Best Free Air Subwoofers 2024

The goal of an audiophile is to have the best audio quality for its money. If you are wondering what you can do to improve your car audio, this article will provide a list of the best free air subwoofers that fit your needs.

There are many products on the market that claim to be able to give louder bass and a better sound, but only some of them actually deliver. Fortunately, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars on subwoofers to get loud bass.

This article takes into consideration your budget and provides the best subwoofers for different categories, so you can choose the one that suits your needs. The subwoofers are sorted by their specifications and performance.

Although there may be many factors that make a subwoofer one of the best, this article focuses on price, driver size, power handling capacity (RMS), frequency range, sensitivity rating, and overall performance.

Table of Contents

5 Best Free Air Subwoofers (Includes Sub For Boat)

JBL Stage810 - 8' Car Audio Subwoofer, Black (STAGE810AM)
JBL Stage810 - 8" Car Audio Subwoofer, Black (STAGE810AM)
Mountind depth 6-15/16" (175mm); 38 - 200Hz frequency response
Rockville MS10LW 10' 2400 Watt White Marine/Boat 10' Free Air Subwoofer with LED
Rockville MS10LW 10" 2400 Watt White Marine/Boat 10" Free Air Subwoofer with LED
RMS Power: 600 Watts. Polypropylene cone with Rubber edge. 2.0" 4 Layer dual voice coil; Magnet 80 Oz double stacked magnet. Frequency response:...
JBL Stadium 1224 - 12” Subwoofer w/SSI™ (Selectable Smart Impedance) switch from 2 to 4 ohm
JBL Stadium 1224 - 12” Subwoofer w/SSI™ (Selectable Smart Impedance) switch from 2 to 4 ohm
Deep, powerful bass with power handling 500W RMS or 1500W Peak; Mounting depth 7" (177mm); 25 - 175Hz frequency response
Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC 8' 400 Watt Dual 4-Ohm Car Audio Subwoofer Sub CWCD84
Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC 8" 400 Watt Dual 4-Ohm Car Audio Subwoofer Sub CWCD84
New for 2017!; Injection-Molded Polypropylene Cone; Perimeter Venting for Thermal Management

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1. JBL Stage810 – 8″ Car Audio Subwoofer, Black (STAGE810AM)

JBL Stage810 - 8" Car Audio Subwoofer, Black (STAGE810AM)
  • High-output and low-distortion bass with power handling capability of up to 800 watts peak power or 200W RMS.
  • Mountind depth 6-15/16" (175mm)
  • 38 - 200Hz frequency response
  • Included components: 1 x Subwoofer, 1 x foam gasket, owner's manual, 2 x two-color brand stickers

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

JBL Stages is the first car amplifier to ever be designed with an amplifier IC that is powered by Class D technology. The Stage 810 subwoofer is the ultimate model, boasting dual 12″ JL Audio CompVT crossover drivers and a Neodymium magnet structure.

This subwoofer also features Sensitivity X15, meaning it can crank out up to 15dB higher SPLs than other subs at the same power levels.

Pros:

  • The JBL Stage810 8″ Car Audio Subwoofer (Black) is the perfect choice if you’re looking for quality and affordable bass in your vehicle.
  • At this price point it’s difficult to find anything else that comes close in terms of performance; this sub is definitely worth an audition if you want to make your car stand out.

Cons:

  • The JBL Stage 810 8″ Car Audio Subwoofer has a respectable RMS power of 400 watts and frequency response of between 27 and 250 Hz.
  • The set is sold with the wiring kit for easy installation and a handy JBL sticker to show off your pride.

2. Rockville MS10LW 10″ 2400 Watt White Marine/Boat 10″ Free Air Subwoofer with LED

Rockville MS10LW 10" 2400 Watt White Marine/Boat 10" Free Air Subwoofer with LED
  • Rockville MS10LW 10" marine subwoofer with LED (White). Max Power: 2400 Watts. RMS Program Power: 1200 Watts
  • RMS Power: 600 Watts. Polypropylene cone with Rubber edge. 2.0" 4 Layer dual voice coil
  • Molded ABS plastic basket made with a special blend that is waterproof and un-breakable (if you literally jump on it, it will not break or bend)
  • Magnet 80 Oz double stacked magnet. Frequency response: 30Hz-4Khz
  • Impedance: Dual 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 90dB

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Rockville MS10LW 10″ 2400 Watt White Marine/Boat 10″ Free Air Subwoofer with LED is a new and improved free-air subwoofer from Rockville. This newly designed sub is perfect for those looking to do some heavy bass work with their marine or car stereo system.

Pros:

  • 10″ subwoofer for lower frequencies
  • LED lighting on the surface
  • 2400 watts total power
  • Amplifier included with the product

Cons:

  • You will need to purchase RCA cables or a dual RCA/speaker cable, but the product includes a 1 year warranty.
  • If you already have a dedicated sound system and would like to add on additional parts, this might not be the best choice for you. 
  • This is an extremely powerful and fun product and something that can be enjoyed by all family members (kids, adults, etc.)

