What Size Subwoofer Do I Need for My Car?

To improve the audio quality of your car, one of the simplest things that you can do is to upgrade your sound system. While there are different replacements and improvements that you might want to take into consideration, one of the best would be a subwoofer. This will help in improving the response to low frequencies.

Not all subwoofers, however, are created the same. This makes it important to be a responsible buyer. You should consider a variety of factors, which will help you to come up with a well-informed decision. For instance, you need to take a look at the technical specifications of the product, such as the RMS power and frequency range. You should look beyond cost to find a product that will work best for your needs.

Another important consideration that you should not ignore is the size of the subwoofer. There are different factors that will come into play, such as the space that is available in the car or the power that you need. Generally speaking, the bigger ones are more powerful. However, this does not necessarily mean that larger is always better.

In the rest of this post, we will tackle the different sizes of subwoofers that are available. We hope that after reading, you will be able to easily decide which one is best suited for your needs.

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Car Subwoofer Size

In this section, we will go through four of the standard sizes that are available. We’ll discuss some of their features and what you can expect from each of them, making it easier to decide.

8-inch Car Subwoofers

From all the types of subwoofers that are currently available in the market, this is the smallest. If you have factory-installed sound system in your car, chances are, this is the subwoofer that you currently have.

This is the right choice if you have a small vehicle and if the space is limited. Most of the 8-inch subwoofers available in the market are also easy to install, making it possible to complete the assembly on your own.

One of the biggest limitations of this type is that it will not generate a powerful bass. The one that can be blamed for this is the small size of the cone. With the latter, the air pressure is limited, which restricts the boom that it can create.

10-inch Car Subwoofers

For most of the users who are looking for an entry level subwoofer, this is a good choice. It is space-efficient, yet it can deliver an excellent performance, although it should be noted that the bass reproduction is still not as good as the larger ones.

Most of the models that fall under this category can be easily placed in the location of your factory-installed subwoofer. There is no need to have technical expertise as this is one thing that you can do with ease. Just make sure that the manufacturer provides comprehensive instructions, as well as the mounting hardware that you will need.

12-inch Car Subwoofer

If you want the best of both worlds – installation and sound quality – this is the option that should be on the top of your list. Installing may take quite some time, but this is nothing that you cannot handle. Best of all, it delivers better bass response compared to the two smaller sizes that we have discussed above.

One of the most important things to note is that it cannot be installed in the original location of the factory-installed subwoofer. This will require quite a large space, which makes it important to have a large room if you want this subwoofer.

15-inch Car Subwoofers

If power is the most important consideration, this subwoofer is for you. Given the large cone area of this size, it is apparent that it is the one that is capable for the reproduction of the biggest bass. The power of this subwoofer is unmatched by the sizes that have been mentioned above.

With this subwoofer, it is important that you have a large area since it is demanding in terms of space. This is definitely not for smaller cars. This is common in trucks and pickups.

Because of the size and the power that is found in this subwoofer, expect that it will command a premium price. Nonetheless, this should not be an issue as you can be guaranteed of its excellent performance, especially if bass is important for you.

Lastly, with this subwoofer, you might need an extra hand or the help of a pro. The installation can be quite tricky, especially for those who do not have an experience in subwoofers.

Car Subwoofer Size Pros and Cons Comparison

To make it easier to determine the good and the bad about each size of subwoofer, below is a table that will help you to easily evaluate the different sizes:

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Indeed, your search for the best subwoofer will never be an easy task. There is an abundance of options that are available in the market. Among others, size is one of the most important factors you need to consider. It is directly linked to the performance that you can expect from the subwoofer. Which one is best? This is not a question that we can answer. Individual needs and preferences will dictate which makes the top choice. We hope that the discussions above will make it easier for you to reach the right decision.


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