The Best 8 Inch Subwoofers

When listening to music in your car, you want the best possible sound quality with a bass groove that’s deep and smooth. Rattling or static shouldn’t be a part of the sounds.  

That’s why a dedicated subwoofer is indispensable when cruising in your car. 

Yet a muscular bass speaker isn’t for everyone. There’s definitely a sweet spot between killer bass sounds and overkill. And it’s within this sweet spot where you’ll discover the 8-inch subwoofer.

For many audiophiles, an 8-inch subwoofer is an excellent place to start when looking to enhance the music playing in your car. 

That said, there are lots of low-quality subwoofers out there that tend to underplay the lower frequencies and spew out annoying kicks to the sound. Therefore, it’s crucial to do your research when buying subwoofers. 

This article flies right past those underperformers and reveals the best 8-inch subwoofers on the market. We’ll focus on subwoofers that offer the highest-quality performance without exposing listeners to the issues of lower-quality models.

Skar Audio ZVX-8 D2 is a newcomer to the speaker market, but don’t let that fool you. It has some of the highest-quality subwoofers available, and what’s more, they are extremely affordable for those on a budget.

These subwoofers boast a 2.5-inch temperature voice coil, a triple-stack ferrite motor that weighs a mere 156 ounces, and a cone that utilizes a high-roll foam. These elements, combined with the many other top-notch details of its design, result in a tiny but loud subwoofer that folks will be able to hear from afar.

At 80.4 dB sensitivity, you won’t need to use too much volume, though it can still handle lots of power.

Those who want a hard-hitting 8-inch subwoofer capable of rattling windows from a distance.

Car owners who are seeking a quieter sound that stays within the vehicle.

In contrast to Skar Audio, Rockford Fosgate is an established brand that’s been active in the car-audio industry since 1973. That respected longevity has given Rockford Fosgate a well-earned reputation for building high-end car-audio components.

The P3SD2-8 is particularly one of the company’s finest offerings. Though this subwoofer won’t necessarily rattle the windows, it will provide a clear and smooth bass sound within the confines of your car. This subwoofer is made of quality materials and engineered to perform at a high level.

It’s also competitively priced at approximately half of what you’d pay for most high-end subwoofers on the market—but that doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice quality in the least. 

The dust cap and cone, for example, are made of anodized aluminum, which makes it much lighter, yet it’s still rigid enough that it doesn’t lose its shape at a higher volume. 

This speaker has a shallow mount profile that offers adequate venting and prevents mechanical failure due to higher temperatures. And, at just 2-⅝ inches deep, it will fit in spaces where regular woofers won’t, making it a good option for custom systems that require speakers to go in small spaces.

Those looking for a clear and accurate bass sound that does not extend beyond the vehicle.

Those seeking a deafening bass or a powerful input; it’s not a window-rattling speaker.

Those who are willing to spend a bit more may not do much better than the JL Audio 8W3V3-4. This is one of the best 8-inch subwoofers around, capable of delivering accurate but ground-shaking, window-rattling bass for all to hear.

The sensitivity is also fairly high at 83.24 dB, though it can only handle a modest amount of power at 250 watts RMS. That said, it’s unlikely your car radio will ever exceed this wattage. 

The sound range is also incredible on this speaker. It can go as low as 28Hz and as high as 250Hz. The cone is made of mineral-filled polypropylene and supported with nitrile-butylene rubber, ensuring highly precise and smooth movement no matter the power level. 

This subwoofer also comes with innovative cooling features that quickly dissipate heat from the motor and ensure zero distortion and durable performance. That means it can get very loud without compromising the quality of sound.

Those who want an disbelievingly loud subwoofer that still maintains its high quality at top volume.

Those on a limited budget. The JL Audio 8W3V3-4 is at the high end of the typical price range for 8-inch speakers.

The Polk Audio dB840 is the cheapest 8-inch subwoofer on our list, but that doesn’t mean it’s a low-quality option. It still offers a punchy bass sound that resonates. 

It also comes with a polypropylene cone supported by a Santoprene surround to perform well at a high-powered volume.

Polk Audio is known for performing rigorous and extensive tests on its subwoofers to ensure the best quality upon purchase. This speaker can withstand moisture, sunlight, and wide temperature ranges, making it suitable for boats and vehicles in most climates. 

The sensitivity rating is also pretty high at 85 dB, and it can handle a decent amount of power at 180 watts RMS. The frequency response lies between 30 Hz and 200 Hz. 

The db840 is an excellent 8-inch subwoofer to purchase if you’re on a tight budget because it costs less than $100. Powered perfectly, it will no doubt give you high-quality bass.

Those looking for a high-quality subwoofer priced under $100.

Those wanting something louder than the aforementioned power specs.

This subwoofer costs a lot, but it’s worth the price because of its serious punch. The JL Audio 8W7AE-3 packs even more power than the aforementioned JL Audio 8W3V3-4, and that’s saying something. 

It also has exceptional design elements to it and is made of high-quality materials. The dish-shaped outer cone is supported by an inner cone with a W-shape, which is attached to the voice coil. 

This setup makes the cone righteously rigid at a high power, yet also very lightweight and capable of a rapid response and clear output.

The 8W7AE-3 also utilizes OverRoll Surround tech, a unique mounting method that causes the surround to wrap outside the mount, unlike the design of a traditional woofer. This mount results in the woofer moving more air for the most full-bodied lows in sound. 

The voice coil is also longer than average and has a larger surface area. That extra length assists with power handling and linear excursion, while the large surface area boosts heat dissipation.

This beast can handle up to 500 watts RMS when it comes to power and can go as low as 23 Hz, which will still shake your walls. Given this capacity, it’s no surprise that the 8W7AE-3 is one of the loudest 8-inch subwoofers on the market.

Bass lovers looking for some serious power.

Those on a tight budget or those looking for something quieter.

Kicker, another trusted name in the car audio industry, has released a ton of products that range from subwoofers to signal processors. If you know your speakers, this name is probably on the top of your subwoofer list—all of the company’s offerings are of the highest quality. 

This particular subwoofer uses cutting-edge materials and technology and goes well beyond the limits of many other subwoofers. 

The Kicker 44L7S84 has tinsel leads, dual high-temperature voice coils, a semi-progressive spider, a forged aluminum frame, and a large ceramic magnet, all components that make it a beast in terms of bass output.

Don’t worry about its ability to handle power, as it can do up to 450 watts RMS. The frequency range is also more comprehensive than any other subwoofers on this list. It does from 28 Hz on the lower side to 100 kHz on the higher side. The 83.6 dB sensitivity is also impressive.

Its design is pretty unique as well. Kicker eschewed the standard round design seen on many subwoofers and instead opted for a unique square shape. This setup leads to more cone area to move air in, resulting in more bass and volume than you would get with a round woofer.

Serious bassheads looking for the most cutting-edge technology on the subwoofer market.

People on a tight budget or those looking for a simpler, quieter setup.