3. Infinity Reference REF1200S 12″ Shallow Mount Subwoofer, Black

Infinity REF1200S Reference 12 Inch Low Profile Subwoofer with SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance)
  • Low-profile design: Because today’s compact cars offer less space, the Infinity Reference Subwoofers are designed to fit into small enclosures....
  • Harman-proprietary SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance): Unlike most dual-voice coil woofers, which provide either 1 or 4 ohms or 2 or 8 ohms, the...
  • Frequency response 27Hz -175Hz: Your audio is filled with delicious sounds. Unfortunately, you’re not always hearing them all. With lows that dig...
  • OEM-level reliability testing: Infinity tests every speaker design to the same rigid specifications as the automakers, subjecting them to extreme...
  • Peak power handling: 1000W, Nominal impedance: 2 ohm or 4 ohm, switch selectable, 92dB Sensitivity

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Infinity Reference REF1200S 12″ Shallow Mount Subwoofer is a perfect addition for any home theater setup. It provides high-fidelity audio to get the most out of your films, games, music, and TV shows to create an immersive sound experience.

The shallow mount design allows it to be placed virtually anywhere in your room with minimal interference. And the black color option will help blend it in with any decor you have going on at home.

Pros:

  • Reference quality sound
  • Easy to install (no tools required)
  • Customizable acoustics with EQ options and included remote control for iPhone/Android device – Comes with mounting bracket and 2 subwoofer grilles.

Cons:

  • Cables are short – you need an extension cord or power strip to be able to place the speaker further away from the wall. Owning a power strip eliminates this problem though.
  • Only 1 subwoofer grille included – but if you call Infinity, they will send you another grille for FREE! I would just call them ahead of time to make this request.
  • Can be difficult to balance the bass between speakers with this subwoofer.

4. JBL Stadium 1224 – 12” Subwoofer w/SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance) switch from 2 to 4 ohm

JBL Stadium 1224 - 12” Subwoofer w/SSI™ (Selectable Smart Impedance) switch from 2 to 4 ohm
  • Deep, powerful bass with power handling 500W RMS or 1500W Peak
  • Mounting depth 7" (177mm)
  • 25 - 175Hz frequency response
  • Selectable Smart Impedance
  • Aero-cooled voice coil

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The JBL Stadium 1224 is the perfect addition to any sound system. This loudspeaker is equipped with an SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance) switch.

This allows the user to toggle between 2 and 4-ohm amps on demand. Changing impedance will ensure that you are getting maximum power from your amplifier by matching the speaker’s load  to the amp’s output.

Pros:

  • The built-in SSI switch is great for powering multiple amps/subs while maintaining power handling capability.
  • The switch allows you to run the amp in its default 2 ohm configuration, while also being able to select 4 ohms when you are not using it.
  • You can always leave your amp in 4 ohms if you don’t want to worry about blowing up your subs or speakers later on.

Cons:

  • The size of the speaker. If you need a small system to take around, this is not for you.
  • It’s black. If you are looking for a speaker that blends in with your other furnishings, this is not it.

6. Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC 8 Inch 4 Ohm 200 Watt RMS Power and 400 Watts Peak Power Dual Voice Coil Car Audio Sub Subwoofer, Black

Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC 8" 400 Watt Dual 4-Ohm Car Audio Subwoofer Sub CWCD84
  • New for 2017!
  • Injection-Molded Polypropylene Cone
  • Perimeter Venting for Thermal Management
  • Ribbed Polyurethane Surround
  • Signature Yellow Surround Stitching

Last update on 2024-03-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Looking for a powerful subwoofer to level up your system? If so, the Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC 8 Inch 4 Ohm 200 Watt RMS Power and 400 Watts Peak Power Dual Voice Coil Car Audio Sub Subwoofer, Black is a good option for you!

With a max power of 1000 watts and a peak power of 1400 watts, this powered sub has been engineered to handle the most challenging bass lines from rap to EDM.

Pros:

  • Excellent power handling
  • Eight inch subwoofer size
  • Good frequency response range (34 Hz – 150 Hz)

Cons:

  • The amplifier is not the strongest on the market.
  • The installation kit needs improvement.
  • The box that it came in was damaged and dirty which makes me think this is a returned item that I didn’t know about until I went to try and install it.

Conclusion

This post will help you find the best free air subwoofer and also provides a few examples of subs for boats. Subwoofers are an essential component of any speaker system and can greatly improve your music listening experience.

FAQ:

Q: What is the best free air subwoofer?

A: Kicker 44CWCD84 CompC – Our choice Kicker KMF10 – Budget Kicker CompRT – Popular Wet Sounds Black 10 – Marine Infinity Kappa 1200W – 1200 Watt PIONEER TSA2000LD2 – Shallow-Mount

Q: What is the best subwoofer for home theater?

A: Turning your living room, den, or basement into a home theater isn’t as daunting as it sounds. Having a dedicated place to watch movies and TV shows in the highest possible quality only requires a handful of components, and you can tailor your system to …

Q: What are the best subwoofer brands?

A: Sonos Sub – Powerful Polk Audio HTS 12 – Big bass Bose Bass Module 700 – Clearest bass Acoustic Audio PSW500-12 – Perfect for home Samsung Sound+SWA-W700 – Simple,powerful

Q: What is the best wireless subwoofer kit?

A: BIC America WTR-SYS – Our choice OSD Audio Nero-WSA – Modern Yamaha SWK-W16 – Stylish REL Acoustics HT-Air – Cheap SVS SPWADAPT – Universal