Subwoofers are a critical component of most sound systems as subwoofers are able to significantly improve upon the bass and low-frequency sounds that are often neglected.
8 inch subwoofers are the smallest of the subwoofers, and we all know that the size of a subwoofer directly correlates to its ability to produce bass. So you are probably wondering if 8 inch subwoofers are any good.
To answer your question, 8 inch subwoofers are definitely a good choice, while they aren’t as popular as 12 inch subs, 8 inch subs are used heavily in vehicle sound systems.
Page Contents
Is Bass Related To Subwoofer Size?
Bass is indeed related to the size of the subwoofer, larger subwoofers are more efficient at producing lower frequencies, they move more air, and they are able to fill larger rooms without distorting.
8 inch subwoofers are the smallest subwoofers, but this also means they are the most inefficient. This makes them only ideal for small enclosures like a car, or a really small room.
For a living room, or a home theater, you will want at least a 12 inch subwoofer, this is because you want two effects. One, you want to feel the bass, 8 inch subwoofers aren’t able to do this as well, and two, you want to fill the entire room with bass so everyone has the same experience.
What Are 8 Inch Subwoofers Used For?
8 inch subwoofers deliver a tight bass due to their small size, they usually are installed into small enclosures, and the driver is pretty small. All this combined makes for a tight bass.
8 inch subwoofers are generally used in vehicle audio systems, and they often come pre-installed in many newer vehicles you find on the market. 8 inch subwoofers are small, easy to install, and affordable, so this makes them ideal for vehicles.
So for vehicles, 8 inch subwoofers are seen as the safe option, you won’t necessarily break your bank due to it’s small size, and a car won’t need the power of a 12 or even in some cases, a 10 inch subwoofer.
The only reason I would upgrade from an 8 inch subwoofer in my car is if it’s not hitting hard enough. In this case, I’d most likely upgrade to a 10 inch subwoofer as they are still pretty compact and affordable, but most importantly, they hit harder.
Are 8 Inch Subwoofers Good For Small Rooms?
If you have a sound system in a small room, perhaps your bedroom, or you live in a small apartment, then an 8 inch subwoofer could make sense.
With the right 8 inch subwoofer, it can be powerful enough to fill an entire bedroom with bass without distorting, so it can be a wise investment without breaking the bank.
I still think it’s a bit risky though as many would upgrade their vehicle’s subwoofer from an 8 inch to a 10 inch because they want more bass. So for a bedroom, I’d much prefer a 10 inch subwoofer just to stay on the safe side.
Are 8 Inch Subwoofers Good For Home Theaters?
Personally, I would not use an 8 inch subwoofer in my home theater setup for a few reasons. The main reason is that they won’t hit hard enough without distorting and losing audio quality.
Let’s say that the average home theater has average square feet of 340, an 8 inch subwoofer will not be powerful enough to fill the room with sound which is a huge issue from an immersive perspective.
A significantly better option in this scenario would be to use a 12 inch subwoofer, this is generally the safest option when going for a home theater setup as they have a balance between power and affordability. They are also the most popular size which makes them easier to acquire.
Pushing an 8 inch subwoofer to its absolute limits isn’t good for the subwoofer itself, and it will deliver a horrible listening experience. This is because you can potentially damage it over time, and it will cause a huge amount of distortion due to the cone being forced beyond its limits.
Pros And Cons Of 8 Inch Subwoofers
8 inch subwoofers are amazing, but they are not perfect, so I’d like to discuss some of the pros and cons of 8 inch subwoofers to better help you understand whether it is the right choice.
Pros:
- Small and compact – can easily fit into small places
- Affordable – don’t have to break the bank if you only require an 8 inch sub
- A great choice for music – goes perfectly in a car sound system
Thanks to their size, 8 inch subwoofers can fit easily in a variety of places making them an amazing choice for car systems. Also, they are easier to move around since they’re lighter compared to their bigger counterparts.
If you’re just looking to upgrade the sound capabilities of your car, you can do that easily with an 8 inch subwoofer without breaking the bank. A car doesn’t require an expensive 12 inch subwoofer, so you can do just fine with an 8 inch one.
Such a small subwoofer is enough to drastically improve the music experience in your vehicle. They deliver high-quality bass compared to traditional speakers, and they are able to fill your entire vehicle with bass.
Cons:
- Won’t produce enough bass for larger rooms – bad for home theaters.
- Overall inefficient when it comes to producing bass – larger is better.
When it comes to large rooms, an 8 inch subwoofer won’t be able to fill the entire room with bass, it won’t be able to move enough air. For an immersive movie experience, many would like to “feel” the bass, and that isn’t possible with an 8 inch sub.
With subwoofers, larger drivers are always better at producing lower frequencies, so your 8 inch subwoofer is more susceptible to distorting the bass at higher volumes.
Conclusion – Are 8 Inch Subwoofers Good?
In conclusion, 8 inch subwoofers are great, but they perform the best in car sound systems, I wouldn’t use an 8 inch subwoofer in an average-sized room as it will lack in bass production.
Despite their small size, they are really useful and shouldn’t be ignored. You can save a ton of money, and make your life easier by going with an 8 inch subwoofer if your car doesn’t need anything bigger.
Also Read: Are 10 Inch Subwoofers Good
