The 10 Best Studio Monitor Subwoofers 2020

2/5/2020 The 10 Best Studio Monitor Subwoofers 2020
The 10 Best Wind

Studio
String Instruments Monitor
Instruments Subwoofers
Pianos & Keyboards Drums
2020
Studio Audio
by Jordan Lent Last Updated April 13, 2020
When setting up your studio, once you buy studio monitors, you then need to nd one
of the best studio subwoofers for your setup, which, in 2020, is not too hard to nd.
Many studio monitors also have matching subwoofers, so we are providing you with
some reviews of the best studio monitor subwoofers out there.
Here are the best studio subwoofers 2020

1 Yamaha HS8S
2 ADAM Audio Sub8
3 Mackie CR8S-XBT
4 Behringer Nekkst K10S
5 Focal Sub6
6 KRK 10s
7 JBL LSR310S
8 Kali Audio WS-12
9 Dynaudio 18S
10 Genelec 7350A
1. Yamaha HS8S
One of the best studio subwoofers under $500
The Yamaha HS8S is an 8-inch powered subwoofer that matches the Yamaha HS8
studio monitors. The HS8S is a ported subwoofer; the port is on the front middle of the
enclosure. Even though it is very small, it de nitely delivers.
It has a frequency range of 22 Hz to 150 Hz, which is plenty for a subwoofer. Around 20
Hz is the very bottom end of the range of human hearing, so you will not be missing
much with that 2 Hz loss. The HS8S has been engineered with a 150 W ampli er and
https://consordini.com/best-studio-monitor-subwoofers/#behringer-nekkst-k10s 1/21
should have enough power to provide a good amount of sub frequencies for a small
studio or a bedroom studio.
Like I mentioned, the HS8S should be ideally paired with the Yamaha HS series, but
more speci cally the HS8 studio monitors if you are wanting to stay around the 8-inch
size. For being as small as they are, it is reasonably priced. It is also very easy to travel
with, as it only weighs 27.6 lbs, so if you need to take it on the road with you, you can do
it easily without having to struggle to transport it like you may with other subwoofers.
The sub has a few helpful features like a low-cut switch and low-cut control for 80 Hz
to 120 Hz, and a high-cut control for the same frequency range. A phase switch allows
you to set up the subwoofer with simple connections; you don’t need any additional
equipment to do so, and it’s a very pain-free process for even a beginner.
 Lightweight and easy to

travel with, weighing only
27.6 lbs.
 Reasonably priced given its
features and the brand.
 Handy features like a low-
and high-cut control and a
phase switch for easy
setup.
 A bit weak in terms of

volume.
Image credit: Yamaha
Check Price on Amazon
The Yamaha HS8S is a good, fairly affordable studio monitor subwoofer. It is small and
lightweight, making it good for bedroom studios or small home or professional studios. I
would recommend it for those producers who have no previous experience using a
subwoofer, as it has enough easy to use controls to tailor it to your needs and get it set
up correctly, and it is not overly complicated to use or very expensive.
2. ADAM Audio Sub8

Great for smaller studios
The ADAM Audio Sub8 is an 8.5-inch powered studio subwoofer ideal for smaller
studios up to 20 square meters in size. It is a very compact yet powerful subwoofer. The
Sub8 is a sealed subwoofer which means it does not have a port like you usually see on
normal studio monitors.
The Sub8 extends the frequency range of your near- eld studio monitors down to 28 to
30 Hz and has a frequency range itself of 28 Hz to 150 Hz. Along with the 8.5-inch
woofer, the Sub8 has a 1.5-inch voice coil and is powered by a 160 W ICE power
ampli er. The ICE power ampli er combines low heat generation with a high
performance level, making it great for long studio sessions at high playback volumes.
In terms of design, the front panel of the Sub8 has two knobs that allow you to change
the input level of the subwoofer and the crossover frequency settings. A wireless
remote is also included with the subwoofer, and the input level and crossover frequency
settings can be changed with the remote as well if you need to set the sub up and hear
everything from a distance rather than close up.
ADAM Audio uses top-quality materials for their high-end monitors and subwoofers,
ensuring that you get their award-winning sound at a consistent rate when using their
top-rated products. The Sub8 subwoofer is no exception here, and packs a punch in its
compact form without getting boomy in a negative way.
Because of the high-quality components of the subwoofer like the paper diaphragm, the
Sub8 is minimally fatiguing on the ears and has low distortion at both low and high
volume levels. At high volume levels it is very powerful and does not start to sound
compressed. For the satellite outputs of the sub, a connectable high pass lter is
available for blocking signals below 85 Hz should you need to do that.
 Compact enough for

