Subwoofer Test 2020: Test Winner And Bestseller For Home Theater And Music

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

	Test winner audio	Amazon bestseller	Price-performance tip	Flat mini subwoofer
	Nubert nuVero AW-17	Mivoc hype	Polk Audio HTS SUB 10	Canton ASF 75 SC
price	1,530 euros	approx. 145 euros	about 350 euros	approx. 220 euros
Per	Top sound quality	Cheap	Price-performance ratio	flat design
Contra	large dimensions	easy processing	not cheap everywhere	Bass depth limited
offer	watch on Amazon	watch on Amazon	watch on Amazon	watch on Amazon
price comparison	Compare prices	Compare prices	Compare prices	Compare prices

Audio test winner subwoofer for high demands: Nubert nuVero AW-17

Nubert nuVero AW-17 subwoofer

Now from € 1,530.00 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 27.07.2020 00:49 a.m.

Advantages:

Power without end: the driver with a diameter of 31 centimeters and the integrated 450-watt amplifier (music output) bring earthquakes into the living room.
Musically: As many testers emphasize, the Nubert nuVero AW-17 is also suitable as an additional loudspeaker for stereos that rounds the music down without dominating the overall sound. This is called "acoustic homogeneity" or "impulse-true".

Disadvantage:

Dimensions: 55 × 44.5 × 57.5 cm - that's a number too big for many home theater setups. We would only recommend the Nubert to ambitious cineastes who have suitable facilities to be able to access the performance of the subwoofer

Who absolutely no compromise on performanceshould go listen to the Nubert nuVero AW-17 watch - ideally in one of the flagship stores in Schwäbisch Gmünd or Aalen. The top model from the southern German manufacturer made the 1st place readers' choice of the magazine Audio (issue 4/2019, category subwoofer) and received the sub-grade "outstanding" in the test for its price-performance ratio. The 38.5 kg box masters brute bass thunderstorms in action films as well as gentler tones, for example as a seamless addition to a stereo system. The latter shows that Nubert knows a lot about control and timing. The nuVero AW-17 is far from a dull "roaring cube" - on the contrary, it is a remarkably precise muscle man and quite simply one of the best subwoofers that the market currently has to offer.

Amazon bestseller: Mivoc Hype 10 G2

mivoc Hype 10 G2 subwoofer

Now from 145.00 € on Amazon Similar offer on Ebay Price can now be higher. Price from 2020-23-07 2:52 p.m.

Advantages:

Very good bass performance for its price range
Good setting options make it easier to achieve an optimal sound, eg phase reversal option

Disadvantage:

Simple processing quality and moderate material expenditure are concessions to the low price

Regardless of whether you look at the list of subwoofer bestsellers on Amazon or the list of subwoofers with the best customer ratings: the Mivoc Hype 10 G2 for 149 euros can be found at the top in both lists (status: 20.07.2020). The price is a budget model, but it can also hold its own for more expensive competitors.

You should do a little research on the settings of the Mivoc Hype 10 G2 to get the best result. "If you use the crossover control at or below the center position in the direction of 48 Hz, the low-frequency reproduction of the Mivoc Hype 10 G2 is almost uniquely good in this price range," explains Igor Wallossek on his blog Igor's Lab. The housing made of MDF is stable and useful, but rather simply processed and also no design wonder. It is a subwoofer for bargain hunters that does exactly what it is supposed to and does not unnecessarily burden the wallet.

Price-performance tip: Polk Audio HTS SUB 10

Polk Audio HTS SUB 10

Now from € 326.88 at Amazon Similar offer at Mediamarkt price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 01:03 a.m.

Advantages:

Deep and clean bass
Very good price-performance ratio (be sure to compare prices!)

Disadvantage:

Can be found in retail at prices of up to 450 euros, which is too expensive. We recommend: take a look around and not pay more than 350 euros

In the subwoofer price range up to 400 euros there are numerous candidates who can be considered as a tip. We recommend the Polk Audio HTS SUB 10 at this point, because with its cube-like dimensions (40.9 × 38.4 × 41.9 cm) and its weight of 17.1 kg, it is ideal for an all-round modelthat should be the right choice in many living rooms: not too big, not too small, and equipped with the most important features. Volume control, low pass filter (30Hz-120Hz) and phase (0/180 °) can be found on the back. Still an insider tip in Germany, the Californian manufacturer Polk has long been a fixture in the audio sector in its home country USA. The rating at Amazon Germany is 4.9 out of 5 stars at 48 reviews, at Amazon USA 4.7 stars at 148 reviews (as of 20.07.2020), the customers praise all important aspects, especially the clean sound good build quality and the design of the slightly rounded case.

