7 Best Underseat Powered Subwoofers for Your Car (2023)
Most cars do not have a lot of extra space that can be used to position subwoofers. However, just because the space isn’t readily available does not mean you have to sacrifice the quality of the music in your car. You go out and get yourself an underseat subwoofer.
An underseat sub is a small subwoofer that comes with an in-built amp, housed in one compact body. This clever design is perfect when it comes to installing a subwoofer for your vehicle, as it eliminates the need for you to get a woofer, pair it with a separate amp and then wire them up as best as you can.
The best place to install a small powered subwoofer would be under the driver’s or passenger’s seat, behind the back seat or in the back seat. This will depend on your type of car.
Finding the perfect underseat subwoofer for your car can be an uphill task, what with the numerous models available in the market today. Don’t fret though; I got you. Below is a list of 7 of the best underseat subwoofers that you just can’t wrong with.
1. Rockville RSW12CA Slim
The Rockville RWS12 slim subwoofer is not only one of the best subwoofers in the Rockville family, but one of the best subwoofers you can find in the market today as well as my personal favorite and top choice!
Below is a list of some features to help you better grasp why this baby kicks ass when it comes to underseat powered subwoofers;
Features
First, it is powerful, and handles up to 12 watts peak power and 400 watts RMS. It is also got;
- A super slim design, with 24 inches * 15 inches * 6.65 inches dimensions,
- High density laminated foam surround,
- 2 inches high temperature aluminum voice coil,
- Impedance of 4 ohms,
- Low level RCA inputs,
- 150 mV to 5 V input level,
- Frequency range of 38 Hz to 500 Hz, and
- 24 dB low pass crossover frequency 50 Hz to 250 Hz
Pros
The Rockville RWS12CA slim;
- produces high quality booming bass,
- is large and powerful,
- has a sleek look,
- is built into a durable enclosure
- comes with a full wire kit with everything you require for quick and easy installation,
- features a quick-connect,
- has auto Turn On/Off –automatically turns on and off when you turn on your stereo and off when it no longer detects a music signal
Cons
While I have nothing but good to say about the Rockville RWS12CA, I will note that in spite of its slim design, it may be too large for some vehicle types.
Final Thought
If you are looking for an underseat subwoofer that looks good and delivers powerfully, then the Rockville RWS12CA is without a doubt your best bet.
2. Rockville RW10CA
My second best choice is the Rockville RW10CA. This subwoofer will fit under most car seats as it is only 10” wide and 2.7” thick.
It is powerful and can gives out 800 watts of peak power and up to 200 watts RMS, while producing clear and crisp bass.
This subwoofer also comes with the following features
Features
- PWM MOSFET Power Supply
- Low Level RCA Input
- High Level Inputs with Auto Turn-On Technology
- Adjustable Input Sensitivity
- Soft Delayed Remote Turn-On
- Thermal Protection Circuit, Short Protection Circuit
- Overload Protection Circuit
- Phase Switch: 0° or 180°
- Low Pass Filter: 50Hz – 150Hz
- Bass Boost: 0 – 18dB @ 45Hz
- Subwoofer Level Remote Control
- Built in Subsonic Filter @ 29Hz
Pros
The Rockville RW10CA;
- comes with high-level input, making it super easy to install,
- has auto Turn On/Off –automatically turns on and off when you turn on your stereo and off when it no longer detects a music signal
- is powerful 800 watts. Can play very loud with no distortions,
- has a big 10-inch cone for deeper bass, and
- has thermal protection
Cons
Just like its sister the Rockville RWS12CA, the Rockville RW10CA falls short on disadvantages. I have however noticed that;
- the sound quality often gets affected by the installation process; hence you need to make extra sure you tighten it in place,
- the build quality is not the best
- it doesn’t have as many outputs as other models
Final Thought
If you own a small car and are looking for a slim subwoofer to fit under the seat, then I suggest you consider the Rockville RW10CA. It won’t let you down.
3. Kicker 11HS8 Hideaway
Kicker is renowned for creating high tech, one of a kind subwoofers. The Kicker 11HS8 is no different. Though small, this baby uses the latest bass technologies to produce great, clear and earth-shaking bass, making it a strong contender in the best underseat subwoofer category.
Features
- compact powered subwoofer
- 8″ woofer
- built-in 150 watts RMS amplifier
- frequency response: 25-120 Hz
- variable low-pass crossover (50-120 Hz)
- variable phase control (0 or 180 degrees)
- bass boost control (0dB to +6dB)
- speaker -level inputs
- auto turn-on switch
- wired remote control
- dimensions: 14-1/4″W x 3-1/4″H x 9-3/8″D
Pros
The Kicker 11HS8 has;
- a compact design
- EQ boost,
- a remote bass,
- aluminum cone,
- wiring harness, as well as
- features gain control
- has efficient spider design
- produces clean bass without distortions, and
- has a powerful prebuilt amplifier of 150 Watts
Cons
This underseat subwoofer;
- produces some rattling noise at high volume,
- has no RCA inputs, and
- is expensive,
Final Thought
If you are looking for an underseat subwoofer that features advanced technology and have no problem digging a little deeper into your pockets, then the Kicker 11HS8 is a great choice for you.
