Shallow Mount Subwoofers

What Makes a Shallow Mount Subwoofer Different

A shallow mount subwoofer, also sold as slim, flat or low profile, is built around a short mounting depth. A conventional 10 inch driver needs 5 to 7 inches behind the baffle; the shallow 10s and 12s here need between 2.4 and 3.85. The motor is reworked to sit closer to the cone or partly inside the basket, and the suspension is designed to keep usable excursion in the thinner package.

The trade is honest. A shallow driver gives up some maximum output and some bottom-octave headroom against a full-depth competition driver. What it gets you is bass in places a standard driver physically cannot go, without giving up the seat, the cargo floor or the factory look.

Built for the Space Behind a Truck Seat

Measure the space, then the driver

Measure the gap behind or under the seat with the seat where it will live, then allow for the enclosure: its walls take part of that depth, and the driver's published mounting depth has to clear the rear panel. Our F-150 and Super Duty behind-seat boxes take drivers up to 3.75 inches deep on the 2015 to 2023 F-150 and 2017 to 2023 Super Duty, and up to 3.5 inches on the 2024 to 2026 F-150, F-250 and F-350.

Boxes already cut for these drivers

The Micro Series cabinets are shallow enclosures cut for specific slim drivers, stack-fabricated with dowel reinforcement, and they ship with feet so they can stand upright or fire down. The Vehicle Specific boxes are cut to a particular cab or cargo floor instead of a generic footprint. If you would rather not wire anything, the loaded enclosures arrive with the driver already installed.

Crew cab, extended cab and regular cab

In a crew cab or an extended cab the space behind or under the rear seat is the usual home, and it is where a single 10 or 12 earns its keep. A regular cab leaves only the space behind the bench, which is where the slimmest drivers on this page matter most. We do not list a regular cab box, so call 931-563-5151 before you buy for one.

The Lineup at a Glance

Sorted by mounting depth, because that is the number that decides the shortlist. Each maker's recommended box volume is on the driver's own product page; some publish it net and some gross, so compare like with like.

The slimmest: the Arc Audio SW10 and SW12 and the Wavtech thinPRO10 and thinPRO12, all at 3 inches or less. The thinPRO pair is the output choice at 750 watts RMS each; the SW pair is the sound quality choice, and both are at home in a small sealed box.

The 3.25 inch class: the JL Audio 10TW3-D4 and the Alpine RS-W10D4. Both clear either F-150 behind-seat box, and each is sold loaded in one of them.

More depth, less money: the Arc Audio A10 and A12, just under 4 inches, and the Prodigy NB3-10, the least expensive shallow 10 here. The Arc Series 8 is on this page as a compact eight rather than a slim one: at 4.75 inches it suits a small box, not a thin one.

Choosing the Right Shallow Mount Subwoofer

Power handling and impedance

Match the subwoofer's RMS rating to the amplifier's RMS output at the final wired impedance; peak ratings do not help with system design. Most shallow subs come in dual 2 ohm and dual 4 ohm versions to give you wiring options with more than one driver. For one shallow sub on a monoblock, a dual 2 ohm driver wired in series for a 4 ohm load is usually the cleanest match, without asking the amplifier to drive 1 ohm.

Sealed or ported

Sealed is the default for shallow drivers, because most of them perform well in small sealed boxes when the volume is right, and the box stays small enough to fit where the driver does. Ported can produce more output around its tuning frequency, but it needs considerably more internal volume, which usually defeats the reason you chose a shallow driver. If you need a ported shallow build, plan the box around the maker's published figures rather than squeezing the volume to fit.

Shallow-mount or standard-depth

Frequently Asked Shallow Mount Subwoofer Questions

How much mounting depth do I actually need for a shallow subwoofer?

The driver's published mounting depth, measured from the mounting surface to the back of the motor, plus clearance behind it. The 10s and 12s on this page run from 2.4 inches for the Arc Audio SW10 to 3.85 inches for the Arc Audio A12. Measure the space you have, allow for the enclosure's rear wall, and compare what is left against the figure on the driver's product page.

Will a shallow mount sub sound as good as a regular subwoofer?

For most installs, yes. The differences show up at extreme output levels and in the bottom octave, where a deep-basket driver has more excursion to work with. For music at sensible levels in a correctly sized sealed box, a good shallow sub sounds clean and tight. The trade is real but usually small.

Sealed or ported for shallow mount subs?

Sealed in nearly all cases. A sealed box is smaller, gives more accurate transient response and suits a wider range of music. A ported box needs considerably more internal volume, which usually defeats the reason you chose a shallow driver. If you have the volume and want output at a specific tuning frequency, ported can work, but plan the box around the maker's published figures.

Can I put a shallow mount sub behind a truck seat?

Yes, it is the most common reason to buy one. Our F-150 and Super Duty behind-seat boxes take drivers up to 3.75 inches deep on the 2015 to 2023 F-150 and 2017 to 2023 Super Duty and up to 3.5 inches on the 2024 to 2026 F-150, F-250 and F-350, and the Micro Series cabinets are cut for specific slim drivers. A regular cab leaves only the space behind the bench, so the slimmest drivers here are the ones to measure first. Call 931-563-5151 and we will confirm the fit.

Do shallow mount subs need a special amplifier?

No. Use a monoblock or a 2-channel amplifier matched to the sub's RMS rating at the final wired impedance. The shallow form factor does not change what the driver needs. Match RMS to RMS, set the gain to avoid clipping, and start the low-pass filter around 80 Hz.

What is the difference between shallow mount, slim and flat subwoofers?

Nothing but the label. Makers use shallow mount, slim, low profile, flat and thin interchangeably for drivers built around reduced mounting depth. The specifications decide the fit: mounting depth, RMS power and the enclosure volume the maker recommends.