If you’re looking for one of the best 8-inch subwoofers, then you probably are a little limited on space in your car.
I know exactly what you’re thinking.
If only you had a little more room, you could fit a decently sized subwoofer in your ride. But you don’t.
That’s exactly why the 8-inch subwoofer size was created. Unfortunately, you’ll get a much better pound with these little subs than with a nice set of speakers with decent bass.
When you’re looking for these types of woofers, there are a few variables you’ll need to consider, such as sensitivity, enclosure type, and power handling.
So we have compiled a list of the best 8-inch subwoofers full of brands we trust and frequently review here. We know how you fellas like bass, so we’ve only picked the subs from what we deemed to be the best 8-inch subs available on the market.
Contents:
- 1. Pioneer TS-SWX2002
- 2. Infinity Kappa 800w
- 3. JL Audio W3V3
- 4. JBL Stage 810
- 5. Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8
The Best 8 Inch Subwoofer Reviews
1. Pioneer TS-SWX2002
What do you know? Another Pioneer product on the top of my list. I can’t help it.
Pioneer makes top-notch car audio equipment, and they deserve to be on the top.
This specific subwoofer from Pioneer comes already installed in an enclosed box. This is incredibly convenient when you don’t want to mess with creating your own box or installing the sub yourself.
The TS-SWX2002 is a shallow mount subwoofer. This means that it isn’t as deep and will take up less room.
This woofer has an oversized cone structure to help compensate for the “shallow mount.” This helps you get the deeper bass you’d expect to get from the regular-sized subwoofers by moving more air.
Features:
- Power Handling, RMS : 150 W
- Power Handling, Peak : 600 W
- Frequency Response : 20-250Hz
- Nominal Impedance : 4 ohms
- Sensitivity : 86 dB
- Warranty : 1 year
- Tight bass from a shallow compact design
- Reinforced MICA injection-molded resin preloaded subwoofer cone structure
- Carpeted, non-slip and scratch resistant enclosure surface
- Enclosure size (WDHP): 11-3/4" x 9-1/4" x 5-1/2"
2. Infinity Kappa 800w
The Infinity Kappa 800w is relatively new to the market but is one you won’t regret getting. With the Infinity brand, you know you’ll be getting a quality-made woofer.
A lot of reviews out there recommend not go cheap on your sub. However, we think this subwoofer is great for the price, and it’s a great upgrade to your factory system or where space is an issue.
Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to try different equipment from Infinity. We’ve installed and tested their products from different angles, we’ve also compared performance, ease of installation, and we think this one is great for the price.
You will certainly be pleasantly surprised with this sub. So what’s so special about this sub? Apart from the fact that you’ll need an enclosure as well as an external amplifier to take full advantage of it, there are umpteen numbers of ‘super-cool specifications which are definitely going to impress you.
The Infinity Kappa 800w is built with high-grade material ensuring maximum quality and performance. The large roll rubber surrounds, for example, provides an excellent cone-edge suspension and absorbs distortions that may travel up the cone edge, ensuring clean, tight bass.
Additionally, the sub’s thermal dissipation capabilities and power handling are enhanced by some vented pole pieces that allow for greater cooling and optimum heat dissipation. Furthermore, the lightweight polypropylene used for the woofer cone ensures maximum woofer efficiency. The benefit is high output even with modest amplifier power.
Highlights:
- Power Handling, RMS : 400 W
- Power Handling, Peak : 1600 W
- Frequency Response : 30Hz – 200Hz
- Nominal Impedance : 2 or 4 ohms
- Sensitivity : 89 dB
- Warranty : 1 year
- Power Rating:
- Peak: 1600 watts
- RMS: 400 watts
- Frequency Response: 34Hz - 200Hz
- SSI (Selectable Smart Impedance)
3. JL Audio W3V3 Series Subwoofer
JL Audio is an American manufacturer of consumer audio products. They’ve been in business for decades. They are known for providing high-end products for people who don’t mind shelling out a few extra bucks for added benefits.
JL Audio addresses the growing market demand for 8″ inch subs by offering very few great models featuring high durability and reliability.