4. Alpine Electronics PWE-S8
The PWE-S8 is an 8-inch subwoofer that looks good and is built to last. It comes in a high quality rugged cast metal enclosure. It is quite heavy, weighing about 10 pounds, which enhances its quality feel as well as enables it to do rather well when you encounter rough, bumpy roads.
It is easy to install, especially if you have RCA connections in your vehicle. Whats more, this 8-inch baby produces a clean, clear and full bass.
Features
- a 120W amplifier, housed together with the sub in the enclosure,
- measurements of 13.5” L x 9” W x 3” D , meaning it can be installed under or behind a seat in a truck, in a sedan’s trunk or in an SUV’s hatch
- 32Hz-150Hz frequency response
- Power Rating: 120W RMS,
- RCA – 0.1-4V,
- Speaker Input of 1.5-30V/auto sensing,
Pros
This subwoofer;
- is Small – making installation under your car seat quite easy,
- produces clean and clear sound
- has an attractive design,
- is durably constructed
Cons
This subwoofer is quite expensive.
Final Thought
If you are looking for a good looking subwoofer which sounds good and is small enough to fit your small car, then the PWE-S8 is it. Just be prepared dig deeper into your pockets.
View Current Price5. Kenwood KSC-SW11
Kenwood is a household name in the car audio sector. The Kenwood KSC-SW11 may be small but it is powerful and has a great aluminum build which absorbs all the heat hence eliminating the risk of the sub overheating.
Features
- aluminum enclosure with 8-1/4″ x 5-1/8″ Sub
- wired remote for control over: volume level
- variable low-pass crossover of 50-12
- 75 watts RMS power and 150 watts maximum
Pros
This subwoofer;
- is low-profile and compact,
- has a pre-built amp,
- has front metal grille for protection,
- has a durable aluminum build, great for heat absorption to avoid overheating and
- is friendly priced
Cons
The Kenwood KSC-SW11 has but a few drawbacks, including;
- doesn’t have really loud bass, and
- is limited when it comes to sound tuning options.
Final Thought
If you are just starting out, with little money to spare and aren’t quite concerned about getting very loud bass, then the Kenwood KSC-SW11 is a pretty good sub to start with.
6. JBL BassProSL
The JBL BassProSL is a small 8-inch sub with an efficient design and an attractive look. It is however not very powerful. It produces a pretty decent bass despite its low power and small stature.
Features
- 8″ JBL BassProSL Powered Under-Seat Compact Subwoofer Enclosure
- Power Output: Peak: 250 Watts
- RMS: 125 Watts
- Efficient Class D Amplifier
- LED power and protect indicators,
- soft start turn-on,
- high-level inputs with Audio sense Auto-on,
- Gold-plated power, ground and remote screw-down connections,
- 3-way protection circuitry for thermal, overload, and speaker short protection,
- wired Bass Remote Controller Ready,
- low sensitivity levels of 200mV – 2V and highs of 2V – 20V
- Frequency Response of 35 – 120 Hz
- Variable low-pass filter of 50 – 120 Hz, 12 dB/octave, variable bass Boost of 0 to +9 dB bass boost at 70 Hz and selectable Phase Switch of 0° – 180°.
Pros
This sub;
- is easy to install,
- has a sturdy and appealing construction,
- has an efficient cool to the touch design,
- has numerous outputs for audio tuning
Cons
This sub is a bit pricier than compared to other subs with the same qualities.
Final Thought
Though small, JBL BassProSL sounds pretty good and is worth a try, the price notwithstanding.
7. Cerwin-Vega Mobile VPAS10
Last but not least is the Cerwin-Vega mobile VPAS10. This subwoofer is both powerful can handle power of 200 watts RMS with a 450 watts peak power. It also comes in a compact design, ideal for you if you are looking to save space.
Features
This baby comes with some very handy features including;
- a 10-inch woofer, for loud and high quality bass,
- a compact design so it can fit in even very small spaces,
- uses adjustable input sensitivity, which enables you to set the sensitivity to your preferred levels,
- delayed turn-on feature, which ensures you don’t worry about ear shock, and
- an aluminum circuit for thermal protection
Pros
This sub has a number of great qualities including;
- phase switch,
- bass boost,
- MOSFET power supply,
- has adjustable low-pass filter,
- has thermal protection,
- comes with RCA inputs,
Cons
This subwoofer is expensive.
Final Thought
Though small, the Cerwin-Vega mobile VPAS10 delivers pretty well. Get it if the price tag is not a hindrance.
Conclusion
Underseat subwoofers come in various shapes, sizes and prices. The best underseat sub for you should be one that fits well in your car, has a durable construction, is affordable and of course, one that sounds great.
Getting one that looks good wouldn’t hurt though, this factor is not so crucial given that it is underseat sub that will most probably be out of sight at all times. If you are also in search for other types of car subwoofers please check this post.
