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Best JL Audio Subwoofer

Best JL Audio Subwoofer in 2023

After years of listening to JL Audio subwoofers and feedback from thousands of satisfied customers, we have compiled a list of the best JL Audio subwoofers in 2023. JL Audio is best known for their subwoofers and they have been in car audio game since the beginning. JL Audio subwoofers have a reputation for hitting hard, sounding great, and they last. You will not find a more respected name in car audio subwoofers than JL Audio. They are the best of the best. However, after hours of personal experience and hearing from our customers, you may be surprised as to what we rank as the best JL Audio subwoofer in 2023. The most expensive is not always the best and the entry-level W0 isn't necessarily the worst JL Audio subwoofer either. There are many important factors to help you find the Best JL sub for your installation.

Best JL Subwoofers

The Best JL Subwoofers

#1 Overall Best JL Audio Subwoofer

JL Audio 12W6v3-D4

JL Audio 12W6v3-D4 #1 Overall Best JL Audio Subwoofer

If you are installing a JL Audio subwoofer and you can pick any product they offer, we recommend the 12" JL Audio W6. The W6 subwoofers handle plenty of power, they hit hard, and they are tighter and punchier than the W7. The W7 will go lower and can handle more power, but if it's my vehicle, I am going with a W6. I like the quick, hard-hitting, punchier bass versus the smoother, more rolling bass that the W7 delivers. Speakers and subwoofers are subjective and very personal, but if you are asking us, we say, "W6 all the way." If I had to pick a second favorite, I would probably go with a TW3 because it is so thin, but if I am going full size subwoofer, I am going W6. If I need something where space is limited, I am going TW3.

    Pros
  • 500W RMS Power Handling
  • Hard-Hitting, Tight, Punchy Bass
  • Requires Very Little Air Space Given the Size and Power Handling
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • Expensive
  • 6.89" Mounting Depth

Best JL Audio Subwoofer Value

JL Audio 10W3v3-2

JL Audio 10W3v3-2 is the best JL Audio subwoofer value

The JL Audio 10W3v3-2 is the best overall value in the JL subwoofer lineup. The W3 10 inch JL Audio subwoofers can handle enough power to not only play accurate, but also hit hard. This subwoofer comes with a single, 2 ohm voice coil and is perfect for a single subwoofer installation and wiring your amplifier to a 2 ohm load. Remember to make sure that your amplifier is 2 ohm stable when installing this subwoofer. If it is not, check out the 4 ohm version, 10W3v3-4. When you look at the power handling of the W3 and compare it to the W6, the W3 isn't that far behind. Yes the W6 is going to hit harder, but the W3 delivers very similar power handling at a little more than half of the cost. If you are in the market for a quality subwoofer that can handle some power, and you have an amp that can give the subwoofer what it needs, go with the 10W3v3-2. If the W3 is too deep for your application, check out the 10TW3-D4.

    Pros
  • 500W RMS Power Handling
  • Versatile Performance with both Output and Accuracy
  • Sleek Appearace with Small "W3" Badge on the Woofer Cone
  • More Affordable than the W6
  • You Get What You Pay For
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • More Expensive than Other Brands with 500W RMS Power Handling

Best Shallow Mount JL Audio Subwoofer

JL Audio 12TW3-D4

JL Audio 12TW3-D4 best low profile JL Audio subwoofer

The JL Audio 12TW3-D4 is the best shallow mount JL Audio subwoofer. Shallow mount subwoofers have become really popular because they allow you to install subwoofers underneath the rear seats of trucks, or they allow you to add a subwoofer while keeping your cargo space usable. Many shallow subwoofer sound just that, "Shallow." The JL Audio 12TW3-D4 is one of the few exceptions and the output of the TW3 is very similar to the full-size W3. These subwoofers can handle some serious power, they sound really good, and they hit hard. There is nothing thin about these thin-profile woofers. Even if you have the space for a full-size subwoofers, I love these subwoofers. The TW3s come in both a dual 4 ohm and a dual 8 ohm voice coil. If you only run a single sub, go with the 4 ohm DVC, if you run 2 subs go with the 8 ohm DVC. The TW3 is the exception to the shallow mount stereotype and delivers full-size W3 type output but without taking up the space of a full-size subwoofer

