The 17 Best Under Seat Subwoofer in 2023: Expert's Top Choices

Want to buy subwoofers but don’t have enough space in your car? Want to buy one but every subwoofer out there is big, right? Well no worries, as always we got you. Whether there isn’t much space in your car or if every subwoofer seems big for you. 

We will recommend you the best subwoofers, which will fit in your car and will please you when you hit the play button.

For every product, you need to be very precise about what research you do. As there are many types of subwoofers and each has its own place in your car and its own function.

You may find many types of subwoofers and maybe are confused about what they offer you, well say no more. Here are some types of subwoofers in some easy terminology. Under-seat Subwoofers have only 1 job, to add bass to your sound. And for this subwoofer, it is generally installed under your seat to maximize the sound quality and your experience. You’ll have some good time with these bad boys, as they have their position down off your seat rather than at the corner. So you will hear good quality bass. 

WHAT TO CHECK IN AN IDEAL UNDER-SEAT SUBWOOFER?

This part will talk about the things you should check in an ideal under-seat subwoofer.

1. THE SIZE OF UNDERSEAT SUBWOOFER: 

The size can really make that hype of buying a subwoofer vanish. So be sure about the size of the available space under your seat, to make things easier. As for the subwoofers, they come in various sizes.

2. THE RMS RATING OF UNDERSEAT SUBWOOFER:

RMS rating is probably the most important thing that you can do when buying a subwoofer. Why? Because if the RMS ratings of every device in your sound system is different than they won’t work.

Because RMS is the measurement of how much current your devices can handle, and if it’s high for one and low for the other they won’t work or won’t work properly.

So consider this important when buying a subwoofer or any device regarding sound systems. Check the RMS rating of your amplifier and your speakers, woofer, then select a subwoofer.

3. OVERHEATING OF UNDERSEAT SUBWOOFER: 

You will find sometimes your subwoofer starting up to heat and then won’t work normally. For this, make sure the subwoofer you’re selecting has a cooling feature, as they help your subwoofer to stay cold and prevent bad quality sound.

The Cooling feature is one of the most important features when you’re thinking of buying a subwoofer. Especially in the under-seat subwoofer, because an overheated subwoofer will make your seat hot and you uncomfortable.

4. BUILT-IN AMPLIFIER OF UNDERSEAT SUBWOOFER: 

Mostly you will not find subwoofers with built-in subwoofers. Because they are worth it especially if you don’t have an amplifier. They will save your money.

SHOULD I ADD WOOFER OR A SUBWOOFER? 

Talking about should you really need to add a subwoofer if you already have a woofer? The answer varies from person to person and their liking. 

Basically, they are different from each other and have different functions. Woofer will serve you by reproducing low-frequency sounds and subwoofer by reproducing low-pitch sound which we know as the bass.

BEST UNDER-SEAT SUBWOOFERS:

1. KENWOOD KSC-SWCII:

KENWOOD KSC-SWC11 is the first one here on our list. A powerful subwoofer with built-in amplifier. But you will not see that great design, which in fact isn’t a problem because it is hidden under your seat.

A very powerful, yet affordable subwoofer, easy to install, making it the best budget under-seat subwoofer so far. 

Whereas, despite the fact that it has a bad design, it has another con that might affect your opinion, which is wired remote control. For the RMS rating it offers you, it is 150 Watts.

Talking about the material used in making, it is made up of aluminium which is a plus point here, just for 234$.

PROS:

• Aluminium body

• Powerful subwoofer

• Affordable

• Easy to install

                              CONS:

• No wireless remote included.

• KICKER 11 HS8:

KICKER 11 HS8 is the second bad boy on our list. They didn’t compromise the design as KENWOOD KSC-SWC11 did. Talking about its specs we have a lot to see. 

Here kicker really did a great job with the size of this subwoofer, which is 9 inches, with the RMS rating of 150 watts and a built-in amplifier of 150 watts. 

Yet the price here is a little bit high, they are really very good with the design and the specs but the price is 500$.

PROS:

• Great design

• Built-in amplifier

• Powerful subwoofer

                             CONS:

• Very expensive

• ALPINE PWE-S8: 

in third place, we have Alpine PWE-S8. A great product as we see the design, good color combination of silver and black. At the bottom, we have a minimalistic Alpine logo.

Looking at the specs we have, RMS rating of 120 Watts and a built-in amplifier of 120 Watts. Here alpine PWE-S8 has a size 8 inches, whereas the weight is 10 pounds, pretty heavy but effective in bumpy roads.

A frequency of 32-150 Hz, for just 239$, but for extra accessories, you’ll have to pay more. Like for the installation kit for the amplifier and for the subwoofer.

PROS:

• Elegant design

• Great frequency and RMS rating.

• Small size

• Easy to install

• Heavier but effective.

• Built-in amplifier.

