Key Takeaways
- A powered subwoofer has its amplifier built in. You get bass from one box, one power run and usually a factory-radio input.
- They range from 50W RMS underseat units to 300W RMS boxed 12s. The Rockford Fosgate P300-12 is a sealed 12 with a 300W RMS amp inside (Rockford Fosgate).
- The trade-off is a fixed amp and a small box. You can't give the driver more power later.
- If you want more output from the same space, a shallow sub with a compact amp usually beats an all-in-one.
A powered subwoofer, also called an active or amplified sub, puts the driver, the enclosure and the amplifier in one unit. It's the simplest way to add bass to a car: mount it, run power and ground, connect a signal, and set the level. Most accept speaker-level input, so they work with a factory radio.
We don't sell all-in-one powered subs, and there are no affiliate links on this page. Below are the units we'd point people to by situation, with specs from each manufacturer. After that, we cover when a separate shallow sub and small amp gets you more for the same space, which is what we build and sell.
What makes a subwoofer "powered"?
The amplifier lives inside the enclosure. A passive sub needs a separate amp; a powered sub doesn't. That saves space and wiring, and most units include a remote bass knob and speaker-level inputs for factory systems.
It also fixes the power for good. The amp is sized to that driver and box, and that's the most it will ever get. That's fine for adding bass to a factory system, and it's the reason enthusiasts usually move to a separate sub and amp later.
The best powered subwoofers by situation
There's no single best powered sub. The right one depends on where it can go. Here's how the common options compare, from manufacturer specs.
| Unit | Type | Amp power | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford Fosgate P300-12 | Sealed 12" box | 300W RMS | Most bass, if you have trunk space |
| JBL BassPro Hub | Spare tire, 11" | 200W RMS | Keeping the cargo floor flat |
| NVX QBSTA | Spare tire, 11" | 300W RMS | More power in the spare well |
| Kenwood Excelon KSC-SW11 | Underseat, 8-1/4" x 5-1/8" driver | 150W | Under a seat, 2-3/4" tall |
| Pioneer TS-WX130DA | Underseat, 8" x 5-1/4" driver | 50W RMS | A small bass fill on a budget, 2-3/4" tall |
| Alpine PWE-S8-WRA | Vehicle-specific, 8" | 120W | 2011-2018 4-door Jeep Wrangler JKU |
Most bass: Rockford Fosgate P300-12
A 12-inch driver in a sealed enclosure with a 300W RMS amplifier inside, rated 35 Hz to 200 Hz (Rockford Fosgate). It's the biggest box on this list, so it suits trunks and SUVs with room to spare. Of the all-in-ones here, it's the one that sounds most like a real subwoofer system.
Hidden in the spare tire: JBL BassPro Hub or NVX QBSTA
Both sit inside the spare wheel and leave the cargo floor flat. The JBL BassPro Hub makes 200W RMS into its 11-inch driver (JBL). The NVX QBSTA is rated 300W RMS and measures 14.17 by 4.72 inches (NVX). Our spare tire subwoofer guide covers fit, wiring and when a custom spare-well build makes more sense.
Under a seat: Kenwood KSC-SW11 or Pioneer TS-WX130DA
Underseat units trade output for space. The Kenwood KSC-SW11 is a 150W unit with an 8-1/4 by 5-1/8 inch driver in a box 11 by 2-3/4 by 7-1/2 inches, rated 35 Hz to 150 Hz (Kenwood). The Pioneer TS-WX130DA puts an 8 by 5-1/4 inch driver on a 50W RMS amp in a unit 2-3/4 inches tall (Pioneer). Both fill in bass behind factory speakers. Neither replaces a real sub, and we explain why in the limits of underseat subs.
Jeep Wrangler JKU: Alpine PWE-S8-WRA
A vehicle-specific, plug-and-play 120W system that mounts under the driver's seat of a 2011-2018 4-door Wrangler JKU. It measures 13.5 by 9 by 3 inches (Alpine). If you own that Jeep and want a no-cut install, it's the obvious pick.
When a separate shallow sub and amp beats a powered sub
If you can fit a slim box and a small amp, you'll usually get more bass than any all-in-one of the same size, and you can upgrade either half later. Shallow-mount subs now take real power from 3 to 4 inches of depth. The Prodigy NB3-10 is rated 600W RMS at a 3.000-inch mounting depth. A compact amp like the Wavtech Link5001Mini, rated 500W RMS at 2 ohms, fits under a seat.
If you want it done in one box, our Proline X Micro Series loaded shallow 10 comes built and tested in-house. Our low-profile down-fire enclosures keep a flat cargo floor with a full-size driver. Or start from the shallow-mount subwoofers and pick a box to match.
Which way should you go? Pick a powered sub if you want the simplest install on a factory radio and don't plan to upgrade. Pick a shallow sub and amp if you want more output, plan to upgrade later, or already have an amplifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a subwoofer "powered"?
Do powered subwoofers work with a factory radio?
Is a powered sub as good as a separate sub and amp?
What size powered subwoofer do I need?
Pick by space, then decide all-in-one or separates
Measure where the sub can go first: a trunk, the spare well, or under a seat. That picks the powered sub. Then ask whether you'll ever want more. If you might, a shallow sub and a compact amp, or one of our loaded Proline X enclosures, gets you there without starting over. Not sure what fits your vehicle? Contact us or call 931-563-5151.
About the Author
Scott Welch is a Multi Time IASCA National and MECA World Sound Quality Champion, an active SQ judge since 2019, and the owner of Audio Intensity in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He cuts every Proline X enclosure on the shop's CNCs and tunes every customer system before it leaves. Audio Intensity is the original US importer for Goldhorn DSP and an authorized dealer for Prodigy, Crescendo, Image Dynamics, Wavtech, Tru Technology, and more.
