Bass tubes subwoofers are a compact and powerful solution for those looking for a convenient way to improve the bass inside their vehicles. They have versatile placement options and can fit in many places where people before thought that they couldn’t fit a standard subwoofer in. However, choosing a bass tube isn’t easy.
There are numerous factors that you have to consider if you want to have the best powered and passive bass tubes subwoofer for your car.
Scroll down below to find out more about bass tubes, why they are good, and which ones are investing your money on.
What are Bass Tubes and Are They Any Good?
A good way to understand how bass tubes work is to think of it as a megaphone.
You see, the typical subwoofer is made in a cube shape and this results in the driver facing just one direction.
It can be either front-firing or down-firing. But, with bass tubes, the driver is usually facing a flat side with the rest of the design used to help improve the sound of the bass with a tube diameter that’s usually as large as that of the driver diameter.
One of the biggest reasons why bass tubes became popular is how easily they fit in most cars, even those with limited spaces.
Of course, in addition to the versatility, the design itself lends to the audio quality.
So, all in all, what you’re paying for here is a fine product that takes up minimal space with substantial output, especially with a loaded corner.
Powered vs Passive Bass Tubes Subwoofer
The biggest difference between powered vs passive bass tubes is that the former has a built-in amplifier whereas the latter doesn’t.
As a result, this makes passive bass tubes substantially smaller and better for vehicles with limited spaces available.
Meanwhile, the sound quality is compromised, at least, in comparison to powered bazooka bass tubes.
Top 3 Best Powered Bazooka Bass Tubes Subwoofer
With 120-watt RMS amplifier power output and thousands of reviews online all singing good things, the MTX Audio RT8PT Universal Powered Subwoofer Enclosure is a no-brainer of a choice if you’re looking for one of the best- powered bazooka bass tubes for your car.
However, power isn’t what it has going for it. It has a carpeted and vented 8-inclure enclosure that makes it easy to put inside any vehicle. This allows you to get away with high-quality music without having to stick larger standard subwoofers inside your vehicle.
Moreover, these subwoofers come with high-level RCA inputs that make it easy to set up the system with external bass controls included for convenience volume controls.
- Amplifier Power Output: 120 Watts RMS.Power source type:Corded Electric.Speaker size:8 inches
- 8" High performance subwoofer in a carpeted, vented enclosure
- High Level and RCA inputs for easy connection in any system set up
- External Bass Control is included for convenient control of volume from front of vehicle
You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to get high-quality audio. In particular, bass.
The Pyle PLTAB8 8-Inch Carpeted Subwoofer Tube Speaker is a good example of this.
The PLTAB8 is a carpeted subwoofer tube with a maximum power output of 250w. It comes with a high output amplifier with RCA and speaker line puts, as well as a rubber edge suspension that seals in the sound inside the enclosure to maximize audio performance and greatly improve quality.
As a bonus, the PLTAB8 comes with a blue LED light behind the grill for better aesthetics.
Looks and power, however, aren’t enough. A bass tube has to perform consistently even when used often. In this case, it helps having a 4-ohm 1.5-inch aluminum voice coil minimizes sound distortion while keeping temperatures manageable.
In total, the PLTAB8 has a bass frequency response between 35Hz and 800Hz.
- 250 WATT POWER: The high powered audio projection carpeted subwoofer tube enclosure has a max power output of 250W so you can play your favorite tracks as loud as you want w/ style. Equipped w/ built-in high output amplifier & RCA/speaker line input
- RUBBER EDGE SUSPENSION: The high-performance car woofer speaker has a specially treated black rubber edge suspension that completes your woofer enclosure system. Total size measures 10.4” H x 20” W x 9.6” D. Also features blue LED light behind the grill
- 1.5” ALUMINUM VOICE COIL: This car speaker has a 1.5” aluminum voice coil with a 4-ohm impedance rating that compensates the undersized wire found in most cars. Ultimately reduces distortion so you can enjoy a crisp & clear sound
- BLUE POLYPROPYLENE CONE: Pyle follows the standard size for most car stereo systems & created this 8" high power 4-ohm subwoofer w/ blue polypropylene cone perfect for new speaker construction, replacing worn or blown speakers
- 35Hz - 800Hz FREQUENCY: The 1.5” aluminum voice coil provides the punch, while the bass reflex vent adds even more sub-bass, ultimately achieving a frequency response of 35 Hz to 800 Hz. It is also super easy to install to your vehicle's sound system
The Rockville RTB65A 6.5-inch 300w Powered Active Car Subwoofer Bass Tube is not the most powerful bass tube for your car. It is, however, small enough to fit literally in any vehicle and it’s also fairly affordable.
This 300-watt powered subwoofer has an MP3 input with a tuned rear aero vent that helps keep audio quality consistent despite the relative lack of power.
