Top 5 Subwoofers in India

A subwoofer is one of the most valuable and thrilling components of a home theater. Some people may think, I already have a number of good and expensive speakers, so why do I need a sub? Well, a sub woofer processes low frequencies (bass) that other speakers cannot process properly. Every component of a home theater has a specific purpose. Some speakers process higher frequencies, others process low frequencies while some components produce life-like special effects.

.

.

When a home theater is set-up and integrated properly, all speakers work in perfect harmony and create an authentic ‘theatrical’ experience. This is a magical feeling and makes you feel that you are a part of the action. You can almost feel the tremors of the earthquake that is about to happen. For a moment, you get dazed by the aftershock of a bomb that exploded. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you hear the blood curdling roar of a deadly beast. The bass guitar really shines through on your favorite track and elevates it to a whole new level.

.

.

Sub-woofers greatly enhance quality of life. Check out our top 5 sub-woofers in India.

.

1) BIC AMERICA Acoustech PL 200: This is one of the most powerful active subwoofers in the country. It truly is the big daddy of active subs. With a dynamic output of 1000 Watts and continuous 250 W RMS it can go really, really low. Its massive 12 inch long-throw woofer produces pure, non-boomy authentic bass. The BIC America brand was launched in India only in 2017 and it has garnered quite a fan following. It can handle low rumbling sounds without losing its composure. Most speakers create port noise when subjected to very low frequencies but the PL 200 is in a league of its own.

.

.

One of the most important parameters that determines the caliber of a sub-woofer is frequency range. The lower a sub-woofer can go, the better it is considered to be. The PL 200 has a lower frequency range of 21-22 Hertz. This means that it can process really really low sounds without breaking a sweat. In fact, even if the PL 200 could process lower than 21 Hertz, it wouldn’t really make too much of a difference as the human ear would not be able to pick it up!

.

.

A big problem with even premium subwoofers is that they generate quite a bit of port noise. While the BIC Acoustech PL 200 also does this, the amount of noise it emits is negligible. Only the most keen and avid listener can detect it. I mean, you will not notice it unless you are specifically looking for it.

.

.

The PL 200 has a very high sensitivity of 110 dB and this means that the bass is incredibly detailed and tight. It can pick up even slight changes in frequency. This giant is gentle!

Update Feb 2018: The Pl200 II will become available in India from Feb 2018. The specs are same but the it has tuned for better performance. Consider it to be the big brother of PL 200. Be prepared to shell out a few more thousands :)

BIC America PL 200 and PL200 II are not suitable for very small rooms – they deliver the best acoustic experience only in medium to large sized rooms. Consider buying the F12 if area is less than 10 by 12. The V80 is also a kick-ass 8 inch subwoofer with a tantalizingly good price tag.

2) BIC America FORMULA F12: The F12 too, is an active subwoofer. It has a 12 inch woofer that delivers a thump as legendary as that of a Royal Enfield. If you want a powerful sub that is fairly compact and high on performance – buy the F12 with your eyes shut.

.

.

The bass of the Formula F12 packs quite a momentous punch and makes a formidable impact. You will not be able to tell that the amp has a power of only 150 Watts RMS. The peak power at 475 Watts is still less than half of the BIC America PL 200. Specs give you bragging rights but what matters most is the real world performance – it would not be an overstatement to say that the F12 is one of the best performing subwoofers on the planet right now. According to the experts, the industry average frequency in this category is slightly higher than 28 dB. The F12 delivers an exceptional 25 dB (for those who don’t know, lower is better).

.

.

The F12 is extremely well built and the design is understated and contemporary – it just exudes a premium feel. As of 2018, the F12 is one of the most sought after subwoofers in India. This is quite an achievement as the BIC America brand was introduced into the country only in mid 2017.

3) BIC America Venturi V1220: Very similar in price to the F12. If you want a PL200 II but don’t have the budget, the V1220 is the one to go for. It is the poorer man’s PL200! Jokes apart, V1220 is one hell of a subwoofer. Your neighbors will definitely feel that all hell has broken loose.

.

.

The down firing 12 inch long throw woofer does an excellent job of stirring up mini avalanches in your home. This model slots in very nicely between the F12 and the PL200. The peak power is 430 Watss with 200 Watts RMS. If you think that those are seriously good numbers – wait till you hear that the frequency range is a phenomenal 23 to 180 dB. The sensitivity is 90 dB – all this at a price tag of just around 30k!

.

.

The signature feature of the V1220 is the patented Venturi port which delivers nullifies port noise and enables this sub to emit clear, crisp bass that is neither boomy nor muddy!

4) Swans SUB10 by HIVI: This 10 inch active woofer is expensive and for good reason. Mind blowing, window shattering performance comes at a premium!

.

.

If you are even remotely interested in audio, you have surely heard about Swans. This American brand was acquired by the Chinese giant HiVi. Swans is very popular among audiophiles all over the world. It has gained a lot of respect and recognition in India as well. Some of it’s models Swans M10 and Swans M200A have been hailed as the best choices in their categories.

.

.

A few critics, who are especially fond of the low frequencies are of the opinion that mainstream Swans music systems lack bass (most audiophile grade products do not feature overpowering bass as it meddles with the other sounds), it is hard to deny that the SWANS Sub10 is so damn good it should be renamed ‘The Demi God of Thunder’.

.

The Sub10 has a frequency range of 25 to 200 Hz with a 150 Watts power output.

5) BIC America V80: A compact 8 inch subwoofer that punches way above its weight. If you crave thrilling performance without shelling out a fortune, nothing else fits the bill as well as V80.

.

If you’re living room is small to medium sized, as is the case with most modern Indian homes in big cities, you don’t really need an overly powerful sub. You will not be able to use all that power and if you try to – your family members will throw you out of the house!

.

What you need is a lean and mean machine that can ramp up the rumble when required but is still, usable everyday.

It’s a bit like having a Ferrari. Even though a Ferrari is desirable and ridiculously powerful, you just cannot use all the power on normal roads. For everyday driving, you need a small compact hatch that is fuel efficient yet zippy enough to execute fast overtaking maneuvers.

.

The V80 is like a small hatch that can give sports cars a run for their money! It has a power output of 100 Watts, peak power is rated at a neat 200 Watts. Frequency range is from 25 to 200 Hz. Port noise is minimal. Like all sub woofers mentioned here, the V80 is extremely well built and comes with a 5 year warranty on parts and labor.