BEST SUBWOOFER UNDER $500 IN 2025

Best Subwoofer Under $500 Reviewed

One of the most sought feelings in the world of audio systems is the pleasure of being rumbled by the sound of a subwoofer. From the beats of a song to the most intense movie scenes, the Subwoofer makes everything complete. Although, at a glance, a dedicated subwoofer may seem too expensive for most people. So to work around that, we scoured the internet to find the best subwoofers under $500, so you can enjoy those beats at a reasonable price.

Let’s start with a subwoofer from Yamaha, one of the most famous companies to ever produce audio equipment with their 100W powered Subwoofer dubbed as the NS-SW100BL. While delivering exceptional sound quality, this Subwoofer is not the best when it comes to convenience. Let’s take a more in-depth look.

First of all, the design on this powered Subwoofer is phenomenal, even with simple and minimalistic design, this Subwoofer will blend in with any receiver and speaker system in terms of looks. Not only that, but some of the design on this Subwoofer is also functional. For instance, the side port is called the Twisted Flare Port for its system, which also helps the air pressure escape more efficiently, and in return, this port will result with beating out more natural sounds.

Other than that, this Subwoofer also has integrated the Advanced Yamaha Active Servo Technology II which helps in processing the input signal to make it cleaner and prevent distortions. However, on the downside, this Subwoofer loses some practicality and convenience that most subwoofers have. On the back panel, you’ll only see two controls, first is the power button, and second is the volume knob. The power button is manual, unlike other subs that turn on automatically when they received a signal. While lastly, the input is the standard auxiliary port.

Overall, there is only one question to be asked if you’re considering this sub. Are you willing to work around the downsides? But either way, the sound quality secures its place as one of the best subwoofers you can get under $500.

If you want to have something more refined and offers a lot more features, then the Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer is for you. With its exquisite design and a handful of signal processing features, you won’t go wrong with this. Let’s take an in-depth look at what the Klipsch R-12SW has to offer.

Let’s first discuss its design, the enclosure is made out of a brushed black polymer veneer, and once you remove the front mesh, you’ll be greeted with a beautiful 12-inch copper-spun woofer. On the rear, you’ll also find the simple yet large port to let the air pressure escape and add to the bass quality. In terms of design, this might be the best looking on this list.

On the rear, you’ll find the different knobs, switches, and input plugs to control this Subwoofer. From the left there’s the gain knob which essentially serves as the volume, there’s also a Low-pass filter knob that ranges from 40Hz-120Hz, in which you can fine-tune the bass frequencies that goes in the Subwoofer. Other than that you’ll find the switches for the power which switches from on, auto, and off. Beside that is the Phase switch that changes from 0° to 180°. And finally, you have your stereo input jacks.

The sound quality is terrific, and this is thanks to the 400W of maximum output power provided by the All-digital amplifier. But all power will go to waste without a proper woofer, and as I mentioned earlier, the copper spun woofer is more sensitive to frequencies and brings the frequency response down to around 29Hz-120Hz. Together with the built-in low pass filter and phase control, you can now precisely and quickly fine-tune your bass tones. And in the end, the great looks and precise tuneability makes this Subwoofer one of the best, especially for under $500.

The last Subwoofer on this list is the BIC America F12, and from my perspective, this is the one to get if you’re an audiophile. Take a look at the features, and find out why this is for audiophiles.

Let’s talk design first. The cabinet enclosure looks and feels similar to the veneer on the previously mentioned Klipsch R-12SW. On the front, there’s the large 12-inch Subwoofer which looks identical to the Klipsch R-12SW but without the copper coloring. Moving on to the back, where there’s a ton of options for connectivity, there are binding posts for input and output which are handy for receivers that don’t have a proper auxiliary sub output. Other than that there are also ports for the standard sub out, and you’ll also find a switch to set the sub for a Digital standard receiver or a Dolby Pro Logic receiver. So in terms of versatility and audio inputs, this won’t be last.

The large 12-inch woofer is capable of handling a maximum output power of 475W, and together with the BIC Venturi Port and a frequency response of 25Hz-200Hz, this will sound rich, tight, and powerful. And if you’re not yet satisfied with that, the user can also change up some parameters on the back. One is the low pass filter to filter out unnecessary frequencies. And second is the phase switch.

Overall, I’d recommend this the most as you’ll get everything here and this is the most powerful one on this list.

These are the best Subwoofers under $500, let us know what you think. And check out the speakers, and get the one for you today and enjoy a better listening experience!

FAQ: Frequent questions

? Which is the best?

Yamaha 10-Inch 100W Powered Subwoofer

? How did we test them?

We tested 5 products, researched 18 sources, evaluated 102 reviews and spent 9+ hours on our guide.

? What should you look at before buying?

When choosing it’s best to make a decision based on the price/quality, functionality and compatibility with other devices/technologies.