Flat mini subwoofer: Canton ASF 75 SC

Canton ASF 75 SC

Now from € 214.13 at Amazon Similar offer at Mediamarkt Price comparison Price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 01:03 a.m.

Advantages:

Flat design, fits under some sofas

Disadvantage:

not a particularly deep bass

The dimensions of the Canton ASF 75 SC are 43 x 15.5 x 41 cm - it is an extremely compact and, above all, flat bass box that should fit under many living room sofas. The driver emits downwards (downfire principle). A hole can be seen in the front, this is the so-called bass reflex channel. If you want, you can also attach the subwoofer to the wall, corresponding wall brackets are included. However, the connections and controls (volume, crossover) are located on the underside and, depending on the installation / installation location, could be difficult to access.

On Amazon, the Canton ASF 75 SC has a good average rating (4.4 out of 5 stars). "The Sub is certainly not a high-end but has a completely sufficient dynamic for me due to its flat design and provides us with a 40m² room with good-sounding basses", is one of the users summarizing his experiences.

The best subwoofers: How we chose

GIGA audio expert Stefan has incorporated his own experience and research in specialist journals into this summary. The “Subwoofer for Cars” area was deliberately excluded and instead the focus was placed on models for home use. Current subwoofer models are presented here that have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for a purchase. Sources: Audio (04/2019), Audio (09/2018), Igors Lab, AV-Magazin, Nubert “Technik satt” (PDF)

Buying a subwoofer: what you need to know

What do you need a subwoofer for?

Powerful subwoofers also reproduce a very deep part of the sound spectrum, which usually cannot be reproduced by small speakers (so-called "subbass", 20 to 60 Hertz). These abyss-deep tones are felt physically at the appropriate level (vibration) and contribute significantly to the atmosphere in the cinema / club / concert. The lower cutoff frequencydescribes the lowest frequency that a subwoofer can reproduce (eg 25 Hertz). The lower this is and the higher the sound pressure, the more the subwoofer conveys the atmospheric "bass rumble", for example in the case of special effects (thunder, explosions). In the neighboring apartment you can hear this grumbling quite clearly. The point at which the system divides the work between normal loudspeakers and subwoofer (s) is called the upper cut-off frequency - it is usually between 80 and 180 Hertz. The performance of a subwoofer mainly depends on the size of the driver (s) (total membrane area), the housing volume and the electrical power available (unit: watts).

Active and passive subwoofers

If a subwoofer relies on the power of an external amplifier (e.g. AV receiver), then one speaks of a passive subwoofer. However, more common are bass boxes with an integrated amplifier and separate power supply, which are called active subwoofers. If a manufacturer advertises a soundbar or a Bluetooth box with an "integrated subwoofer", this is primarily to be understood as a clever marketing measure. Ideally, special attention and separate electronics were given to the bass area here - in the usual sense, however, a subwoofer is an additional box with its own housing.

Downfire and frontfire subwoofers: which one is better?

The two most popular designs are Downfire and Fronfire - some combinations of the two principles can also be found. Downfire subwoofers radiate towards the floor with a driver attached to the underside, which then serves as a reflector. The goal is a bass that fills the room as much as possible, which is to literally shake up the apartment - great for Godzilla's appearance when watching films. A frontfire subwoofer has a driver attached to the front, the membrane of which is intended to send the sound energy to the listener in the shortest possible way. Ideally, this is noticeable through particularly "crisp" bass impulses, which is interesting for the "listening to music" application.

Canton Sub 601 at Amazon

Which of the two construction methods is better cannot be said without considering the application scenario and the building fabric (old building / new building). As a rule of thumb, we recommend that you should rather use the Frontfire subwoofer on “swinging floor” (such as wooden floorboards). If you live in a new building with a concrete floor, you can also consider a downfire subwoofer. Some subwoofer models can also be used in both ways, as the feet can be remounted. A recommendable example is the Teufel T8 subwoofer.

Teufel T 8 subwoofer, optionally front or downfire, feet reversible

Now from € 311.92 at Amazon price can now be higher. Price from 2020-27-07 00:43 a.m.

