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Willie Greer - July 22, 2021
If you want to elevate your car stereo system for powerful bass but don’t want to spend a ton, then looking for options under 200 is a good place to start. However, at this price point, there is a chance you may end up with one that barely makes a difference. Luckily, our experts reviewed the best car subwoofers under 200 below.
P2D4-12
- Up to 800 watts max power
- Kevlar fiber reinforced cone
- Sealed or ported enclosure
- 1-year full warranty
SVR-10 D4
- 1600 peak and 800 watts RMS
- Copper voice coil
- Deep and dynamic bass
- High-flux ferrite motor
TS-A300D4
- Affordable subwoofers
- Free Alphasonik earbuds
- Butyl rubber surround
- Mica-injected polypropylene cone
Reviews of the Best Car Subwoofers Under 200
Skar Audio SVR-10 D4
The Skar Audio SVR-10 D4 is a 10-inch subwoofer with premium sound quality. This car subwoofer is a standard size that fits most vehicles but can still provide a punch. Our team loved reviewing the SVR-19 D4 because of the frequency response and what it does for your car audio system.
The RMS has an impressive 800 watts, and the peak power can reach up to 1600! The high-flux ferrite motor has an advanced cooling design protecting the 4-ohm high-temperature voice coil. You can play music at high volumes for much longer.
What We Like
- 4-layer copper voice coil
- High-roll foam surround
- Competition-grade pressed paper cone
- Frequency response down to 18 Hz
- Advanced airflow cooling design
- Dual 4 ohm
- Smooth sound
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t come in an enclosure
- Needs some breaking in
Rockford Fosgate P2D4-12
The Rockford Fosgate P2D4-12 is slightly larger at 12 inches, which can pack more power but is slightly less accurate than smaller subs. The P2D4-12 is part of the brand’s Punch series, and they live up to the name with hard-hitting bass.
The car subwoofer has dual voice coils at 4 ohms and can reach 800 watts at peak power with a 400 RMS. The push terminals are nickel-plated handling heavy performance and produce high-quality sound.
The Kevlar fiber reinforced cone is very durable and can emphasize truly deep notes.
What We Like
- High-density poly-foam surround
- Kevlar fiber reinforced cone
- 800 watts peak and 400 RMS
- Nickel-plated push terminals
- Dual 4-ohm voice coils
- For both vented and sealed enclosures
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than some other models
- Will blow if you play them above peak power
Pioneer TS-A300D4
If you want power but also want a very affordable option, this Pioneer subwoofer is for you.
The sub features a fiber mica-injection molded polypropylene cone, or IMPP, which gives you clean bass with a maximum excursion. Speaking of excursion, the Butyl rubber surround and cotton dual spider brings linear support and strength.
The Pioneer TS-A300D4 12-inch subwoofer for your car also comes with a free pair of Alphasonik earbuds for private music listening. There is no complicated wiring for the subs, and they integrate seamlessly with the brand’s A-Series automotive loudspeakers.
What We Like
- Comes with a pair of free earbuds
- Premium construction
- Durable rubber surround
- Produce loud bass
- 1500 watts peak power
- Emphasizes the bass in your favorite music
- 500-watt continuous power handling
- Best budget subwoofer
What We Don’t Like
- Not a very shallow mount
- Great entry-level subwoofer but not for professionals
JL Audio 12W0V3-4
JL Audio 12W0V3-4 subs are excellent car stereo additions for accurate bass. The cones are highly durable, made from mineral-filled polypropylene. The large foam roll surround will keep the cone securely in place and allows for a great excursion.
The entire frame of the subwoofer is elevated, which helps with advanced cooling to keep the aluminum voice coil cool. The compact subwoofer was specially designed to save space and fit into sealed or ported enclosures of the correct size.
Your car subwoofers are long excursion types with 300 watts of RMS power and 600 at maximum.
(Looking for a specific sub box? Why not build your own subwoofer box to specifications using this step-by-step guide)
What We Like
- Long excursion woofer
- Mineral-filled polypropylene cone
- Suitable for a vented or sealed enclosure
- Delivers great bass
- Large roll foam surround
- High excursion model
- Elevated frame
What We Don’t Like
- A little weaker compared to other subwoofers
- May struggle a bit with faster beats
Car Subwoofers Under 200 Buyer’s Guide
Power
The purpose of a car subwoofer is to bring your audio content to life. Our sound engineers say the power handling of a sub is critical to ensure this.
The power rating of a car subwoofer features is divided into two categories – the RMS (root mean square) and the peak power. Manufacturers often stress the peak power output more than the RMS because it’s a higher and impressive figure.