    Pros
  • Full Size Output in a Shallow Mount Subwoofer
  • 400W RMS Power Handling
  • 3.5" Mounting Depth
  • Only Requires .8 cu. ft. Enclosure Volume
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • None

Best JL Audio Subwoofer for Accuracy

JL Audio W7 Subwoofers

JL Audio 12W7AE-3 is the best JL Audio subwoofer for accuracy

The JL Audio W7 is widely considered the best car audio subwoofer in the world. These handle the most power amoung all of the JL Audio car subwoofers, they hit hard, they are very accurate, and they are very smooth. What makes this subwoofer unique is its ability to go low. The JL Audio 12W7AE-3 can play lower frequencies than other subwoofer which provides a more accurate listening experience. In addition, the output is very smooth. Now, don't see the word "smooth" and assume that this thing can't hammer. The W7s absolutely hammer, but it's not just noise and output. You can play a track with a ton of bass, turn it up load, and the W7 is going to blow you away. But at the same time, if and when you want fidelity and balance, and you have your system tuned properly, the W7 is going to deliver in ways other subwoofers simply can't. The 12W7AE-3 comes with a single 3 ohm voice coil. It is important to make sure your amplifier has sufficient power at 3 ohms to give the W7 what it wants. We like the JL Audio HD and XD series amps to power this subwoofer.

    Pros
  • 1000W RMS Power Handling
  • The Most Accurate JL Audio Subwoofer for a Superior Listening Experience
  • It Can Play Lower Frequencies than Most 12" Subwooers
  • Very Smooth Output
  • It's the Top of the LIne Subwoofer from the Best Brand in Car Subwoofers
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • Single 3 Ohm Voice Coil Requires a Bigger Amp than if it was 2 Ohms
  • It's Expensive
  • Doesn't Have that "Kick Drum to Your Chest Feeling" (Because it is so Smooth)

Best Entry Level JL Audio Subwoofer

JL Audio 10W0v3-4

JL Audio 10W0v3-4 is the best entry level JL Audio subwoofer

If you are on a budget, or you know you don't need a ton of bass, just some bass, the JL Audio 10W0v3-4 is perfect. The JL Audio 10W0v3-4 is the gold standard among entry level, car audio subwoofers. These subwoofers are overbuilt, they perform, and they last. Simply put, the W0 is simply the best at delivering great bass response without breaking the bank, and without needing a bunch of power. Although the W0 is the entry level subwoofer for JL Audio, it is on par with several other mid-level subwoofers from other car audio brands out there. The 10 inch W0 is legendary. It performs and it lasts forever. You can never go with with a JL Audio W0 subwoofer.

    Pros
  • 300W RMS
  • The Gold Standard for Entry Level Subwoofers
  • A JL Audio Subwoofer at an Affordable Price Point
  • (Over)Built to Last
  • Outperforms other "Entry Level" Subwoofers
    Cons
  • Single 4 Ohm Voice Coil Requires More Amp for Single Subwoofer Installations
  • More Expensive than Other "Entry Level" Subwoofers

Best JL Audio Subwoofer for Trucks

JL Audio 10TW1-4

JL Audio 10TW1-4 is the best subwoofer for trucks

If you are installing a JL Audio subwoofer in your truck, the 10TW1-4 is the best option. The JL Audio 10TW1-4 is a shallow mount subwoofer that has very minimal forward protrusion. The front size of the subwoofer when installed barely extends over the front of the box. In addition, the 10TW1-4 comes with a grille pre-installed so you can install the subwoofer under your rear seat of a crew cab truck or behind the front seats of a single cab truck without worrying about damaging the woofer cone. From a performance standpoint, the JL Audio 10TW1-4 can handle up to 300 watts RMS and requires very little air-space. What is amazing about this subwoofer is the output relative to the power handling. This subwoofer sounds like 400 watt or 500 watt subwoofer even though it only requires 300 watts. The TW1 subwoofers are used in many of the JL Audio Stealthboxes and there's a reason for that. This subwoofer delivers affordable performance, with minimal air space, and without requiring a ton of power.

