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Willie Greer - July 22, 2021
The sub in your home theater is the one that ties your entire setup together and takes care of the low frequencies. Your home system just won’t hit hard and deliver multi-dimensional sound without the right subwoofer. Can ones under 300 get you that type of sound? Our audio engineers have reviewed the best subwoofers under 300 to answer your question.
- Bass reflex
- Class AB amplifier built-in
- Low-throw woofer
- Black wood finish
- Powered subwoofer
- Easy hook-up
- Detachable front grille
- Dynamic drivers
- Affordable price
- Twisted flare port
- Advanced YST II
- Produces tight bass
Reviews of the Best Subwoofers Under $300
Polk Audio PSW10
The Polk Audio PSW10 is not only an affordable choice but is also a reliable piece of audio equipment that produces more accurate sound than many other models. The PSW10 is a powered model with a 10-inch dynamic balance woofer that makes it excellent for small to mid-sized rooms.
The Polk Audio subwoofer ensures accurate and clear sound even at higher or lower volumes. As for advanced audio tech, the PSW10 features laser-based Kippel Technology that optimizes every component in the subwoofer’s structure. The result is efficient audio relays and deep bass.
What We Like
- Laser-based Kippel Technology
- Very easy connection
- Does not vibrate with loud bass
- Resonance-free materials
- Powered subwoofer
- Detachable grille
- Variable low-pass filter
- Lightweight
What We Don’t Like
- It might need some breaking in
- The rubber feet aren’t very durable
Elac SUB1010
Elac is known for higher-end and luxurious sound equipment. The Elac SUB1010 stays true to the brand and will elevate your home theater setup with an elegant wood finish. The subwoofer is compact with a bass reflex enclosure and a type AB amplifier built in.
The 10-inch driver is a low-throw design and can handle all the low octaves. The compact subwoofer is also very lightweight at only 26 pounds and is easy to integrate into your existing sound system. The SUB1010 offers LFE, L, R, and speaker inputs for easy connection.
What We Like
- Easy to connect
- Delivers tight and punchy bass
- Lightweight and compact sub
- Accurate sound reproduction
- Elegant wood finish
- 10-inch low-throw woofer
What We Don’t Like
- Not the best for very large rooms
- Sometimes goes on sale for cheaper than what you paid
Yamaha NS-SW050BL
Our budget choice is the Yamaha NS-SW050BL subwoofer. The NS-SW050BL is a very compact model with only an 8-inch woofer. The compact subwoofer is an excellent choice for smaller spaces that still need room-filling bass.
The twisted flare port technology in the Yamaha subwoofer lends tight bass with minimal distortion. There is also Advanced YST II (Yamaha Active Servo Technology II) that will help drive the cone with more precision than before.
If you are looking for powerful sound from a compact model, then the Yamaha NS-SW050BL is an excellent addition to your entertainment system.
What We Like
- Compact subwoofer
- Good for a small to medium-sized rooms
- Great for a tighter budget
- Built-in amplifier
- Connects easily to other speakers
- Advanced YST II
- Advanced flare port
What We Don’t Like
- Not as much power
- Only one RCA jack
BIC America RTR-EV1200
If you want top-of-the-line quality and durability, then our audio team recommends the BIC America RTR-EV1200. It has a BASH-designed amp and features gold-plated speaker level inputs. The high-quality materials will not cost you an arm and a leg as the BIC sub is still under 300.
You can find a high-power magnet under the cone and an adjustable low-pass crossover with a frequency response down to 25Hz. Our experts also say the subwoofer is uniquely side-ported, which would work better for a home theater system that requires a certain placement.
What We Like
- Gives a bass boost to your system
- Gold-plated terminals
- BASH-designed amplifier
- Eviction Series woofer
- Adjustable sub crossover
- High-quality cone
- Eye-catching red woofer cone
What We Don’t Like
- Not as powerful as some other subs
- Not a great match for very small speakers
Klipsch R-100SW
Our audio team’s last suggestion for the best subwoofer under 300 is the Klipsch R-100SW. This subwoofer produces excellent sound with a wide frequency range. It features a spun copper woofer that is often seen from Klipsch. It comes with an all-digital amplifier and is considered one of the best compact subs from the brand.
The R-100SW offers phase control with line level, LFE [1] and RCA inputs that can connect to your home entertainment system. Aside from phase control, the R-100SW also features and low-pass crossover controls to create customized bass.
(Another impressive brand you can rely is the Acoustic Audio, if interested, you can also check our full review of Acoustic Audio PSW-10 here)
What We Like
- More than enough power for a mid-size room
- Spun copper IMG woofer
- Phase switch
- Excellent bass response
- All-digital amplifier
- Clear sounds at low volumes
- Unique appearance with a copper cone
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t go below 30Hz
- Unclear indicators for the status
Subwoofers Under $300 Buyer’s Guide
As always, our sound engineers do extensive research before we recommend the best technology. The same effort went into finding the best subwoofers under 300. Below is a list of qualities our team assessed to find the models to include on our list, and they are also what you should look for when buying any subwoofer.
Size and Design
At the 300 price point, you can find pretty impressive subwoofers with a lot of power and compact enough to fit in small spaces. What is important for you? Is it the size of the subwoofer that will be dictated by your other speakers and home theater setup? Whether it’s a car subwoofer or a home theater option, size is the first consideration.
It won’t matter how amazing the bass is and the attractive design if it doesn’t fit into your setup. Compact subwoofers are around 8 inches or smaller. 10-inch subwoofers are still considered compact, but 12 and over is where you get the real power from. Generally, the larger the subwoofer the more power you get.