bedroom and small studios
yet still is very powerful.
 Low distortion even at high
volumes.
 Comes with a remote

control for setting up the
crossover frequency and
input level.
 Not a ported subwoofer.

 Pretty expensive for being
as small as it is.
Image credit: ADAM Audio
The ADAM Audio Sub8 powered, sealed subwoofer is a really great high-quality
subwoofer for studio monitors. It provides you with a lot of power with little distortion
and overall just sounds great for what it’s supposed to be used for, easily making it one
of the best studio subwoofers under $1000.
So, all that being said, I would say that it would be a good subwoofer for intermediate to
advanced producers who have smaller studios. It’s pretty expensive for being as small as
it is, so honestly unless you have the money for it and don’t care about its size, I would
just get an even bigger subwoofer from ADAM Audio.
3. Mackie CR8S-XBT
The subwoofer with the best value
The Mackie CR8S-XBT is an 8-inch powered subwoofer ideal for studio use and
other multimedia purposes and it is also Bluetooth compatible. The Mackie CR8S-XBT
is great for things like designing a desktop monitoring system for gaming, doing
multimedia production projects, casual listening, and of course use in the studio.
This subwoofer has a rich tone and de nitely can ll in the missing frequencies in your
studio monitoring setup and add power and punch without any issues. It has a
frequency range of 40 Hz to 180 Hz, and it has 200 W of power and an 8-inch driver.
It features input and output level controls, a crossover frequency control, and also a
polarity switch. The CR8S-XBT also comes with a remote for adjusting the input and
output volume levels and the crossover frequency, and since it’s also Bluetooth
compatible, you can connect all your Bluetooth devices to it which automatically makes
any studio monitors you have connected to the subwoofer also Bluetooth compatible.
The CR8S-XBT is not a ported subwoofer, it’s sealed, so it is a little less ef cient than a
ported sub and has ample power for only a small studio or a bedroom. The CR8S-XBT is
the matching subwoofer for the CR-X series of Mackie monitors, so ideally you should
use it with the CR-X line of monitors, but if you have different Mackie studio monitors
you should be able to pair it easily and get a good sound from the combo.
 Extremely reasonably
priced and affordable.
 Comes with Pro Tools First
and a plugin collection.
 Comes with a remote.
 Bluetooth compatible.
 The frequency range

bottoms out at 40 Hz
which may leave you
wanting a bit lower of a
range.
 Is not a ported subwoofer,
Image credit: Mackie
making it less powerful.
The Mackie CR8S-XBT is a great little subwoofer for a home studio. It is compact and
the Bluetooth capability makes it great for casual listening. It is easily one of the best
(and few) studio subwoofers under $200 out there.
I would recommend the CR8S-XBT for beginners or people who want to use the
subwoofer for more than just in the studio, such as video production or gaming. The
CR8S-XBT from Mackie is an ideal budget studio subwoofer for those of you just starting
out in production and packs a lot of punch for the money.
4. Behringer Nekkst K10S

