Best 12-Inch Subs

When you make an upgrade to your car, you want people to notice. Sometimes, the changes aren’t so obvious and you need to prod your friends or family in the right direction for them to finally notice what you’ve done.

Other times, you can tell right from the start. For you bass junkies out there, that’s the goal with your music. You want people to know you’re there without seeing you first.

In order to do this, however, you’re going to need a top-of-the-line subwoofer. You can look for that bass level in certain subwoofers, but the rule “the bigger the better†applies in this situation. If you want big bass, you’re going to have to get a big subwoofer.

That’s where these 12-inch subs come into play.

In this list, we’ve picked out our five favorite subwoofers to give you a mix of quality price, sound, and installation ease.

How Did We Go About Selecting these Subs?

We wouldn’t put these subs on a list if we didn’t think they had something special to offer. All of these provide great sound and are worth every penny.

Choosing the best one is up to you.

We know that everyone has a different budget, likes and dislikes, and car size. All of those have a big influence on finding the right speaker for you. So that’s why we wanted to have a well-rounded list with something (hopefully) available for everyone.

In terms of choosing them, we tried to look at value, sound quality, and if they were possible to install on your own. We looked at top brands as well as some lesser-known ones in order to make this list.

Pioneer TS-W3003D4

Pioneer is a name that’s synonymous with car audio and for good reason. With quality components and solid sound, we always seem to have a Pioneer product in our reviews.

One thing that immediately stood out to us was the power handling ability. With up to 2000 Watts of power, you’re going to get super deep bass with this monster. It’s got a low enough frequency range to really bring out the sound you want.

It can fit in just about every car model and is incredibly durable. It comes made with heavy-duty materials meant to withstand the toughest conditions.

The one bad thing is this sub is incredibly heavy and not very portable. Plus, some reviewers (in rare cases) said this sub was smoking after continued use.

Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12

The usual leaders in subwoofer quality, Rockford Fosgate knocks it out of the park again with the P3D4. Under pressure, this sub does not get hot.

It doesn’t come with overwhelming power, handling up to 1200 Watts but it does have incredibly clear sound.

Pair that with a rugged build and you have yourself a durable, tough as nails sub that is bound to hold up no matter if you’re playing it all day long.

The installation is a breeze and we were seeing that even beginner DIYers could handle it. The downside is this sub doesn’t come with an enclosure, so it lacks the booming sound of its competitors. It needs a bit more power to produce big-time bass.

Kenwood KFC-W3016PS

WOW! That is all we have to say about this sub. Coming at a bargain price, this sub packs a ton of power that gives you that punch you are craving.

With big bass, you need top-notch materials and this sub does the job. It’s built with some pretty advanced tech to keep it strong while also making it heat-resistant.

It’s got high-quality audio that will make even the longest traffic jam somewhat entertaining.

You’d be hard-pressed to find such a banger sub at such a low price. It’s also perfect for those with more compact cars.

The bass does get distorted when played over long periods of time and sometimes has a bit of trouble handling all that power.

Skar Audio EVL-12 D2

Maybe not the most well-known brand when it comes to subwoofers, this Skar comes with an extra punchy and deep bass. It has tons of power handling abilities, reaching all the way up to 2500 Watts.

It’s not only incredibly powerful, but it has fantastic audio quality across the board. It doesn’t overheat with repeated use and is able to stay cool during your longest musical sessions.

The components of this sub are top-notch, which would explain the high price tag. But in the subwoofer world, you often get what you pay for and you’re paying for punchy, powerful bass that will blow you away.

It doesn’t have the greatest frequency range so it will struggle with the lowest sounds. Plus, it’s pretty difficult to install due to its size and weight.

American Bass XFL1244

A good all-around bass for different types of music, this sub is plenty powerful with 2000 Watts of peak power.

Even pushed to the limits, we didn’t notice any distortion with this sub, making it a top choice for everyone taking a look at it.

The durable components mean this sub can take a lick and keep on kicking, crucial for those who need to be listening to music throughout the whole day.

It’s a beast and pretty heavy, meaning it can withstand the harshest of environments but it also means it’s pretty tough to install. It doesn’t come with an enclosure either, so it’s missing that real booming ability you might find elsewhere.

When it comes to shopping for subs, you have so many choices, 8-inch subs, 10-inch, 12 and even 15 inch subs are all popular options. Depending upon the size of your vehicle, a shallow mount sub, free air subwoofer, or an underseat sub may be the right choice for your car. At the end of the day, there are a ton of ways to make a seriously awesome sound system, from the head unit to the interior speakers. You just have to decide which setup is right for your car and your budget.