Best Subwoofers Under $500 (Top 5 Picks Reviewed)

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Whenever one listens to music, especially if it is related to bass accuracy, many people choose subwoofers in order to have the best experience ever.

A subwoofer is the greatest purchase that one can do, and it is said that subwoofers, besides bringing the sound to you in order to listen to it, a subwoofer allow you to feel the music in many ways!

Anyways based on some research, subwoofers tend to be a bit pricey, and people keep trying to find them at budget prices. Basically, that is the reason why you are here and why I am here!

In this article, you will be able to find some of the best subwoofers under $500 that are around the nowadays market!

Right now, without further ado, let us take a closer look at the best subwoofers under $500 that I chose!

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Best Bass
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010

ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010

8.6
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Best for Home Theater Systems
Polk Audio HTS 12

Polk Audio HTS 12

8.5
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Best Mid-Range
Klipsch R-120SW

Klipsch R-120SW

9.1
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Best Runner-Up
JBL Professional LSR310S

JBL Professional LSR310S

8.8
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Best Overall
Bose Bass Module 500

Bose Bass Module 500

8.6
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The Top 5 Best Subwoofers Under $500

5. ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 – Best Bass

Starting this article with a great subwoofer that comes from Elac. Elac is a brand that is commonly seen in different articles because it brings to the market many different speakers, subwoofers, soundbars, and anything that you want. It is in charge of bringing out the best for all the audiophiles, based on the audio quality that its products bring.

Design-wise, this quality subwoofer is one of those that we are used to seeing in many places. It measures 13.5 x 13.5 x 14.4 inches and weighs 32.2 pounds. What is special about this subwoofer and what deserves to be mentioned is that it has a 10 inche big bass driver, which is directly related to the bass accuracy.

Since I mentioned the bass, let me get deeper into it. The driver that I mentioned above is especially added so that this subwoofer can bring the best out of it when it comes to the bass. Every bass lover will definitely fall in love with this Elac subwoofer because it knows how to fulfill your needs. Every bass sound that you will listen to with this subwoofer will be delivered perfectly. It has a deep bass response which is all you need.

When it comes to the connection, this subwoofer works wirelessly while using Bluetooth as the main connectivity technology. It can be paired easily, and it is compatible with any device, that you may want to use. It goes well with any sound system you may already have in place.

  • Frequency Response: 28 Hz to 150 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 87 dB 

Why Should You Buy It?
Saying one thing, the Elac Debut 2.0 is all about that bass. Even though all the subwoofers are made to provide deep bass, when it comes to the Elac one, it is definitely aimed at those people that love bass to eternity.

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4. Polk Audio HTS 12 – Best for Home Theater Systems

If you want to improve your sound system, or want to create a sound system from scratch, something like this powerful subwoofer is definitely something you need.

First thing first you may know that Polk brings to the market different devices and they all are considered game-changers. Why is that so? Well, everything that you may buy from Polk, will bring to you everything that you need.

Differing from some other subwoofers, the Polk Audio HTS 12 is called a bookshelf subwoofer and that’s because it can be placed wherever you want. The measurements of this one are 16 x 14 x 16 inches and its weight is a bit heavy since it weighs 49.9 pounds in total. It has a great overall design, and it definitely will look good anywhere you may use it. It also owns a 12 inches big woofer that is in charge of the low frequencies of sound.

The main inputs that are found n this subwoofer, in order to get connected with other devices are LFE and stereo line inputs. As it is listed, this subwoofer is one of the first choices for home theater systems of any kind, especially if you connect it with other Polk audio devices.

Whenever you use Polk Audio HTS 12 you will find the best sound quality. Every sound, every melody, will be delivered in the greatest way possible and it won’t disappoint you in any way. The bass comes in the best way possible.

  • Frequency Response: 22 Hz to 180 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 85 dB

Why Should You Buy It?
In case you want to purchase a subwoofer in order to connect it with other devices and create a home theater system, then Polk knows what you need. This subwoofer is definitely for you, because it goes well with any sound system.

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3. Klipsch R-120SW – Best Mid-Range

Whenever I mention Klipsch, it is more than understood how professional they are and how good products they bring to the table. The Klipsch R-120SW is one of the most used subwoofers by many people all around the world, and it is definitely a good one. 

Talking about the design, in my opinion, this one matches every type of interior design because it is too pretty to be true. Just like many Klipsch speakers and other things, this one is a combination of black and gold metal colors that make it look super good. The measurements are 19.2 x 14 x 16.5 inches, meanwhile, it weighs 31 pounds. 

Different line-level LFE RCA inputs make this subwoofer compatible with different home theater systems and receivers in general. You can also use RCA to RCA connectors, but you should know that they don’t come with the subwoofer.

As for the sound quality, this subwoofer also owns a woofer that is 12 inches big, and it brings to you an amazing bass accuracy of any kind. The music that you will be listening to with this subwoofer will be definitely one of a kind. 

  • Frequency Response: 29 Hz to 120 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 87 dB 

Why Should You Buy It?
As you found yourself here, you know that this article is completely made with a budget in mind. In case you want to find a subwoofer that is neither cheap nor expensive, it seems like the Klipsch R-120SW is the main choice for you.

