When you roll up the car windows and decide that it’s time to enjoy some good music on the go, all you think about is that sweet bass you are just about to encounter. Your mind starts preparing to get lost in the awesomeness of the kicks delivered by your subs. If you don’t have great subs, however, this is an experience you will only hear about (like the way we are telling you).
Installing a 10-inch subwoofer in your car will completely change the way you listen to music. This car audio component is a must-have for any music lover. This subs are very easy to install and can be fitted in small spaces. Our review this time focused on the best 10 inch subwoofers in 2020 to help you build a stereo system with a decent bass and more sonic clarity.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table for Top 10 Inch Subwoofers
Subwoofer Name | Power Output | Sensitivity | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockford Fosgate P3D4 [Overall Best] | Peak:1000w | 82dB | ||
Peak:1200w | 91dB | |||
Pyle PLPW10D[Budget Choice] | Peak:1000w | 90dB | ||
Peak:800w | 115dB | |||
Peak:600w | 82dB | |||
Peak:600w | 84dB | |||
Planet Audio AC10D [Least expensive] | Peak:1500w | 87dB | ||
Peak:400w | 82dB | |||
Peak:1200w | INPUT SENSITIVITY SELECTOR: 0.2V-6V | |||
Peak:1000w | 92dB |
Our Review Process
So, we armed our review arsenal with the best sound engineering knowledge, installation expertise and experience from real users. This time we were going to hunt for 10-inch subs that have highly competitive quality and performance qualities. As usual, for every unit to be considered for the final countdown, it had to portray a unique ability to perform better than most units.
And so we did what we love doing every day – investigating different car audio equipment supplied by top brands to help you purchase the best and only the best.
Our engineers wore their gloves, installation experts armed themselves with the right tools and real users opened their eyes and ears wide to make sure every sub on the review table was thoroughly investigated.
After a few days of intensive inspection and careful selection, our top editors compiled this list of best 10” subs:
1. Rockford Fosgate P3D4 Overall Best Component Sub
We kick off our review with one of Rockford Fosgate’s best pieces: the P3D4 10" Punch Subwoofer. It’s quite difficult to beat this brand in many sonic aspects. The P3D4’s power handling is mind-blowing and its eye-catching design assures you that it is a monster when it comes to sound performance.
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch Features
Pros
Cons
Our say: Is deep, loud, and aggressive bass from a powerful and premium quality sub what is in your head right now? The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch is your best bet to realize that idea.
Buy the P3D4 without a doubt about excellent sound performance.
2. Pioneer TS-SW2502S4 Shallow-Mount Sub
It’s not easy to find a hard-hitting sub that can fit in a slender enclosure and still deliver the high bass performance you need. This shallow-mount sub will impress you with its powerful performance and premium features, and you’ll be sure to give your car stereo the uplift it needs to sound awesome.
Unique features and benefits of Pioneer TS-SW2502S4
The good
The bad
Our say: If lack of space is your major hindrance from louder and deeper sound, Pioneer provides a way around this obstacle. The TS-SW2502S4 is a small powerhouse that can give you really low bass frequencies without requiring much space.
Upgrade your car stereo with a 10-inch sub from a reputable brand: buy Pioneer TS-SW2502S4 and you’ll not be disappointed.
3. Pyle PLPW10D
Pyle serves the market with audio equipment that consistently reinstates its position as the unbeaten leader when it comes to enhancing the quality and sound performance of any audio system. If you are the relentless bass lover, you will be fascinated by the head-turning bass that the PLPW10D 1000-Watt subwoofer delivers.
Features of the Pyle Powerhouse
The good
The bad
Our say: Whether you want to equip your car, motorcycle, or boat with superior quality sound, this is the most versatile sub you will ever get for that purpose.
Get Pyle PLPW10D on your automobile today and experience MAX power from your audio system.
4. MTX Magnum MB210SP Dual
Is a powered set of 10-inch subwoofers a good addition to your car’s audio system? MTX Magnum MB210SP Dual answers this question by giving you stellar sound performance in an all-in-one package that’s extremely easy to install.
See more attributes of this subwoofer below;
Why choose MTX Magnum MB210SP Dual
Pros
Cons
Our view: Adding bass to your vehicle system doesn’t have to be challenging. Install the Magnum MB210SP, one of the best powered 10-inch subs on the market.
Discover the best of MTX Magnum. Check out the MB210SP on Amazon today.
5. Rockford Fosgate P300-10 Punch
Rockford Fosgate AGAIN!
Coming in at number 5 is one of Rockford Fosgate’s best pieces: the P300-10 10" Punch Subwoofer. It comes to the top 5 with really strong bass made possible by the 300-watt amplifier built in a compact design, which also allows it to be mounted in small spaces.
