Alexandra Ramirez
1. SONOS
Best Overall Wireless Subwoofer
5/5 Product Rating
I think the most impressive and important feature you’ll notice exhibited by the SONOS SUB Wireless Subwoofer is the sound it produces. Not only does it produce an amazingly deep-sounding bass relative to its size, you’ll have a hard time finding any subwoofer which can replicate its sound. If you take a look at the reviews left by previous customers on its Amazon page (click its name above and scroll down), you’ll notice that, despite having over three hundred reviews, it has managed to maintain a five-star rating. If you spend any deal shopping online and reading reviews, you’ll know that such a feat is practically unheard of in products across the board. You’ll like this subwoofer for the same reason its reviewers do; you just cannot get a better, deeper bass sound.
– Darius Spieth
2. Polk 550
Best Overall Wireless Subwoofer – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
If there’s any one area where the Polk DSWPRO sets itself apart from other wireless subwoofers, it’s in the realm of adaptation. Every single person requires a different type of sound depending on the room they’re in at the time and the Polk DSWPRO’s manufacturer understands this. The subwoofer will actually change the sound it emits based upon the room in which it sits. This is a great feature no matter who you are, being that a subwoofer can, in theory, only reach its optimal level of sound in one very precise environment (likely the environment in which it was tested). This ensures you’re always getting a great sound whether you’re in a mansion or a bachelor apartment.
– Darius Spieth
3. Klipsch
4.6/5 Product Rating
It also comes in a sleek – albeit vintage – style which looks like something you might expect to find in a seventies recording booth. As an added bonus, it’s also extremely easy to set up. While many wireless subwoofers have you messing around with buttons and the like, the subwoofer and its matching receivers will sync up in a matter of seconds after first being used.
– Darius Spieth
Wireless Subwoofer Buying Guide
What is a Wireless Subwoofer?
While I couldn’t recommend any wireless subwoofers more so than the three above units, don’t feel as if these are your only options for getting a great sound. If you’d like to do some shopping on your own, try doing so with the following considerations in mind all the while.
Do you have lots of wiggle room?
Depending on the wireless subwoofer you choose to go with, you may be limited as to where you can place it. While some subwoofers do a great job of projecting sound throughout a room, many cannot. For the average subwoofer, the overall sound that will reach your ears will depend largely on where the subwoofer is placed relative to its other speakers. Although this level of customization may sound great, it’s not. Be sure you have the space to set up your subwoofer. If you’re limited in where you can fit it, you may need to go with a unit known for being great at projecting sound.
What will your neighbors think?
Just because you have nosey neighbors doesn’t mean you can’t get a subwoofer. However, if you live in an apartment, you may have to choose between having a loud subwoofer and having a deep subwoofer, with the former being ideal. Although it may sound counterproductive, getting a subwoofer high in treble (which still emits a very “bassy” sound anyways) will allow you to crank up the volume just a little bit more. It’s no use having a unit with very deep bass if you can’t turn it up loud enough to hear it in the first place.
Do you need a high level of control?
While The Matrix’s fighting scenes may sound better with a shallower bass, it’s hard to appreciate Rush’s Tom Sawyer without the bass as deep as it can get. If you’re the type to optimize your car or even your phone’s sound to get the best out of everything you listen to, getting a wireless subwoofer with precise controls is essential.
Types of Wireless Subwoofers
There are two main types of subwoofers; passive and powered. Do you know which particular model is best for you?
- Passive Subwoofers – Passive subwoofers, as the name might suggest, are the weaker of the two types. However, this does not mean they’re the worst of the two types. In fact, depending on where the subwoofer is used, a passive subwoofer may produce a sound which is many times superior to that of its powered counterpart. Passive subwoofers sound excellent when used in small rooms. Typically, the subwoofers installed in cars are of the passive variety.
- Powered Subwoofers – As you may be able to guess, powered subwoofers are the exact opposite of passive subwoofers. When you walk into a store and see a movie on display to show off the store’s TV and speakers, you can bet they’re using a powered subwoofer. These models are essential if you just need to have that beefy bass sound. They’re also the best for large rooms, being that the sound they produce carries extremely well. On the other hand, the sound can also be a bit overwhelming when used in smaller rooms.
Common Wireless Subwoofer Features
As with audio products of any type, whether or not you like a subwoofer depends on what you’re listening to and how you like listening to it. However, there are a few features which could be could be considered as being universally beneficial. Here are some great features to look out for in your next wireless subwoofer purchase.
- Spatial Optimization – No matter how hard you try to find a subwoofer which has been built specifically for your living room, there’s always going to be some room for improvement. Things such as the size of your room, the materials in it and even the thickness of the walls will all play a role in how your subwoofer sounds. However, some subwoofers (such as the Polk we covered above) can optimize the sounds they produce according to the environment they sit in. This ensures that you’re getting the best possible sound, no matter where you may happen to be using your subwoofer.
- Ease of Setup – While this may sound rather obvious, you might be surprised at just how many subwoofers that look easy to set up aren’t easy to set up at all. If you can, take a look at the manufacturer’s instructions before making a purchase just so you can get some idea of what you’re in for. Of course, I would never recommend buying a subwoofer purely for its ease of setup. If you’re having a tough time deciding between two models; however, taking a look at their instructions may bring you down from the fence.
- An Included Remote Control – If this is going to be your first ever subwoofer purchase, you may have come to the conclusion that each and every model has its own remote control. This; however, is simply not the case. As with a subwoofer’s ease of setup, I wouldn’t recommend buying an entire unit for its remote control. Though, it can be another great way of deciding which unit to go with if you’re having a tough time making up your mind.
Conclusion
While the above features are all things you want to see in a subwoofer, everything past this point is up in the air. Each model will work differently for different folks depending on their preferences and household environment. As such, following all of the above tips is sure to put together a large chunk of the puzzle that is picking out your next wireless subwoofer. Despite how complicated the process may sound, getting the right model for you doesn’t have to be all that complex.
Resources
- http://www.sonos.com/shop/sub?r=1
- http://global.polkaudio.com/en/
- http://www.klipsch.com/products/reference-subwoofers#r-110sw