JL Audio W3V3 Series is one of the best and most expensive 8″ inch subwoofers built by JL Audio; it’s also the most expensive sub that we will review. Although this subwoofer is quite a bit more expensive than the other subs out there, it provides an excellent bass response on bass-heavy tracks.
If you’re still reading this, we assume that it is important to you. Therefore, it would be very beneficial to take advantage of this sub.
JL Audio built this sub with high-quality and ever-lasting materials that won’t fall apart under stress from heat, moisture, or time – ensuring accurate and consistent bass output with a medium-power amplifier.
Their excellent heat management features shunt heat away from the sub’s internal motor structure, thus increasing durability and reducing distortion.
Furthermore, JL’s extensive research led to a surprising motor structure design that ensures smooth, precise cone movement at any power level for increased reliability and consistent bass output.
The only downside with this subwoofer is that its sensitivity rating is below average, negatively impacting its ability to convert power (Watts) into sound (Decibel).
Highlights :
- Power Handling, RMS : 250 watts
- Power Handling, Peak : 500 watts
- Frequency Response : 50-250 Hz
- Nominal Impedance : 4 ohms
- Sensitivity : 83 dB
- Warranty : 1 year
No products found.
4. JBL Stage 810
Got a passion for getting the lows bumping that shakes you up and gets you right in the gut? JBL subwoofers may just fit the bill. They actually perform admirably in both sealed and ported boxes, so you’ll get bass the way you like it.
JBL has been in business for decades, and they have been providing a great product at a reasonable price for the entire time. JBL subs are probably the most economical subs on the market, given their specifications, but don’t let the low price fool you.
The sub linked to above is still an impressive product! With an RMS power handling rating of 200 RMS watts and 4-ohm impedance as well as a sensitivity of 88 dB, this sub is certainly going to revitalize your sound system, bringing you the music you’re less likely to hear unless you drop a powerful sub into the mix.
Moreover, this sub offers a lower profile making it able to fit into tight spaces (smaller enclosures that save you space).
Additionally, this sub features a polypropylene cone woofer with a large rubber surrounding excellent performance and free movement of the cone without sacrificing control. On the other hand, an integrated vent allows rapid heat dissipation that’ll keep your sub running cool and improves power handling capability.
Highlights :
- Power Handling, RMS : 200 watts
- Power Handling, Peak : 800 watts
- Frequency Response : 38-200 Hz
- Nominal Impedance : 4 ohms
- Sensitivity : 88 dB
- Warranty : 1 year
No products found.
5. Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8
When it comes to subwoofers, I can’t leave out the Rockford Fosgate brand.
These guys have been nailing car audio for many years, and the P3SD2-8 is no exception.
This is also one of the best 8-inch subwoofers you can get. This model is a shallow mount, just like the Pioneer TS-SWX2002.
One of the main features of the P3SD2-8 is that it has dual 2-ohm voice coils. So if you’re that guy who likes to wire, you’ll get more flexibility with what you want to do.
A major drawback is that it has a pretty low sensitivity rating. So if you’re running a lot of power to this subwoofer, you’re won’t get the right kind of sound back to you.
Features:
- Power Handling, RMS : 150 watts
- Power Handling, Peak : 300 watts
- Frequency Response : 38-250 Hz
- Nominal Impedance : Dual 2 ohms
- Sensitivity : 82 dB
- Warranty : 1 year
- The Rockford Fosgate P3S series shallow mount subwoofers deliver Punch, designed to deliver big bass in a tight space, with its low profile mounting depth design
- The Punch P3SD2-8 is a slim 8” 2-Ohm DVC (dual voice coil) subwoofer with 150 Watts RMS / 300 Watts Max power handling and custom 10-AWG nickel plated push terminals
- Featuring anodized aluminum cones and dustcaps, with a unique spider venting design to keep the motor cooler and a new hybrid stamp-cast basket providing super strength while minimizing weight and resonance
- Optimized for both sealed and vented enclosures {Sealed (Vb): 0.25 cu. ft. (7.0 Liters) / Vented (Vb): 0.75 cu. ft. (21.2 Liters) / Mounting Depth: 2.66 in. (67.5 mm) / Cutout Diameter: 7.13 in. (181.0 mm)}
- Famous Rockford Fosgate build quality with a full 1-year warranty
>>Click here to see prices, specs, and reviews of the best 8-inch subwoofers<<
So what’s the bottom line?
