The 18 inch subwoofers are important if you are looking to improve the overall sound of your vehicle’s audio. It is one thing to have a car with great speakers and amp but you won’t be able to show it off when the bass lacks quality.
This article will give some of the best 18-inch subwoofers for car audio and help you decide which one is right for your needs.
Our Top Picks:
- Skar Audio ZVX-18v2 D2 – Best Overall
- Rockville RVW1800P8 – Best for the Money
- Harmony Audio HA-ML182
- Sundown Audio U-18 D2
- Resilient Sounds Platinum 18 – Loudest 18 inch Subwoofer
Best 18 Inch Subwoofers Reviewed For Car Audio
1. Skar Audio ZVX-18v2 D2 – Best Overall
The ZVX-18v2 is a high-performance 18-inch car subwoofer that is designed to be driven by a high-output amplifier. It’s a perfect choice for the driver who wants to enjoy a high-quality sound without spending a fortune.
The ZVX-18v2 features a dual 2-ohm voice coil configuration, which makes it suitable for driving a high-powered amplifier. The peak power and RMS power are set at 1,600 watts and 3,200 watts respectively, which are well above the average.
The cone is made of pressed paper, which makes sure that the sound is as good as possible. The advanced airflow cooling system helps to keep the temperature low so that the cones don’t get damaged.
The cone is also stitched with high-temperature copper, which gives the speaker more durability. The motor weighs 306 ounces, making it quite heavy.
The frequency response covers the range of 20 to 400 Hz. The sensitivity is 88.6 dB, which means that the speakers will work fine even if they’re placed in a quiet room.
Pros:
- Super loud
- The sound is clear and deep
- Built with high-quality materials
- Dual 2-ohm voice coil configuration
Cons:
- It is a bit heavy
2. Rockville RVW1800P8 – Best 18 Inch Subwoofer for the Money
This subwoofer is designed with a rugged Kevlar reinforced ultra stiff paper composite cone and pulp composite dust cap. This means that the subwoofer will last for a long time and can withstand very hot and cold weather.
It comes with an expanded and rolled steel basket, which makes it lightweight and reduces the amount of vibration caused by the bass.
The Rockville RVW1800P8 is powered by an 1800-watt peak power rating, 900-watt power RMS, and features a 3” high-temperature 4-layer CCAW high SPL voice coil linear progressive cone system with nickel-plated banana plug terminals.
It has 107 oz. magnet motor structure, which reduces the vibrations from the motor, ensuring that the subwoofer will deliver accurate bass frequencies without any distortion.
The Rockville RVW1800P8 subwoofer comes with a treated accordion cloth surround, which is designed to reduce noise levels and provide an even sound distribution. This subwoofer also comes with a mounting depth of 7.36 inches and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 1000 Hz.
The subwoofer also has an impedance of 8 ohms and a sensitivity of 103 dB at 1 watt/1 meter. It can be used in a variety of music genres such as hip hop, rock, dance, and so on.
Pros:
- It delivers a good quality sound
- It is powerful and efficient
- It comes with a good value for its price
- Can be used in a variety of music genres
Cons:
- The frequency response is not that great
3. Harmony Audio HA-ML182
For those who are looking for the best 18 inch subwoofer for car that delivers powerful sound in a relatively small package, the Harmony Audio HA-ML182 is a great choice.
It has a total output power of 3500W, which is a decent amount of power for its size, and it’s built with a strong frame to ensure it won’t crack or break easily.
This subwoofer is equipped with high-quality paper cones, which offer excellent frequency response and power handling capability. The cone material is also stitched into high-density foam, so there’s no chance of cracking.
Harmony Audio HA-ML182 also comes with a high-quality high-flux ferrite magnet. This type of magnet can handle a lot of power, and it’s used in most subwoofers these days. It’s also much more efficient than regular ferrite magnets, so it doesn’t require as much power to get the same level of performance.
The die-cast aluminum basket is designed to be extremely rigid and stable. It also offers a solid connection between the cone and the magnet, which helps the subwoofer produce more bass.
Harmony Audio HA-ML182 subwoofer also includes a tinsel lead, which is woven into a spider that connects the cone to the magnet. This gives the subwoofer a more unique appearance, and it adds a bit of sparkle to the sound.
Pros:
- It produces a great amount of bass
- It has a good power handling capacity
- It is well built and sturdy
- It is easy to install
Cons:
- The design isn’t aesthetically pleasing
4. Sundown Audio U-18 D2
The Sundown Audio U-18 D2 is a large, highly-effective car subwoofer. It’s a great choice if you want to enjoy the best sound quality at a reasonable price.
The U-18 is made with high-grade materials that’ll last for years on your car. It’s constructed from high-quality aluminum and black powder coated finish, and it has a sturdy cast aluminum enclosure that’s designed to last.
The top plate features cooling channels that help dissipate heat, while the rear venting pole piece and vented frame spacer ring provide additional cooling for the motor. This enclosure is designed to be used in small ported or bandpass enclosures.
The voice coil is designed with high-temperature black aluminum wire to ensure it doesn’t overheat and break down prematurely.
It has a magnet ID shorting ring that’s attached to the bottom plate to reduce eddy current loss.
Pros:
- Made of high-quality materials
- This sub can take lots of power
- It can be used for a variety of applications
- It is easy to install
Cons:
- The sub is quite expensive
5. Resilient Sounds Platinum 18 – Loudest 18 inch Subwoofer
This is a high-quality subwoofer that produces a lot of bass. It is made of high-quality materials and should last for many years.
