Why Do I Need A Subwoofer?
This is the question that some of you will be asking, but the fact is if you want as real and rich a sound as possible you do need a subwoofer. A subwoofer gives you a serious kick in the bass (see what I did there?) and it makes the sound seem far more real and natural as a result. It makes your speakers work far more efficiently and ensures you are getting a better quality of sound. Basically, if you love to watch movies, live concerts then you need a subwoofer. Also these days you can get 8 inch subwoofers that take up next to no space so they are not these huge monsters that some people think they are.
10 BEST SUBWOOFERS FOR TURNTABLES UNDER 100![]()
- Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
- Dayton Audio SUB-800 8-Inch 80 Watt Powered Subwoofer
- YST-SW216 10″ 100 Watt Powered Subwoofer Black
- Acoustic Audio PSW-6 Down Firing Powered Subwoofer
- Yamaha YST-FSW050BL2 Subwoofer
- Theater Solutions SUB8SM Slim Subwoofer
- Acoustic Audio CS-PS65-B Front Firing Subwoofer
- S10 High Powered 10-Inch Down Firing 120W Powered Subwoofer Home Theater Audio
- Acoustic Audio PSW-8 300 Watt 8-Inch Down Firing Powered Subwoofer
- Theater Solutions SUB6F Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
1. Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer
The Good
- Fantastic price
The first subwoofer for your home theater we are checking out is this Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer which is coming in at around 80 bucks. This is a 10 inch subwoofer so it is a nice size. The bass that this offers is nice and deep, so deep that I had to turn the sound down a little bit when I was watching Terminator 2!
There was none of that rumbling or distortion you get with some cheaper subwoofers. The build quality is fantastic, it is a front facing subwoofer so the sound comes right at out and the MDF they have used is nice and thick so I do not think this is going to get damaged easily. In all it is a fantastic addition to any home theater.
What Could Be Better
- Not ideal for music
- Not made with wood
If you are the kind of person that loves to put a CD in your Blu-Ray player then you may be disappointed with the sound this offers. But to be fair, most people will be buying this for their home theater set up. Also it is worth noting that it is not wood this is made with, but MDF board. Now this is nice and thick so I do not see it being an issue.
2. Dayton Audio SUB-800 8-Inch 80 Watt Powered Subwoofer
The Good
- 80 Watt
- Takes up very little space
- Smart finish
- Ideal for smaller home theater set ups
- Has an auto on mode
I love how small the Dayton Audio SUB-800 8-Inch 80 Watt Powered Subwoofer is. It makes you think that it is going to be weak, but at 80 watts and with a downward firing setup. This does offer you a very nice rumble and bass. This is an 8 inch subwoofer so it is very compact, but the sound it offers is not. While the sound is great, I also love the design. It is dark black and they have finished it with textured vinyl paint which makes it have a very sleek design.
So if you are someone who not only wants great sound, but also wants their home theater set up to look awesome you will be happy with this. Let me tell you the T-Rex stomping in the rain in Jurassic Park had some major oomph to it! I had no issues with the auto on mode at all, when I turned on my Blu-Ray player, so did this. For around 100 bucks, this is a good deal.
What Could Be Better
- There is a bit of trial and error
- Auto on can be finicky
Setting this up was pretty simple for me, but for a new home theater enthusiast, you will have to play around with your sound levels to get the bass this provides just right. To be honest with you this is a huge part of the fun. Also while I never had an issue with the auto on, some people have reported that it does not always work. But if that is the case, you can just turn it on manually.
3. YST-SW216 10″ 100 Watt Powered Subwoofer Black
The Good
- 100 watt power!
- Awesome sound quality
- Great rumble
- Has a high quality design
- Great if you want big bass
Ok so the YST-SW216 10″ 100 Watt Powered Subwoofer Black may be a little over 100 bucks, but man I loved this thing! To start with the 100 watts, front firing and the fact the insides have magnetic shielding make this very loud. Like really, really loud! I think this is the kind of subwoofer that is perfect for a person who is all about their action movies.
For me I watched the last two Fast and the Furious movies through this and the rumble was truly epic. If you have a set up where you like everything as loud as possible, then this is the kind of subwoofer that you want. While the sound is big, this is only a 10 inch subwoofer so it does not even take up much space. It is designed very well, so it has a strong feel to it on the outside as well as the inside.
What Could Be Better
- Music is not great through this
- Price is a little over 100
Some people have been down on this saying it is not as great as a higher end subwoofer, well duh! This is still a budget priced subwoofer, but it is one of the best in this range. The main gripe I have is with music, it is so loud and bass heavy that listening to an album through this would not be ideal. Also as it does cost around 130 bucks.