Whether or not we’d recommend the subs reviewed above mostly depends on what you want out of your sound system. If you don’t care anything else besides getting decent bass, and space is a real issue for you, we would definitely recommend you give one of these subs a whirl.
However, if you’re like me and put a lot of stock into your listening experience, you may want to hold out for something else. Even If you’re on a tight space-and-money budget, there are plenty of other shallow mount subwoofers that will get the job done.
Larger subs have the ability to radiate more energy(low frequencies) into your listening environment than a smaller sub, given that you’ve applied the same amount of power to both of them. The trade-off is that larger subs typically require more air space to achieve optimum performance, and thus they take up more room.
Whereas smaller subs have reduced mounting depth and work well in tight locations such as under seats or behind truck bench seats, they are best suited for vehicles with limited space.
For those of you who are looking for an easy off-the-shelf 8-inch subwoofer, here are some great options for you :
- Boss Audio BASS800 8-Inch Amplified Subwoofer with Passive Radiator
- Pyle PLBASS8 8-Inch Super Slim Active Subwoofer
- Pyle PLMRBS8 8-Inch Low-Profile Super-Slim Active-Amplified Marine/Waterproof Subwoofer System
So what’s the absolute bottom line? The best 8-inch subwoofers aren’t intended for those who are looking for big bass and booming sound, but they make a great upgrade to factory systems or where space is an issue.
What Features Should I Consider Before Buying the 8-inch subwoofers?
Below are features to consider before buying the 8-inch subwoofer:
- The dimensions of the subwoofer (A larger subwoofer would have a correspondingly larger driver)
- Compatibility of a subwoofer’s connections
- The sound quality that the subwoofer produces
- Frequency range
- Volume and power output
- Front-firing or downward-firing
What Factors Contribute to a Subwoofer’s Increased Bass?
Filters and phase shifters are standard accessories for subwoofers. In addition, you can get more bass by making simple adjustments to the subwoofer. To fix the subwoofer, you can replace the small cone, voice coil, or enclosure.
FAQ
Can You Get a Good Bass Out of 8-inch Subwoofers?
The finest 8-inch subwoofers have size constraints that prevent them from producing truly impressive bass. So, consider a 10- or 12-inch subwoofer for the most potent bass increase and the most egregious booming of the lowest frequencies.
Which is Better, 8-subs or 10-subs?
Most compact subwoofers have a 10-inch driver subwoofer. The 10-inch subwoofer is a better choice because it can handle more energy and sounds louder. On the other hand, an 8-inch subwoofer lacks the power a 10-inch model provides.
Do the 10 or 12 Subwoofers Hit Harder?
A 10″ subwoofer is excellent for a simple sub that delivers clean bass without taking up too much room. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with more power and more substantial bass output, the 12″ would be the one.
What Are the Kinds of Designs for an 8-inch Subwoofer?
The two main designs are the down-firing and side-firing subwoofers. A down-firing sub is aimed towards the ground, while a front- or side-firing subwoofer projects sound outward. A front-firing sub will direct the sound to come straight at you, while a side-firing sub will disperse the sound evenly within the room.
What Are the Kinds of Enclosures in the 8-inch Subwoofers?
Subwoofers are often contained in one of two types of wooden enclosures—sealed or vented. A subwoofer with a sealed enclosure is designed to produce tight, precise bass. But subwoofers with vented or ported enclosures are designed to deliver the most bass possible.
What is the Benefit of an 8-Inch Subwoofer?
The benefits include:
- Boost the audio system’s bass: Any setting will benefit from the additional power and impact of an 8-inch sub.
- Save the car battery: Less powerful subwoofers can deliver excellent audio quality.
- Protect the factory speakers: A five-channel amplifier can complement even the smallest subwoofer with the proper setup.
In Terms of Wattage, How Powerful Should a Subwoofer Be?
The subwoofer needs a minimum of 300 watts of power, and many experts consider 500 watts the minimum. You may always add extra speakers, but ensure the amplifier is compatible with the current setup.
Do Subs Drain Car Batteries?
Yes, they do. The woofers in the automobile can distort if left on at all times.