Best Home Subwoofer under $200

Votes 13 13
Rating 4.7 4.7
Overall Audio features Extensive connection Control
Dayton Audio SUB-800 7.3 5 9 8 See price 35
Dayton Audio SUB-1000L 7.3 6 8 8 See price 10
Dayton Audio SUB-1200 7.3 6 8 8 See price 11
Acoustic Audio PSW-12 6.6 7 5 8 See price 47
Monoprice 9723 6.6 6 6 8 See price 15
Polk Audio PSW108 6.6 5 7 8 See price 72
Acoustic Audio PSW-6 6.3 6 5 8 See price 16
Acoustic Audio PSW-10 6.3 6 5 8 See price 46
Polk Audio PSW10 6.3 6 5 8 See price 1
Sony SACS9 6.3 6 5 8 See price 52

Buying a powered subwoofer under 200 is one of the best ranges for great performance while remaining relatively inexpensive. Many of the models presented here work along with more expensive offers, but, as a rule, they are engaged in the function department.

For most, this does not matter. Productivity is king, and this price category proves why this is true. In the foreground is a solid, dense, and stable budget segment, the rest is practically not to mess around. Although tuning is not the focus, these subwoofers sound fantastic. The best budget subwoofer is recommended for those who want a decent bass but don’t spend a lot of money.

Best subwoofer under $200 reviews

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Polk Audio PSW10 - best overall

Our rating
6.3/10

Polk Audio PSW10

The Polk PSW10 is a 10-inch speaker and a well-polished subwoofer that is suitable for small to medium-sized rooms. The Polk PSW10 subwoofer is available in two colors, namely vinyl in black and cherry, and is produced by Polk Audio, Inc.

The Polk Audio subwoofer is the best subwoofer under 200. It has high performance, and even with a frequency of only 35 Hz, its bass sounds so good that you appreciate every sound.

The subwoofer provides a high-quality, but still an acceptable budget level. You hear the bass with clarity, without straining your ears. Its sound quality is unique, and it is felt in every corner of the room.

The Polk Audio PSW10 subwoofer has an intelligent sensor circuit that automatically turns off this unit in case of power outages or fluctuations. These automatic functions help prevent any damage that may be caused by a power surge. It also automatically turns on when power is restored or stabilized. The safety of your Polk Audio PSW10 subwoofer is guaranteed in case of unforeseen situations.

As for sound quality, the best budget home theater subwoofer Polk Audio PSW10 has everything you need. The PSW10 has amazing sound, even at low volume (and frequency). The Polk Audio PSW10 subwoofer has a built-in 50W RMS amplifier. A 50 W RMS amplifier uses high voltage; however, this does not require concern for power, as the PSW10 subwoofer design solves the problem of the high voltage supply.

The Polk PSW10 subwoofer works great with speakers of a different quality that simply do not provide the required low-frequency range. Polk series speakers such as TSi, RM, and R / T / M are also compatible.

The Polk PSW10 subwoofer has stable sound regardless of whether the volume is low or high, as well as sound quality at low voltage. You can conveniently adjust the volume of your system as you wish without worrying about the impact of sound quality. Polk Audio PSW10

The Polk PSW10 subwoofer offers several connectivity options, such as stereo speakers and RCA line-in. Unfortunately, it does not have a direct LFE connection point, like the Polk Audio PSW505. This subwoofer has high performance, and even with a frequency like 35 Hz continues to work.

You hear everything clearly, without straining your hearing with each sound produced, and its sound quality is unique and is felt in every corner of the room.

Key specs

Pros

  • Correct reproduction of bass after-tones
  • Advanced connectivity eases the usage of this subwoofer

Cons

  • The potential of a 30-centimeter driver at critically low frequencies is not fully disclosed
  • Softened "fast" dynamics

BIC America F12

Our rating
7.3/10

BIC America F12

The 12-inch BIC America F12 is quite heavy and large. This subwoofer is designed in the style of minimalism. Its cubic style has an attractive and classic look. The back of the case is made of black and thick laminate. Its thick walls help prevent any unwanted resonances along with the formation of standing waves. In front is a 12-inch woofer with a long injector. It also comes with rubber pads that help secure the mesh to the plastic pins on the front panel.

