Serious sound enthusiasts are always on the lookout for ways to improve the way their audio systems deliver sound. One of the easiest and least expensive routes to higher-quality music is enclosing a speaker in an appropriate speaker box.
Most big speakers and subwoofers need an enclosure for several reasons. First, the enclosure gathers sound frequencies and directs them in the same direction. In the absence of an enclosure, a speaker can produce sounds of varying frequencies from both the front and the back side. Since these frequencies are not in unison, the overall sound quality is significantly affected. With a subwoofer box, this issue is rectified, so your sound drivers can deliver more accurate sound.
Table of Contents
The Comparison Table for a Quick Glance
Subwoofer Box | Size/ Sealed or Vented | Single or Dual | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bbox E12ST | Sealed – for 12” subs | Single | ||
Vented – for 12” subs | Single | |||
Vented – for 15” subs | Dual | |||
Sealed – for 10” subs | Dual | |||
Sealed – for 6 X 9 speakers | Comes as a pair |
How we chose the top 5 best Subwoofer boxes
We set out to find the top-performing sub boxes in a bid to help you choose the best one for your speakers or subwoofer(s). As usual, our hunt starts from analyzing the market to know which brands are offering competitive products. In this first stage, we found out that Bbox, American Sound Connection, QPower QBASS, and Rockville are the heavyweights in the competition for the best manufacturers of subwoofer enclosures.
We reviewed offers by each of these manufacturers on the basis of aspects such as enclosure material, quality of construction, and durability. This step gave us a wide selection of best-performing sub boxes for each manufacturer. We intensified our selection criteria by adding price considerations as well as an analysis of reviews from major ecommerce sites. After analyzing the huge amounts of data from real customer reviews, we were convinced that the following top 5 subwoofer boxes satisfy our selection criteria as well as customers’ needs.
And, now, here are the winners of top 5 sub boxes in 2022:
1. Bbox E12ST Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure – Overall best
This Bbox sub enclosure boasts of being one of the strongest and best performing sub boxes across all brands. Bbox designed every aspect of this box aiming at eliminating any noise or vibration for superior bass reproduction. Besides, the shape of the enclosure is ideal for installation in small spaces, as explained further in the features section below.
Features of Bbox E12ST sub box
What we liked
What we didn’t like
Verdict: Many users have reviewed this Bbox E12ST Pro-Series 12-inch subwoofer box as the number one choice of enclosure for a 12-inch sub. The box looks and feels like great quality, and its performance is unparalleled.
You are looking for tight and accurate bass from your 12-inch sub; this sub box will give you exactly that.
2. Car Audio Single 12" Vented Sub Box
If you are looking for more bass, go for a vented sub box that will work with your subwoofer. This single 12-inch enclosure by ASC can work with many brands and models of subwoofers. It is made to fit precisely in your car and provide the best connection for the speaker terminals.
What makes this Car Audio single sub box unique?
What we liked
What we didn’t like
Verdict: The ASC single 12-inch sub box is a good choice for beginners. Despite this box having a few build issues that are easy to resolve, it rightfully ranks among the best subwoofer enclosures for more bass production.
Get this sub box for your subwoofer and you will experience massive change in the way the sub delivers low frequencies.
3. QPower QBASS Dual 15” Vented Sub Enclosure
This QPower subwoofer box hits the bass hard and provides clear music to impress you and your passengers. Although this box is a bit more expensive than other sub boxes we’ve reviewed here, it will give you’re a sound that you’ll love driving to. See below how this top performer distinguishes itself from the rest of the pack.
Features of QPower QBASS Dual 15-inch Sub box
What we liked
What we didn’t like
Verdict: This QPower QBass pre-fab sub box is a great choice for someone who wants to assemble a strong sub box that will hit at max without any issues. You can bank on the strong MDF box that this enclosure will last long even under heavy abuse.
You’ve done a great job in selecting the best pair of subs for your audio system. Finish the job well with this strong sub box.
4. Rockville Dual 10" Sub Box
Rockville has made a box that works with the majority of modern-day subwoofers. Whichever sound system you are using, this Rockville dual sub box is designed to work with it. Purchase the box to maximize your sound system’s performance. With it, you’ll save money and space as you do not have to buy two boxes for your pair of 10-inch speakers.
Unique features of Rockville dual 10-inch sub box
What we liked
What we didn’t like
Verdict: Choosing to use this Rockville sub box is an easy decision as it has several major advantages. From its rigid construction to seamless MDF bonds, every aspect of this enclosure’s construction contributes immensely to its ability to support the production of tight, crisp, undistorted sound.