Punchy, powerful bass
The Behringer Nekkst K10S is a 10-inch powered subwoofer designed by Behringer

and the founder of KRK, Keith R. Klawitter, who is a master speaker designer. The
brainchild of Behringer and Klawitter, with the Nekkst K10S subwoofer you get
extremely punchy, powerful bass.
The K10S has a glass ber 10-inch speaker and has 180 W of power, which is plenty for a
small or mid-sized studio. The Nekkst K10S features a variable low-pass lter and a
phase switch to help you dial in the response to t your room and monitoring setup.
Focusing on the design, the glass ber speaker cone is known for having a lot of punch
and really fast transient response, so you can expect punchy lows and nice transient
response from the Nekkst K10S subwoofer. The amazing bass response is also thanks to
the innovative cabinet design done by Keith Klawitter.
The curved baf e and dimensions of the front port were designed for extended
frequency response in the low end with minimal amounts of distortion. Because of this,
you’ll be able to make cleaner sounding mixes and better decisions when mixing the low
end of your mixes.
Like I mentioned, there is a low-pass lter and a crossover frequency control. The
crossover frequency control is labeled for precision when the K10S is paired with
Behringer’s Nekkst K5, K6, or K8 studio monitors. Otherwise you can use your ears to
nd the right balance between your studio monitors and the K10S if you’re using
monitors from a different brand.
 Deformation resistant
glass ber speaker cone
provides a lot of punch and
great transient response.
 Designed by Keith R.
Klawitter, the founder of
KRK.
 10-inch driver means that
it can be used in a small or
mid-sized studio quite

easily.
 The crossover frequency

control is only precisely
labeled for use with
Behringer monitors, so it
may be more dif cult to
set it with other monitors.
Image credit: Behringer
Overall, the Behringer Nekkst K10S is one of the best studio subwoofers under $300. It is
powerful and easily lls in the low-end frequencies that studio monitors lack at high
volumes.
I strongly suggest that you use it with Behringer studio monitors; if you’re a beginner
you may have a hard time setting the crossover frequency if you are using monitors
from another company. I would recommend this sub to anyone who has a small to mid-
sized studio.
5. Focal Sub6
More power than size
The Focal Sub6 is a really solid, high-quality powered subwoofer. Being a top-end
subwoofer, it is more expensive, but it is de nitely worth it if you want a great sound
quality.
The Focal Sub6 has an 11-inch driver and extends your monitoring down to 30 Hz in a
linear fashion at any SPL (sound pressure level) with 350 W of power, making it powerful
enough to be used in a large studio. With the Sub6, you have a lot of setup exibility
with 2.1, 2.2, or surround LFE con gurations.
The Focal Sub6 also features a high-pass crossover, an adjustable phase control, and
level control to help you achieve the most seamless integration with your studio
monitors. The Sub6 also has a footswitch input to let you A/B your audio with and
without the subwoofer to give you a better idea of your sonic perspective.
The Focal Sub6 gives you enough capability as a giant studio monitor that you might
nd in a world class studio with the frequency range of 30 Hz to 250 Hz. Focal’s Solo6
Be and Twin6 Be are ideal monitors for pairing the Sub6 with.
Getting into the design details, Focal uses a composite sandwich cone technology
where the cone is made of a layer of glass, then a layer of foam, and another layer of
glass. This technology helps to ne tune mass, rigidity, and damping, which is the basis
for sonic neutrality when all are balanced.
The 11-inch woofer is tted with a high excursion system that provides an accurate and
extended reproduction of bass. The voice coil design helps to maintain complete control
of the driver, even at a high SPL. The magnetic construction offers a symmetrical
magnetic eld that ensures stable dynamics at the lowest of frequencies.
For the ampli er, Focal uses BASH technology to combine the sonic qualities of a Class
AB amp circuit with a Class D amp’s yield characteristics. This ensures that you have an
ultra reliable subwoofer with superior performance.
 Good for any size studio.

 Composite sandwich cone
creates a balanced sound
with high accuracy.
 Very reliable in terms of
performance.
 Footswitch compatible for
A/B-ing.
 Pretty expensive.
 Sealed rather than ported.
Image credit: Focal
The Focal Sub6 is a best-selling studio subwoofer that would be great in any sized
studio. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for beginners as it has a lot of different
controls, but it would be good for an advanced to professional producer.
6. KRK 10s
Clean, reliable extended range
The KRK 10s is a ported, powered subwoofer great for any genre. The 10s has a 10-inch
glass and aramid composite woofer with a 2-inch voice coil. It is housed in an MDF
enclosure and is capable of reproducing frequencies down to 28 Hz.
It has a frequency range of 28 Hz to 156 Hz and a frequency response of 30 Hz to 110 Hz.

