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We are entering a price range of Best Subwoofers Under $500 in which much more can be demanded, both in terms of performance and design. These subwoofers not only sound much better than options at $300 and $200, but they also improve the feature set and go deeper into the design.
The models in this category are stepping out of the value district, to a more premium design. Although this is not the cream of the crop, these are all excellent subwoofers that characterize quality in every way. Let’s have a look at the best subwoofers under $500 in the comparison table below, and then we’ll discuss them one by one.
Best Subwoofers Under $500 List
In the Best Subwoofers Under $500, you get incredible performance, a reliable build quality, extensive features, and a beautiful design. Each of these options feels like a premium, so you do not feel deprived of your money. For enthusiasts who do not want to go overboard, this is an excellent price, with all the things that are important to those who care about their audio, without going too far into the points of declining returns.
SVS PB-1000

Best subwoofers under $500 are usually designed for more than just good performance. When you invest this kind of money in your equipment, convenience also becomes a factor. SVS PB-1000 is a model where this is quite clear. It is a very capable sub with the excellent build quality and functional design. Moreover, it looks fantastic.
The hardware inside comes down to a 10 “woofer cone that is accompanied by a 300 Watt RMS amplifier whose peak is 700 watts, which is a pretty wild nominal power for a sub for home theaters. It goes without saying that the quality of the sound pretty impressive; you feel the huge low point, no matter what you listen to. Overall, this is one of the best subwoofers under 500 dollars.
Pros:
- High-quality MDF cabinet that ties down acoustics.
- A massive 10″ cone, which is super responsive.
- State of the art 300 Watt RMS DSP amp.
- Peak power maxed out at 700 Watts.
Cons:
- It is a massive subwoofer that requires plenty of space.
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REL Acoustics T/Zero

Many wonder what makes the upper-end subs so different from their more affordable counterparts. We believe that REL Acoustics T/Zero offers an excellent answer to that question. It is a very stylish subwoofer with a unique design and is one of the best subwoofers under $500. You can see that REL Acoustics thought as much about the aesthetics as the performance of the sub.
Its beautiful appearance is only half the comparison. The other half comes in the form of an impressive 6.5 “cone on the bottom of the case.” This is a down fire sub with a class D amplifier of 100 watts. “Sounds too little. Not necessarily, although you pay a premium.” Zero generally does a great job. Overall, this is one of the best subwoofers under 500 dollars.
Pros:
- One of the most attractive subwoofers on the market.
- It comes with a highly responsive 6.5″ cone.
- Features a quality 100 Watt amplifier.
- A good set of acoustic controls and features.
Cons:
- Not the most cost-effective solution in this segment.
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ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010

ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 represents the new variant of an already proven design. It is a simple-looking sub, but one with several unique design solutions. Besides, you also get a very functional set of functions and technology. It is undoubtedly one of the most useful subs in this category.
What defines SUB3010 is its 10 “high woofer. It is a fast-moving transducer considering its size. The fact that it is connected to a 400 Watt BASH amplifier also helps a lot. In addition to unprocessed power, SUB3010 also includes things like App operation, automated room EQ, Bluetooth operation, and much more. Overall, this is one of the best subwoofers under $500.
Pros:
- A functional design packs a lot of power.
- Massive high excursion woofer capable of moving lots of air.
- BASH amplifier capable of delivering 200 Watt continuous power.
- An array of Bluetooth features.
Cons:
- No hardware acoustic controls available.
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Definitive Technology ProSub 800

What ProSub 800 offers is the right balance between performance, price, and overall aesthetics that make it one of the best subwoofers under $500. It is a solid unit that can require some planning in terms of positioning. However, it is more than worth it. The hardware inside makes it a very competitive unit, especially if you appreciate having absolute control over your sound.
The sub is equipped with an 8 “polymer cone that is powered by a 300 Watt RMS amplifier. In terms of frequency response range, you look at the range from 20Hz to 150Hz, which is pretty good, all in all, the infrasonic radiator also helps to add more definition to the sound, it is generally one of the best subwoofers under 500 dollars.
Pros:
- It comes in a sturdy, stylish cabinet that looks great.
- Features a well balanced 8″ polymer cone.
- The built-in amp offers 300 Watts RMS.
- Plenty of headroom makes it a competitive rig.
Cons:
- Its size can prove to be an issue for some.
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Sunfire Dynamic SDS-10