    Pros
  • 300W RMS
  • Grille Included
  • Very Little Front Side Protrusion
  • Squared Off Frame Allows for Less Space Between Subwoofers
  • Requires very Little Air Space
  • Outperforms What You Expect from 300W RMS
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • Single 4 Ohm Voice Coil Requires More Amp for Single Subwoofer Installations
  • 4.36" Mounting Depth is Deep for a Shallow Mount Subwoofer

Best JL Audio Subwoofer for Tight Spaces

JL Audio 8W1v3-4

JL Audio 8W1v3-4 is the best subwoofer for tight spaces

If you are limited on space and want a JL Audio subwoofer, look no further than the 8W1v3-4. The 8" diameter is smaller than the 10s and 12s and it also has a very shallow mounting depth at only 3.86". This little subwoofer can handle 150 watts RMS to deliver tight, punchy bass to fill in the bottom end of your vehicle's stereo system. We also considered the 8W3v3-4, but given the price points and the power handling, the 8 inch W1 is the clear winner here. If you are limited on space, the additional cost of the W3 just doesn't justify itself for the price point. The 8W1v3-4 does not have a pole vent which allows you to bottom out the subwoofer against the enclosure for minimum mounting depth. Overall, this subwoofer allows you to install a JL subwoofer where many other 8" subwoofers simply won't fit. If you are limited on space, the 8Wv3-4 is the best JL Audio sub.

    Pros
  • 150W RMS
  • 3.86" Mounting Depth
  • No Pole Vent Allows you to Mount the Subwoofer Against the Back of the Enclosure
  • Only Requires .35 cu. ft. of Volume for a Sealed Enclosure
    Cons
  • Single 4 Ohm Voice Coil Requires More Amp for Single Subwoofer Installations

Best JL Audio Subwoofer Box

JL Audio CS110LG-TW3

JL Audio CS110LG-TW3 is the best JL Audio subwoofer box

The JL Audio CS110LG-TW3 is the best JL Audio subwoofer box. This enclosure comes with a 10" TW3 subwoofer pre-installed in the enclosure along with the grille. The subwoofer is pre-wired to a 2 ohm load and everything has been optimized for maximum performance by the same engineers that designed the subwoofer. This load JL Audio 10 inch subwoofer box allows you to quickly and easily add a subwoofer without having to hassle with building your own box or buying an aftermarket box that may or may not provide the proper amount of air space. The 10TW3-D4 subwoofer handles 400 watts RMS and the overall depth of the enclosure allows this box to mount in virtually any vehicle. With an overall depth of just 4.5" including the grille, you can add some serious bass to your vehicle while still having plenty of room for cargo, groceries, strollers, suitcases or whatever else you may take with you in your vehicle. Also, the box comes with binding post terminals on the outside which allows you to quickly and easily disconnect the box and remove it from your vehicle when you need that extra space. The TW3 subwoofers deliver full size output in a shallow mount package to deliver the best of both worlds.

    Pros
  • 400W RMS
  • 4.5" Deep Including the Grille
  • No Pole Vent Allows you to Mount the Subwoofer Against the Back of the Enclosure
  • Subwoofer is Pre-Terminated to a 2 Ohm Load
  • Box is Optimized by the Same Engineers that Designed the 10" TW3 Subwoofer
  • Easily Install and Remove with Binding Post Terminals on the Outside of the Box
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • Standard Rectangular Box Size May Not Fit All Applications

Best JL Audio Powered Subwoofer

JL Audio ACP108LG-W3v3

JL Audio ACP108LG-W3v3 is the best JL Audio powered subwoofer

The JL Audio ACP108LG-W3v3 is proof that dynamite comes in small packages. The JL Audio ACP108LG-W3v3 is our vote as the best JL Audio powered subwoofer thanks to the ported enclosure design and ultra-efficient amplifier. Do not sleep on this little 8 inch subwoofer. This thing will hit hard and suprise you. Your friends may even think you have a 10" or a 12" subwoofer in your car. The nice thing about powered subwoofers is that you do not have to worry about a separate amplifier and box for your subwoofer. Instead, you get an all-in-one solution that delivers the hard hitting bass you expect from JL Audio without the headache. The enclosure itself with the ACP108LG-W3v3 is very compact measuring only 18.5" (W) x 11.125" (H) x 5.125" (D) leaving you plenty of cargo room in the trunk of your vehicle or, this can fit underneath the rear seats of many crew cab trucks. If you are looking for a simple solution to get some hard-hitting JL Audio bass in your vehicle, the ACP108LG-W3v3 gets the job done.