Features and benefits of Rockford Fosgate P300-10 Punch
Pros
Cons
Our view: The P300-10 impressed the majority of reviewers in our team. It beat most subs in sound quality, engineering and appearance. We are convinced that it’s one of the best 10 inch subwoofers in 2020.
The value you get from the P300-10 surpasses its price by far and this makes it a definite pick.
6. 10W0V3-4 - JL Audio
Featuring superior excursion ability, linearity, and excellent overall performance, JL Audio’s WOV3-4 promises you better sound fidelity and improved sub-bass quality. Set this powerhouse up properly and match it with an appropriate power source to get well-rounded sound that cannot be obtained by any other sub in its price range.
What to expect from 10W0V3-4 - JL Audio subwoofer
Pros
Cons
Our verdict: Should you be looking for a subwoofer that is strongly built and one that produces amazing bass, this unit will exceed your expectations
The features and performance of JL Audio 10W0V3-4 are going to blow your mind away.
7. Planet Audio AC10D
If you are looking for cleaner and tighter sound, look no further than Planet Audio AC10D. It’s among the most powerful 10-inch subs we reviewed as evidenced by its 1500w peak power handling. This compact system easily hides in the quiet spaces of your vehicle but gives out a sound quality that completely defies its size.
Features of Planet Audio AC10D
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Planet Audio AC10D is a worthy investment into a car stereo for those looking for a quick and easy upgrade from factory sound. It is impressively powerful and comes with a favorable price tag.
Try out this subwoofer and quench your thirst for sound with deep, precise bass.
8. New Rockford Fosgate R2 Ultra Shallow
Is space limiting your music to small, unsatisfying tunes that leave you angrier rather than entertained?
Kill the anger with Rockford Fosgate R2 ultra shallow subwoofer, a bass powerhouse built with an intuitive structure to handle high power even in small spaces. We inspected the sub’s features and performance abilities.
What makes Rockford Fosgate the best?
Pros
Cons
Verdict: The stress of finding a subwoofer that can deliver superior sound from tight spaces comes to an end with the R2 ultra shallow sub. You’ll love this compact sub for how hard it beats.
Claim your R2 ultra-shallow sub on Amazon while stock lasts.
9. Sound Storm LOPRO10
You may not have heard much about the Sound Storm Labs (SSL) brand from us. Nevertheless, it appeared in our list of best 10 inch subwoofers 2020 for a reason. At just around $150, the LOPRO10 gives your music that extra punch it needs to provide the juice you have been looking for.
LOPRO10 Unique Features
Pros
Cons
Verdict: The LOPRO10 offers unique goodies like remote control. It is super-compact and you can adjust your music accordingly. With the impressive sound quality it delivers, the sub is something worth checking out.
Looking for a super-compact subwoofer that’s favorably priced? The LOPRO10 won’t disappoint.
10. JBL S2-1024SS
Until the JBL S2-1024SS was brought to the review table, we weren’t fast to consider box design as a very crucial feature. But the way JBL has married subwoofer performance and box design in the S2-1024SS model granted the sub a position in the top 10-inch subwoofers list.
Why choose JBL S2-1024SS
Pros
Cons
Verdict: JBL has added quite intuitive features in this 1000 watts RMS 250 watts peak power subwoofer. It is the best option for a forward-thinking sound enthusiast.
Bass: Tick! Power: Tick! Flexibility: Tick! Durability: Tick! This is great value for your money.
What to Look for When Buying a 10-inch Subwoofer?
Choosing a 10-inch subwoofer isn’t a complicated process. It’s basically a 3-step process in which:
- You identify the aspects that you need to check
- Award each subwoofer marks based on how it performs in a particular aspect
- Add up the scores.
And…Voila!
You’ve got a winner.
But you’ll also make special considerations based on your preferences. For instance, if bass output is top on your priority list, then you will not shy from picking the most powerful speaker (based on power handling capability) even if it might be highly priced.
Let’s get down to what you should look for when buying a 10-inch sub.
1. Power Handling
Subwoofers are built for the bass, and we can’t live without the bass. That’s why being keen on a speaker’s power handling is very crucial. Essentially, you will look at the RMS and peak power (MAX) rating.
You can rely more on RMS as some manufacturers exaggerate MAX power. The higher the RMS rating, the more powerful the sub is. But don’t also forget that your stereo system has an amp. So, choose a sub whose power handling matches with that of the amp to achieve better sound quality.
2. Sensitivity
A speaker can have high power handling capability but still fail to produce great sound as expected. Often, it’s because of low sensitivity, which is the speaker’s efficiency to convert power to sound.
To achieve better sound at all volumes, you need a sub with high sensitivity. Select subs with a sensitivity rating between 80 and 100 decibels.
