Best 10 Inch Shallow Mount Subwoofers

A subwoofer is designed to reproduce only very low sound frequencies, as well as to fill in the lower bass frequencies when listening to music. It’s not just the inevitable boost to the low end that comes from a good quality subwoofer; it’s the overall richness of the sound.

So, if you want to feel that chest pounding bass in your vehicle, there’s no substitute for a powerful subwoofer (or two … or more!). You’ll also need enough space for the subwoofer box. But in smaller vehicles space for bass is at a premium.

That said, you don’t have to settle for tiny sound just because you have a compact car. We now have the option of shallow mount subwoofers which are designed to give you traditional “big bass” sound, while still being able to fit in a smaller, tighter space.

To help you make an informed buying decision, we’ve put together a list of the best shallow mount 10 inch subwoofers, so keep reading to see which one you should pick up to round out your car audio system.

Shallow Mount 10 Inch Subwoofers Reviews

1. Pioneer TS-SW2502S4

Pioneer TS-SW2502S4

• Mica injected molded polypropylene cone
• Elastic polymer surround
• Unique design with just 3-1/8 inch mounting depth

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This is one of the top-rated 10 inch shallow mount subwoofers from Pioneer. It features an oversized, highly rigid cone made with MICA injected molded resin which makes it quite rigid, yet responsive. Its oversized cone structure provides greater cone and gasket surface without changing its standard external dimension allowing it to produce louder and deeper bass by moving more air.

Pioneer TS-SW2502S4 is designed to produce a lot of bass without having to sacrifice space in a trunk or truck cab. At a mounting depth of just 3-1/8″, this sub can be mounted in the tightest of spaces where conventional subs won’t fit.

The TS-SW2502S4 10″ shallow-mount sub is rated at 91 dB sensitivity rating, and can handle up to 300 watts of power on continuous basis. It’s optimized to work best in a small sealed enclosure, however, if you want it to sound louder, mount it in a ported box.

If you’re looking for a hard-hitting shallow mount subwoofer that’s reasonably priced, Pioneer TS-SW2502S4 is a great option to consider.

Don’t let its shallow design fool you. If properly powered and well-mounted in its enclosure, it’ll make a night and day difference providing plenty of deep bass. However, bear in mind that this sub has a good break in period, so don’t expect it to sound really good out of the box.

2. Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-10

Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-10

• Anodized aluminum cone and dustcap
• M-Roll Santoprene™ surround
• StampCast basket with integrated spider venting
• Dual linear spider with embedded 16 AWG tinsel leads
• Diamond cut cast aluminum trim ring with optional grille
• Shallow Motor Assembly

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The P3SD4-10 is another great 10 inch shallow mount subwoofer from Rockford Fosgate. It’s built from the ground up to make it easier for you to get impressive low end punch in smaller and hard-to-fit vehicles.

Thanks to advanced materials and engineering, Rockford Fosgate P3SD4-10 will sound relatively as good as a full-size, conventional subwoofer even even in depth limited situations.

This low mount profile sub is featured with an anodized aluminum cone supported with poly-ether-ester surround. This cone is reinforced with Kevlar® fiber and has ABS plastic/acrylic dustcap which helps the cone maintain its shape.

Additionally, the half-roll sealed poly-ether-ester surround provides optimum excursion and control, which allows for accurate bass response.

This sub sports a StampCast basket with integrated spider venting to prevent thermal breakdown and overheating. Its dual voice coil allow for multiple wiring configurations.

The P3SD4-10 is optimized to work equally well in both sealed and vented enclosures. At 3-1/2 inches deep, this sub will fit into places where no bass has gone before.

This low profile subwoofer boasts 83dB sensitivity rating and can handle up to 300 watts of power RMS. It has 45Hz to 250Hz frequency response.

3. JL Audio 10TW3-D4

JL Audio makes some of the best car subwoofers in the market, albeit usually at a price premium. If you believe in “you get what you pay for”, Jl Audio shallow mount subwoofers prove that axiom right.

The 10tw3-d4 is one of the best 10 inch shallow mount subwoofers that you can buy, all things considered. Sure, there are some reasonably priced alternatives out there, but if you’re a serious basshead looking for a top-notch, low profile subwoofer, JL Audio 10tw3-d4 is a great option to consider.

This super-thin 10″ sub is designed to provide a powerful combination of shallow mounting depth and excursion capability. It only requires minimum air space, which means you can mount it in a much smaller enclosure. So, now, you can have your bass and your space too.

