Best Free Air Subwoofers – Reviews & Buyer Guide

Last Updated on 9 months

There is not enough space in your automobile, but you don’t want to surrender on sound? Perhaps a free-air subwoofer is the suitable car audio component for you.

So what are the best free air subwoofer options?

The subwoofer is linked to a fiberboard placed between the back seat and the trunk in a free air setup. This high-density board generates an airtight seal, effectively turning the complete chest into a continuous baffle.

However, what if your car’s built-in subwoofers don’t deliver the best voice quality that you are looking for? You’ll go searching for a new one that’s high in quality and design, but how do you know what to buy and where you will find these?

If you don’t have any information about subwoofers consequently, finding the ideal one for you might be a task.

For that reason, you need more truthful information about the best free air subwoofers that you can choose from to accomplish that joyful driving experience!

But with all the choices out there, it can be confusing! To help you make and desire., we’ve arranged some of the best free air subwoofers out there.

Image	Product	Details	Price
	Skar Audio VD-8 D2	Skar Audio VD-8 D2 Shallow-Mount Car Subwoofer is a powerful bass emitter.	Check Price
	KICKER 45KMF122 12″ 350w Peak	Kicker 45KMF 122 12 has fantastic value for what it offers and gives you a sizeable upgrade without having to empty your wallet.	Check Price
	PIONEER SHALLOW MOUNT	Pioneer A Series of Shallow Mount Subwoofers uses a highly solidified cone made with MICA indulged molded resin.	Check Price
	Rockford Fosgate Subwoofer R2D2-10	It summarizes an excellent quality sound output as well as a spider ventilating design that keeps your subwoofer from overheating.	Check Price
	Wet Sounds REVO 8 FA	This subwoofer is unique, the most long-lasting, built to endure even the worst conditions without a drop-in class. Its layout will make sure to slim fit in a car.	Check Price
	Lanzar DCTOA15D	Lanzar is simply a budget-friendly version. It’s a good beginner subwoofer that’ll get the job done.	Check Price
	Infinity Kappa 1200W	This 1200W subwoofer operates great in a free air setup because of the best steel basket.	Check Price
	Pyle Car Subwoofer Audio Speaker PLPW8D	Pyle PLPW8D has been designed to best suit anyone who is looking for a clear-cut sound with added performance.	Check Price
	Rockville RockGhost Hidden Powered 8″ Car Subwoofer	Rockville RockGhost is a hidden subwoofer, but it produces some of the cleanest and consistent lows you’ve ever heard.	Check Price
	CT Sounds Tropo V2.0 Sub	CT Sounds Tropo V2.0 Sub emphasis on covering the low frequencies with high volume and punchy bass.	Check Price

Skar Audio VD-8 D2

? Editors’ Choice!

Skar Audio VD-8 D2 Shallow-Mount Car Subwoofer is a powerful bass emitter. It has a 2-3 inch high-temperature copper voice-producing coil, competition-grade cone covered by high-strength foam, Xmax of 10.23mm to 10.25mm, and a 2-layered Conex spider. It has 600W peak power with a mountainous 400 watts RMS.

Its frequency response is 30 – 380 Hz, and the sensitivity is 80-83.2 dB. It does need 3 – 4 inches for mounting, so it may not be as miniature as you’d like for the space you have in mind. Skar provides a two to three-year restrained guarantee for this subwoofer.

Skar Audio is placed on top of the list because of user reviews and its mind-blowing performance.

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KICKER 45KMF122 12″ 350w Peak

As the name describes Kicker, you know these guys must be very successful in the car audio business. Year after year of manufacturing excellent quality products means these guys are making everything for everyone, from amateur audiophiles to those who need their car’s audio system to be perfect.

The 45KMF 122 12 has fantastic value for what it offers and gives you a sizeable upgrade without having to empty your wallet.

It also goes better with information, but if you choose to leave it free air, this subwoofer has more than enough to get the job done. But if one day you pick to hit the grade button, you can grab another one and put them both in an arena for some body-rattling hard bass.

This subwoofer is fantastic for a novice, as it allows you to improve over time without having to spend a lot. If you are happy with the replacement, you can leave it that way and enjoy excellent audio quality.

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PIONEER SHALLOW MOUNT

The Pioneer A Series of Shallow Mount Subwoofers uses a highly solidified cone made with MICA indulged molded resin, producing a rigid and long-lasting cone. This gives it the ability to produce accurate bass.