3. Does the Speaker Have Single or Dual Voice Coils?
The voice coil component produces sound by pressing and pulling the subwoofer cone repeatedly. The majority of subs on the market have either one voice coil or two separate coils connected to the cone.
You said you are after the bass; go for dual voice coils (indicated as DVC). DVC subs are preferred by bass enthusiasts because you can connect both loops in parallel to achieve maximum bass output.
4. Enclosure type – Determines the Type of Bass
If you pick a subwoofer at random today, you’ll find that it either has a vented enclosure or a sealed ring. What you pick depends on the type of bass you want.
Vented enclosures are for higher volumes while a sealed ring delivers deeper bass.
5. Cone Size and Material
In sound reproduction, the surface area of the cone is a critical factor for the loudness achieved. Larger cones or cones with special extendable design features (for example the VAST technology) are the best. Don’t forget to choose the best cone material too.
Other important factors include:
With clear knowledge of what to look for when evaluating every 10-inch subwoofer, you can now go ahead to give the speakers a score and finally choose the one you think satisfies your requirements and preferences.
10-Inch Subwoofers: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which is better - single or dual voice coil 10-inch subwoofer?
A: Choosing between a single voice coil (SVC) and dual voice coil (DVC) sub is an issue of flexibility, not of which sub performs better. If you want to build your audio system and take full advantage of the amplifier, a DVC sub is the better choice. A DVC provides multiple impedance connections that allow you to better match the available amplifier impedance options. You can maximize the power available from the amp using a DVC sub, which isn’t possible with a SVC sub. Also, with a DVC you can add other amps or subs to the system in future.
Q: Why does cone material matter?
A: Common materials for subwoofer cones include treated paper, synthetics such as polypropylene, and composites like injection-molded quartz and aluminum. Paper is lightweight. It responds quicker compared to other materials. To enhance the durability of the cone, manufacturers coat the paper with a layer of carbon fiber, polyglass, Kevlar, or CSX. All said and done, treated paper is less durable that other materials.
Polypropylene is lightweight but more rigid than paper. Manufacturers find it easy to work with, which is why it is the most common cone material. Polypropylene adds more protection to your cone against moisture, mold and mildew. It has a small influence on the quality of sound.
Metals such as aluminum and magnesium are also popular options for cone material. They are more rigid, and this makes them ideal for bigger subs. Metal cones are highly durable.
Q: How much power does my 10-inch sub need?
A: Each sub has a recommended power range. Check the RMS rating listed in the sub’s specifications. The lower number in the range is the minimum amount of wattage the sub needs to deliver. Moving toward the bigger number means the sub receives more power. Bass notes are generally more power hungry. Subs deliver louder and punchier sound when coupled with an amplifier that has RMS ratings in the upper end of the sub’s power range.
There is no problem with your amp’s RMS output exceeding the sub’s maximum RMS output. You just have to ensure that you don’t turn up the volume knob too high to damage the speaker.
Q: What kind of enclosure should I get for my 10-inch sub — ported, sealed, or bandpass?
A: There are three main types of subwoofer enclosures – ported, sealed, and bandpass. Whichever type you choose, make sure that the box is tightly-constructed for optimum subwoofer performance
If you are looking for deep, precise bass, go for sealed boxes. Sealed enclosures are the best for deep bass extension and power handling. However, they need more power than ported boxes
Ported enclosures are perfect for forceful bass. They provide deeper bass than sealed boxes at any amplifier wattage, and are thus loved by fans of rock, heavy metal, and any other hard-driving music.
Bandpass boxes are designed for maximum slam. They produce extra loud sound with a narrow frequency range. Their aggressive sound is suitable for reggae, rap, and hard-rock.
Q: Which is the best 10-inch sub for my truck or pickups?
A: Small, compact and enclosed subs are always good for trucks. You can find an enclosed sub that can fit in your truck’s interior. It always helps to measure the clearances in your vehicle to know for sure if a sub and its enclosure will fit.
Q: Must I install an aftermarket stereo to use with my new sub?
A: Hooking up an aftermarket stereo with a 10-inch sub means you will get cleaner sound with or without an amplifier. You can also use the sub with a factory system and an amplifier. Whichever stereo system you have, you will need to make wire connections to get to the high-level signal the stereo puts out. Then, you can use a line output converter to lower the strength of the signal before sending it to the amp.
Rockford Fosgate P3D4 is Our Winner
We settled on the P3D4 as the best 10-inch subwoofer of 2020 because it ticked yes to the most important factors one should consider when choosing the best sub.
This speaker has superior power handling which enables it to drive more power through the system. It achieved loud sound which was impressively clean and had deep and accurate bass. The speaker also features VAST cone technology and FlexFit basket design top-notch design to support its high performance demands.