I am going to date myself right off the bat here and say… I am a millennial. I was born in the late ’80s and a kid of the ’90s. I was picking boogers with Ren and Stimpy, being blown away by MC Hammer and Aerosmith on MTV when it actually played music, going to school with Billy Madison, and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.
I was doing all that and also sneaking into my older brother’s Prelude and cranking the sub, bumping bass every chance I got.
Now, the classic tv shows and movies may have faded away, the Prelude was sold long ago, and my music choices have definitely changed, but the bass, the subwoofer, and the boom are here to stay.
That’s because whether you’re bumping license plate shaking bass in your JDM tuner or filling out the minivan system with lows to match the mids and highs, a subwoofer is a necessary tool to pick up all the frequencies in any sound system.
From the golden era of the subwoofer in the ’90s to the renaissance of today, when it comes to subs, there is arguably none that sounds better, delivers the crispy sharpness you are looking for, and gives you the perfect bass sound than the 12 inch subwoofer.
 | Skar Audio EVL-12 D2 12' | Overall Best 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Rockville RV12.2B | Best 12 Inch Subwoofer PackageSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Skar Audio IX-12 D4 | Best Budget 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Massive Audio HIPPOXL122R | Best Premium 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Pioneer TS-A3000LB | Best slim 12-inch subwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Skar Audio SDR-1X12D2 | Best Enclosed 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | JBL GT-BassPro12 | Best Powered 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 | Best Component 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | Rockford Fosgate P3-2X12 | Best Dual 12 Inch Enclosed SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | MTX Audio Terminator Series TNE212D | Also recommended Dual 12 Inch SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
 | PIONEER Alphasonik AS12DF | Also Recommended Slim SubwooferSee On Amazon | See On Amazon |
With a premium build and 2500 watts of peak power handling, this competition-grade 12-inch sub can take everything you throw at it. This powerful and efficient monster subwoofer redefines low-end sound reproduction. The reviews are in and the Skar EVL-12 D2 is a hard hitting bass winner.
See On AmazonIf you’re the guy or gal out there looking for one of the overall best 12 inch subwoofer, stop reading this and just go purchase the Skar EVL-12 D2.
The days of spending half a grand to find the best bone-rattling sub for the money are over. The peak power and RMS of this sub at 2,500 watts and 1,250 watts, respectively, are more than you will ever need. And with a sensitivity of 85.1 decibels, a high roll surround, and a high-temperature 3-inch coil to match all that power, you’ll get the crisp deep, resonating lows you are looking for.
The deep, low, unquestionably accurate bass this subwoofer delivers is thanks to a premium all-around build. Mount this bad boy in a solid box, get yourself a powerful amp, and you’ll be bumpin’ till the cows come home.
Rockville hooks you up with the whole package, including a 1200 watt vented subwoofer enclosure and a matching monoblock amplifier. From your battery to the trunk, you’ll be good to go with this bass bumping, affordable setup.
See On AmazonThe Rockville RV12.2B is a 1200 watt vented subwoofer enclosure that comes with everything you need to get a booming sound, like yesterday.
Thanks to all this power of 1200 peak power/400 RMS power dual sub system that is perfectly paired with a monoblock amplifier and all the fuses, wires, and switches you’ll need, the guesswork is gone when you purchase this setup.
We think you will love the sound quality you get with this setup, as it should outperform its price tag and go head to head with more expensive sound equipment. Keep in mind, though, when purchasing this package that the lower quality may come at the expense of a higher-end finish and some difficulty in adjusting the knobs.
Skar Audio delivers with the affordable IX-12 D4 12 subwoofer. The powerful single-track magnet, competition-grade paper cone, and high roll foam surround ensure this budget build bumps with clean, powerful, and responsive sound.
See On AmazonIf you are just diving into the car audio game or are just looking for a competent sub that won’t break the bank, this one is for you. With a bass output that will remind you of the classic subs owned in the 80s and a shallow depth for space-saving ease of installation, these subs are no joke for not too much money.