    Pros
  • Amplifier Included Built-In the the Enclosure
  • Compact Design Measuring 18.5" (W) x 11.125" (H) x 5.125" (D)
  • Ported Enclosure Design for Maximum Output
  • 8" Subwoofer that Sounds like a 10"
  • The Best Powered 8" Subwoofer Out There
  • Built in U.S.A. with Global Components
    Cons
  • Not the Cheapest 8" Powered Subwoofer Solution




How Do You Determine Which JL Audio Subwoofer to Buy?

In order to determine which JL Audio subwoofer is best for you, we recommend taking the following into consideration:

  • Budget
  • Power Output and Power Handling
  • Space Limitations
  • Bass Needs/Wants

When determining. Like many things in life, you get what you pay for. There are ways to make your money go further, but typically, the more you can spend, the more power you can afford, both in terms of an amplifier and subwoofer. The more power you have, the more bass you will get. This is both in terms of how hard it hits and how well it sounds.

Budget

It is important to take your budget into consideration when determining the best JL Audio subwoofer. If you can't afford a higher end model, and you can't afford the amplifier to power it properly, you will be much better off with a W0, W1, or W3 vs a W6 or a W7. If you spend all of your budget on a W7, and you don't have enough left over to buy an amplifier to give it enough power, you have wasted your money.

Power Output & Handling

The power handling of the subwoofer is one of the most important factors when determining the best JL Audio subwoofer. If your amplifier puts out 300 watts RMS, a W7 is probably not a good fit and neither is a W6. However, if you have a 1000 watt amplifier, you want somethign that is going to handle some power to ensure that you don't cook your subwoofer and a W0 or even a W3 might not be enough. Keep in mind though that your amplifiers power is distributed among all of the subwoofers connected to it. For example, if you have a 1000 watt RMS amplifier and you have 2 subwoofers connected to it, that is 500 watts per subwoofer. If you have 4 subwoofers connected to it, that is 250 watts per subwoofer.

Mounting Depth

The larger, more expensive subwoofers that handle more power usually have a larger magnet, a deeper basket, and require more mounting depth. If you are limited on space, the best JL Audio subwoofer is probably a product from their thin-woofer line such as a TW5, TW3, or TW1. At the same time, if you have a full-size vehicle and a massive trunk, you probably don't need to worry about mounting depth as you will have the space for a large box.

However, just because you have the space for a large subwoofer box doesn't mean you necessarily want to devote ALL of your trunk space to your subwoofers. You may want to have both bass and storage space and there are several solutions from JL that will give you just that.

Bass Needs/Wants

Every car needs more bass and while many might argue that there is not such thing as, "Too much bass," there might be, depending on the music you listen to and your personal preferences. If you just want something to fill in the bottom end of your stereo system with just "some bass" instead of "no bass," you don't need a W6 or a W7 subwoofer. You may not even need a W3 for that matter. At the same time, if you are a bass head that loves rap, you might say "there's no such thing as too much bass" and you may need a W6 or a W7 because a full-size W3 just isn't enough. The amount of bass wanted or needed is going to vary from person to person, but it will also help guide you toward the best JL Audio subwoofer for YOU!

JL Audio Subwoofer Buyers Guide

We have compiled charts with all of the JL Audio subwoofer models, the sizes that are available, and the key specs for each product.