Connect subwoofer and cables for subwoofer

There are several correct ways to connect an active subwoofer. Here we describe the most common method that can be implemented with almost all current receivers and subwoofers. A Y-Cinch cable is required, which has a single plug at one end and two plugs at the other end (usually red + white). Such a cable looks like this:

Check out the subwoofer Y cinch cable at Amazon

The single plug comes into the subwoofer output on the AV receiver, which is located on the rear and is marked accordingly (eg "Sub Out"). The two plugs at the other end come into the input on the subwoofer, which is labeled "Line In" or "Input". Some receivers even have multiple subwoofer outputs, so that you can connect about two bass speakers - such a project is interesting for ambitious home cinema fans.

How do you connect subwoofers for Sonos, Amazon Echo, Bose and Yamaha MusicCast?

A special case are wireless subwoofers (“Wireless”), which are connected to the socket by a power cable, but can receive the sound signal by radio. If you absolutely want to retrofit wireless, you can use special radio sets, which then replace the connecting cable between the receiver and the subwoofer.

But: With some systems of certain brands, an extension by a subwoofer is limited by the manufacturer. These are closed systems that communicate via WLAN. A well-known example of this is the Sonos Sub, a bass box for the Sonos multi-room system from the manufacturer of the same name. Subwoofers from other manufacturers cannot be combined with Sonos speakers such as the Sonos Beam (soundbar) - it must be the Sonos Sub. Here is a brief overview of known multiroom systems and compatible subwoofers:

Sonos: Sonos Sub, 3rd generation (approx. 780 euros)
Amazon Echo: Echo Sub (approx. 130 euros)
Bose: Bass Module 500 (approx. 330 euros) or Bass Module 700 (approx. 600 euros); Compatible with: Bose Soundbar 700, Bose Soundbar 500, SoundTouch 300 Soundbar
Yamaha MusicCast: MusicCast SUB 100 (approx. 400 euros)
Denon HEOS: Heos subwoofer (approx. 600 euros)

Set up the subwoofer

The right setup of a subwoofer is a science in itself - the optimal solution requires measurement technology and in-depth sound engineering knowledge. Nevertheless, even as a layperson you can achieve good results if you take a little time and trust your hearing. We recommend placing the subwoofer in the middle between the two main speakers (left and right stereo channels) and putting it around one meter away from the nearest wallallow. This is a good starting position to gradually find your way to the best position. To make the elaborate trial and error a little more comfortable, you can place the subwoofer on a transport roller for furniture and move it around easily. In the end, the subjective impression of sound at the final listening position (usually the comfortable sofa where you then watch films) counts - here the bass together with the mids and highs must give a coherent overall picture.

So where's the challenge ? Well: Sound waves - to put it simply - spread out spherically, starting from the subwoofer. They reflect on the walls / ceiling / floor and can overlap like the waves in a water bowl - this leads to reinforcements (two "wave crests" meet) and erasures ("mountain" and "valley" meet). You can hear this in the living room when you change the listening position: in some places the bass is exaggeratedly loud (mostly in the corners), in others it is very weak. One speaks of disturbing "room fashions". Proper placement of the subwoofer is the first step in keeping this phenomenon at bay.

Set the subwoofer correctly

Any good subwoofer has settings for the crossover frequency ("crossover frequency") and the phase. The former determines where the subwoofer is working - then the conventional loudspeakers are activated in the setup. The crossover frequency is around 80 Hertz (large boxes), but may need to be increased to 120 Hertz (small boxes). The goal is to achieve a seamless transition between the subwoofer (bass) and the other speakers (mids and highs) - what we don't want is a “frequency gap” where hardly anything can be heard. The phase describes the direction of vibration of the membrane. It can be turned around, which can be useful in some cases. The goal here is a harmonic vibration behavior of all speakers in the surround setup.

Very few home users have the measuring instruments, let alone the specialist knowledge, to measure a room and adjust a system accordingly. Nevertheless, good results can be achieved if you let your hearing be decided with time and calm. Special test tones (e.g. from Audiocheck) are suitable for this, but also normal music CDs and films.

Mad Max Fury Road - Final Trailer English

Mad Max: Fury Road (Blu-ray 4K UHD)

Now from € 22.41 at Mediamarkt Similar offer at Saturn Price can now be higher. Price from 26.07.2020 9:55 p.m.

Incidentally, the magazine Whathifi recommends Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) as the ideal blockbuster to get your subwoofers on their teeth: screeching engines, driving soundtrack, explosions - everything you need to push a bass box to the limit.