If you keep your hopes on the high end of reasonable expectation by pairing this sub with the appropriate amp and staying within the 250 RMS wattage range, you’ll be more than happy with this purchase. And with the money you save, you can spend a little extra on gas and drive to your friend’s house at the next zip code to prove to him that you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on a dope car audio system.
Keep in mind when purchasing this sub that it might smell a little funky out of the package due to its production and materials. Do not worry too much, though; it should go away.
Massive Audio delivers some massive bump with this 12-inch competition-level subwoofer. If you are looking for one of the best-sounding, feature-forward subs with hard-hitting, ear-splitting deep bass, this is the best 12 inch subwoofer for you.
See On AmazonEarth-shattering bass lovers, look no further. The HippoXL122R is a heavy-duty, rugged-designed subwoofer ready to shake all the windows and break all the glass.
Thanks to a premium build that features everything from a 430oz high energy double stack strontium magnet structure to a reinforced fiberglass woven dust cap for high power applications, this sub performs in every way you want it to.
This excellent quality sub is one you’d buy again and again for the sound output but you won’t have to, thanks to the build quality.
Keep in mind that this heavy (65 pounds) premium-built sub needs a large enclosure and a premium amp and wires to match. You may even consider upgrading your car battery with this one. Just remember, if you plan on going with this purchase, be ready to pull the trigger and go all the way.
If you are looking for a shallow mount pre-loaded enclosure, look no further. This subwoofer setup is compact, flexible enough to be installed in three directions, and is space-saving while still delivering the bang. You can expect a tight bass from this one any way you install it.
See On AmazonThis slim boxed subwoofer answers the age-old question of how do you slap when the space in your car is crap.
Thanks to a shallow compact design that is capable of being mounted upright or lying flat and facing up or down, space is no longer a concern for audiophiles who need a little bump to get the day going.
Besides the flexible installation and shallow design that let the sub be positioned anywhere, you will also love its wattage. With the ability to handle 1500 Max and 400 RMS watts, this sub has more than enough wattage for its compact design.
When purchasing this little banger, keep in mind that it is not powered like other compact subs. You’ll need to find an appropriately powered amp to pair it with.
This subwoofer is for the car audio enthusiast who wants a killer sound without the hassle of a time-killing setup. This competition-grade sub is pre-mounted and pre-wired, meaning all you need to do is run a few wires and you are ready to slap some bass.
See On AmazonThe SDR-1X12D2 loaded enclosure is a great-looking subwoofer setup that was built to bring the boom. You’ll love the excellent quality box and the peace of mind that comes with a quality-built pre-wired setup ready to roll right out of the gate.
Thanks to the premium vented enclosure, the subwoofer is built for power with 1200 watts of peak power and a steady RMS power of 600 watts. Pair this with the appropriate amp and you will get all the deep lows you are looking from the best 12 inch subwoofer without worrying about overheating or sound distortion.
The bottom line with this one is that it is a premium build at a solid price that will deliver all the sound output you need. Get a restraining order ready when you purchase this one cause this thing slaps.
Time and attention are of the essence, and JBL gets that. This setup pairs a subwoofer, a ported enclosure, and a perfectly matched amp all in one package. Don’t let the affordable price or all-in-one package fool you; this thing will bump.
See On AmazonThe JBL GT-BassPro12 is a slick-looking, slick performing, affordable all-in-one subwoofer for a car audio enthusiast who wants the wicked whack without the installation wait. This system will keep your car setup clean and deliver the 12-inch bump you are expecting.
Thanks to the well-designed port on this system, you’ll be able to get a big sound from a small box without losing audio quality or experiencing distortion. And with a bass remote, the stellar low ends on this one will be there with every twist of the dial.
We think you’ll love the price of this all-in-one setup but keep in mind that the low, low price does come with a drawback. Its 150 RMS watts will produce clean, deep, intense sounds but do not expect the same power you can get from a stand-alone enclosure with a higher quality subwoofer. It bumps, but it’s not a window shaker.
