best marine subwoofer for boats

5 Best Subwoofers For Boats

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(Last Updated On: September 28, 2023)

Subwoofers for boats can take the strain from the other speakers in order to provide a deeper and crisper sound. Marine subwoofers include additional waterproof protection and marine-grade materials for safe usage on boats.

The best marine subwoofer is the Garmin MS-SW10 Fusion with a peak power rating of 400W and a mounting diameter of 8.75″,a free space resonance of 28Hz, and a frequency response of 30Hz – 2Khz.

If you have already kitted your boat out with the latest marine speakers but still lacking bass, a marine subwoofer is exactly what you need.

There are various sizes and models available but as with any audio, the quality is dependent upon the budget.

Table of Contents

Best Marine Subwoofers

Marine Subwoofer Preview Amp Included
Garmin MS-SW10 No
Bazooka MBTA10250D Yes
Alpine SWR-M100 No
Kicker 10″ 4-ohm No
PYLE PLMRW8 No

Compared with a standard subwoofer, marine subwoofers have been designed to withstand water, salt, UV rays, and other damp environment factors.

They are slightly more expensive but you are paying for the weatherproofing technology.

For those looking for the most powerful marine speakers you can buy, the two figures you will want to look out for are peak power and RMS.

Both are important but if the RMS power is high then the bass quality and power will be greater.

Whether you are having a boat party, wakeboarding or just enjoy loud music, a subwoofer can make a huge difference.

Below is a list of the best marine subwoofers that provide deep bass and retain high-quality audio.

Garmin MS-SW10 Fusion

Engineered specifically for the marine environment, the Garmin MS-SW10 Fusion Entertainment subwoofer has a two-inch voice coil. 

You can increase the bass level of your music, in addition to improving the all-around sound quality by incorporating the Garmin subwoofer into your audio system.

The 10-inch subwoofer will compliment your Fusion marine audio system. This MS-SW10 has a water-resistant design. It also complies with ASTM standards for UV stability and for salt and fog resistance.

Even with prolonged exposure to the elements, the Garmin will continue to provide sustained high performance.

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The 400-Watts peak power output produces both crisp and accurate bass. You are going to want to install your MS-SW10 subwoofer with a Fusion amplifier to achieve the best sound quality. 

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Bazooka MBTA10250D Marine Bass Tube

best marine amplifier and subwoofer


The Bazooka is a bass tube that is available in both 100W and 250W peak power ratings, with the latter being the most desirable.

For those that do not want to do any crazy installation such as drilling or creating enclosures, the Bazooka is ideal.

Included is a class D amplifier, which powers the 10-inch subwoofer to reach a powerful 200W RMS.

The amplifier is often a component novice audio installers forget and it can be expensive for certain audio systems but it is included with the Bazooka, making it a reasonable price marine subwoofer system.

So that this marine subwoofer is safe in water environments, it has a waterproof woofer, stainless steel hardware, weather-resistant Velcro and is salt, fog and UV certified.

It even includes reinforced straps so that you can securely strap it to the boat.

Overall, it is the best marine amplifier and subwoofer with its deep bass and high-quality audio from the class D amplifier that is included.

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Alpine SWR-M100 Boat Subwoofer

best marine subwoofer for the money


For boat owners wanting something special but cannot stretch to the price of the JL Audio alternative, the Apline SWR-M100 is ideal.

It is a high output bass speaker with high excursion capabilities, which is the perfect recipe for maximum bass.

In terms of the specifications, the SWR-M100 series produces 300W RMS and 900W peak power, which is very powerful for a reasonably priced marine subwoofer.

It will never compare against the JL Audio’s quality because that is in a different league but the Alpine alternative is certainly the best alternative.

Considering the price difference, it is the best marine subwoofer for the money and provides excellent powerful bass from the 10-inch woofer.

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Kicker 10″ 4-ohm Marine Subwoofer

The Kicker 10-inch Freeair Marine Subwoofer is one of the most versatile subwoofers anywhere. There is no enclosure needed with these units.

