We love going to the movies and listening to music on expensive headphones because they create an immersive sound experience, but that same deep sound can be achieved in your home with a wireless subwoofer. Designed to produce low audible frequencies and create a rich bass, subwoofers are a must-have for anyone who wants to experience their favorite shows, movies, and albums the way they were intended to be heard.
We chose to showcase wireless subwoofers because of the bonus of being able to easily place the subwoofer around the room where it is most conducive to sound and layout. Wireless subwoofers don’t require a long wire to connect to the wall or home theater receiver, which is great news if you’re tight on space. Most subwoofers, including our three options below, have built-in amplifiers that eliminate the need for going wired. Wireless subwoofers come equipped with a transmitter kit, which when used with a TV or speaker system can be plugged into the output in order to connect the subwoofer to the unit’s speakers.
When looking for a wireless subwoofer, there are a handful of things to keep in mind. One is room size and design. Subwoofers are non-directional and since we’re looking at wireless subwoofers, they can be placed anywhere in the room. If possible, the ideal location for a subwoofer placement is in the front of the room near the main speakers. If your subwoofer isn’t providing the optimal sound experience, you may need an additional subwoofer, which is another reason while wireless is better as it can be placed in the back of the room if necessary. If you have a large room, you want a subwoofer that is large and produces more bass. On the flip side, a large subwoofer in a small room will be overpowering and result in a thumping effect.
Another item to take note of is the type of system the subwoofer will be working with. Will it be providing the bass for a TV? An external speaker for a projector? A large sound system? Generally, the larger the speaker, the larger the subwoofer. If you watch a lot of action movies, the more bass the better. If you want to use a subwoofer for everyday TV viewing and music listening, you won’t need as much power.
Which wireless subwoofer is right for you? Check out our three great suggestions below.
1. Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer
Outperforming competitors thanks to resonance-free Dynamic Balance driver materials and boasting 100 Watts of power and Laser-Based Klippel Measurement Technology to keep sound distortion-free even at high levels, the Polk Audio 10″ Powered Subwoofer provides crisp maximum bass.
Pros: Designed for high levels of sound, the Polk subwoofer sits on four plastic feet that keep the subwoofer firmly in place and stable, also creating an efficient use of power. Compatible with any speaker system, the Polk is designed for distortion-free low frequencies and takes the strain of delivering low bass sounds off of your speaker system. Measuring 10 inches, the Polk is ideal for medium to large-sized rooms.
Cons: Not enough power to push sound through multiple rooms. Physically on the heavy side weighing over 30 pounds.
2. VIZIO 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer
If you’re looking for a speaker and subwoofer, we recommend the VIZIO 2.1 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer, which packs 100 dB of clear sound and boasts less than 1 percent of harmonic distortion.
Pros: The VIZIO package doesn’t pack as much bass as the Polk or Sony but is perfect for everyday TV viewing. The built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to use the speaker and subwoofer combo for TV or music, with a premium audio Dolby Digital decoding system. The wireless subwoofer has a 60-foot range, and the speaker comes with an easy to use remote, making the VIZIO conducive to just about any small to medium-sized room. The soundbar is engineered with DTS TruSurround, giving the effect of virtual surround sound.
Cons: The VIZIO subwoofer won’t deliver the same deep bass as the Polk or Sony and isn’t big enough to fill a large room.
3. Sony 10-Inch Active Subwoofer
With 115 Watts, 80 Hz and a frequency response of 28-200 Hz, the Sony 10-Inch Active Subwoofer is a must-have for those who want a big and booming bass with their sound system.
Pros: If you’re all about that bass and want to fill up a large room with booming sound that will bring action movies and sporting events to life, we recommend the Sony 10-Inch Active Subwoofer. The largest subwoofer on our list, the Sony is a foamed-mica cellular reinforced woofer, which holds its shape even with pressure, and has a 9.84-inch cone diaphragm that can move a large volume of air, making this an excellent choice for a large room. We like that even though the Sony packs a lot of power, it does so in a compact design, measuring only 11 5/8 inches x 13 5/8 inches x 15 ¾ inches.
Cons: Somewhat expensive.