If you are the guy or gal looking to take your car audio experience into your own hands, this is the component sub for you. With a premium build from the cone to the magnet, the P3D4 is Rockford Fosgate’s best-selling subwoofer for a reason; it bumps, it bangs, it punches.
See On AmazonThe design, the magnet, the coils… the whole build of this 12 Punch was comprehensively created with predictable, clean, low-end power in mind. As a result, this thing delivers the crisp, clean sound you would expect from a 10-inch sub within the powerful bass bump you’d expect from a 15. The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Punch is the reason you buy a 12 inch.
We think you’ll love the top-to-bottom build quality of the whole sub, especially the spider venting. With 1200 watts of peak power and a 600 watt RMS, that venting will keep the motor of this booming sub cool for continuous hours of use.
If you are looking for that deep bass you remember from the ’80s or looking to experience what all the hype was about for the first time, this is the sub for you. Just be ready with the earplugs and the broom and dustpan to clean up that broken glass cause this thing will bump.
The P3-2X12 is a dual enclosure subwoofer designed for all-day accurate low bass frequencies. Featuring two of Rockford Fosgate’s famous component Punch woofers, this precision-built enclosure lets you set your system up hassle-free so that you can produce some of the best low-end sounds around.
See On AmazonFeaturing two of Rockford Fosgate’s famous Punch subwoofers, this dual-loaded enclosed or ported setup delivers all the clean bumps of the Punch with double the boom in a beautiful, smartly designed enclosure.
With a proprietary high-flow, low-noise port and high current binding posts, you’ll get the best flow possible to your 2400 watts max system.
The entire build of each Punch 12 was comprehensively created with predictable, clean, low-end power in mind. If one 12′ Punch will shake your windows, two 12″ Punches should rattle your brain. These subwoofers deliver the crisp, clean sound you would expect from a 10-inch sub within the powerful bass bump you would expect from a 15.
The Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 Punch is the reason you buy a 12. With double the delivery in a clean and wired ready-to-go build, you will never look back.
Keep in mind that this setup weighs nearly 100 pounds delivered to your door. If you’re throwing it in your old VW bug, expect that zero to 60 to drop a few seconds.
A well-designed dual enclosure should be rugged, ready to roll and deliver the boom. With the MTX Terminator TnE212D, you get all three in an affordable, easy-to-install system.
See On AmazonA dual subwoofer setup has one job: deliver double the boom. This one does it without dipping into the muddy waters of too much bass. This system fits right into the sweet spot with a peak power of 800 watts and an RMS of 400 watts.
It will deliver all the boom and more while managing to keep a clean deep, low sound that won’t rattle the neighbors’ pictures off the wall. This dual setup won’t win any competition but will deliver consistent, smooth bass that you’ll actually want to listen to day in and day out.
If you love the loudness but do not want to compromise on the clean sound and maybe don’t want to carry earplugs around every day, this setup is for you.
We think you will love the construction of this enclosure. From the logo stitching to the carpet, this one should feel premium.
This shallow mount, powered sub is designed for the car audio enthusiast looking for excellent low-end sound quality in a small package. This subwoofer is perfect for all jeep, truck, and small car owners who understand space and style are premium and want the best bass sound possible.
See On AmazonThe reviews for this one are in. Alphasonik AS12DF 12 inch is a shallow mount with a 1500 watt subwoofer that delivers the deep bass you are looking for in a small compact design.
If you’re low on space or want a clean build, this is the subwoofer for you. With installation flexibility in the most compact design you can find for a 12 inch sub, you can face this up or down under a seat (don’t forget to measure your personal setup) or stand it vertically in a space as small as 7 inches wide.
This sub is more than compact, though. The spun aluminum cone and copper wound Kapton voice coil on this subwoofer gives way to 92 decibels of sensitivity and a frequency response ranging from 26Hz to 500Hz. That means you’ll get the most high quality bass available from this shallow mount subwoofer.
Keep in mind though that even if it looks like one of its shallow powered brothers, you’ll need an amp for this sub.
Music and how people have listened to it have been in constant progression since early humans learned to carry a tune some 40,000 years ago.