The TS-A2000LD2 8 in. lightweight mount subwoofer has several characteristics that deliver the big bass completion of a large-size subwoofer, but in a compressed layout that can be incorporated either behind or under seats depending on the type of vehicle.

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Rockford Fosgate Subwoofer R2D2-10

If you are affectionate about installing free air subwoofers on your car or vehicle, this type of product can be the ideal selection for you.

It summarizes an excellent quality sound output as well as a spider ventilating design that keeps your subwoofer from overheating.

It’s yet another heat transfer system that can be found in the most incredible precious subwoofer models, making it a choice that you can depend on. And because it’s small in size, this handy subwoofer can easily be installed or moved inside the car.

The woofer size is 10 inches, Sensitivity ranges from 85 to 89 dB, Power required is 500 Watts (Peak) / 250 Watts (RMS), Mounting Depth is the key feature which is about 4.33 inches, and Impedance is  Dual 2 ohms.

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Wet Sounds REVO 8 FA

These subs pack plenty of power, estimated at 400 Watts RMS, which means you’re going to be drawing plenty of basses as you roll over the roads. They also come outfitted with a beautiful frequency response range, going deep enough to control just about any type of music.

Not only that, but these subwoofers look magnificent with a silver protecting grill that will go splendidly with just about any car you decide to install the woofers

This subwoofer is unique, the most long-lasting, built to endure even the worst conditions without a drop-in class. Its layout will make sure to slim fit in a car.

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Lanzar DCTOA15D

If you are not well-known with Lanzar, that’s okay. You are apparently accustomed to the origin company, Pyle, though. Pyle designs well, pile-driving bass, and the Lanzar is simply a budget-friendly version.

But don’t think you are getting short-changed with a budget subwoofer. The 15” Lanzar has lots to offer in an economical package. It’s a good beginner subwoofer that’ll get the job done.

Voice Coil

Lanzar uses a massive 2” voice coil in these speakers to help prevent overpowering in a free air setup.

Power

The estimated power is 200 watts, giving you an abundance of room to run a big amplifier without destroying the speaker.

Amplifier

As in any free air setup, you will need to keep an eye on the gain from your amplifier. Too much and the non-pressed paper cone and foam surround won’t take it.

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Best Power Handling: Infinity Kappa 1200W

Infinity is one of the most committed names in reliable car audio tech. This 1200W subwoofer operates great in a free air setup because of the best steel basket. The subwoofer features a selectable 2 or 4-ohm impedance too for customizability.

Plus, this is truly a great-looking subwoofer. If you’re looking to showcase the speakers, the 1200W is probably the best looking on our list.

Kappa engineered this subwoofer to handle frequencies between 23 and 400 hertz, so it really gets down deep into the bass spectrum.

With power handling of 500 watts RMS, it can take a beating, but installation in a free air setup will reduce the amount of power you can push through it before the voice coil can’t take it anymore.

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Pyle Car Subwoofer Audio Speaker PLPW8D

With Pyle being one of the most reputed brands in providing car audio components, the Pyle PLPW8D has been designed to best suit anyone who is looking for a clear-cut sound with added performance without overlooking durability whatsoever.

Without further ado, how about we take a look at what makes this 8-inch subwoofer worthy of our reviews?

An outstanding quality construction

The better the quality in the construction of a free air subwoofer is, the better the sound quality you’ll be getting from it, right?

For durability, the housing on this bad boy is a stamped steel basket and in order to give out an enhanced sound, you’ll be having a wide and non-fatiguing rubber suspension.

There is also a specially designed rubber magnet boot, a specially treated foam surround.

As for the motor construction, you’ll be getting one that’s bumped and vented which allows the subwoofer to handle a lot of power. Speaking of the motor, the magnet used in this case is 40 Oz which is quite strong.

1.5-inch single voice coil

When it comes to the voice coil, you’ll be having a 1.5” 4-layer coil that’s got really high-temperature handling. Working with the heavy-duty magnet, the bass will definitely be audiophile-grade.

Easy installation

Looking into the installation, the Pyle PLPW8D has got a mounting depth of 3.7” which should be easy to install in most vehicles.

The overall diameter is 8.2 inches which also puts it in favor of being used as a free air sub and to make the setup process a walk in the park.

It also does have all the necessary installation gear alongside which is an installation manual to make the process a walk in the park even for first-time DIY users.

