10 Best Shallow Mount Subwoofer Models for 2022

When it comes to shallow mount 10 inch subs, the Skar Audio VD-10 is an excellent starting point for upgrading your car audio. Its $40 price tag is perfect for those on a budget that still desire high power and performance. You get 500-watts RMS, peaking at 800-watts. Moreover, you get wiring flexibility and the most out of your amp thanks to its dual 4-ohm voice coils.

Skar makes its coils from copper while stitching its pressed-paper cone and foam together. This ensures hard-hitting bass over the long term.  

Overall, Skar delivers accurate and deep bass with its compact design.

This rugged sub features premium stitching, a UV-resistant polypropylene cone, and Santoprene surround. A layer of rubber tops off the kicker, making it our pick for when you pop the trunk for outdoor use. Not even rain will keep you from sharp low frequencies.

Vehicle sound systems will benefit from a powerful 800-watt peak while remaining under 4-inches when mounted. Furthermore, the pair of 2-ohm voice coils lets you wire two separate channels to the amp. 

Pick up this woofer for just shy of $200.

If you lack space or have a tiny speaker enclosure, this $119 driver has a mounting depth of just 3.4 inches. Despite its thin 10-inch design, it produces loud bass with competent low-end frequencies. You get an RMS of 200-watts, with a peak power of 400-watts. 

Rockford Fosgate uses quality, long-lasting materials, including a mica injected cone, stitched tinsel leads to reduce fatigue and anodized aluminum 4-ohm voice coils. The latter provides 100-degrees of heat dissipation. Moreover, stamp-cast baskets with spider venting further aid cooling. Bigger subs tend to only sport such a design.

For thumping bass in a restricted space, this is one of the best shallow subwoofers on the market.

The 10TW3-D4 from JL Audio has a high-quality build that can withstand the flex from high-powered amps. It uses cast-alloy to house a strong polypropylene cone and a double 4-ohm voice coil. It suspends this alongside its magnet in a concentric tube, allowing the large motor to sit further forward than other shallow mount designs. A durable high-roll rubber surround wraps the sub. This combines for distortion-free sound over hours of use.

Your average to good shallow mount subwoofer will most likely lack the clarity and richness of this $429.99 model.

The P3 Shallow series from Rockford Fosgate includes 12, 10, and 8-inch shallow mount subwoofer models. All come with 4-Ohm voice coils for wiring flexibility, while RMS power is 400W, 300W, and 150W, respectively. 

Rockford makes them with a StampCast and spider vent basket for airflow, an anodized aluminum cone, and a trim ring made of cast aluminum. Its patented M-Roll Santoprene surround prevents the over-flexing that occurs with cheaper subs.  

The 8-inch version is one of the thinnest, mounting at just 2.66 inches.

Power and volume are what you want from a subwoofer, and the Alpine SWT-10S4 excels at both. It can reach 1,000 watts, which is top of the range for a 10-inch shallow mount. Moreover, it has a high amplitude surround that allows the cone to move further, pushing out more air. This results in a louder and deeper bass experience.

Alpine reinforces its rubber trim ring with Kevlar to accommodate its booming performance. This ensures long-lasting duration for this more powerful than the average shallow mount car subwoofer.

If it’s raw power you want, the Pioneer TS-A2500LS4 is your solution of choice. It leads the pack with a peak of 1,200 watts. Practically unheard of when it comes to shallow mounts. And at the same time, it manages to have one of the thinnest profiles, making it one of the best all-around options for adding bass in very tight spaces.

We also praise its build quality, boasting a Mica-injected cone and rubber surround. The sub easily fits and is highly secure due to its 8-AWG push terminals.

Even smaller than the Kicker 8” shallow mount subwoofer option, the 48CWRT674 is just 6.75 inches. Use a single sub when your car heavily restricts width and depth, or double it up to get twice the punch. Complimenting its slim profile, it has specially designed top and back plates to ensure greater bass with limited distortion.

Furthermore, Kicker expertly crafts its steel basket, rubber surround, and injection-molded polypropylene cone to withstand years of heavy use.

This Excelon model is the leader of the 12-inch shallow mount subwoofers. Those extra inches create the most powerful option on our list, cranking out a peak of 1,400 watts and an RMS of 350W. Your car windows will surely shake and hopefully not shatter.  

Moreover, it uses only top components. Enjoy crackle-free bass at high volumes thanks to its glass fiber honeycomb cone, aluminum diecast basket, and thick rubber surround. Its super linear spider design gives optimum support for linear motion, improving overall sound quality.