JL Audio 10tw3-d4 is featured with tough mica-filled polypropylene cone bonded to durable rubber surround which in conjunction with the heavy-duty cast-alloy frame standing at only 3-1/4″ tall serves to hold everything rigidly in place and provide a stable home for this hard-hitting bass driver.

This slim subwoofer has a sensitivity rating of 82.1 dB and it can handle up to 400 watts of power RMS. It can hit as low as a claimed 24Hz and as far up as 200Hz. Its dual 4-ohm voice coils allow for multiple wiring configurations.

This JL Audio shallow mount subwoofer is one of the best sounding car subwoofers in this category. If you don’t like the way these subs sound, then you mist have done something wrong during the installation.

4. Infinity REF1000S

Infinity REF1000S

• Polypropylene cone with rubber surround
• 2 inch Single Voice Coil
• Selectable Smart Impedance Switch

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Infinity has been in business for over five decades and has mastered the art of providing true quality products. The company offers everything from home audio systems to car and marine audio components.

The REF1000S is one of Infinity’s best 10 inch shallow mount subwoofers. Its mounting depth is around half that of a regular subwoofer, however this thing hits really hard and sounds good for its size.

This model’s biggest selling point outside of the punchy bass response is the fact that it sports a Selectable Smart Impedance switch which lets your safely choose between 2 ohms and 4 ohms impedance load.

At 3-1/4″ mounting depth, this subwoofer will fit perfectly into even the most shallow of enclosures without sacrificing on sound, making a great option for today’s compact cars.

With a frequency response that goes down to 35 Hz, this sub renders amazing low frequencies with a stunning sense of realism you’ve been missing.

Infinity REF1000S subwoofer comes equipped with a polypropylene woofer cone bonded to durable surround for exceptional bass response. It boast 89dB sensitivity and can handle up to 200 watts RMS and bursts up to 800 watts at peak.

This subwoofer will work equally well in a ported or sealed enclosure. It can also be mounted in free air applications (infinite baffle). However, bear in mind that its power handling will decrease by half.

5. Kicker 46L7T102

Kicker 46L7T102

• Square SoloKon™ polypropylene cone
• Santoprene rubber surround
• Steel basket
• Square sub design moves 20% more air than round subwoofers

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Kicker is an iconic brand within the car audio space. It’s been around for quite a long time and has carved out a name for itself as a serious contender in the industry.

Kicker’s Solo-Baric® subwoofers are legendary. Their highly-engineered motor structure and square sub design promises stellar performance. With more cone area than a conventional subwoofer, these subs deliver rich chest thumping bass that you’ll feel and hear.

Now Kicker has combined this innovative concept with the thin, and low-mount profile of their CompRT Series subs to create the L7T Series subs — the ultimate shallow-mount solution for big bass in the slimmest space ever!.

This Kicker subwoofer is featured with SoloKon™ square polypropylene cone, creating a strong surface that won’t flex and cause distortion when you’re crank it up. The Santoprene rubber surround with ribbed corners allow for high-level playback, while keeping the cone on track for maximum clarity and minimal distortion. The sturdy steel frame provides a solid base for the subwoofer which handles up to 500 watts RMS.

Its dual 2-ohm voice coils let you wire your speaker for either 1- or 4-ohm total impedance, giving you wiring flexibility when setting up your system.

This subwoofer boasts 85.98 dB sensitivity and has a frequency range of 25-100 Hz. It’ll work equally well in sealed and ported enclosures so you can choose the kind of response you prefer.

6. Alpine SWR-T10

Alpine SWR-T10

• Aluminum cone with Santoprene
• High-Amplitude multi-roll rubber surround
• Cast aluminum frame with radial finned heat sink

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Alpine is easily one of the most recognized brands in the car audio space. The company was founded in 1967 and has been churning out quality products ever since.

The Type-R Thin subwoofer series combines the stellar performance, deep bass excursion, and ground-shaking output of the traditional Type-R subwoofers in a thin package optimized for extremely small enclosures. The result is hard-hitting subs with a low mounting profile.

Speaking of which, At 3-1/4″ mounting depth, the Alpine SWR-T10 will provide deep bass performance where it normally couldn’t fit.

It comes equipped with an Aluminum cone coupled with multi-roll Santoprene rubber surround for an excellent linearity and progressive control in case of excessive cone excursion. The finned aluminum heat sink is directly coupled to the frame for rapid heat dissipation that’ll keep your sub running cool.

The SWR-T10 10″ thin subwoofer boasts 83 dB sensitivity and has a frequency range of 28 – 200Hz.At 600 watts of continuous power and the ability to handle bursts up to 1,200 watts, it is powerful enough fill your ride with a balanced, energetic bass and allow you to hear and feel even the subtlest of effects.