Our team cautions not to fall for this advertising tactic as the RMS is the more realistic rating. The RMS is the wattage at which you can play your speakers continuously without risking damage. The peak power is only meant to be reached in short bursts.
Our audio engineers say look for higher numbers if you want loud and powerful sound. Larger subs will generally have more power. For a smaller and more compact 8-inch subwoofer, our team suggests 800 watts peak. For a 10-inch subwoofer, a good rating is 1000 watts peak power handling. If you want a larger 12-inch subwoofer, then any figure over 1000 is our recommendation.
Sound Quality
How do the car subs sound? To understand what type of bass it can produce, you need to look at the frequency range. The human ear has difficulty hearing [1] anything below 20Hz, so it may not make sense to look for a 12-inch subwoofer that reaches under that. Our team suggests 28Hz up to 20 kHz, which is where our audible range ends.
If you are purchasing subwoofers that come with their enclosure, they should be housed in one that maximizes their performance. Component subs, like the ones our sound team has listed, will need additional cabinets.
Vented or ported enclosures allow for louder and more expansive bass but don’t do well for precision. The opposite is true for sealed enclosures, which focus on providing accurate rather than booming bass. The best subwoofers will be ones that can deliver the type of bass tones you want.
Look for adjustable features, fine-tuning and audio technologies such as a variable bass boost and Vertical Attach Surround Technique, or VAST.
Impedance and Sensitivity
The best car subwoofers under 200 can still be very efficient. A good subwoofer will have low impedance and a high sensitivity rating. Let’s take a 12-inch subwoofer, for example. The impedance rating pertains to the resistance the sub has to the electrical current. A subwoofer with a low impedance won’t require as much power to hit the strong bass sounds like a sub with a high impedance would.
Impedance is measured in ohms, and you will often find 2, 4, 6, or 8 ohms. Our experts suggest 2 or 4 models each time.
The sensitivity rating also affects how loud the subwoofer will be. Our sound team says to look for ones with 90dB (decibels) or more if possible. Most subs are around 82 to 88, which is also acceptable.
Voice Coil
The voice coils are what the car audio sub relies on for motive force. It is also the part of the subwoofer that can retain a lot of heat. Aside from a low top mount depth and durable construction, our testers also say to look out for high-temperature voice coils.
There are also dual, single voice coil models, and our team suggests choosing the dual ones for better bass output.
Connectivity
The connectivity is essential for subwoofer integration. Look for RCA, line-level, and speaker-level inputs on your sub. If a subwoofer has all of the above, then great. If not, then our team suggests checking what kind of connections your car system is compatible with.
Size and Durability
Size matters for subwoofers, so you need to pick one that fits into your vehicle or under the car seat but can also provide the bass you want. 6.5 subs are small but very accurate and can produce quality sound. However, you have to know how to pick them to hear a difference.
Then we have the 8-inch sub that is considered a compact car subwoofer, but it can provide more power. 10 and 12-inch subs are the most common and the best car subwoofer size. These models provide the best balance between power and affordability.
There are larger models than that, such as the 15 and even 18-inch subs, but those are more professional purposes and belong in your trunk.
As for the durability, it’s all about the construction of the driver itself and the enclosure. 2 subs without the same material cone can produce a very different sound. Our experts suggest a die-cast aluminum basket and medium-density fiberboard for the cabinet. This will help dampen the port noise that can impede your listening experience.
Installation
Aside from the right connections, you also need to make sure your sub fits. The top mount depth is the key to asserting whether your subwoofer will be a good match. You want a compact sub with an equally ergonomic motor structure to make installation a breeze.
(If you want a premium sound experience, you can opt to install great subwoofers amps we listed here for you)
Warranty
Just because a subwoofer is very affordable doesn’t always mean it is low quality, but a warranty is necessary for pricey or cheap subs. Our team members stress the importance of a warranty because without one; you won’t be protected if you receive a faulty product or one with manufacturing defects.
Read the fine print and make sure you understand what is covered and what isn’t. It will give you a better idea of the actions to take just in case your car subwoofer breaks.
Our Top Pick For a Car Subwoofer Under 200:
Skar Audio SVR-10 D4
Our audio engineers have decided that the Skar Audio SVR-10 D4 is the best car subwoofer under 200. Not only is it a beast in terms of power output, but the subwoofer is also affordable and durably constructed. There is a high-flux ferrite motor, a decent frequency response range, and an airflow cooling design to aid in bass production.
Want to know more about the brand? Well, you can read our complete Skar Audio brand review here)