400 watts RMS

With as much 400 watts for the RMS, this free air subwoofer blows most of the subs in its class out of the water. To optimize the power usage, the SPL is 89dB and there’s no way you could possibly go wrong with this sub.

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Rockville RockGhost Hidden Powered 8″ Car Subwoofer

Rockville RockGhost is a hidden subwoofer, but it produces some of the cleanest and consistent lows you’ve ever heard. The sub really rocks, and you can control the bass from crisp to low to banging and a bass-thumping addition even in traffic.

Furthermore, if your car already lacks space, this model can go inside the spare wheel beneath the cargo compartment, and best yet, the actual purpose of this subwoofer will leave you satisfied than ever.

Other key features and benefits of Rockville RockGhost

Spare wheel subwoofer: This free air subwoofer fits inside the spare tire seamlessly, but the best way is to leave it on top of the spare wheel so that the spare wheel remains in place.

This means that the sub will not take up your trunk space, plus it is a complete package. You can also mount your unit in the trunk or under the seat, but the best place is to mount it in the spare tire.

Super clean sound: This 8″ powered sub delivers a superb sound that is super clean and one that does not fatigue your ears. The sound is musical and transmits evenly throughout the space without generating vibrations or unwanted sounds.

This sub sounds cleaner and better than a regular sub placed in the trunk, and for the price and included wiring and parts, this is one of the best free air subwoofers you’ll find.

Tunnel air-port design: Another key feature is the air-ported design that takes the sound a step further than other ordinary subwoofers.

We also liked the wired 20-foot dash remote that offers adjustable gain, bass boost, phase control, and low pass crossover filter.

Again, the sub boasts of a PWM MOSFET power supply and built-in amplifier, meaning it will play efficiently and cleanly even under high temperatures.

Flexible rubber surrounds: Other than the above features, the Rockville RockGhost comes with flexible rubber surrounds that enable it to withstand its strenuous job of producing bass.

Additionally, the rubber surrounds last longer, and they do not invert at higher excursion levels. Equally important, it is loud enough to vibrate your windows, and it does a great job of filling in the missing lows that you don’t get from a component setup.

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CT Sounds Tropo V2.0 Sub

CT Sounds have a variety of different subwoofer lines and the Tropo series places an emphasis on covering the low frequencies with high volume and punchy bass.

You can expect volume with this sub, featuring a 12-inch driver that can handle up to 600W RMS. This thunderous bass is more than enough to get the party mood started in your car or truck.

A lot of the Tropo’s power comes from its double-stacked Y35 magnet that is of a high grade and can handle the high pressure of low frequencies with ease.

Other durable design elements include a heavy-duty stamp steel basket, foam surround, double-stitched competition-grade paper cone, and dual high-temperature voice coils.

These elements work together to deliver a bass that is clean and free from distortion, without compromising on its power. The CT Sounds sub is classified as competition-grade due to its quality construction, so you can be sure of the durability.

The CT Sounds sub delivers powerful bass, but some users have reported that it struggles with frequencies less than 35Hz. Therefore, if you’re a lover of bass-heavy genres that rely on the lowest frequencies, this may not be the best free air sub for you.

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What Should You Consider Before Buying a Free Air Subwoofer?

While your budget and car will have a significant influence on which free air subwoofer you go for, what are some other things you need to be considering before making a purchase? We’ve outlined a few things to have in mind for you to make the smartest, best choice possible for free air subwoofers.

Power:

Since your sub will not be enclosed, you want to make sure you have plenty of power to give you a punchy bass despite the unfavorable setup.

It’s important to learn that peak power isn’t the most important thing here. You need to look at the RMS rating, as this is the average power you can expect your subs to perform. The free air subwoofers’ maximum power will have little impact on your sound quality and production as a whole.

Sturdiness

Do you think pumping all of that bass day in and day out is easy? It most certainly is not! You need free air subwoofers that are going to stand the experiments of time, meaning it’s going to be extra durable even if you’re using it every day.

Frequency Range

You’re going to find a wide range of frequency ranges when you’re out buying new subs. Those with higher frequency ranges will be better at playing all types of music, while those with lower degrees will have better bases.

Voice Coils

The more voice coils, the more wiring you’ll have to do. While it might be tempting to go with one voice coil for a more straightforward setup, dual voice coils offer a bit more flexibility and tend to last longer than single voice coils.

F.A.Q