Discover the Best Subwoofers to Transform Your Sound

Though invisible like the wind, music can be a formidable force of energy. As sound-pressure waves move through the air, the lower their frequency (cycles per second), the more powerful they become. Humans can only feel—not hear—anything much below 20 Hz, but a pipe organ’s 32-foot stop can generate an earth-shaking 16 Hz wave, 113 feet in length. Before the advent of recorded sound, such low bass could only be experienced in, say, a church equipped with just such an instrument. Or, during a thunderstorm. Today, technology allows the lowest notes to be reproduced on a full-range sound system. But while a four-string electric bass can descend to 41 Hz, chances are that most speakers are only bumping and rattling in an attempt to generate such low frequencies, much less accurately replicating the timbre and voice of the instrument itself. That’s because they typically employ smaller-size woofers and enclosures, causing frequencies to roll off steeply from about 100 Hz. When we listen through earbuds, we hear the ghost of a double bass or a kick drum, but the room-filling energy is never fleshed out and brought to life. What we feel in our chests—what gives weight and energy to music—is instead only imagined. It’s like never being able to rev a powerful car engine beyond 4,500 rpm. Subwoofers take an audio system to the redline. More from Robb Report What It's Like Onboard Giorgio Armani's Stunning 236-Foot Superyacht Switzerland's Gstaad Palace Just Gave Its Largest Restaurant an Opulent Makeover The Best Sunscreens and Serums to Protect Your Skin on the Slopes This Winter Manufacturers like Focal, Monitor Audio, and Klipsch offer subwoofers that are mounted in-wall and utilize a building’s infrastructure to create a cabinet enclosure. More traditionally, subwoofers are designed as stand-alone consoles with the cubic capacity and piston area (think big cone woofers) required to move enough air to replicate a stadium concert or a bellowing T. rex. REL Acoustics specializes in subwoofers. Its Reference Series No. 32, configured as a triple-line array for left and right channels, stands five-feet tall and uses six 15-inch woofers, each powered by an onboard 1,000-watt amplifier. John Hunter, REL’s owner and chief designer, is a true bass believer. “Deep bass is the stuff of musical dreams,” he says. “It provides energy, drive, and the massive scale normally only encountered live. Without great subwoofers, you simply have no idea what you’ve been missing.” Wilson Audio, makers of some of the industry’s most highly regarded loudspeakers, including the WAMM Master Chronosonic System, offers subwoofers, too, understanding that even the most ambitious full-range speakers can benefit from low-frequency enhancement. Wilson’s smallest sub, the LōKē, uses a 10-inch woofer powered by a 500-watt amp, while its Subsonic relies on three 12-inch drivers that require outboard amplification. Whatever the choice, a good subwoofer’s job is multifaceted. “A high-performance subwoofer should do more than enhance low-frequency impact,” explains Daryl Wilson, C.E.O. and creative director at Wilson Audio. “It should also elevate the clarity and presence of the system’s midrange, ensuring fast, articulate bass response that reaches deep while enriching the overall musicality of the system.” Many dozens of brands, including KEF, Bowers & Wilkins, and Paradigm, offer subwoofer solutions to fit a range of rooms and budgets. According to Hunter, with a well-integrated subwoofer system, “there’s this moment of, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is actually happening in my living room.’ ” Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.