With the extended range, it will give your work a more professional nish and help audio
to translate well on any listening system. The KRK 10S is powered by a 160-watt Class D
ampli er capable of producing up to 117 dB of de ned bass frequencies.
On the back panel of the KRK 10s, there are controls for an adjustable crossover
frequency point, a sensitivity switch, a polarity switch, and a ground switch. These tools
allow you to easily ne tune the setup of the subwoofer to ensure that you have an ideal
setup for your mixing environment as well as a seamless integration with your studio
monitors. The 10s is best used with KRK’s Rokit monitors and VXT monitors as a
matching subwoofer.
In addition to these features, the 10s also comes with a footswitch input for bypassing
the sub when monitoring for easy A/B-ing. The 10s is just a really great professional or
home studio subwoofer. It provides clean, tight bass with little to no distortion even at
high SPL, and you get better translation between listening systems in a way that makes
your mixes sound full and immersive without being too muddy or overly pronounced.
 Footswitch compatible for

A/B-ing.
 Quite reasonably priced for
being so powerful.
 Ported subwoofer.
 Sensitivity control can be

faulty.
Image credit: KRK
The KRK 10s is a highest-rated sub at a reasonable price point. I would say it would be
good in any size studio and that producers of any skill level will be pleased with its ease
of use and reliability.
7. JBL LSR310S
A truly balanced and focused sound
The JBL LSR310S is a powered studio subwoofer designed to be used with JBL’s LSR
active studio monitors. The LSR310S takes the load off of your near- eld monitors,
producing tight and focused bass to help you get a balanced 3-way sound.
The JBL LSR310S sports a 10-inch down- ring driver that bottoms out at 27 Hz. The
frequency response range is from 27 Hz to 130 Hz. The LSR310S features a selectable
crossover that includes JBL’s XLF (Extended Low Frequency) setting which gives you
plenty of exibility when setting up your subwoofer and tailoring it to your mixing
environment.
The LSR310S is a ported subwoofer and uses JBL’s Slip Stream port for a tight and
focused bass response at any volume. The Slip Stream port is a double- ared port shape
that reduces turbulence and enables you to have an accurate bass response at any
volume.
The LSR310S is powered by a 200 W Class D amp. When the XLF setting is activated,
you get a club-like response that helps to tailor the bass volume and frequencies. A level
control is also featured to adjust the subwoofer output volume.
 Slip Stream port for an

accurate bass response no
matter what.
 XLF setting provides
exibility in setting the
crossover point.
 Not very good in extra

large studios.
Image credit: JBL
The JBL LSR310S is the perfect recording studio subwoofer for a mid-sized studio and
has all the latest technology from JBL. I would recommend it for producers of any skill
level.
8. Kali Audio WS-12

A crazy powerful sub
The WS-12 from Kali Audio is a new, ridiculously powerful subwoofer. The WS-12 is
a 12-inch sub powered by 1000 W. It has a frequency response of 23 Hz to 160 Hz. It can
easily reproduce low-frequency audio while being plenty loud, even though it is small
enough to t into a small studio.
It is a ported subwoofer for recording studios and yields a clean and punchy bass with
low noise and distortion. The WS-12 handles bass heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop
with ease and can reproduce low-end content in movie soundtracks as well. It’s even
loud enough for light use with a PA, and has a built in limiter circuit to protect against
power surges.
The WS-12 is made from ultra durable plywood and has side handles for easy transport,
making it a good candidate for taking on the road. It’s small enough to t into most
passenger cars as well.
Getting into the design a bit more, the WS-12 has a low-noise port tube. A lot of port
tubes emit turbulence which can produce a sound called chuf ng. Chuf ng can hide
low-end details in your mix. With the WS-12’s port tube, all of the air exits at the same
velocity, resulting in a clean bass sound with no added noise.
On the rear panel you will nd a control for selectable crossovers at every 20 Hz
between 40 and 140 Hz, as well as presets for use with the Kali Audio LP-6, LP-8, and
IN-8 studio monitors. You’ll also nd LFE and external crossover settings. You can also
choose between 4 preset gain settings, change the polarity, enable and disable the RCA
inputs, and enable and disable standby mode (which can also be done with a footswitch).
 Extremely powerful in a
small package.
 Easy to transport as well as
set up.
 Many settings for use in
many applications and
situations.
 Innovative technology with
the port for ultra low noise
and optimal balance.
 Does not come with a

