos soundbars without taking up much room.
Pros:
- Instant Sonos connectivity
- Deep-sounding bass
- Smart features controlled through the app
Cons:
- Only works with Sonos products
The Sonos Sub Mini offers all the same smart features as the larger Sonos Sub (Gen 3), but in a smaller package and at a lower price. The Sub Mini also comes in black or white, and also has a unique design—but it only measures 12 inches tall, and 9 inches in diameter.
Thankfully, the Sub Mini works with all the same products as the larger Sonos Sub, including the likes of the Sonos Arc and Sonos Beam. And, it works with the same much-loved Sonos app, and connects wirelessly, which makes it very easy to use.
What our writers say: Our writer loves the compact size of the Sub Mini. “The Sonos Sub Mini may not be quite as powerful as the Sonos Sub, but it’s still easily deep enough for most, and comes at a lower price and in a smaller package.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- Forbes Vetted contributor Christian de Looper, the author of this story, is a tech journalist. Some of his latest work includes guides to the best karaoke machines, waterproof headphones and turntables. He has extensive experience in consumer audio, and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Music Technology.
- This article and its iterations are overseen by tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs. She regularly reviews dozens of tech products, attends trade shows and shares her favorite tech essentials like the best Roku devices, writing tablets and more.
- We are constantly evaluating and updating our content to make sure it’s current and accurate. This story was last updated in May 2024 to add the Monoprice SW-12 Powered Subwoofer as our value pick.
How We Chose The Best Subwoofers
To find the best subwoofers, we combined research with hands-on testing to seek out reputable brands and compare key features.
- We tracked down bestselling models from well-known brands that we love and trust, including Monoprice, Sonos and more.
- We analyzed the features of each subwoofer, including dimensions, speaker size, wattage and any additional features that are commonly useful in the home theater.
- Because everyone has different home theater needs, we made sure to include a variety of subwoofers across budgets and living spaces, so you can find the best subwoofer for your home theater needs.
Do I Need A Subwoofer?
Not necessarily, but it can seriously help. If you’re perfectly happy with the way your system sounds, then you don’t need a subwoofer. But if you find it’s lacking in the low-end, or even a little weak, it’s definitely worth investing in a subwoofer to round out the lower frequencies.
Are Bigger Subwoofers Better?
It depends on what you mean by “better.” Based on the laws of physics, bigger speakers can produce lower frequencies. But not everyone needs a speaker that can produce the lowest of the low frequencies, and buying something a little smaller may be a trade-off that you’re willing to make.
What Is A Good Wattage For Subwoofers?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Smaller, lower-power subwoofers go as low as 150 watts, but larger ones range up to 1000 watts. For smaller living rooms, something between 100 and 300 watts is perfectly fine. For larger subwoofers, it’s recommended you buy a subwoofer with between 400 and 600 watts. Super high-end subwoofers can go over 1000 watts.
How Much Does A Subwoofer Cost?
Subwoofers can greatly vary in price. Our best value pick—Monoprice SW-12 Powered Subwoofer—is often on sale for only a few hundred dollars, but high-end subwoofers can cost over $1,000. Our top pick, the SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer, doesn’t quite cost that much at around $800.