4. Acoustic Audio PSW-6 Down Firing Powered Subwoofer
The Good
- Really classy design
- Will not move, even when really loud
- Price is very cheap
- Really strong bass
- Well made
I had to keep checking the price as there is no way this is under 80 bucks… but it is. The version I checked out was the 6.5 inch subwoofer and while it looks really small, the power this has (120 watts) is not messing around. This is a down firing subwoofer so the sound is really deep and natural.
Transformers Age Of Extinction was what I used to try this bad boy out and I was blown away, I even turned it all the way up and I was impressed, my wife was not though! Still the sound quality of whatever it is you are watching is greatly enhanced with this. The design is really cool, it just looks like a classy wooden box. There are bigger versions of this same subwoofer, but for this price, you will struggle to beat this.
What Could Be Better
- Might be a little small for some people
- Bass might not fill a larger room
I have heard some people complain about the bass, but I will counter this by saying it is a 6.5 inch subwoofer and the sound is great. But if you have a large home theater then it might not be quite large enough to shake the walls like you would like. So keep that in mind if the room you will be using this in is large.
5. Yamaha YST-FSW050BL2 Subwoofer
The Good
- Very smart look
- Fits into smaller spaces
- Down firing design
- Easy to use
- No buzzing sounds
The Yamaha YST-FSW050BL2 Subwoofer is a little over our 100 bucks price we are going for with our budget priced subwoofers list. But I do think this is one very cool piece of kit. Just look at it! It is one of the classiest looking subwoofers on here and the more slim design means it can fit into an entertainment center easily. I really like the black body with the chrome feet.
As far as the sound quality goes, Yamaha make a big deal about how their technology results in there being no buzzing sounds, which some cheaper subwoofers can do when things are quite. But this is pretty much silent. Overall the sound is great and no matter what kind of movie you watch (I watched Monsters University with my son) you get a very nice bass level with this.
What Could Be Better
- Buttons on the front
- Price could be a little cheaper
Man, I love the design of this, but I really wish that Yamaha did not put the power button and volume button on the front. If they were hidden on the side or even if they made use of a remote, it would have made this look even cooler and sleeker. Also the asking price might be a little high for those who are strictly looking for a budget subwoofer.
6. Theater Solutions SUB8SM Slim Subwoofer
The Good
- Really cool wooden design
- Has a classy style
- Slim design allows it to fit into most places
- Nice low level bass
- Very easy to use
Out of all the budget subwoofers on this list I feel that the Theater Solutions SUB8SM Slim Subwoofer is the most eye catching. The fact they have gone for a lighter wood is very interesting and it does give it a lot of personality. They have also kept this nice and slim so it can be placed pretty much anywhere. The sound this thing gives is very interesting, I do not know if it is because of the slim body, but the bass is very low and I mean that in a good way.
Do not get me wrong it has a real kick to it when turned up, but I watched The Dark Knight Rises through this and was very happy with the quality. It was low when it needed to be and when an action scene would happen, it would really kick in. So in all I was very happy with this. It is the kind of subwoofer that does its job so well, after a while you do not notice it is there and just take it for granted.
What Could Be Better
- Designed for rap music???
- Why would you want it hidden
Ok so my complaints with this are kind of weird. First of all, Theater Solutions say that this is great for those who listen to rap music. As I am not really a rap fan, I cannot comment on this, but it is a weird thing to promote. Also while I think the slim body is really cool, why would you want to hide this thing away in an entertainment center? It is a showcase subwoofer and should be out on display. So if your setup dictates that your subwoofer is hidden away in an entertainment center, you might not want to pay the close to 100 bucks for this.
7. Acoustic Audio CS-PS65-B Front Firing Subwoofer
The Good
- Great price
- Smart and elegant design
- Does not take up much space
- 250 watts power output
- Cables it comes with are nice and long
I have checked out a few Acoustic Audio subwoofers and this one here the, Acoustic Audio CS-PS65-B Front Firing Subwoofer. Keeps up the trend of having a cool look and some thumping bass. This is only a 6.5 inch subwoofer, but wow does it really kick in when there is some intense action going on. If you have a home theater and want something that is going to have some serious kick, but also not take up a lot of space, this could be the perfect budget subwoofer for you.
The sound is awesome and to be honest with you I did not even turn it all the way up as there was no need to and I was scared my wife would freak out. The cool design of it makes it something that is also going to slip into any home theater and not be an eye sore. Also as a nice bonus, it does come with some RCA cables which is actually quite rare for a subwoofer to do.
What Could Be Better
- Auto off feature is hit or miss
- Some users report a hum at high volume
My only issue is that it has an auto off feature. The idea being when you turn the rest of your system off, this turns itself off. It very rarely worked, but having to manually turn it off along with your system each time is really not that big of a deal. Also while I did not have the volume at max, a couple people who have, claim it makes a little humming noise. To be fair this is the case with many subwoofers and speakers, just do not have it super loud and you will be fine.