                            CONS:

• You’ve to pay for more.

• JBL BASSPRO SL: 

here comes the beast, so far the best designed subwoofer, a very unique design with a black combo. In the middle, you’ll get the JBL logo, and on the left side you will get the model name which is Bass pro SL and some writing.

As the design, they also offer you the specs that you will get nowhere else. As much as the size is concerned, the size here is 8 inches and the RMS rating they’ve added is 125 Watts but at peak, you will get 250 Watts. 

There is also protection for overload and also for speaker short-circuits, also D class amplifiers, a frequency range of 35 Hz-120Hz, for only 183$. Thus, making JBL one of the best in the list.

PROS:

• Easy to install.

• Built-in amplifier.

• Affordable.

• Great design.

• Powerful

• Protection for overload and short circuits.

                            CONS:

• None found.

• ROCKVILLE RW10CA: 

Rockville is a part of a brand that cares about its customer. Whether you search for the best budget subwoofer or the best subwoofers with amplifiers, you will see their product on this list.

The design may seem off here but the specs ain’t, the most powerful under-seat subwoofer here in this list, with 200 Watts and 800 watts at peak, with remote control support. Meanwhile they also have given the overload protection just as JBL BASSPRO SL, available in 2 sizes 8 inches and 10 inches. For the price, it is 129$.

PROS:

• Powerful subwoofer.

• Variety of sizes

• Affordable

• Overload protection

• Remote control support.

                              CONS:

• Design.

1. ARE UNDER-SEAT SUBWOOFERS WORTH IT?

ANS: Yes, they are worth it, because they are installed under your seat. Giving you maximum bass experience. While as for the normal subwoofers they are installed in both corners, they may have large space to cover, but you’ll near under-seats better.

JBL BASSPRO SL & ROCKVILLE RW10CA can really improve that sound quality.

2. WHY SHOULD I ADD A SUBWOOFER?

ANS: As we mentioned, subwoofer reproduces low-pitched sounds. They add bass into your sound, for the bass lovers, it is a must device in their sound system. But if you don’t like bass that much, don’t buy a subwoofer. 

JBL BASSPRO SL and ROCKVILLE RW10CA can be your best friend.

3. CAN YOU INSTALL SUBWOOFERS UNDER YOUR CAR SEAT?

ANS: Yes you can, in fact, there is a separate category of subwoofers called under-seat subwoofers, like the KICKER 11 HS8, JBL BASSPRO SL.  They are ideal, as you can have a better experience listening to them. 

We’ve covered the things you should check in an ideal under-seat subwoofer, you can check it out.

1. CAN YOU RUN SUBWOOFER WITHOUT AMPLIFIER?

ANS: Yes you can but it will affect the quality, as the majority of the subwoofers come with a built-in amplifier. But if you don't have an amplifier, you can still run a subwoofer.

2. HOW MUCH DOES IT COSTS TO INSTALL A SUBWOOFER AND AN AMPLIFIER?

ANS: It generally didn’t cost that much as compared to what you are spending on a subwoofer. If you install a subwoofer and an amplifier, you will have to pay 25-50$. The price varies between 25$ to 50$.

You can also head towards the store to compare the prices.

So we came a long way, from giving you reviews on a certain product to expressing our thoughts, thanks for sticking with us. So which product do we like the most? Which one should we prefer you the most? Which product has an upper hand in this list?

So answering these questions, the one we liked the most is ROCKVILLE RW10CA, despite the fact that JBL BASSPRO SL has so much to offer but here ROCKVILLE RW10CA takes the lead by giving you 800 watts of power at peak.

Although for the design, we will recommend you to buy JBL BASSPRO SL, as it is designed wiser better, for the power, Rockville is way better.

The design for Rockville is not the best design, as for us blue with black isn’t the best combo. Leaving the design, you will get overload protection, with two different designs, remote control support, for an affordable price of 128$.

Whereas on the second place we’re forced to place JBL BASSPRO SL, it lost the 1st place because of the RMS rating. Putting RMS ratings to the side, it has much more to offer, from the great design to the overload and short circuit protection, you will get all. 

As they both are the best under-seat subwoofers with an amplifier, the price also has some margin, for the JBL it is 183$.

The 3rd is also reserved for ALPINE PWE-S8, it is a bit expensive but the specs can differentiate this form some high-end under-seat subwoofers. According to its size, which is 8 inches, it offers you 120 Watts of power, which may spoil the hype of your decision.

With 10 pounds of weight, which is effective when crossing some bumpy roads, Also the frequency ranges from 35-150 Hz, and much more for 236$. 

Also KENWOOD KSC-SWC11, and KICKER 11 HS8, offers you much just for 234$ and 500$ respectively.

That was it for the Best under-seat subwoofers, I hope we helped you in taking the decision. Do let us know which subwoofer was your personal favorite.