Overall, don’t expect this bass tube to rattle your windows. However, on the plus side, it’s powerful enough to be a substantial upgrade to whatever your car is running right now. Not to mention, you don’t necessarily have to install this sub permanently inside your vehicle. It has 4 mounting legs with Velcro mounting straps for easy installation.
- Rockville RTB65A 6.5“ 300W powered subwoofer bass tube with MP3 input
- 300 watts peak/150 watts RMS
- 6.5“ high power woofer in vented tubular enclosure
- Integrated, built-in 150 watts RMS rated amplifier
- Rear aero vent bass system
Top 3 Best Passive Bass Tubes Subwoofer
The Kicker 46CWTB104 TB10 10-inch Loaded Weather-Proof Subwoofer Enclosure isn’t for everybody. It’s for those looking for something that they can use anywhere they need better bass. This includes the great outdoors and rocky roads on their trucks to even the roughest seas on their boats.
The thick ABS tube construction guarantees that this subwoofer can withstand all sorts of weather and elements. Plus, the flexible mounting system means that you can mount this bass tube horizontally and versatile, whichever you prefer.
For added performance, this is a 4-ohm speaker with spring-loaded speaker terminals, as well as a CompR woofer and a reflex sub.
- A modern take on an old-school classic, the TB features thick ABS construction, and comes equipped with both an active CompR woofer on one end, and a Reflex Sub on the other.
- An innovative bracket system allows the TB to be mounted with ease: horizontally or vertically. Put it anywhere.
- The CompR sub mounted in the TB features a powerful ceramic magnet, an advanced suspension and superior heat management system for big bass and long life on the road.
- The all-weather TB loves to play outdoors. Hook it up on your boat, UTV or Jeep for fun on the trail, in the water or at the dunes.
- Passive Radiator - Made with the same surround and cone materials as the active sub, the Reflex Subwoofer is mounted on the opposite side of the TB - creating even deeper, louder bass.
If you’re into big and heart-thumping bass, look no further than the Alpine SWT-12S4 12-inch Bass Reflex Subwoofer Tube.
Although it’s fairly large at 12-inches, this 4-ohm subwoofer is worth it because it has a peak power handling of 1,000 watts. All you have to do is to pair it with a proper amplifier and you’re set.
The included installation brackets and belts make DIY installations a breeze. Plus, this subwoofer has a protective grille as well. It’s built for heavy-duty use and to withstand all sorts of movement associated with installing bass tubes in places where subwoofers normally are, such as the trunk of your car or on your truck’s bed liner.
- Ready to use Bass Reflex Subwoofer Tube
- 12“ (30cm) Bass Reflex Subwoofer Tube (4Ohm)
- 1000W peak power
- Included components: car subwoofer
The Earthquake Sound K-10 Kompressor Subwoofer Tube uses what Earthquake Sound describes as their very own SLAPS technology.
They refer to this patented feature as a way to tune the subwoofer to low frequencies without sacrificing sub-harmonic SPL. Not to mention, despite its relatively small size, the driver can move more than 3 inches. This guarantees that the subwoofer can make your car shake whenever you turn the volume up and make your neighbors hate you too while you’re at it.
With a frequency response of 20Hz to 1.5kHz, as well as an 800-watt max power output, there’s a lot of performance packed inside this relatively compact but heavy package.
- Loaded with Earthquake Sound's SLAPS technology
- 10-inch Subwoofer tube
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 1.5 kHz
- 800 Watts max
- Subharmonic on steroids
What to Consider when Choosing a Bass Tubes Subwoofer
There are three main factors to consider when looking for the best powered and passive bass tubes for your car.
Namely, these are:
Price
Never spend more than what you can afford. Set a price and stick to it.
The good thing about having numerous bass tubes available on the market is that there’s a bass tube for every price point. We made sure to consider that in our recommendations so you can find one that fits your budget instead of spending more on car audio equipment than you expect to do.
Power
How powerful your bass tube depends on the peak power handling and RMS.
Make sure that you look at both. Otherwise, you’re only considering just how powerful it can handle at max (peak power handling) and not how much power it can handle consistently (RMS).
If you’re looking to save money, go for an active bass tube as it’s already powered. However, if you’re up for some DIY and you’re willing to spend more money, as well as have more space available in your car, you can go with a passive bass tube that you can then power with an appropriate amplifier.
Frequency
If you’re incorporating your bass tube into your car audio system, make sure that you use bass tubes that support what your vehicle’s audio system has.
The frequency range should be compatible so that you can make the most out of it.
Final Thoughts
Your speakers will be all the better and thankful for you if you have a subwoofer installed on your vehicle.
Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. Sometimes, there isn’t enough space available. Although bass tubes subwoofer aren’t always compact or small in size, most of them are easier to fit inside confined spaces compared to traditional subwoofers with enclosures by design. This lets you squeeze them in places you normally wouldn't be able to fit other subwoofers.
The products that we have recommended above were all carefully selected to make choosing a bass tubes subwoofer easier for you.
Last update on 2021-12-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
