If you want a booming bassline that will showcase interesting details in your listening experience, getting a good bass speaker should be a priority for you. These come in several types that include travel models, car bass speakers, P.A. replacements, subwoofers, and Bluetooth bass speakers, all with different attributes to handle different facets of your music.
To help you make a decision, we will outline 5 of the best options in the market that will deliver bass without distorting the sound quality, as well as a good buyer guide that will help you make the best decision for your preferences.
Contents
At a glance: Our top 3 picks
Polk Audio PSW10 | Sony GTKXB7BC | Edifier R1280T |
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Comparison overview of the best subwoofers
Polk Audio PSW10 Powered subwoofer
This is among the Company’s products that aims for high-quality performance at a budget-friendly price. There is not much to say about its minimalist appearance. It is compact in size and mostly consists of MDF boards in its construction.
The subwoofer’s controls are at the rear, and they include Phase, a three-toggle Power control, Low Pass, and Volume. In the toggle Power control, which consists of Off, Auto, and On, the Auto mode puts the speaker on standby for 15 minutes until you turn the volume up or it receives a signal. The only problem with the design is the lack of magnetic shielding, which means you are likely to notice electrical interference when placing it near a computer or your TV.
The rear of the speaker also contains the output and input connections, including the stereo speaker outputs and inputs and the RCA line. The only lacking element is the LFE input, although this is not as annoying if you have a good receiver. The sound quality is immersive, regardless of what you are playing, and the bass output is clear without becoming overwhelming.
Pros
- Easy to setup
- Affordable price
- Good sound quality
Cons
- Lacks magnetic shielding and LFE
Why we liked it – Polk offers good audio equipment, and this is no exception to the rule through its consistent and distortion-free output.
Sony GTKXB7BC High Power Audio System
This speaker is a high-power machine that will serve you well on any occasion, thanks to its flexibility, reliability, and portability, despite its seemingly large size. Its controls are all on the upper surface, which allows you to have easy access at all times, and it has 4 buttons – two for volume adjustment, one for extra bass, and one power button.
The design includes a docking port that ensures you get a clutter-free user experience, and even includes several ports such as a USB port, party chain ports and their corresponding buttons, an audio in port, and an AC in port. Among its design perks is the ability to use it in both horizontal and standing positions, depending on the space you are working in.
Thanks to its 470W power, the speaker can deliver clear sound at all times, and it performs best in outdoor and party settings. Its incorporation of an extra bass button will give a bass boost to your favorite songs, and its drive can read a variety of file formats through the USB port.
Unlike some subwoofers, this speaker is entirely AC powered rather than relying on battery power. Therefore, all you need to power it on is connect it to a portable AC output.
Pros
- Very good bass output
- Ability to connect multiple speakers and devices
- Portable and lightweight
- Includes LED lighting
Cons
- Does not include an audio cable
Why we like it – The speaker is easy to connect to any device and power source, so you can enjoy using it without much hassle. Its design also serves as a phone charger and has LED lighting to set the atmosphere when using it.
Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf speaker
Unlike most subwoofer picks on this list, the R1280T comes in a set of bookshelf speakers without coming at prohibitive pricing. It has a fairly simple setup process that might not please an audiophile looking for painstaking precision, but it will work well for people looking for an affordable upgrade to their desktop sound system.
The main feature that stands out in their design is the use of heavy wooden cabinets, which house the speakers. The use of the enclosures ensures that the speaker does a better job of dampening the sound and reducing the chances of distortion or rattling. Considering the materials in its composition are of premium quality, the bargain-friendly price is quite the pleasant surprise.
The low end is also impressive because of their use of a bass reflex, precision-engineered port. Additionally, they have a set of good drivers – a 4-inch bass cone that handles the lows, as DSP crossover that distributes the signals to the appropriate drivers, and a small silk dome tweeter that handles the highs. You can also use their dual RCA inputs to connect your devices.
Pros
- Good audio performance with bright highs and rich lows
- Can connect easily to mobile devices and PCs
- Adjustable treble and bass
Cons
- Lacks wireless capabilities
Why we like it – It is affordable and gives plenty of value for your money by including premium features like EQ controls and a durable build.
AOMAIS Life Bluetooth speaker
In terms of Bluetooth speakers, the AOMAIS sets a new standard for finish and appearance. Bamboo comprises its front part, and aluminum comprises the rest of the case, although its small size hides its bulkiness. It is not a speaker you can carry across different places, although the controls and design will offset this disadvantage.