Go for this dual sub enclosure if you want the highest quality of sound from your 10-inch speakers.
5. Atrend 6X9PR
You could be having some really good 6 by 9 speakers but they aren’t giving you the bass you want. Mounting them in this Atrend speaker box will complete the equation. The enclosure boosts your speakers’ midbass output significantly. You can rely on them for bass even if you don’t have a subwoofer in the system.
Why the Atrend 6X9PR rocks
What we liked
What we didn’t like
Verdict: You don’t have to stress over big sub boxes if you just want to add some bass in the output of your 6 by 9 speakers. The Atrend 6X9PR speaker boxes come as a pair so that you can mount each of your speakers in a separate box and install the package conveniently in your vehicle.
There is no better deal for a strong 6X9 speaker enclosure than the Atrend 6X9PR. Check out its incredible price today.
Guide to choosing the Best subwoofer box
Since there are many different types and designs of subwoofer boxes, it helps to understand the important considerations one should make when choosing the best box for your speakers. These considerations revolve around sizing, design, and construction material. Let’s discuss each of them in detail below:
i. Size of enclosure
While it’s clear that a subwoofer enclosure increases the back space for speakers to produce bigger sound, not any size can fit every speaker. The subwoofer or speaker you have will determine the size of the enclosure to buy. Manufacturers of speakers indicate the recommended size of enclosure for each speaker. Make sure to check these recommendations and search for the respective enclosure. If you have a 10-inch sub, for example, look for the best subwoofer box for 10” subs. The same applies for all other sizes of speakers and subwoofers.
ii.Type of subwoofer box
The sound you receive from your sub will be influenced greatly by the type of enclosure to which you have mounted the subwoofer. The three main enclosure types are sealed, ported, and bandpass enclosures.
Sealed enclosures seal the sub in a box and give out excellent sound quality. These boxes are best known for tight & accurate bass. They taking less space compared to ported boxes, but they also need more power to produce a higher quality of sound. Thus, your speaker system needs to be adequately powered should you plan to use a sealed enclosure.
Ported boxes are more efficient than sealed enclosures, and they give out louder sound. If your focus is majorly on bass volume, then a ported enclosure is your best bet. The downward of using this type of boxes is that they take more space, so you might want to check your space requirements carefully.
Bandpass enclosures combine properties of sealed and ported boxes. In one compartment, the box is sealed, and the other compartment is vented. This enclosure type provides a significant bass boost while maintaining a good level of efficiency.
iii. Installation space requirements
The size of a sub enclosure has more implications besides the kind of sound it supports. You need to consider the space needs of the location where you intend to install your completely mounted subwoofer. If you don’t have space limitations, go for any sub enclosure as long as it suits your subwoofer. However, if the only locations left for the installation of subs have limited spaces, then you have to think along the lines of space-efficient sub boxes like the ones we have reviewed above.
iv. Material
The common materials used to make sub enclosures include medium density fiberboard (MDF), standard wood, fiberglass, and plywood. Of all these options, MDF is most preferred because it is thick, sturdy, and durable. When choosing an enclosure made with MDF material, check its thickness to ensure that it is at least ½” thick. This thickness is enough to avoid sound distortion, but the thicker the better. Fiberglass is a great choice too as it is strong and light. This material holds up to temperature and weather changes, thus it can maintain the quality of sound given out by your speakers.
v. Subwoofer Mounting depth
The sub’s mounting depth should be less than the enclosure’s depth so that there is a gap between the sub and the interior surface of the box. Subs need enough space behind them for proper air movement and optimum sound production. If the space between the sound driver and the enclosure is too small, the sound volume attainable is limited, and the chances of subwoofer overheating are high. Thus, mounting depth is a very crucial consideration when buying or making a custom sub enclosure.
Our pick for the best subwoofer box is Bbox E12ST
It is a sealed enclosure made by one of the most reputable manufacturers of subwoofer boxes – Bbox. The E12ST features Miter & Dabo construction, which is the strongest design that Bbox has discovered. This no-flex design ensures that the box remains structurally faithful to superior bass production for years.
Another aspect that makes this enclosure win the hearts of many bass fans is its small size. Today’s cars are becoming more and more compact, and any car owner would appreciate an audio accessory whose design is aimed at saving installation space. The E12ST sub box features a wedge shape that fits in many tight space applications.
This sub box is one of the most suitable sub enclosures for anyone who needs deeper bass but doesn’t have much space in the trunk to install a big subwoofer box. You will not believe the uplift this sealed sub box will give your car audio quality. Try this very pocket-friendly option with a guarantee of satisfaction.