Full Size Subwoofers
W0
10 inch W0
JL Audio 10 inch W0 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
4.9"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.65 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.125 cu ft
12 inch W0
JL Audio 12 inch W0 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
5.4"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.375 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.75 cu ft
15 inch W0
JL Audio 15 inch W0 Subwoofer
RMS Power
500W
Recommended RMS Power
150-500W
Mounting Depth
7.15"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.875 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
2.75 cu ft
W1
8 Inch W1
JL Audio 8 inch W1 Subwoofer
RMS Power
150W
Recommended RMS Power
50-150W
Mounting Depth
3.86"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
 
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.25 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.5 cu ft
10 Inch W1
JL Audio 10 inch W1 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
4.60"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.55 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.90 cu ft
12 Inch W1
JL Audio 12 inch W1 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
5.41"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.10 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.60 cu ft
W3
6 inch W3
JL Audio 6 inch W3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
150W
Recommended RMS Power
50-150W
Mounting Depth
4.25"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
 
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.15 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.25 cu ft
8 inch W3
JL Audio 8 inch W3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
250W
Recommended RMS Power
75-250W
Mounting Depth
4.63"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm SVC
 
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.30 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.35 cu ft
10 inch W3
JL Audio 10 inch W3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
500W
Recommended RMS Power
150-500W
Mounting Depth
5.93"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.625 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.125 cu ft
12 inch W3
JL Audio 12 inch W3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
500W
Recommended RMS Power
150-500W
Mounting Depth
6.65"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.25 cu ft (2 Ohm)
1.125 (4 Ohm)
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.75 cu ft
13 inch W3
JL Audio 13 inch W3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
600W
Recommended RMS Power
150-600W
Mounting Depth
7.63"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.75 cu ft (2 Ohm)
1.50 (4 Ohm)
Ported Enclosure Volume
2.50 cu ft (2 Ohm)
2.25 (4 Ohm)
W6
10 inch W6
JL Audio 10 inch W6 Subwoofer
RMS Power
600W
Recommended RMS Power
200-600W
Mounting Depth
6.89"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm DVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.55 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.75 cu ft
12 inch W6
JL Audio 12 inch W6 Subwoofer
RMS Power
600W
Recommended RMS Power
200-600W
Mounting Depth
7.52"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm DVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.0 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.3 cu ft
W7
8 inch W7
JL Audio 8 inch W7 Subwoofer
RMS Power
500W
Recommended RMS Power
200-500W
Mounting Depth
6.83"
Voice Coils
3 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.875 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.00 cu ft
10 inch W7
JL Audio 10 inch W7 Subwoofer
RMS Power
750W
Recommended RMS Power
300-750W
Mounting Depth
8"
Voice Coils
3 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.25 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.5 cu ft
12 inch W7
JL Audio 12 inch W7 Subwoofer
RMS Power
1000W
Recommended RMS Power
400-1000W
Mounting Depth
9.5"
Voice Coils
3 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
1.375 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.75 cu ft
Thin Profile Subwoofers
TW1
10 inch TW1
JL Audio 10 inch TW1 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
4.36"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.35 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
.625 cu ft
12 inch TW1
JL Audio 12 inch TW1 Subwoofer
RMS Power
300W
Recommended RMS Power
75-300W
Mounting Depth
4.62"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.65 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
1.125 cu ft
TW3
10 inch TW3
JL Audio 10 inch TW3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
400W
Recommended RMS Power
200-400W
Mounting Depth
3.25"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm DVC
8 Ohm DVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.50 cu ft (4 Ohm DVC)
.575 (8 Ohm DVC)
Ported Enclosure Volume
.60 cu ft (4 Ohm DVC)
.75 (8 Ohm DVC)
12 inch TW3
JL Audio 12 inch TW3 Subwoofer
RMS Power
400W
Recommended RMS Power
200-400W
Mounting Depth
3.25"
Voice Coils
4 Ohm DVC
8 Ohm DVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.80 cu ft (4 Ohm DVC)
1.00 (8 Ohm DVC)
Ported Enclosure Volume
.95 cu ft (4 Ohm DVC)
1.30 (8 Ohm DVC)
TW5
13 inch TW5
JL Audio 13 inch TW5 Subwoofer
RMS Power
600W
Recommended RMS Power
250-600W
Mounting Depth
2.625"
Voice Coils
2 Ohm SVC
4 Ohm SVC
Sealed Enclosure Volume
.80 cu ft
Ported Enclosure Volume
Not Recommended
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