Best 12 Inch Subwoofers Reviews

Picking the best car subwoofer is no easy task and finding the balance between performance and a fair price can make for a daunting search for even experienced buyers.

When it comes to down to subwoofers, size really does matter, and it should be at the centre of your decision making process.

Car subwoofers come in various sizes and usually range from 8 inch to 15 inches. So how do you know how big you can go? Well, though the simple “the biggest, most powerful subwoofer you can afford” is easy to say, the correct answer is little more complex. (To make the right call, read our unrivalled car subwoofer buying guide).

For the purpose of today’s post, we’ll be looking at some of the best 12 inch subwoofers out there. These subs are by far the most common type of subwoofers in the market. They represent the perfect mix of sound quality and loudness, performance and price.

Best 12 Inch Subwoofers — Reviews

1. Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12

Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12

• Dual 4-ohm voice coils
• Anodized aluminum cone and dustcap
• Santoprene surround
• StampCast basket with integrated spider venting
• Custom 10-AWG nickel plated push terminals
• Dual linear spider with embedded 16 AWG tinsel leads
• Extended pole piece and bumped vented backplate
• High-temp voice coils

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Rockford Fosgate is one of the best car subwoofer brands out there. They’ve been in business for quite a long time and have mastered the art of providing quality products for reasonable price. They offer a wide range of car audio components including speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers.

Rockford Fosgate subwoofers come in three categories labeled Prime, Punch, and Power. Subs in the Prime category are considered to be Rockford Fosgate’s basic, entry level models while Punch is a middle of the road line of products. Power series subs is considered the company’s high-end subwoofer lineup.

The P3D4 12 is one of the best 12 inch subwoofer in Rockford Fosgate’s Punch series; It’s designed to for deeper, louder bass. It features s strong, rigid anodized aluminum cone that’s meant to hold its shape through heavy play. This cone is was designed with Rockford Fosgate Vertical Attach Surround Technique (VAST™) to attach the oversized rubber surround to the cone, which increases cone area by up to 25%. And as you might already know, bigger cone means more bass.

Its aluminum cone which acts as a giant heat sink, plus special venting dissipate heat away from the sub’s internal component, so you get incredibly consistent bass performance over time.

Unlike shallow mount subs, this P3 12 inch subwoofer features an extended pole piece and bumped backplate that leaves more room for heavy excursion, so the sub can hit deeper lows without “bottoming out.”

Additionally, this sub is designed to work equally well in a sealed or ported enclosure, so you can get the kind of bass you want for your system. Furthermore, Its dual 4-ohm voice coils configuration allows for multiple wiring options.

Rockford Fosgate P3D4-12 is rated for 85 dB sensitivity rating and can handle up to 600 watts of power on continuous basis. It can hit as low as a claimed 28Hz and as far up as 250Hz.

2. JL Audio 12W0V3-4

There’s no denying that JL Audio makes some of the best car subwoofers on the market. The company is well-known for creating great subwoofers on the high end of the price and power scale. The JL Audio 12W0V3-4 is where price and performance meet.

The subwoofer at hand seems to be well-liked, for good reason. It strikes a more modest balance while still retaining that famous JL Audio punch.

With 300 watts on tap (600 watts at peak) and a long-throw driver, the JL Audio 12W0V3-4 can deliver all the dynamic punch a hard hitting bass heavy track can throw at it.

This subwoofer features a rigid polypropylene cone supported by durable foam surround that’ll stand up to hard use. The cone’s extra-long excursion capability lets it dig into the depths of 22Hz without distorting, while the hefty 2-inch voice coil drives the woofer accurately for top-notch performance under extreme conditions.

This sub’s doesn’t come up short when delivering trademark JL performance. It sports an elevated frame design which allows for rapid heat dissipation, cooling the motor structure for better power handling.

JL Audio designed this sub to work in compact sealed or medium-sized ported enclosures.

3. Skar Audio EVL-12 D4

Skar Audio EVL-12 D4

• High roll foam surround
• High flux double stack ferrite motor
• 3 inch voice coil
• 4 layer black aluminum CCAW voice coil

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Although Skar Audio was founded recently in 2012, It has grown by leaps and bounds. It’s considered one of the best car subwoofer brands out there.

Skar Audio offers a wide range of car subwoofers of different sizes and types. Whether you’re into sound quality (SQ) or loudness (SPL), Skar Audio has got you covered.

EVL-12 D4 is one of the hardest hitting 12 inch subs that Skar Audio has to offer. It was designed from the ground up to get your sound system rockin and performing better than ever.

This 12 inch subwoofer incorporates a high flux double stack ferrite motor, which, when combined with the 3-inch, high temperature, 4-layer, black aluminium ccaw voice coil – allow for extreme power handling for extended periods of time. Speaking of power handling, this sub can handle up to 1,250 watts of power on continuous basis. It can hit as low as a claimed 30Hz and as far up as 300Hz.

