Since the ‘90s, subwoofers are installed in cars to produce a louder audio system which is useful for people who love bass sounds and street parties. Also called subs, they are technically woofers or loudspeakers that focus on low-pitched frequencies, commonly called as bass. They are usually available in the standard size of 10 inches. Here is the best 10-inch subwoofer for cars this year:
Our Pick: Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch 10-Inch Subwoofer
Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch 10-Inch Subwoofer has Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST) to increase the cone area for 25% more. It is so powerful because of its 500-watt RMS and 1000-watt peak wattage. It ensures that its power does not compromise the longevity of its voice coils by adhering the standards of CEA-2031.
Despite its power, it is still lightweight and does not echo thanks to its modern stamp-cast basket. It comes with a FlexFit frame so it can still be adjusted while mounted. To prevent the motor from overheating, it contains a special spider venting, as well as dust caps and aluminum cones made of anodized aluminum.
This 10-inch subwoofer is protected with a durable cover that has PVC texture. It has a strong grip because of the soft rubber over-mold.
Runner Up: Kicker 10C104 Comp 10-Inch Subwoofer
Kicker 10C104 Comp 10-Inch Subwoofer is one of the loudest products. It has ribbed surround to maintain power despite long hours of use. It has an attractive modern look that you can show off which is enhanced by a double-stitched surround in a catchy yellow color. This 10-inch subwoofer can produce clear sound even if it exposed in an open field or just simply enclosed inside the car. Its push terminals are nickel-plated for easy usage.
Also Great: Pioneer TS-W254R 10-Inch Component Subwoofer
Pioneer TS-W254R 10-Inch Component Subwoofer has a jaw-dropping 1,100 watts of peak power handling. It can make your road trips more enjoyable because of how amazing it sounds inside the car.
Also Great: Planet Audio AC10D Anarchy 10-Inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer
Planet Audio AC10D Anarchy 10-Inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer takes things up a notch with 1,500 watts of peak power and 750 watts RMS. It can definitely be exposed in big open grounds due to its power and crisp loudness.
Also Great: Pyle PLPW10D 10-Inch Subwoofer
Pyle PLPW10D 10-Inch Subwoofer looks expensive despite the affordable price. Its steel basket has a sleek black color. Low frequencies are enhanced to clear, louder sounds because of its 50-ounce magnet dual voice coil.
Budget Pick: BOSS Audio CXX10 10 Inch Car Subwoofer
BOSS Audio CXX10 10 Inch Car Subwoofer contains polyurethane polymer and butyl rubber. These durable and flexible materials keep the bass sound amazing for a long time even with maximum use.
How to Select the Best 10 Inch Subwoofer
Here are important factors to consider before purchasing the best 10-inch subwoofer for your car:
Cone
This is a crucial factor on how high-quality the bass is. You probably noticed how a sub goes up and down as it produces treble and bass. You are actually looking at its cone while giving off low-frequency sounds. A bigger cone area leads to cleaner and louder bass sounds.
Popular materials for a sub’s cone are carbon fiber, Kevlar, aluminum, magnesium, polypropylene and treated paper. Aside from size, the cone must be composed of a material that is lightweight, flexible and hard. Lightness and flexibility promote fast reaction time while hardness contributes to durability.
Bass Quality
Is loud bass always good for a sub? The best 10-inch subwoofer does not make booming bass sounds. Instead, it only enhances the bass which cannot be possible with ordinary loudspeakers. It should not drown higher frequencies. After all, music is composed of treble and bass.
Power
You can easily identify if a sub you have not used yet makes loud, powerful sounds. You just have to look at the wattage. The higher, the more powerful it can be. There are two kinds of power or wattage for a sub. The Root Mean Square (RMS) is continuous power while peak power is the maximum, which occurs in a short amount of time. The best 10-inch subwoofer when it comes to loudness should have at least a 1,000-watt peak power and a 500-watt RMS.
Quantity
Two smaller subs are actually better than a big one for your car. The usual size for smaller subs is 10 inches while the larger size is 12 inches. Having two subs can give a much even distribution of sound all over the car. If you are a bass lover, you can really appreciate the magic of two 10-inch subwoofers.
How to Break-in the Subwoofer
Break does not always mean the deterioration of a product’s quality. Similar to a new car’s engine, you also have to do the process of “break-in” for a newly bought sub.
Break-in goes like this: the sub must be played gradually from low to medium volume inside its enclosure for a maximum of three weeks. Why? This loosens the suspension to prevent overheating from the voice coil.
If you do not follow the process, your new sub will stop working for good when you immediately use it with a loud volume for several hours.
Building Your Own Subwoofer Box
A sub needs a box or enclosure to enhance its function. You can buy one in stores or make your own so you can customize it. Usually, it takes 1-2 hours to build a standard one.
The basic materials you will need are speaker terminal cup, non-hardening rope caulk, carpenter’s glue, pan head sheet metal screws, drywall screws, medium density fiberboard, electric drill, and jigsaw. The DIY site Crutchfield gives a comprehensive tutorial in building a personalized sub box.
Summary
Have a good time while driving your car by listening to music. Subwoofers make sure that your music experience inside the car is better than ever, especially if you love bass sounds. Ordinary loudspeakers are nothing compared to subs when it comes to producing sounds in low frequencies. The best 10-inch subwoofer for anyone gives powerful yet clean music.
Owning a subwoofer is cool, but driving one of the most popular cars makes you even cooler. Prepare to be amazed at our collection of photos showing the coolest cars in the world.
Contents
- Our Pick: Rockford Fosgate P3D4-10 Punch 10-Inch Subwoofer
- Runner Up: Kicker 10C104 Comp 10-Inch Subwoofer
- Also Great: Pioneer TS-W254R 10-Inch Component Subwoofer
- Also Great: Planet Audio AC10D Anarchy 10-Inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer
- Also Great: Pyle PLPW10D 10-Inch Subwoofer
- Budget Pick: BOSS Audio CXX10 10 Inch Car Subwoofer
- How to Select the Best 10 Inch Subwoofer
- How to Break-in the Subwoofer
- Building Your Own Subwoofer Box
- Summary