The RS Platinum Series will be available in 12″ and 15″ sizes, with the 18″ model offering more power and a better enclosure design. It’s a solid subwoofer that should last for many years in your car, even if you use it on a daily basis.
It is powered by an internal amplifier with an RMS power rating of 2000 watts and a peak power rating of 4000 watts. A 3-inch 8-layer FEA aluminum VC, quad stacked 9.25″ nomex progressive spiders with dual sewn leads, and a triple stack motor with a shorting ring and spacers are also included.
It’s a high-quality subwoofer that’s built to last and will improve your music experience significantly.
Pros:
- It’s solid and powerful sub
- It is made of high-quality materials
- It has an internal amplifier
- Good bass response
Cons:
- It’s a bit expensive
What to Look for When Buying 18 Inch Subwoofers?
There are a lot of things to consider if you want to buy a quality 18 inch subwoofer. Size, power, and sensitivity are just three of them. In this section, we’ll take a look at each one and why they’re important.
Power
The first thing you’ll need to think about is the power rating. The higher the wattage, the louder and clearer the bass will be. It’s important to choose a subwoofer that can handle the power you want to use. Most 18 inch subwoofers are capable of handling more than 1000 watts.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is another thing to consider. A subwoofer that is too sensitive will distort and overdrive the music you’re playing. This will make the sound harsh and lose some of the nuances that make the music special. You want a subwoofer that is sensitive enough to let you hear the subtle nuances in the music but not so sensitive that it distorts the sound.
Impedance
The impedance of a subwoofer is the measurement of how much resistance it presents to the power going through it. If you’re using a 12 volt system, you’ll want to get a subwoofer that has a low impedance, like a 4 ohm or a 6 ohm subwoofer. This will keep the current flowing through the subwoofer and give you a cleaner sound.
Design and Material
The design of the subwoofer will also make a difference in how it sounds. Some subwoofers have an enclosure that’s completely open while others have an enclosure that is sealed. Sealed subwoofers tend to be better because they allow more air to flow through the enclosure.
The material of the subwoofer can also make a difference. A subwoofer made of wood is very warm sounding and can add a lot of character to the sound of your car audio.
Voice Coil
The voice coil is the part of the subwoofer that actually produces the sound. It is usually made of copper and is wound around a steel core. The voice coil has to be carefully tuned to the subwoofer to get the best sound.
You’ll want to make sure you get a subwoofer with a voice coil that is capable of handling the power you’re going to be using. The bigger the voice coil, the louder the subwoofer will be.
Enclosure Construction
The enclosure of the subwoofer is also important. A sealed enclosure will keep the sound from leaking out and will help reduce the bass that gets lost in the car.
This will also help the subwoofer stay cooler. If the enclosure is open, you’ll have to worry about heat buildup inside the subwoofer.
Installation
You’ll want to make sure the subwoofer is properly mounted and that the subwoofer’s output is going to the proper location in the car.
The mounting system should be designed to be easy to install and to provide good support for the subwoofer.
Passive or Powered Subwoofer Types
Passive subwoofers have no power source and rely on the amplifier in the car to drive them. Powered subwoofers have a power source and can be either battery or AC powered.
Passive subwoofers are usually cheaper and easier to install. They have a limited range and are not as loud as powered subwoofers.
Powered subwoofers can be used with a variety of car audio systems and are usually more expensive than passive subwoofers. They have a much larger range and are more capable of handling more power.
Most 18 inch subwoofers will work with either type of system.
FAQs
Does a 18-Inch Subwoofer Sound Good?
A 18-inch subwoofer is going to take up a lot of space. You will need a large enclosure for this size of the subwoofer. This means that you won’t be able to put this in your trunk or back seat. It would probably have to go in the cargo area of an SUV or truck if you wanted it there at all.
A 18-inch subwoofer is not designed for sound quality. They are designed for output only. They require a lot of power and they can get loud but they will not sound good doing it. They play notes that are very deep which is great if you just want some big bass but if you want good sound quality then you will want a smaller subwoofer.
Is It Better to Have 1 or 2 Subwoofers?
Two subwoofers are going to give you twice the power of a single sub, assuming that both subs are of equal quality and share the same electrical load. This means that your subwoofer will be able to play sounds at higher volumes without distortion.
However, there are some downsides to having two subs as opposed to one. One problem is that having two subs can create a huge bulk in your car, depending on the size of the subs. Another problem is that it takes more resources (amplifier, electrical wiring) to power them both, which may not be available in your car if you don’t have a high-end sound system.
What Makes a Subwoofer Hit Harder?
The most important factor in making a subwoofer hit harder is to increase its power. The more power a sub can take, the more force it will hit with. A typical subwoofer can handle up to 400 watts, but some are capable of taking even more. Just be careful not to push your sub too hard or you risk damaging it.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of subwoofer brands, models and configurations to choose from. This can make it difficult to understand all of the specifications and details on each different 18 inch subwoofer model.
Additionally, there is quite a bit of information available from manufacturers about some of their best models and this can also leave you with a ton of questions.
If you are looking for a cheap 18 inch car subwoofer, then I hope my list has given you some helpful reviews. All of these subwoofers would be a good way to upgrade your car audio system, and each one is sure to give you the best possible sound quality.