To keep the subwoofer well-ventilated and operating efficiently under such extreme conditions, It’s incorporated with some advanced air flow cooling design that dissipate heat away from its internal motor structure.

However, it’s operating efficiencies do not stop there. The sub is featured with a competition grade paper cone bonded to a high-roll foam surround allowing the sub to produce riveting low end bass response.

All in all, the Skar Audio EVL-12 D4 is a very well-built sub. It delivers very clean sound and it picks up low frequencies very well.

4. Kicker 43CVR124

Kicker 43CVR124

• Dual 4-ohm voice coils
• Injection-molded polypropylene SoloKon cone
• Ribbed Santoprene rubber surround
• High-temp dual voice coils
• Perimeter Venting
• Stamped Steel Basket
• Spring-loaded Push Terminals

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If you’ve ever taken any interest in subwoofers or higher-end car audio components, Kicker is a brand you likely recognize, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of car subwoofers of different types and sizes. Kicker subs seem to hit the sweet spot for a lot of guys out there, and Kicker CompVR 43CVR124 is no exception.

The subwoofer at hand provides 400 watts of continuous power and 800 watts at peak, with large Santoprene™ surround supporting a 12” injection-molded polypropylene cone. It has a frequency range of 25 – 500 Hz, giving you all the range and power you could want.

With lows that dig down into the depths of 25Hz, this 12 inch sub puts out is solid and muscular bass response with a stunning sense of realism. With that said, you’ll experience a slight non-auditory rumble in your car, so the response on this unit will be plenty for your sound system.

The unique SoloKon™ cone with its 360-degree back bracing keeps going strong under heavy load, while perimeter venting in the strong steel basket keeps the voice coils cool for dependable performance.

5. Kenwood KFC-W3016PS

Kenwood KFC-W3016PS

• Square array textured polypropylene cone
• Rubber surround
• Steel Basket
• Ferrite magnet
• 8 AWG push terminal
• Dual ventilation system for efficient cooling

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If you’re short on dough and looking for a cheap 12 inch subwoofer that can get the job done without tearing a hole in your wallet, Kenwood KFC-W3016PS is a serious contender.

Kenwood is a pretty big name in the car audio industry with more than six decades of experience and excellent industry know-how. They’re a great company with a reputation for quality, and it really shows.

With Kenwood KFC-W3016PS 12 inch sub, you get a heavy-duty polypropylene cone coupled with tough rubber surround that accommodates the extra-long cone excursion. The Square Array Pattern on the cone reinforces it so that it won’t flex when you push it hard, while the dual ventilation system shunts heat away from the motor structure through the back and the sides of the sub, so the internal components stay cooler during those long, loud jams.

Kenwood KFC-W3016PS is designed to deliver great performance without tearing a hole in your wallet. It has a frequency range of 27Hz – 300Hz. At 400 watts of continuous power and the ability to handle bursts up to 2,000 watts, it is powerful enough to pump out more than enough grunt, and solid bass.

All in all, this Kenwood sub is set to rock. Mount it in a suitable enclosure, power it with a nice amp, and get ready to party.

6. Pioneer TS-SW3002S4

Pioneer TS-SW3002S4

• Mica-injected resin cone
• Elastic polymer surround
• Low mount profile

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If you’ve ever taken any interest in car audio systems, there’s no way you haven’t heard of Pioneer. You hardly can go wrong with a Pioneer product, being one of the most prominent brands in this industry.

Pioneer has been in business for a very long time and has mastered the art making top-notch products, the TS-SW3002S4 is no exception. It’s one of the best 12 inch shallow mount subwoofers you can buy, all things considered.

With a mounting depth of just 3-3/8″, this subwoofer can fit into the tightest enclosure, which in turn can fit behind a truck seat or in any tight space while delivering the bass performance you need.

The slim-mount profile subwoofer at hand features an oversized cone made of mica-injected molded resin that moves more air and delivers accurate bass. The cone is coupled with elastic polymer surround for consistent bass performance.

Pioneer TS-SW3002S4 12-inch subwoofer looks unassuming, but the low profile belies a powerful sub that is up to the task. Despite being a shallow mount subwoofer, the TS-SW3002S4 can handle a whopping 400 watts of amplifier power to give you the deep, thundering bass range you need to create the ultimate cinematic audio experience in your vehicle.

Furthermore, it has a frequency range of 20 to 125 Hz for an impressive, punchy lows you can feel as well as hear.

7. Infinity Kappa 1200W

Infinity Kappa 1200W

• Acoustically glass-fiber cone
• Rubber surround
• Steel basket
• Selectable Smart Impedance Switch
• Premium screw-down terminals
• Aero-cooled voice coil

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With their solid build quality and state-of-art engineering, Infinity’s Kappa subwoofers excel in a variety of applications, equally at home in ported or sealed enclosures.

The Infinity Kappa 1200W subwoofer sounds impressive. Its Selectable Smart Impedance really makes it stand out from the crowd – a nice feature to save your from the hassle of wiring and let you build exactly the system you want without complicated wiring.