Also, consider how the sub is designed. Does it have a front-firing or down-firing woofer? A front-firing sub will project the bass right to you, while a down-firing one will aim it at the ground so it travels and rumbles below you. The choice you make depends on personal preference.
What about the controls? A small package like an 8-inch sub may not have room for a volume control knob on top of an on/off button. Do you want indicator lights on the subwoofer to show you the status? These are all questions to ask yourself when you’re picking out a subwoofer.
The enclosure needs to be durable, and that’s another consideration that ties into the design. The right materials such as an MDF cabinet, which our team members recommend, will help eliminate extraneous noise.
(No budget for a sub enclosure? Well, create your own subwoofer box to specifications using this guide)
Sound Quality
As for sound quality, ask yourself if the subwoofer comes in a sealed or ported enclosure. If it’s ported, you would want the subwoofer to feature technology to help reduce port noise. Port noise can interfere with the performance of your sub.
However, ported enclosures deliver louder bass than sealed ones, but the latter produces more accurate bass. The brand should feature specific technologies and construction that will help elevate their subwoofer above the rest. Yamaha is a great example of a sub at a great price but comes with various technologies such as the YST II.
Other than the type of enclosure and technologies a subwoofer has, you should also take a closer look at the materials. The materials used for the construction will have a deep impact on the bass.
For example, injection-molded graphite (IMG) woofers like the ones featured in Klipsch speakers and subs are exceptionally lightweight. The lightweight material will make the cones much more responsive and efficient.
Our audio experts also briefly mentioned the direction of the woofer. Front-firing and down-firing woofers will create a different sound experience. A good subwoofer can be of either design as there are many subs that are excellent from either category.
Power
How powerful is the sub? The power handling will determine how loud your subwoofer will be. The power rating is split into the peak power and the RMS. The RMS is the continuous power rating while the peak is meant to be played in short bursts. You will notice that the peak power is often much higher than the RMS and is what manufacturers usually advertise.
Our team members caution you not to fall into the trap and purchase your subwoofer based on the max rating. The RMS is the number you should pay attention to because it’s the estimate of how loud your sub can be played without compromising its integrity.
For subs under 300, our experts say a peak around 500W and RMS around 300W is very good. Keep in mind that the size will also impact the power rating, but it’s more than possible to find a small and compact model that is extra loud.
Wired vs Wireless Subwoofer
We’re lucky enough to live in an age where wires are almost obsolete. You can easily opt for a wireless subwoofer for a cleaner setup. You won’t be limited by where the power source is and you will get more placement flexibility. Which type is better completely depends on the model you choose.
All you need to be sure of is the connection strength. There are subs with very weak wireless connectivity, which will prompt you to forgo this perk and use the traditional cables.
Wireless subwoofers are very easy to set up, but they can be mercurial. Depending on your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the connection can be unstable and cut out at any time. For some people, the connectivity strength may be a risk they are willing to take in order to enjoy more placement flexibility.
Others may prioritize sound quality and connection stability over placement. After all, you can always just choose longer cables. Which type of person are you?
Passive vs Active Subwoofer
Aside from wired vs wireless, you also have to decide if you want a passive or active sub. Active, also referred to as powered subwoofers, have their own amplifier built in. This means you won’t need to go out and pair your sub to the right one and consider the amperage because the manufacturer already included one.
As you can imagine, the extra component makes a powered sub much heavier and larger, which may not be optimal for some people. Although it is a more convenient model, these types of subs are less customizable down the line. However, they are more common and are considered quite affordable.
Passive subwoofers do not have their own sub amplifiers built in. This isn’t a problem if you already have one and if you are knowledgeable about audio equipment. It also gives you the chance to customize your system later on and passive subs are much lighter and smaller.
Our audio engineers suggest beginners go for powered subs for convenience and ease, though they can be a bit bigger and heavier.
Connections
The connections your sub offers are also critical when choosing the best sub under 300. To enjoy deep bass, you need your audio equipment to be compatible. Look for subs with LFE, speaker level and RCA inputs. Your best bet for a good match is to check the type of connections your speakers have.
Once you have identified the kind of inputs your sub has on the back, you can set out to find subs that have matching ones. Our experts advise choosing a longer cable if possible just to give yourself more leeway during setup.
Easy Setup & Installation
Speaking of the setup, you want the installation process to be as simple as possible. This can be done if you have already made sure the subwoofer is compatible with your system. Once you have the connections and type of amplifier down (if you choose a passive model), then the installation should be very straightforward.
It should just be a matter of connecting the cable to the right ports. Look on the back for the corresponding ports and choose where to place your sub. Direct-firing subs are best close to your main speakers at the front of the room.
You can choose to place all types of subs at the front, but those who love to feel the bass may prefer to have it behind them or closer to their seats. Our engineers advise not placing the sub directly against a wall as this can hinder the bass output. If you have more than one subwoofer, consider putting them on opposite sides of the room.
Price
We’re focusing on subwoofers under 300, but even within that price range there are more affordable models and ones closer to the limit. Define your budget and try to stay within it. Our experts feel subwoofers under 300 can provide a great deal of value to your system if you pick the right model.
Our team’s next piece of advice is to not settle. Don’t settle for a cheaper unit and compromise on the audio quality. This is because most people end up being unhappy with their purchase and return it for a better unit. Choosing what best meets your needs rather than the cheapest model will ensure a better experience.
Our Top Pick For a Subwoofer Under $300:
Polk Audio PSW10
Our team’s top pick is the Polk Audio PSW10. This compact unit delivers excellent sound that will elevate your entire system. Not only is it capable of the deep bass sound you crave, but it also comes at an affordable price. The powered sub comes with its own amplifier and has laser-based Kippel Technology to help with the sound production.
To understand more about your home theater devices, you can also check the posts below:
