If your car bass is lacking, a subwoofer is the solution. Kicker is a brand that has subs with impressive power handling that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Are they really the best combination of cost and performance? To answer your question and to make sure you’re spending your money in the right place, our experts have reviewed the best Kicker subs.
Reviews of the Best Kicker Subs
1. Kicker 10" 600 Watt 4 Ohm Vented Thin Profile Subwoofer
The thin design of this best Kicker subwoofer is meant to enhance your car audio system without impeding your legroom. The fully enclosed subwoofer is meant to be placed behind or under your seat to bring on the bass vibrations.
The build of the 10” vented car subwoofer is constructed with MDF and high quality carpeting for maximum durability. The subwoofer is immune to bumps along the road and will last for many years.
The 4 ohm impedance and 93 dB of sound combined with 600 watts of peak power make this powered subwoofer the perfect solution to enhance bass in heavy beats.
Pros
- Low profile, thin enclosure
- 10 inches
- 600 watts of peak power
- 300 watts RMS
- Quality build
- Minimal impedance
- Booming bass for heavy beats
- Flexible placement
Cons
- No grille
- Not as hard-hitting as a 12-inch subwoofer
2. Kicker Dual 10-Inch 1200 Watt 2 Ohm Vented Loaded Subwoofer
For bass lovers out there who aren’t satisfied by the standard 10-inch subwoofer, this Kicker car subwoofer offers dual drivers to satisfy your bass cravings. The peak power is a total of 1200 watts with 2 ohm impedance — that is a lot of power for accurate bass relays.
The RMS cuts the maximum wattage in half and gives you 600 watts total, or 300 watts from each subwoofer. Even with two 10 inch subwoofers, this Kicker sub still preserves its small footprint and high quality build. The sub box fits nicely under, behind your seat or in the trunk of your car.
Pros
- Impressive 2 ohm impedance
- 98 dB of sound
- 1200 max wattage
- 300 watts RMS for each sub
- Flexible placement
- High quality build
- Hard-hitting bass
- Small footprint
Cons
- Will take up more space than single 10-inch subwoofers
- Less bass than a 12-inch subwoofer
3. Kicker 8 Inch Dual 600 Watt CompR Series Car Subwoofer
Even with a smaller profile, the Kicker 8 inch compR series subwoofer can match the 300 watts RMS and 600 watt peak power its larger counterparts can produce.
It features an injection molded polypropylene cone, which offers the right amount of durability and flexibility for enhanced bass. Your car audio system will benefit from these Kicker subwoofers that also features Santoprene surround and SoloKon Technology.
The dual 2 ohm dual voice coil Kicker subwoofer is a shallow mount, which takes up even less space and fits into your sub box well without being too expensive.
Pros
- Impressive RMS and peak power handling for 8 inches
- Injection molded polypropylene cone
- Boosts your car audio system
- Inexpensive price
- Dual voice coil
- Shallow mounting depth
- Impressive lower end frequency production
- Smaller surface area
Cons
- No protection grille
- Not as high power handling as some other 12 inch subs
4. Kicker 10C124 Comp 12-Inch Subwoofer
For individuals who want to save space and money, the Kicker 10C124 12 inch subwoofer is at the top of our team’s list. Kicker promises the loudest bass for minimal pricing. The sub has a rigid, injection-molded cone with 360-degree back bracing so you know they didn’t skimp on the construction.
The high temperature voice coil plus heat dissipation features will work with the Kicker 10C124 subwoofer to ensure the best bass possible. The terminals are also spring-loaded to make setup easier.
Once this subwoofer is integrated into your system, future upgrades are possible and simple to undergo. The 10C124 is a great fit for both vented or sealed enclosures.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Affordable price
- Easy integration and upgradable
- High temp voice coil
- Heat dissipation
- Spring-loaded terminals
- Rigid, injection-molded cone
- 360-degree back bracing
- Works with vented or sealed enclosures
Cons
- Not dual voice coil
- Bass not clean in certain ranges
5. Kicker TCWRT674 CompRT 6.75" Subwoofer in Thin Profile Enclosure
If you have a compact vehicle, you may want to look for subs that are smaller than 8 inches. If this is the case, the CompRT 6.75-inch subwoofer is the right choice for you.
However, be aware that a smaller size equals less power. But since you have a smaller vehicle, the 150 watt RMS power handling can still fill with booming bass.
The peak output is double the RMS at 300, and can really deliver echoing bass for a short period. The frequency response of this small enclosed Kicker sub is between 35-500Hz, making it able to produce the most accurate bass even if your ears can’t hear it.
Pros
- Small and compact size
- Efficient frequency response range
- 4 ohm impedance
- Powerful for its size
- Thick MDF and carpeting for a top quality build
- Lightweight
- Perfect for in the cabin
Cons
- Not as powerful as larger subs
- Won’t be a great fit for large vehicles
Kicker Subs Buyer’s Guide
In this section, our experts will break down the important features to look for in car subwoofers. Other than the build quality, high temperature voice coil, and surface area, there is much more to the best Kicker subs.
Design and Build
When considering a car subwoofer, you need to also think about your existing car audio system. What fits and what doesn’t will limit your options. Other than that, the build quality is exceedingly important. What makes a Kicker subwoofer the best is not only what’s on the inside, but the enclosure and materials used matter as well.
The build quality and construction of the best Kicker subwoofers will also guarantee a longer lifespan. For example, a rigid injection-molded cone might be very robust, but it won’t offer the right amount of flexibility at times for certain bass tones to be produced. However, don’t go for materials that are overly giving as they won’t offer the right amount of support for your drivers.
While a rigid injection molded cone is strong, ribbed surround settings are the best option. Polypropylene material is the best and most recommended by our experts. This is because polypropylene is not only hard-wearing and heavy duty, but it’s also incredibly lightweight. A rigid polypropylene cone is one of the best materials to go with ribbed surround or rubber surround enclosure for your car audio system.
Aside from that, your subwoofers should possess double stitching for security, a steel basket, perimeter venting and adequate heat dissipation to work well. The double stitching plus steel basket will make sure the cones stay in place at high level volumes and no matter how rough the ride gets.
Perimeter venting is for maximum heat dissipation. When devices are used at high power, it can generate a lot of heat. Without proper ventilation in a sealed enclosure for example, your subwoofer will not last long.
Other important aspects to look for are the voice coil design, but we’ll touch on that more in a bit and 360 degree back bracing. The 360 degree back bracing on top of the sturdy steel basket will give you the most indestructible car audio subwoofer. The Kicker Compr series car subwoofers are among the best for booming bass and construction.
Also, aside from the build, you need to make sure your subwoofers have the right surface area for your vehicle. In other words, purchase a sub of the right size. There are different models available on the market ranging from a 6.5 inch to a 12 inch subwoofer.
It’s true that size has a lot to do with the power subwoofers can produce, but a one or two inch difference won’t do much to the power rating. It’s important to make sure the subwoofers you choose can properly fit into your car.
There are three common locations to place your sub — in the trunk, under your seat or behind your seat. The mounting depth also needs to be compatible with your chosen location.
Is the speaker subwoofer easy to install? Just like with other devices, no one likes something that takes hours to figure out. Even if it comes with a user manual, it still needs to be clearly labeled and explained.
The installation is where the spring loaded terminals come in handy. All you need to do to place your new subs in place is fit them into the enclosure. If you have a component speaker, make sure all the parts needed for installation come with your purchase or it will add to the time spent installing your sub.
More research is needed if you plan on expanding and building upon your system in the future. Take into account your car model [1], the model of the sub, and whether upgrades are needed.
After you have considered all of the above, the configuration of the subwoofer and its compatibility with your speaker model is next on your list of priorities. Not all Kicker subs will be compatible with your vehicle, so it’s crucial for you to check the model and suitability.
Type of Speaker
The next most important consideration after the build quality and design is the speaker type. A sub is categorized into two categories: full range or component. What does this mean? Our experts are here to break it down.
Full range subwoofers are the ready-made options that are also more affordable. A full range speaker has all the parts already integrated such as the sub and the tweeter. As you can imagine, you get to enjoy higher quality sound than your car stereo without much of a hassle. However, these systems are less customizable and produce lower quality sound than component speakers.
A Kicker component speaker is the opposite of a full range one. A Kicker component speaker has each part sold separately, and will give you some options to mix and match your pairing.
Yes, it does require more installation and more research on your part, but the amount of customizability and placement options lead to more consumers preferring this type of subwoofer. Our experts say that if you aren’t a stickler for heavy duty bass from your sub, a full range speaker can certainly do the trick. If your ears aren’t sensitive, then stick with a full range to save yourself the trouble of installing the sub.
Your car audio system is also another factor to pay attention to. Think about your speaker setup. Is it a two way or three way speaker? Like we have mentioned before in our surround sound home theater and floorstanding speaker reviews, there are two main types of speakers.
Two-way speakers have a tweeter and woofer. The tweeter, named after the sound birds make, is responsible for the high notes while a woofer is tasked with the low bass. You might be wondering who takes care of the mids, and the answer is both the tweeter and the woofer come together to make up for the lack of midrange drivers.
After learning about two-way speakers, one can only imagine that a 3-way speaker with one additional driver will produce more accurate audio. You would be right to assume that because a three-way speaker has a midrange driver. In this type of setup, each driver is dedicated to one portion of the spectrum, which will result in a better blend of sounds.
You may also occasionally see four-way speakers, which has a super tweeter integrated to help reproduce the highs. The role of a subwoofer in a device is to support the woofer. Since a woofer is present in both two and three-way speakers, your Kicker sub will work well with both types. However, your overall audio experience will differ depending on the type of speakers as the three-way selection will offer a more balanced soundstage.
Sound Quality
The sound quality provided by the sub of your choice is the most important aspect. Not only will it enhance the bass tones of your car stereo system, the overall sound quality will also be improved. One of the best things about a Kicker sub is the frequency response. The frequency response and range will determine the performance of your Kicker sub.
Since we are talking about a sub, it’s responsible for the lower end of the audio spectrum. This is why you should pay more attention to how low the frequency response can go. Human ears can identify sounds as low as 20 Hz, so at least make sure the sub can relay bass tones at that level.
Your existing car audio system will have a specific frequency response range, but our experts say look for speakers and subwoofers that work well within the range of 25Hz to 20,000 Hz, which is the equivalent of 2 kHz. Basically, the wider the frequency range offered by the best kicker subwoofer, the better your car audio subwoofer system will be.
There are only so many places you can put your Kicker sub, but the placement matters. Since subs are designed for lower tones, the lower they are, the more rumble you can feel. In a home theater setup, subs can either be front firing or downward firing. In a larger space like your living room, the placement is a matter of preference.
In a tighter and more enclosed space like your vehicle, the placement under or behind your seat will provide the most bang. If placed in your trunk, the bass can reverberate through the entire vehicle to create an echoing and enveloping experience.
Speaker Sensitivity
What is speaker sensitivity and why is it an aspect to consider? This is a crucial characteristic to take note of. The speaker sensitivity is directly related to the sound quality of your sub. Aside from power handling, the speaker sensitivity also determines how loud the sound can be from your car audio subwoofer.
In general, you want a sub with a high speaker sensitivity. What this means is the sub will require less power to produce a certain audio output. A speaker with lower sensitivity will need more power to match the same standard. Our experts advise looking for speaker sensitivity at around 90 dB and above.
If you want to enjoy roughly the same level of audio from your Kicker subwoofer as your home system, then look for high speaker sensitivity. Keep in mind that higher speaker sensitivity may mean more power needed to meet those standards, so also consider the efficiency and impedance of your Kicker subwoofer.
Speaker RMS
The power rating of your Kicker subwoofer is also crucial to your audio quality. The best kicker subwoofers will have an RMS and peak power rating. The two power ratings are different from each other and our experts advise you on the importance of the RMS. Peak power is what is usually advertised, because it’s a lot higher. A higher power handling ability in a subwoofer looks more impressive.
In your car audio system or any other sound system at that, the watt RMS is what’s important. Peak power is the amount of power your Kicker sub can produce in a short period or short bursts. This rating is not sustainable and if this figure is met for a longer period, it could cause damage to your existing car audio system.
Price
Kicker is one of the best brands out there for subwoofers. They are reliable, deliver accurate bass tones, have impressive frequency responses that range from 25 to 500 Hz, and have heavy duty construction with a steel basket and perimeter venting. If you want the best Kicker subwoofers, you need to be prepared to spend the right amount of money.
Luckily, you can get the best Kicker subwoofers for reasonable prices. Kicker is a brand that won’t burn a hole in your wallet and will still provide impressive bass whether you choose a 12 inch or an 8 inch sub.
FAQ (NLP)
What are the hardest hitting subs?
The hardest hitting subs are ones from Kicker. For example, the Kicker 12 inch 800 watt DVC subwoofer can pump out an impressive 800 watts at peak power and 400 RMS. The frequency range is between 25 to 500 Hz, which takes care of all the bass tones audible by human ears. The power handling abilities and the sensitivity of this Kicker sub makes it one of the hardest hitting options.
Are Kicker Comp Subs good?
The Kicker Comp Subs are good. Not only are they good, they are amazing. The Comp series not only offers echoing bass in your car but high quality build and also an affordable price tag. With a frequency range between 25 to 500 Hz, and sizes ranging from 12 inch subs to 8, the Comp series offers placement flexibility and awesome bass.
Which kicker Series is the best?
The Kicker KR series is the best if your setup allows for it. These Kicker subwoofers have impressive frequency ranges that span more than 25 to 500 Hz. The bass produced is spectacular thanks to its higher power handling than a subwoofer from another product line.
Our Top Pick For a Kicker Sub: Kicker 10" 600 Watt 4 Ohm Vented Thin Profile Subwoofer
Our audio team’s first choice for the Best Kicker sub is the 10” 600 watt 4 ohm enclosed sub. It has a slender profile that fits easily in your car. For a 10 inch speaker, the RMS power of 300 watts is quite impressive and can match up to larger subs.
The subwoofer is built with high quality and hard-wearing materials that make it perfectly suited for road trips. You can pump out the bass at any volume with your Kicker sub and enjoy minimal 4 ohm impedance and a 93 decibel sensitivity to get the most out of your car audio system and your content.
The post What is the Best Kicker Subwoofer? Competitive Speakers You Can Buy (2020) appeared first on The Product Analyst.
from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/best-kicker-subwoofer/
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