remote control for easier
setup.
Image credit: Kali Audio
Check Price on Sweetwater
The Kali Audio WS-12 is the newest project from Kali Audio and is de nitely one to look
out for. It has so much power but is compact and is being sold at a pretty good price
considering its many features and innovative design.
This one is bound to be a big favorite among producers as it will t in a large studio
quite well. I de nitely recommend you take a look at this one. There are not many
subwoofers this powerful being sold at a price this good.
9. Dynaudio 18S
Packed with features and a punch
Being the most expensive subwoofer on the list, the Dynaudio 18S subwoofer is
packed with features that are bound to blow your mind and provide you with an
awesome response to ensure your mixes are sounding great on any listening system.
The Dynaudio 18S is a 9.5-inch powered subwoofer. The 18S is a professional-grade

subwoofer that gets you down to a ridiculous 16 Hz. You’re sure to hear the thumping
sub frequencies of a kick drum and feel the vibration in your chest from a bass guitar.
Low-frequency mud will stick out like a sore thumb for you to easily identify and x.
The 18S allows you to record, mix, and master with the highest level of accuracy and
deliver audio that translates perfectly across multiple speakers outside of your studio.
The 18S employs dual opposing 9.5-inch driver units that sit at either side of the cabinet.
For convenience in terms of placement, the cabinet is wider than it is deep. This won’t
have a negative effect on your audio.
Dynaudio incorporates their MSP+ Hybrid Drive drivers that are powered by a 500 W
Class D ampli er. You will have more than enough power to ll a large studio with audio
from this subwoofer. The 18S features intelligent DSP that tailors its performance to
many of Dynaudio’s popular high-end studio monitors to help you get the fullest range
of monitoring possible.
The DSP modeling technology helps to pair the 18S with any of the professional
monitors, for example, from the BM and LYD series and above, turning a two-way
monitor into a whole three-way audio monitoring system (or a four way system if
combined with an LYD 48 stereo or surround setup).
The 18S has a display menu that can be used to select and create customized
performance maps for the Dynaudio studio monitors you are using for applying rolloff
and other settings. Dynaudio assessed the acoustic characteristics of all their high-end
monitors, so you don’t have to do any guesswork when pairing the sub with monitors.
When Dynaudio adds any new monitors to their range, the 18S’s rmware will update to
include them, so this subwoofer will never become obsolete.
Another great feature of the 18S is integration assistance. When using the RCA or XLR
connections, the integration assistance features help you to get set up with more
advanced systems.
Included is the ability to set a time delay to make sure that the subwoofer and studio
monitors are playing at the exact same time. The 18S automatically adjusts itself using
time and phase delays. Also featured is an onboard three way parametric EQ to resolve
room modes that could affect the accuracy of your audio recordings.
Touching on the accuracy of the subwoofer, the 18S uses the MSP+ Hybrid Drive driver.
It’s made from aluminum which is a change from Dynaudio’s usual magnesium silicate
polymer. It’s essentially a sandwich, with paper backing and an MSP dust cap on the
front. Sandwich construction for drivers has proven to be especially worthwhile for
subwoofers over the past few years because they require a more critical balance
between stiffness, lightness, and damping than traditional monitor drivers do.
Aside from all the fancy technology that has gone into the construction and design of
the 18S, I can tell you that its performance is incredible. It integrates seamlessly with the
Dynaudio monitors and lets you work with freedom because it’s so easy to catch even
the smallest details with this subwoofer.
 Has an onboard display

screen to control setup
parameters for seamless
integration with multiple
systems over different
applications.
 High accuracy thanks to
the special sandwich
designed MSP+ Hybrid
Drive driver.
 Presets for integration
with Dynaudio monitors
and automatic adjustments
make for an easy, pain free
setup.
 Extremely expensive and