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2. JBL Professional LSR310S – Best Runner-Up

The fourth subwoofer in this article appears a JBL one, and as some of you may know, JBL is one of the most professional brands when it comes to sound. We all have already heard about JBL sound because it is one of the greatest. 

The JBL Professional LSR310S is also a very good-looking powered subwoofer that occupies a little bit of place in your room. It measures 17.65 x 15.65 x 15 inches, and it weighs 34 pounds. Now, based on the size and the weight, this subwoofer is meant to stay in one place. You can move it, but you definitely will need some help. 

There are the connections and the inputs that make this powered subwoofer shine! It owns two XLR and two TRS inputs, and these ones make the pairing possible with many different JBL devices, let them be speakers or anything else.

As an overall opinion about the sound quality, this subwoofer sounds great! It is capable of delivering a very great, well-balanced, and clean bass so that the bass lovers can be more than free to use it whenever they want.

  • Frequency Response: 33 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 113 dB

Why Should You Buy It?
Inputs or connections are the things that make this subwoofer be quite well-known all around the world, but that is not the only thing that makes it a great choice. This JBL subwoofer also knows how to sound amazing.

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1. Bose Bass Module 500 – Best Overall

Bose stands among the best overall brands that bring to us amazing audio equipment, and here goes a Bose subwoofer that stands as the best overall among the other ones that I mentioned in this article. Let us see what are the things this subwoofer contains!

As a whole, this subwoofer measures 10 x 10 x 9.5 inches while it weighs around 11 pounds. The subwoofer comes in black color, and it is one of the most good-looking products that you can ever find. It will definitely look good wherever you want to use it.

As long as the connectivity is concerned, Bose 500 has whole wireless connectivity, and it works perfectly fine even if you have your devices about 30ft away from one another. The connection is super sturdy, and there won’t be an interruption of any kind.

As you all know until now, subwoofers are completely related to the bass that you want to listen to. Well, considering the name of this subwoofer Bose Bass Module, you already understand how powerful this one is when it comes to the bass. It’s also a very compact subwoofer which makes it easy to move it around the house.

There is another model of this subwoofer called the Bass Module 700. If you are unsure, you can read our comparison of the Bose bass module 700 & Bose bass module 500.

  • Frequency Response: 28 Hz to 150 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 87 dB

Why Should You Buy It?
Listed as the best overall, this subwoofer brings whatever you may need. Design, connectivity, amazing sound quality. Everything that this subwoofer owns makes it a number one choice for many people all around the world.

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Buying Guide

Just like in many choices of devices, you probably want to know the most important things that should be carefully looked at whenever you choose the best subwoofers under $500. Here they are as they follow:

Frequency Response

We all know what the frequency response is at this point. Still, for those that don’t, a frequency response of an audio device, tells us the frequencies or as many say the “musical tones” that the device we are talking about can reproduce.

As you can notice, the subwoofers that I mentioned, have somehow a similar frequency response, and that’s more than normal because subwoofers most work at the same range of frequencies.

Size and Weight

The size and the weight of a subwoofer are other important things that should be considered when choosing the best one. Whenever a subwoofer is smaller and lighter in weight it is definitely better for you. It allows be moved around easier without causing any trouble.

Price

The price of anything is one of the most important things that should be considered before purchasing a device, just as a subwoofer. Keeping in mind that this article is mostly related to the price, especially under $500, you basically know what you are searching for.

As I always say, it is always better if you have a price in mind, and then choose, based on the budget that you have.

FAQ About Subwoofers Under $500

What exactly is a subwoofer?

Just as mentioned at the beginning of this article, a subwoofer is made for you so that you can feel the sound and not only listen to it. It is directly related to the bass, and I assure you that it brings the best out of it.

Do subwoofers affect the sound quality?

Based on the fact of what subwoofers are used for, they definitely affect the sound quality in many ways. Listening to music normally without bass can be a bit boring, and using or listening to it with a subwoofer connected, the music will definitely come better.

Final Words

Coming to the end of this article, you may have already noticed how powerful the subwoofers that I mentioned are. They all come from different professional brands in the field of sound, and most importantly, they are all under $500 considering the price tag.

Have you chosen one yet? Well, I hope this article will help you find the best subwoofer!

Further Reading

As some of you may know, and some of you understood here, a subwoofer is a quite important device that is definitely needed by those people that love a completely cool listening to the music experience.

Now, in case the price under $500 is still a high price tag for you, I would gladly recommend you to check out my article regarding the greatest subwoofers under $300.

Now if you need more information and you have particular questions regarding subwoofers in general, I would like to mention that I’ve written some articles with the questions Can You Put a Subwoofer Behind a Couch? and Why Does My Subwoofer Make a Popping Noise? I would recommend you to check them out so that you can have a better idea about them.

In case subwoofers are not the things you need, but instead, you need soundbars on a specific budget in mind, then I would say that there are some amazing soundbars under $1000. If you are not quite sure and have a doubt regarding soundbars then you can check out “Are Soundbars Worth It?” and that way you will find out more.

I love to make comparisons as well! Since in the article above I mentioned a device from Bose, I will gladly advise you to see what are the differences between Bose Soundbar 700 vs. 900 and you can find out which one is better!

There is nothing left to say besides I hope you have fun!

Whether you’re looking for information on audio equipment, looking to learn more about how things work in the music field, or looking for reviews of products, we got you covered!

 
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