8. S10 High Powered 10-Inch Down Firing 120W Powered Subwoofer Home Theater Audio
The Good
- Reinforced driver for better, stable sound
- Has an auto on setting
- Classic subwoofer sound
- Great price for 10 inch subwoofer
- Solid sound
Ok so some of you may be wondering what the deal with the “reinforced driver” is. Basically this means the “driver” that is making the sounds coming out of this thing is securely attached at the bottom. This means that the S10 High Powered 10-Inch Down Firing 120W Powered Subwoofer Home Theater Audio has a very stable and well balanced kind of sound.
The kind of sound that is ideal for a large home theater that needs some real strong bass to shake it up! While I think this offers great sound quality (especially for around 80 bucks) I also really like the design. To me this has a very 80’s kind of look to it and if the rest of your setup is black then this is going to look great with them. If for some reason you need even more bass in your life, they do offer a 12 inch version of this subwoofer.
What Could Be Better
- Design might not be for everyone
- Is a little larger than other subwoofers on list
I really do not have any complaints about the quality of the sound with this subwoofer at all. But while I get a real kick out of the 80’s style. Some of you might not be so into it. Also this does stand taller than the pictures suggest so make sure that if you are putting it in a entertainment center, it is going to fit. To be honest when these are my only issues, you know that you have a fantastic subwoofer on your hands.
9. Acoustic Audio PSW-8 300 Watt 8-Inch Down Firing Powered Subwoofer
The Good
- Very classy design
- Sound is awesome
- Could not be any easier to set up
- Has deep bass
- Price is very reasonable
The Acoustic Audio PSW-8 300 Watt 8-Inch Down Firing Powered Subwoofer may seem a little familiar and that is because this is a larger version of a subwoofer we have already looked at. This is a solid 8 inch subwoofer so it is ideal for those who do not have a lot of space, but want something that is offering a bit more kick than a 6.5 inch subwoofer.
The bass is amazing, like the other Acoustic Audio subwoofers it has a very “real” kind of sound and feel to it. I watched Pacific Rim while using this and I was very happy with the sound quality. Also as this looks so classy, it is the kind of thing that is not going to stand out in your home theater in a bad way. It has a really nice finish to it and I think it looks great. This is a great subwoofer and ideal if the 6.5 inch is not quite enough for your set up.
What Could Be Better
- Minor adjustments might be required
- One of the smaller subwoofers
Getting this at just the right volume for your home theater or even living room is going to take a little tinkering with. To be fair this is the case for most subwoofers and also something that I consider to be part of the fun. But just know going in, you will have to spend time getting this at the right level for you. Also while it is bigger than its little brother. This is still an 8 inch subwoofer so keep that in mind if your room is huge.
10. Theater Solutions SUB6F Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
The Good
- Great little subwoofer!
- Delivers nice sound
- Simple to set up
- Has an auto shut off function
- Compact size
The Theater Solutions SUB6F Front Firing Powered Subwoofer is one of the smaller subwoofers that Theater Solutions offer. This is a 6.5 inch subwoofer and it is aimed at those of you who do not have a lot of space. The sound is great and I watched Titanic with this (my wife’s choice, honest!) and was impressed with how it was low when it needed to be and how it would really kick in when required.
On the back of the subwoofer are two simple to use dials so setting it up to your preference is very easy to do. The design is pretty cool and it really is not going to take up much space at all. Plus at around 80 bucks this is a very cheap way for you to add a bit of rumble and bass to your home.
What Could Be Better
- Cable it comes with is not the best
- Issues with packaging
This does come with a free cable to connect it to your speakers, but it is not the best quality and some people have even reported humming when using this cable. So maybe think about getting a better quality cable, especially if you plan on having this thing loud. Also while this was not an issue for me. Some people have said that the packaging this comes in is a bit on the flimsy side so make sure your delivery guy does not try and play basketball with it.
Final Thoughts On The Best Subwoofers Under 100 Bucks
When it comes to getting that perfect budget subwoofer for your home theater or your living room it really is not that hard. Thankfully lots of companies like the ones we have looked at today offer very good subwoofers for 100 bucks or even lower! It means that you can add a bit of that cinema rumble to your movie experience and that makes watching movies at home even more fun. To be honest with you.
When it comes to picking the right subwoofer for your home theater. I would suggest that you look at the size and the style as well as the sound quality that is offered. Just know that these are budget priced subwoofers so the sound is never going to be as window shattering as one that costs a several hundred dollars. But I was more than happy with the quality of these subwoofers, especially considering the price. If you like something of more quality than these, check out Subwoofers for Turntables under $300.