Image credit: Dynaudio likely not in a less
experienced or hobbyist
producer’s budget.
Check Price on Sweetwater
 Not as easy to integrate
with monitors not made by
Dynaudio.
The Dynaudio 18S is an amazing subwoofer well worth checking out if you have the
money for it. It will t perfectly in a large studio. It could work in smaller and mid-size
studios as well, but being as large as it is and as powerful as it is, it may be too bulky, and
ideally it needs to be in a very well-treated studio, so it de nitely will not work out in a
bedroom studio unless the room is very large. Intermediate to advanced producers will
love this subwoofer and get hours and hours of enjoyment and accurate mixing with it.
10. Genelec 7350A

Accurate and exible with a small footprint
You may not be very familiar with Genelec, an audio monitoring company based in
Finland, but they have made a subwoofer that is accurate, exible, and also has a small
footprint. If you are looking for a subwoofer that will pair perfectly with Genelec’s active
studio monitors, the Genelec 7350A active subwoofer is the ideal choice.
The 8-inch Genelec 7350A subwoofer is a compact powered subwoofer for 2.1 or 5.1
systems when paired with the Genelec 8320A or 8330A studio monitors for both stereo
and surround sound applications in the studio or even at home.
The 7350A has a single 8-inch driver powered by a 150 W ampli er. It is quite powerful
for being a more compact sub, and can put out pretty high SPL within a 1 meter
distance. The total frequency response range of the Genelec 7350A is 22 Hz to 150 Hz,
which is plenty low and you won’t be missing any sub frequencies.
The 7350A extends the low-frequency response range all the way down to 22 Hz, which
is made possible by the Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) patented by Genelec. The
Laminar Spiral Enclosure drastically changes how high volume low frequency energy is
delivered in a critical listening environment. Thanks to the LSE, any issues caused by
turbulence from the bass port on the chassis is completely eliminated, resulting in a
smooth energy response with clear bass that has no distortion or inaccuracies.
Another awesome design feature of the 7350A is the Smart Active Monitor (SAM)
technology. The Smart Active Monitor technology takes into account that as a producer
in this day and age, you may not always be able to mix and monitor in the ideal
environment like a studio. The SAM technology automatically calibrates the level,
timing, and equalization of the subwoofer to your room, making sure that you hear the
ne details and nuances of your audio recordings without color or distortion, so that
you can make critical decisions when mixing.
Although it’s not included with the 7350A subwoofer, Genelec pairs this Smart Active
Monitor technology with a software called Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) that
allows you to remotely control your whole setup of Genelec monitors and subwoofers
right from your computer in an intuitive, exible program.
Genelec incorporates another great technology called Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS)
which is a power management system that automatically shuts down the subwoofer. It
constantly checks the input signal and if it doesn’t detect anything for a while, it turns it
to a low-power sleep mode to protect it from power surges and help save you
electricity, so you’re not wasting it.
 High accuracy and a
balanced sound thanks to

the SAM technology.
 Intelligent Signal Sensing
technology helps to
conserve electricity by
automatically shutting the
subwoofer down when not
in use if you forget to turn
it off.
 Has automatically adjusting
calibration features that
help tailor the sub to
match your room even if
it’s not an ideal mixing
environment.
 If you don’t want your

subwoofer to automatically
Image credit: Genelec turn off there is no way to
bypass that feature.
Check Price on Sweetwater  Pretty expensive for being
only 8 inches.
 Not ported.
The Genelec 7350A 8-inch powered subwoofer is great for use in a small recording
studio, post-production house, with a digital editing suite, for the radio, or even TV or
casual listening. It sounds great, it’s intuitive and easy to set up, and there are de nitely
some very handy features that make it a joy to incorporate into your studio. It is only an
8-inch sub, so it would work best in a smaller room.
Although it is pretty expensive, I de nitely would recommend it for producers of any

skill level who want a feature packed subwoofer that is easy to use in any mixing and
monitoring environment and also want to save energy while operating it.
Guide to choosing subwoofers for your studio