It uses Bluetooth 5.0 protocols to ensure the connection to your devices remains stable at all times, and you can count on its excellent Bluetooth range of 100 feet thanks to an enhanced Bluetooth card. It also allows you to keep listening to your favorite music, since it relies on a 3.5mm audio jack to handle wired connections.
A major advantage is its ability to pair with another AOMAIS Life speaker if you want to get a stereo effect, and they will give an impressive total power output of 60W. its 5000mAh battery is powerful and keeps it going for up to 12 continuous hours, with a 3-hour recharge session.
Pros
- Vintage and elegant appearance
- Warm audio quality with impressive bass
- Very good Bluetooth range and battery life
Cons
- Charging port is of inferior quality
Why we like it – This speaker is affordable and gives plenty of value, through its long battery life and good sound quality.
NYNE Bass Portable Bluetooth speaker
This speaker has plenty of aspects in its favor, including device and speakerphone-charging functionality and a rugged design that makes it excellent for outdoor use. You will love its exaggerated low ends if you are a deep bass enthusiast, although a purist will dislike it due to its tendency to distort powerful sub-bass signals at higher volumes.
The design is thoughtful and impressive, although you should not think it is readily portable; it weighs 6.7 pounds after all. Its front panel consists of a large grille that houses 2 midrange drivers, a status LED, and a subwoofer, which combine to give a total power output of 35W. The top panel houses various buttons, include the Track Forward/Backward control, Volume, Power, and a Call End/Answer button. The NFC zone is on the right panel, while the side panels absorb any shock headed to the front panel.
The speaker includes a 3.5mm audio cable that will help you use the wired playback feature, and you can use the speaker for up to 10 hours. The Bluetooth technology in use is Bluetooth 4.0, able to connect to a maximum distance of 33 feet. It also includes an integrated mic to make it suitable for operating a voice assistant or taking hands-free voice calls.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Delivers a full sound quality compared to most speakers in its price range
- Decent battery life
- Includes NFC tap-to-pair technology and integrated mic for speaker calls
Cons
- Not travel friendly despite the portable design
Why we like it – Although it is not the most compact option, it will outperform most expensive Bluetooth speakers and live up to its name.
Bass speaker buying guide
Buying a good bass speaker is tough, because you do not want to purchase one that cannot fit in your living space – yet still delivers quality results. Here are some pointers to keep in mind.
Drivers
In the world of speakers, size always matters; the size of the driver will ultimately determine the quality and range of the bass output. This is because moving bass frequencies demands a lot of energy, and a bigger driver can handle these demands better than a smaller driver.
Most good bass speakers will have a driver size of 12 inches, although you can go higher with your pick; additionally, some models will feature multiple drivers. Keep in mind that the power will increase as the driver size increases, as there needs to be some compensation to handle lower bass frequencies.
Watts
Any subwoofer discussion will revolve around two things: power and driver size. In the case of power, the wattage rating is simply a rough estimate of how loud the bass speaker can play, but you can still keep the volume under control despite a higher wattage.
Location
The best place to put a bass speaker is usually against a wall or a corner, and then increasing the volume to boost the bass output volume. When it comes to bass reproduction, placement matters – even placing a few feet from the ideal can change the sound drastically.
An alternative option is to use multiple subs, although this does not necessarily mean you must use more bass – the ultimate goal is getting better bass reception.
EQ
Numerous receivers and specific subwoofers will include room EQ processing, which will generate specific equalizer settings according to different test tones and rooms. These will help you greatly because they reduce the frequency response peaks, although they cannot solve issues in room acoustics that may be present.
Sound quality
The major question you likely have when buying a bass speaker is whether it is improving your bass output, but the answer is simple – buying a high-quality subwoofer will improve the lower ends, regardless of how much money you spend on it. It is your best bet to boost the lower ends, whether you are watching a movie or listening to music.
However, the sound quality is not the most important thing, and it is not determined by the size of the speaker itself. While you may think of a good bass speaker as one that delivers the thumping sound you would hear from a car, this is actually bad bass because it sacrifices sound quality for volume. In contrast, good bass speakers will produce realistic low ends, not just deafening thumping sound quality.
Conclusion
Looking at various bass speakers will reveal one thing – what works for you will not always work for someone else. Therefore, choosing a good subwoofer will require you to think of the use you intend to use the speaker in, your budget, preferred amplifiers, and consumption, and then know the specifications of what you are looking for.
Did you know?
Although having a higher wattage means your speaker can handle higher volumes, the capabilities of the speaker is due to the speaker efficiency. Therefore, a low-performance speaker with lower wattage will not necessarily perform better than a high-performance alternative at the same range.
Published by: Fidjoy Kanana
Last three digits of my phone number: 917