It has a frequency control, volume, stereo output connectors for speakers, stereo input connectors for receivers, a power indicator, an RCA connector, and a three-position power button.

A copper reflex port is located under the controls, and four cylindrical racks are located at the base of the chassis.

The pretender to be the best cheap subwoofer BIC F12 comes with a 12-inch woofer and 150 W amplifier with a maximum power of 475 W. The power of the subwoofer is enough for both home use and for organizing a party in the backyard.

You can connect this subwoofer to the receiver using the stereo input level, as well as a speaker to which you can connect throughout the living room. Despite the fact that it is not so big, it is able to reproduce medium and high frequencies. When used in conjunction with the powerful BIC F12 specifications, it can provide great sound. This can do a great job without confusion in the sound system. BIC America F12

It provides more bass than a home theater, thanks to the peak power of the amplifier. Bass is also known as powerful, deep, hard, and loud. A subwoofer will shake the whole house using deep bass. There is a feeling that the bass can fill the entire space of the house, and even the neighbors will hear the music.

This subwoofer has a problem with its fabric grill. It produces a lot of energy at high volume levels, which makes the grill tremble, which can cause noise.

Key specs

Pros

  • I like room filling sounds and clarity
  • At low levels, this subwoofer delivers that with faint sound leakage that can be heard out to the curb

Cons

  • It can get worryingly hot at high-usage twice. I was not able to use it for more than 4 hours heavily at a time

Pioneer SW-8MK2

Our rating
6/10

Pioneer SW-8MK2

This subwoofer is equipped with a powerful 100W internal amplifier, which is specially designed to provide accurate bass and treble. On the rear panel, there are three positions of the switch, as well as linear inputs and speaker level inputs, which create convenient connection parameters and allow the device to work effectively with any speaker. The setup is quite simple and straightforward, and the supplied sound has excellent quality at low frequencies without any signs of distortion.

Concerning a powerful internal amplifier with a peak power of 100 watts and a front subwoofer that delivers amazing low-frequency sound quality compared to similar subwoofers. In addition, this element has a ventilated body that creates an extended and accurate bass sound. On the back, there is a 180-degree phase switch that allows you to control the sound input.

Using the crossover and phase adjustment options, I could easily connect the device to the speakers of different models, and the sound quality did not deteriorate when listening to music or when using the device to watch movies. Adjusting the frequency, volume, and phase allows you to set up the perfect low-frequency sound, which can be suitable for rooms of different sizes.

The Pioneer SW-8MK2 settings have a frequency range from 38 Hz to 150 Hz, but the low-frequency sound supplied starts to lose its capabilities in the 100 Hz range, so it is better to use a product with a lower frequency. Although during testing, I noticed that this subwoofer copes well with most music genres - it is good for drum and bass, hip hop, rock, and even smooth jazz sounds. Pioneer SW-8MK2

This unit may be the best budget subwoofer for you as it is also great for watching movies, the sound produced by the subwoofer is not too loud, and therefore it can create a pleasant and exciting movie-like experience. The Pioneer SW-8MK2 blends perfectly and works in harmony with most speakers, regardless of manufacturer, which is a big plus for this particular subwoofer. If possible, I recommend using an RCA connection to achieve the best overall performance and sound quality.

Key specs

  • Power (RMS): 50 W
  • Driver size: 8"
  • Driver placement: down firing
  • Frequency response: 38-150 Hz
  • Full specs

Pros

  • It can be adjusted to any furniture. The sub appears very rhythmical, crisp, and musical
  • The sound displays even better when applying RCA plugs instead of customary speaker wires

Cons

  • Some hard-rock songs are accompanied by the scratching sound. The reason for is clearly not the recording nature
  • The model becomes extremely hot while testing

Dayton Audio SUB-1200

Our rating
7.3/10

Dayton Audio SUB-1200

The SUB-1200 uses a low-frequency reflective design with a 12-inch front driver and a lower frequency port. The claimed frequency response is 25 Hz-140 Hz, while the amplifier is indicated as an RMS value of 120 watts. Peak output number not specified.