There’s no easy way to go about choosing a subwoofer, but there are de nitely a few
rules of thumb when shopping around for one. This short guide will help you determine
what you’ll need to look for in a subwoofer to ensure that it ts your studio.
In this guide, we’ll go over:
 Subwoofer mechanics
 Subwoofer size/price
 Sealed vs. ported subwoofers
 Subwoofer electronics
 Acoustic treatment
Subwoofer mechanics
Subwoofers essentially pressurize your studio. When a sub is playing music, the drivers
shrink and expand, which in turn changes the air pressure of your studio. Usually it’s so
much of a change that you can feel it in the air, but this also depends on the size of the
subwoofer.
Subwoofer size and price

Honestly, the size and price of your subwoofer doesn’t really matter that much under
most circumstances. The size does matter if you have a small 8-inch subwoofer for an
extremely large studio, but this is something that seems to be common sense – don’t put
a small subwoofer in a giant studio; make sure you purchase accordingly.
Really, as long as you can control the volume of the subwoofer, you can’t buy one that is
too big. An 8-inch sub is considered on the smaller side up until around 12 inches.
As for the price, you should obviously pick something that is in your price range that
also ts all the criteria for your needs and your studio dimensions. Usually one large
subwoofer will be suf cient for a whole studio, so you won’t necessarily need to buy a
pair. Subs aren’t really meant to be bought in pairs, but in some cases they are sold that
way, usually in a whole studio monitor package that has the normal studio monitors as
well.
Sealed vs. ported subwoofers

Now for the age old question: ‘Should I get a sealed or ported subwoofer?’ Well, to
answer that, again it’s something that depends on your needs for the most part.
Let’s get into the pros and cons of sealed vs. ported subs.
Sealed subwoofers:
 Faster transient response.

 Lower group delay.
 Higher low-cut frequency.

 Acoustically inef cient.
 A larger size is needed for the same audio quality as a ported sub of a smaller size.
Ported subwoofers:
 Higher group delay.

 Slower transient response.
 Higher audio quality in a smaller size sub than a sealed sub of the same size.
 Extended low-end range may be unnecessary for smaller studios.

 Higher gain is usually unnecessary if you don’t have a large studio.
You should choose a sealed subwoofer if:
 You have a smaller studio and don’t need as much volume.

 If it has the ability to go as low as you need it to.
 If it can reach the necessary SPLs you require.
You should choose a ported subwoofer if:
 You have a large studio and need more power.