The car subwoofer is a relatively recent addition in all of that progression. It was developed in the ’60s, popularized in the ’70s, and almost necessary by the late ‘80 synth-pop and ’90s after the invention of the CD and bass-heavy styles of music like hip hop.
Obviously, when looking at a good quality subwoofer of this size, you are looking for distortion-free bass which, believe it or not, this sub does so much more.
The subwoofer doesn’t just sound bassy. It actually “reveals” the deep bass in your favorite track. The subwoofer is designed to pick up lower frequencies (20HZ) better than standard speakers (50HZ), allowing you to hear the music the way the artist intended.
The rule of thumb is that the lower the Hz, the more bass quality you will get. For overall sound quality, look for a powerful subwoofer with a frequency response range from 20Hz and 120Hz. It’s perfect for enjoying music genres with bassy beats while you’re on the road.
Subwoofers add clarity to your system by reducing the workload of your smaller speakers. Even a full-range small speaker doesn’t give you clear bass like a sub. By programming the sub to take the load, the whole system will sound better and less distorted.
By programming the sub to take the load, the whole system will sound better and less distorted. The smaller speakers can reproduce sound in a more comfortable frequency range as the lowest frequencies are diverted to the sub.
Even if you have the best 12 inch subwoofers, you can only get the best out of them by adding an amplifier. Subs require much more power than typical speakers and an amp can boost audio signals for more power, volume, and sound clarity.
Although most folks will install an amp to regulate the subwoofer, that amp actually benefits all of your car speakers (including those 4×6 car speakers). With an amplifier, you will be able to hit higher volume levels without distortion from all your speakers while getting that full-spectrum response and full audio range from the sub.
The debate on the perfect sub size won’t be over after this article. But if you’re looking for a solid subwoofer that produces rich and heavy sounds, isn’t too big, and is probably the most popular on the market, nothing really beats the 12 inch.
The 12-inch subwoofers are known for their accuracy and loudness. With outstanding response and clarity, they are capable of producing the same crisp, clean sound of a 10 inch while also handling more power, playing louder, and being boomier in the right places.
On the other end of the spectrum, they are also more readily available than a 15 inch, won’t require a more expensive amp, and won’t take up that much room.
The bottom line is, if you are looking for the “it” sub, the 12 inch is the one for you.
When purchasing your subwoofer, there are a few things to keep in mind.
There are essentially five types of subwoofers.
The powered subwoofer or active subwoofer works using its own amplifier. This subwoofer always has the right amount of power and is usually the easiest to install because of its compact size. The small size, however, means smaller drivers and amplifiers so it might not give the same thump as the other types.
A passive subwoofer, on the other hand, cannot power itself and needs an external amp before it can function. While it can be a turnoff for those who want to plug and play, it gives audiophiles the flexibility to work with different amplifiers based on their needs and desired sound performance which is not possible with a powered subwoofer.
An enclosed subwoofer is your basic sub but pre-mounted in sealed or ported enclosures. A sealed enclosure is fully closed to ensure air does not get in or out of the subwoofer box allowing for a tighter bass. This is another easy-to-install option for beginners but the sub box can take a lot of space in your car.
In a ported enclosure, there is a hole that allows air to flow into and out of the subwoofer box which allows for louder bass. The same air flowing in and out of the port helps keep the subwoofer cooler to make them last longer. The ported box, though, needs to be built to the right specifications or it can lead to woofer damage or failure.
A component subwoofer is the sub for car nerds, audiophiles, and DIYers. The component sub only comes with a speaker and you have to purchase or make an enclosure, and purchase the amp separately. You can position the various parts of the component strategically to create optimal sound performance.
You will notice that there is a wide range of dimension options when it comes to picking up a 12-inch sub and enclosure. On the smaller end of the 12 inch sub (see also 8 inch subwoofer), you will find powered subwoofers that are usually compact enough to fit under or behind your seat. On the larger end, you will find huge enclosures with dual or triple subwoofers installed.