Dayton Audio uses class D (which is good), but it's only 120 watts (which is actually not the case). There is a phase switch with settings of 0 or 180 degrees, as well as a power switch. There are two dials, one for amplification, and the other for an adjustable crossover that can be set in the range from 40 Hz to 140 Hz. The dials themselves have a convex insert made of white plastic with a small ledge, making it very easy to accurately determine where they are directed. Why doesn't everyone do this? There are two RCA inputs and high-level inputs; the latter in this price category are very unusual. There are also high-level outputs, so you can legally use the SUB-1200 with a stereo receiver, which inherently has no bass control.

The driver's cone is made of thick and dense paper material with an inverted dust cover and a large rubber foam finish. It is housed in a typical stamped steel frame. There is a good-sized ferrite magnet, with a small protrusion of the voice coil on the rear panel and a 5-inch air vent. It looks easy but seems to be well done. The port has a lower firing and expands at both ends. Its length is 7 "and width 2.5". Measurements show that it is tuned to 27 Hz. Dayton Audio SUB-1200

The instruction manual is quite Spartan and a little more than a small booklet. Each control and function is explained, although briefly, but probably enough for most people where they should be configured reasonably. In fact, the amplifier does not contain as many switches and dials, so setting it up is not a difficult task.

Key specs

Pros

  • The Dayton's bottom ported design works great in awkward/small spaces as you don't have to worry about placement
  • It sounds massive, with very smooth, natural sound

Cons

  • When in the 'standby' position, the unit does not go to 'on' when the main system amp powers up, nor when low volumes (or insufficiently low frequencies) of bass are being played

Sony SACS9

Our rating
6.3/10

Sony SACS9

The Sony home theater subwoofer is of high quality and incredible power. The robust case not only copes with aesthetic functions perfectly but also provides the necessary conditions for high-quality functioning.

The black housing blends perfectly with the look of most modern flat-screen TVs.

A 9.84 cone diaphragm can move more air, creating a powerful low-frequency resonance that makes the bass sound rich and authentic. A subwoofer amplifies low-frequency sounds in films and music, creating a multi-channel home theater.

Many speakers use paper diffusers that bend and deteriorate over time, resulting in more distorted sound. The Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) subwoofers are stiff and retain their shape even when driving at high pressure and speed, so you can control the bass more without sacrificing sound quality.

Lead heavy bass and revitalize your party. This subwoofer has a built-in amplifier with an output power of up to 115 watts. Vibration-sensitive circuits are located outside the enclosure, which creates high pressure inside the enclosure for a clean and powerful low-frequency sound.

Vibration reduction in the cabinet is vital for reliable and accurate bass. Unwanted vibrations are processed in two ways: acoustic absorption of waves created by the backpressure of the unit, and damping of vibrations inside the body itself. Sony SACS9

This subwoofer is ideal for easy installation in tight spaces. Thanks to its reduced separation area, the speaker minimizes sound field distortion for optimal clarity and accuracy.

Active subwoofer Sony SACS9 perfectly complements other acoustics and makes watching movies more intense. Explosions, shots, falls, flying planes, and missiles are perfectly emphasized, and various dynamic scenes are perceived as more interesting. Here, the sub does an excellent job since this is its element, and this sub is primarily created as a component for a home theater system with multi-channel sound.

Key specs

Pros

  • These speakers are well-made, solid, and have an incredibly warm and accurate sound
  • It has a crossover with a decent range from 45-200 Hz. In theory, it'd be perfect. However, at 200 Hz it just becomes a large speaker

Cons

  • The enclosure is far too narrow to play tight, nice bass frequencies, especially music
  • You hear pretty much all the sound but very muffled. The volume control was almost useless

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