Completely waterproof, the Kicker subwoofer has been tested on boats in real situations for salt and fog exposure. They are also resistant to UV exposure and meet or exceed ASTM standards.

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The motor structure on the Kicker is completely sealed. The locking and sealed terminal cover makes it splash-proof to guarantee a lasting product.

Tough Santoprene surround and a marine-grade cone pump will blast out the bass for as long and as loud as you want.

Get the optional LED grilles that are sold separately and come with seven selectable LED colors to match your boat.

You can also get an optional controller that gives you a total of 20 colors and 19 different lighting modes to add to the fun. 

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PYLE PLMRW8 Marine Subwoofer

 a cheap marine sub-woofer


If you are on a tight budget and require a powerful subwoofer, Pyle offers a range of subwoofers. They include an 8 inch/400W, 10 inch/500W, and a 12 inch/600W.

All are constructed with marine-grade materials and use a high-quality polypropylene cone.

The 8 inch is the cheapest marine subwoofer. It has a peak power output of 400W and RMS 200W, which is still fairly powerful for the price.

Overall, it is a cheap marine subwoofer that can be bought in bulk to provide powerful bass all around the boat.

It is clearly not going to match up against the JL Audio alternative. It will certainly improve any boat audio system without any bass.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LANjWd4TrLQ

Marine Subwoofer Buying Guide

If you need bass within your audio setup, the subwoofer is the first component you should upgrade.

Subwoofers for boats are becoming more popular. Boosting the bass with a marine subwoofer can make a huge difference to outdoor parties.

Choosing the best subwoofer for your boat can be fairly difficult if you are new to the world of audio installations.

There are various terms you will come across such as peak power, RMS and impedance, and others. All the main factors are discussed below.

Power Ratings

There are two power ratings that you should take note of when choosing a marine subwoofer.

These are RMS power ratings and peak power. The majority of brands will clearly state the values as labels on the back of the subwoofer.

RMS stands for “Root Mean Square” and is simply an equation for the best value of the waveform. This is required for a recommended power rating.

It is measured in watts but some brands do calculate the value differently, so keep an eye out for that.

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The Peak Power rating is usually the largest number on the subwoofer. In short, it is how loud the subwoofer can go without blowing.

Of course, you will need a matching marine stereo head unit and amplifier in order to play it to high quality too.

Impedance

Impedance is a measurement of electrical resistance, which is measured in ohms. Most high-quality subwoofers have an impedance rating of 4 ohms.

If you are using an expensive amplifier, they may require a particular electrical resistance in order to work properly. That is fairly important if you are wanting powerful bass.

Marine Subwoofer Installation

Setting the marine subwoofer up on the boat can be easy in most cases. It is all dependent upon the setup of your boat.

You might have very little hands-on knowledge of installing audio equipment. In this case, it may be best to go for a plug-and-play subwoofer such as the Bazooka.

However, it is fairly basic wiring and can be set up much easier than you expect.

Mounting is the hardest part of the installation. You will want a snug fit so that it looks good on board your boat.

However, it is still nothing to worry about. Just ensure you take proper measurements of the speaker before causing any permanent damage.

Marine Grade Materials

Many people will focus on just water-resistant or waterproof materials but there is more to it.

UV can cause bad damage to speakers. So can various other factors that come from being in the marine environment.

Before purchasing a marine subwoofer, ensure that it is salt, fog and UV certified as well as waterproof.

Conclusion

Adding a marine subwoofer to your audio setup on your boat for additional bass is a worthwhile investment.

It can be done cheaply or properly at a cost with brands such as JL Audio and Kenwood producing top of the range examples.

If you are going to be drilling into your boat, you will want to install the best you can find. It’s highly recommended to do so.

It is tempting to install an automotive or even home subwoofer to your boat. Sure, it will work if it’s covered.

However, the boat is surrounded in a wet environment the majority of the time. The UV will also cause damage to overtime.

It is simply not worth it and a powerful marine subwoofer is all geared up ready for the marine environment.

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