In a market that is saturated with all kinds of advanced designs, it is sometimes best to stay at the base. Sunfire Dynamic SDS-10 offers that kind of experience for a very competitive price. We look at a standard cabinet design with a configuration for firing the transducer. In terms of aesthetics, it has a more classic look that works almost everywhere.
Under its fresh exterior, it hides a 10 “woofer cone, complemented by a passive radiator with a downward movement. It connects the loudspeaker to a powerful Class D amplifier capable of releasing around 250 watts of RMS, and there is plenty of headroom controls, the built-in crossover, and much more. All such things make it one of the best subwoofers under $500.
Pros:
- A stylish, old school cabinet design that fits in anywhere.
- Features a massive 10″front-firing cone.
- A built-in amp that packs plenty of power and headroom
- It comes packed with great features and acoustic controls.
Cons:
- It’s a large unit, which may be an issue for some.
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Audioengine S8

Properly designed down-firing subs were always an excellent alternative to the more conventional designs. Audioengine S8 is a simple sub with this alternative design and is one of the best subwoofers under 500 dollars. What we like about this particular model are the sleek looks with which you can integrate it into any home theater system.
If looks are important to you, this sub is worth watching. In terms of hardware, you look at an 8 “cone in a downward-firing configuration that is paired with a powerful amplifier, and the total frequency range you can access is from 27Hz to 180Hz. S8 brings a great combination of features and performance and is one of the best subwoofers under $500.
Pros:
- A stylish cabinet, which is all about simplicity.
- It comes with a responsive 8-inch cone.
- Excellent power output and management.
- It features intuitive controls and room acoustic technology.
Cons:
- Larger than most down-firing subs.
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Polk Audio HTS

Last but not least, we have a great Polk Audio sub to show you. It goes under the name HTS, and it takes a lot of bang for your money and is one of the best subwoofers under $500. As you probably will notice, the box is not your standard. Instead, Polk Audio went with a more interesting design that contributes to overall aesthetics.
HTS has a forward-facing pitch woofer with a length of 10 “in diameter. The obvious component for firing the bass is the bass reflex port. For power, you look at 200 watts from an exceptional class D amplifier, HTS offers a lot of tone shaping and control of the room acoustics. All in all, it is one of the best subwoofers under 500 dollars.
Pros:
- Good bang for the buck value.
- Stylish cabinet design which gives it character.
- Vast assortment of hardware and amps.
- It comes with all the controls necessary to customize its sound.
Cons:
- This is a pretty large unit.
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Things To Know Before Buying the Best Subwoofers Under $500
- Price: While value does not play as much of the role as at lower price points, the performance wins, and costs can easily be justified. That also means that the best subwoofers under $500 are not for everyone. Instead of trying to be the most intuitive, the models are more focused on enthusiasts. For that money, you are more than likely interested in audio, and we have considered that when evaluating which subwoofers are suitable for this price.
- Features: the best subwoofers under $500 increase the feature set by adding practical functions to a table that makes a big difference in the context of a complete system. Naturally, internal purposes are expected, and serious performance buffers are added, but external functions are central here. Things like external functionality, room tuning, and more are shown, proving that these are subwoofers that have been made a step ahead. The functions are all different, so you will have to do some research to find one that suits you. However, a trend that follows with all of these is a high headroom amplifier. Minimum RMS of 300 W with dynamic values that easily reach the 600 W range means that all models mentioned here can not only be turned upside down, but also incredibly clean at low volumes.
- Design: Building on the trend of more expensive models, they differ enormously from each other in terms of design. However, one thing remains; they are all beautiful. It is clear that for this price, the products have been designed with a view of aesthetics. Beautiful woofers, intuitive design, and clean edges all lead to some gorgeous masterpieces. There are problems, however. With such companies from a stock design, these subwoofers will not be perfectly integrated with all systems.