When considering your car audio, think of your vehicular space because bigger and louder isn’t always better. The boom should complement your car speakers, space, and soundstage, not overpower it. Generally speaking, the better the quality of the materials of the component sub is, and the bigger and more well-built the enclosure is, the better the sound will be.
The power handling specs will tell how much power (in watts) the 12 inch subwoofers can handle. There are two main values on the spec sheet to pay attention to: the RMS (root mean square) and Peak Power. The first one indicates how much power a sub can take on a regular basis while the latter sets the absolute maximum it can handle.
The RMS is a more useful metric as it covers the day-to-day use of the subwoofer but consider also the peak power so you will know how much power your sub can handle for short bursts. Look for a peak power you’ll be happy staying well below and not reaching every day because more power also means more money. Sometimes, hard hitting bass is actually a worse sound for your specific system, and a subwoofer is a purchase you want to last for a while.
Also written in the product manual is the sub’s impedance level measured in ohms (symbolized as Ω). Impedance is the resistance to the flow of electric current as it operates with a musical signal. The lower the impedance, the more easily electricity (the signal or music) flows through the speaker.
That means a subwoofer with a lower electrical resistance will produce a louder sound. A sub with a 2 ohm load is going to be louder than its 4 ohm load counterpart. Keep in mind, though, that although louder, 2 ohm subwoofers generally produce a lower sound quality. The louder sound will also require a more powerful amplifier.
Human hearing ranges from a low frequency of 20 Hz to a high frequency of 20 kHz, and frequency response tells how well a speaker can reproduce all of the tones we can hear. It is measured in the hertz (Hz) unit, and nothing else matters if the frequency response is not good. Good frequency response can play all the musical tones with high fidelity.
Generally speaking, the higher the frequency, the sharper the sound while the lower the frequency, the more bass you’ll get. If you are purchasing a sub with a fixed frequency rating, look for something lower than 80 Hz. If your sub has a frequency range, look for something at around 20-120 Hz.
A voice coil is a wire wrapped around the bottom of the speaker cone or cylinder called a former. The former receives the amplified current being sent to the sub. When the current reaches the coil, the coil reacts by moving up and down on the former’s magnet. The entire setup is attached to the speaker cone. The movement of the former produces air pressure in the cone, which in turn produces sound.
A single voice coil subwoofer has one coil while dual voice coil subwoofers have, you got it, two coils. Now, it’s a little techie, but the benefit of a DVC subwoofer comes in wiring options. To keep it kind of simple, the DVC lets you change the ohm impedance level of your sub.
If you are looking to dive deep, check out this tutorial.
Before you pull the trigger on any subwoofer or speaker, make sure you have everything you will need. That might include separate wiring and fuses, an amplifier, basic electrician tools, and a trusty manual or YouTube tutorial.
Do not forget that you will also want to soundproof your car. That might include adding carpeting and other noise-canceling material, as well as getting out the screwdriver and tightening down anything that might rattle.
When in doubt, there’s no shame in picking up a six-pack and having your technician brother-in-law over or dropping your rig off at a geek squad for the afternoon.
As with everything you purchase, and even more so with a 12 inch subwoofer, you usually get what you pay for. So if you’re looking at the deal of the century, be wary, check the specs, and read the reviews. You want a subwoofer that offers high value in terms of power, volume, and overall sound quality but at a reasonable price.
It is not hard to find some cheap, quality subs from recognized brands but there are some that cost a little more than others and are well worth the price. Just know that the sound reproduction of a subwoofer can change as the price changes. If you want to wake up the neighborhood with the thump, thump of your bass, expect to pay more.
Every good sound system is nothing without that full-range audiophile’s love – the subwoofer. Whether you’re listening to hear the highs, the mids, and the lows or to bump some bass, if you are looking to give your system clarity and range and to reduce the wear on your car speakers, a high quality subwoofer is for you.
In the subwoofer world, there are a variety of sizes and kinds but nothing quite compares to the classic 12 inch subwoofer. It is a popular size that can fit most cars and has a deep bass response to put an extra beat in your heart.
You might also be interested in this article about the Polk Audio PSW10 10-inch powered subwoofer review.
