A free air subwoofer is the cheapest available option when you are on the low budget and want a subwoofer to upgrade your music listening experience. Since you don’t have to pay for an additional sub enclosure the pricing is quite low as compared to enclosed subwoofers.So if you want to buy a sub keeping in mind your budget and you are ready to compromise with the bass quality then a free sub is your best option. Mentioned below are some reviews of some of the best free air subwoofers.
Best free air subwoofers
JBL CS1214
The JBL CS1214 has a peak power of 2000 W and a RMS of 250 W. The sub has a frequency response range of 35 Hz to 200 Hz with a frequency sensitivity at 90 dB.
They come as two separate subs that you can set up individually to give you better sound quality and easy movement.
The subs produce loud bass notes which are a total bargain given their low price.
Pros:
- Affordable and for a lower price you get two subwoofers.
- The subs produce enough power output to overcome the bass loss for being free air subs.
- Rubber surrounds are provided that serve to protect the cone structure.
- Lightweight
Cons:
- You might need a sub enclosure to fully utilise the power of the speakers.
- It will take up a lot more space than you might think.
The set subwoofers are a true bargain for its price. When choosing a sub for its bass power,you get to have a pair of subs instead of just one.
The 12 inch subs are enough to shake a large room with its deep bass
Pyle PLPW8D
The Pyle PLPW8D has a peak power of 800 W and a RMS of 400 W with a dual impedance of 4 ohms and a SPL of 89 dB.
The sub is sealed in a black steel basket that gives it maximum protection and stability. The rubber magnet boot and non pressed cone structure and specially designed foam surround ensures that you have the best audio quality and bass boost.
Don’t be fooled by its 8 inch self,the Pyle PLP8WD has a kicking bass system.
Pros:
- The sub comes at an extremely affordable price.
- The sub enclosure is specially designed to protect the sub from brutality.
- The sub provides an upgrade to your audio system.
- The bass is versatile and clean.
Cons :
- The sound is quite low as compared to its bass quality.
- The product is not as well made as other subwoofers in the market.
This sub is ideal for anyone who is extremely conscious about their budget. The audio quality would not be that good as compared to others but for its price,it’s quite a bargain.
Skar Audio VD-8 D2 Dual Shallow Mount Car Subwoofer
The Skar Audio VD-8 D2 comes with a peak power of 600 watts and a RMS of 400 watts. It has a 8 inch dual 2 ohm copper voice coil.
It has a frequency response range of 32 Hz to 375 Hz with a frequency sensitivity at 83.3 dB.
It has a superior grade foam surround with a 2 tired conex spider system for faster cooling. Skar Audio also provides a 2 year warranty on their product so you know that the subs will be of genuine quality.
Pros:
- They are compact and quite easy to install.
- The sub is built with high quality materials so you don’t have to worry about their quality.
- The sub has a massive power output.
Cons:
- The bass might need a little bit of EQ tweaking.
- They can be on the higher spectrum of the pricing chart.
If you want a superior quality sub that will last for several years and give a flawless bass and sound quality then the V8 D2 is the ideal choice.
The sub has superior quality components like duao stacked cobex spider system and high strength foam that elevated the sub than the average subwoofer.
PIONEER TS-SW2502S4 10-Inch, 1.200 Watts Shallow-Mount Subwoofer
The Pioneer TS-SW2502S4 sub has a 4 ohm voice coil that produces quality sound notes. It is a 10 inch sub that is designed to fit in your car without occupying a lot of space.
The elevated air circulation system in the sub helps the sub produce louder and deeper bass notes. The mica-injected resin paper cone gives it that added power to produce clean,crystal sound notes.
The sub has a shallow mount depth of 3-1 / 8 inch. It’s a 1 pound subwoofer.
Installation is easy and the Pioneer has a peak power of 1200 watts and a RMS of 100 to 300 watts. The frequency response range lies between 20 Hz to 125 Hz.
Pros:
- The oversized paper cone structure gives out deeper bass notes and a higher quality sound.
- The sub is easy to install.
- It is affordable.
- The sub has a durable design for long term usage.
Cons :
- The bass notes can be a little rough
- It’s single voice coil can be prone to future accidents.
The Pioneer is a great sub for beginners who are looking for a great low budget speaker for their cars.
Infinity Kappa 8″ Subwoofer
The Infinity Kappa subwoofer has a peak power of 1600 watts and RMS of 400 watts. It has a frequency response range of 34 Hz to 200 Hz.
The sub has a special feature called the SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance) that helps the sub to connect to different types of amplifiers smoothly. The subwoofer focuses mainly on providing a smooth and clean sound experience rather than having a powerful bass with sound distortions.
The infinity Kappa has a very efficient power handling system and a great frequency response range that can play even the lowest frequencies seamlessly.
Pros:
- Superior quality with advanced technology.
- Powerful sound quality contrary to its small size.
Cons:
- The sub may not have enough depth for certain free air installations.
The sub is a bridge between wanting an affordable speaker and looking for a sub with the best sound quality and smooth bass notes.
Unlike other subs, this subwoofer can work just fine without needing a sub enclosure. It does not have loud notes like the average subwoofer but it makes up by producing smoothed clean notes without any kind of noise or sound distortion.
Find your best free air subwoofer by following the guidelines mentioned below
Quality
You would want to buy a subwoofer which has good quality components and is made of trustworthy materials and its design.
While material quality can sometimes affect performance of a subwoofer it is not necessary that a subwoofer with plastic cones is a better choice than a sub with pressed paper cones or cones that are a blend of higher quality materials.
In the end, it all depends on the design of the sub and how well the sub performs when hooked up with a power source.
A good subwoofer is the one that has a sturdy and durable build,high quality components and can handle fluctuations of power fluctuations when hooked to an external source without any noise or sound distortions. They should have expert cooling systems which would prevent them from overheating and catching fire.
Overall, you need a subwoofer that can be used over a period of several years- one that is durable and will last a long time. Don’t go for fancy ones instead of the durable sub that can withstand continuous use or harsh conditions.
RMS rating
When researching a subwoofer it is better not to go buying a subwoofer after seeing its peak power instead place your attention on its RMS ratings.
Peak power is the wattage that a subwoofer can handle only in short bursts but the RMS power is the rating that tells us how much power a subwoofer can handle at a long stretch. So if you really want to know the power output of your sub then you should look at the RMS rating.
A free air sub however,requires the maximum power to perform flawlessly due to the fact that free air subwoofers are without enclosure and that makes it push more air around which in turn reduces the base sound quality by a few notches.
So it is absolutely necessary to make sure that the free air subwoofer gets the maximum power when cooked to an external power input source.
Conclusion
Free air subwoofers have several aspects that make it different from a normal subwoofer. Keeping this in mind go through all the factors listed above and then proceed to buy your free air car subwoofer.
Your sub should have an extremely powerful cone and a continuous source of maximum power for it to perform its best performance without a sub enclosure.