With a flip of a switch, you can switch this sub’s impedance from 2 ohm to 4 ohms or vice versa. So, if you’re thinking about expanding your vehicle audio system by upgrading your amp or an extra subwoofer down the road, this sub makes it easy to reconfigure — and it’s nearly impossible to wire incorrectly.

This 12 inch sub is fitted with an acoustically damped glass-fiber cone supported by durable rubber surround. Infinity’s proprietary aero-cooling design helps keep the 2 inch voice coil cool, while the steel basket provides a solid base for the sub, which can handle up to 500 watts RMS and up to 2,000 watts at peak.

This subwoofer sounds great in sealed or ported enclosures. It boasts a frequency range of 23 to 400 Hz for an energetic bass and a good low-frequency response you can feel as well as hear.

8. Rockville W12K6D4 V2

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Rockville W12K6D4 V2

• 2.5 inch 4-layer black aluminum voice coils
• Double stacked 100 oz high quality magnet
• Cast aluminum basket
• Fiber reinforced ultra stiff black non-pressed paper cone
• Thick foam surround
• Red stitching cone reinforcement ensures long life
• Polypropylene (pp) dustcap
• Dual 4-ohm voice coils

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On a budget but still want that boom in your toom? Check out the Rockville W12K6D4 V2 sub. It’s not expensive, but you still get a lot of bang for the buck.

Rockville isn’t as well-known as some brands but they know how to build solid subs. They may be a new name in the industry, but their reputation is on the rise

The Rockville W12K6D4 V2 is featured with an ultra-stiff paper cone supported by thick foam surround built to handle big power over the long run.

Speaking of performance, this 12 inch sub has a frequency response 27Hz to 1.5kHz, and can handle up to 600 watts on continuous basis. Despite being rated for that much wattage, you wouldn’t want to feed this subwoofer that much power unless want to blow it.

This sub’s dual 4-ohm voice coils allow you to wire your system to draw max power from your mono amp or to safely hook up multiple subs.

Mount this sub in a suitable enclosure, and enjoy impressive bass punch rarely found in this price range.

9. Rockford Fosgate P300-12

Rockford Fosgate P300-12

• Constructed with 5/8 inch MDF
• Covered with industrial heat activated vinyl
• Remote bass-level control included
• Variable low-pass crossover (50-200 Hz, 12 dB/octave)
• Phase switch (0°, 180°) & Variable bass boost
• Separate low level and speaker level inputs
• Built-in adjustable bass boost EQ

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If you are looking to add some bass to your ride without the hassle of matching up a 12 inch sub with a compatible amp and enclosure? Rockford Fosgate P300-12 powered sub is for you. It was created to be a perfect match of enclosure, sub, and amp that allows you to avoid all the complex mathematics.

Rockford Fosgate P300-12 is one of the best 12 inch powered subwoofers that Rockford Fosgate has to offer. It’s fitted with 12″ hard-hitting woofer paired up to a built-in 300 watt amplifier.

This subwoofer system is featured with High- and low-level inputs with intelligent auto turn on/off function that allow you to connect it to any system. It also sports various controls that you can use to tweak the sound to your taste including the low-pass crossover, phase switch, and bass boost to adjust the sub to work best in your vehicle. Furthermore, the included remote control lets you adjust bass intensity from the driver’s seat.

The enclosure of this system is constructed with 5/8″ MDF, which is the preferred material for subwoofer enclosures as it offers great acoustic properties. It’s covered with industrial heat activated vinyl that’s resilient to tearing and wearing and blends perfectly with any interior design.

This all-in-one bass solution is will make a night and day difference. It’s one of the top rated 12 inch subwoofers in the market. We highly recommended it to anyone who wants quality bass added, but do not expect competition level decibels.

10. MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D

MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D

• 3-chambered bandpass enclosure
• 5/8 inch MDF fiberboard construction covered with aviation grade carpet
• 2 inch Aluminum voice coil
• Rubber Surround
• Polypropylene Cone
• 48oz. Magnet

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If you want to add pounding bass to your ride and one single 12″ inch subwoofer is not enough for you, we can’t think of a better option than MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D bass system which is one of the best dual 12 inch subwoofers on the market.

This dual 12″ subwoofer enclosure is the ideal bass solution for anyone looking to add bass to their vehicle’s system without breaking their bank or going over the top. It houses two hard-hitting 12-Inch Terminator subwoofers, each of which is designed to handle up to 200 of watts of power, say 400 watts for the entire enclosure.

These subs feature Spider Plateau Venting technique, which is a mechanical cooling process used to dissipate heat generated during extended play, keeping the internal components of the subwoofer well-ventilated for consistent bass performance in the long run.

Speaking of bass performance, the MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D hits moderately hard and sounds great. It won’t blow the windows out but at this price it’s definitely one of the best deals out there.

MTX Audio Terminator TNE212D is very well put together. It’s ruggedly constructed using 5/8″ MDF (medium density fiberboard) and covered with durable aviation grade black carpet.