 If it has the ability to go as low as you need it to.
 If sealed subs don’t have the ability to go as loud as your studio monitors.
In smaller studios, sealed subwoofers around 12 inches in size will be suf cient, and
ported subwoofers around 10 inches in size will be suf cient. If you have a larger studio
you can get two subwoofers if one smaller sub isn’t powerful enough.
Subwoofer electronics
In terms of power, the SPL is what matters. SPL stands for sound pressure level. The
more powerful the subwoofer is, the higher the SPL will be. The subwoofer is powered
by an ampli er, usually a Class D amp. Wattage doesn’t really matter, so just focus on
SPL. Extra power isn’t a bad thing, especially with sealed subwoofers.
Most subs also have a ltering system. I would suggest nding one with built-in variable
high-pass lters that also have the ability to send higher frequencies to your studio
monitors, that way the subs will only be handling the low end necessary for its power.
Don’t forget that passive subwoofers exist. You should follow the same guidelines for
passive subwoofers and pair them with an ampli er that will help it reach the SPL you
need.
Matching subwoofers
If you already have studio monitors, your rst choice for a subwoofer should be a
subwoofer from the same manufacturer and more speci cally from the same line of
studio monitors. The sub will already be tuned to ll in what your studio monitors are
lacking.
If the manufacturers don’t have a subwoofer for the line of studio monitors you have, at
least try to get the closest thing from the same brand. If there is no obvious match or
anything close to it, then you should use the guidelines here to nd one that’s right for
you.
Acoustic treatment
If you’re going to incorporate a sub into your studio monitoring setup, you need to have
acoustic treatment in your studio, otherwise you will be getting an inaccurate
representation of your mix.
Bass traps, thick acoustic wall panels, and oor rugs are de nitely needed if you have
studio monitors and plan to get a sub.
Bottom Line
To sum everything up and give you a straight answer if you’re looking for it:
 A 12-inch subwoofer is probably the most ideal size for a large studio and smaller, 8
inches is good for a small studio.
 Sealed subwoofers will not give you as much power and volume. Use this knowledge
according to your room size.
 A high-pass lter will make integration with your monitors so much easier, so try to
get one that has that feature.
 Try to get a sub that matches your monitors, i.e.: the same brand.
Use these studio subwoofer reviews and guide to get you started on purchasing a
subwoofer for your bedroom, home, or pro studio. Make sure to do extensive research
and rely on multiple sources when choosing a subwoofer for your studio as well.
Jordan Lent
Jordan is a music producer, content creator, writer, and session musician.
He has been producing music and engineering live performances for over
7 years. He is an experienced guitarist and enjoys listening to and playing
many different genres of music.
Consordini is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon

Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its af liates.
Blog Resources Privacy Policy Af liate Disclosure
Terms of Service Help Us About Us Contact Us

The 10 Best Studio Monitor Subwoofers 2020

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

The 10 Best Studio Monitor Subwoofers 2020

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

2/5/2020 The 10 Best Studio Monitor Subwoofers 2020

The 10 Best Wind

Here are the best studio subwoofers 2020

 Lightweight and easy to

 A bit weak in terms of

Image credit: Yamaha

Check Price on Amazon

2. ADAM Audio Sub8

 Compact enough for

 Comes with a remote

 Not a ported subwoofer.

Image credit: ADAM Audio

Check Price on Amazon

 The frequency range

Check Price on Amazon

4. Behringer Nekkst K10S

The Behringer Nekkst K10S is a 10-inch powered subwoofer designed by Behringer

mid-sized studio quite

 The crossover frequency

Image credit: Behringer

Check Price on Amazon

 Good for any size studio.

Image credit: Focal

Check Price on Amazon

It has a frequency range of 28 Hz to 156 Hz and a frequency response of 30 Hz to 110 Hz.

 Footswitch compatible for

 Sensitivity control can be

Image credit: KRK

Check Price on Amazon

 Slip Stream port for an

 Not very good in extra

Image credit: JBL

Check Price on Amazon

8. Kali Audio WS-12

 Does not come with a

Image credit: Kali Audio

Check Price on Sweetwater

The Dynaudio 18S is a 9.5-inch powered subwoofer. The 18S is a professional-grade

 Has an onboard display

 Extremely expensive and

10. Genelec 7350A

 High accuracy and a

balanced sound thanks to

 If you don’t want your

Although it is pretty expensive, I de nitely would recommend it for producers of any

Guide to choosing subwoofers for your studio

In this guide, we’ll go over:

Subwoofer size and price

Sealed vs. ported subwoofers

 Faster transient response.

 Higher low-cut frequency.

 Higher group delay.

 Extended low-end range may be unnecessary for smaller studios.

You should choose a sealed subwoofer if:

 You have a smaller studio and don’t need as much volume.

You should choose a ported subwoofer if:

 You have a large studio and need more power.

Consordini is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon

Blog Resources Privacy Policy Af liate Disclosure

Terms of Service Help Us About Us Contact Us

Вам также может понравиться