Five Tips For Choosing The Best Car Subwoofer Package | MTX Audio

Five Tips For Choosing
The Best Subwoofer Package

So you want a pre-assembled, complete subwoofer package for your car, something easy to choose and easy to install. MTX subwoofer packages range from complete all-in-one units with the amplifier and subwoofer already in an enclosure, all the way to individually matched components chosen by our expert audio engineers to guarantee the best performance.

Remember, a subwoofer requires an enclosure to function. Whether you want to put your subs in your trunk, cargo area, or behind your seat will determine what subwoofer you can use and what type of enclosure you need. Here are five questions to answer before you buy.

1Custom or Prefabricated Enclosure?

MTX ThunderForm custom subwoofer enclosure
MTX ThunderForm — Custom Fit Subwoofer Enclosure

Custom ThunderForms are available from MTX and are molded to fit specific vehicles. These units are designed to make use of unused space such as under a seat or in a molded cranny, so they do not cut into your storage space. ThunderForms are excellent enclosures custom designed for superior sound.

Prefabricated, non-custom enclosures are designed to fit a wide range of subwoofers, but they are bigger and will typically take up cargo space.

2What Size Subwoofer? 10", 12", or 15"?

A larger subwoofer has more cone area so it can move more air and will generally produce more sound pressure (SPL). However, a smaller subwoofer in a well-designed enclosure or an amplified universal enclosure will make a huge difference in the quality of your music. Everyone loves to show off two 12s if you have the room.

Not sure what size you need? See our subwoofer size guide for a breakdown of what each size delivers, or compare every MTX series in the subwoofer buying guide.

3One Sub or Two?

How loud do you want to go? Every time you double your amplifier power or double the number of subwoofers you have, you produce an audible difference of 3dB — roughly double the perceived volume.

This choice depends on what kind of sound you are looking for and how much room you have in your car. A single sub in a sealed enclosure gives outstanding sound quality bass, perfect for rock. Two subs in a vented enclosure give you much boomier bass, perfect for hip-hop and rap.

4Loaded or Unloaded?

MTX unloaded subwoofer package
MTX Unloaded Subwoofer Package

This is about work and your time. Loaded enclosures are designed by experts to provide great output and don't require much effort to install since everything is already in the enclosure.

If you have your heart set on specific subs and they are not available in a loaded enclosure, buy an unloaded enclosure and mount them yourself. MTX offers many great package combinations of recommended subs with matched amplifiers and enclosures.

5Integrated Amplifier or External Amp?

An integrated (built-in) amplifier is already wired and mounted inside the enclosure, making installation easy. While they are easy to install, they sacrifice a few features compared to external models due to the space constraints of fitting into the enclosure.

An external amp lets you choose the power that is right for you. Power makes a difference — doubling your power gains you 3dB, so 100 watts compared to 200 watts will be clearly audible. MTX offers solutions to exceed your expectations whichever you choose.

MTX subwoofer packages offer easy solutions for everything you need to get a system going. You will find varying combos from all-in-one units to separate premium components, value packages to advanced kits, and small, large, and custom fit options.

TNP212D2
TNP212D2
Dual 12" 400W RMS Sealed Enclosure & Mono Block Amplifier
$369.95MAP pricing
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TNP212DV
TNP212DV
Dual 12" 1000W RMS Vented Enclosure & Mono Block Amplifier
$499.95MAP pricing
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MB210SP
MB210SP
Magnum Dual 10" 400W RMS Vented Enclosure with Amplifier
$269.95MAP pricing
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RT8PT
RT8PT
8" 120W RMS Amplified Vented Subwoofer Enclosure
$199.95MAP pricing
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RTP8A
RTP8A
8" 120W RMS Amplified Vented Subwoofer Enclosure
$199.95MAP pricing
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TN8MS
TN8MS
Terminator 8" Micro Amplified Subwoofer Enclosure
$249.95MAP pricing
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TNE212D
TNE212D
Dual 12" 400W RMS Sealed Subwoofer Enclosure
$219.95MAP pricing
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TNE212DV
TNE212DV
Dual 12" 1000W RMS Vented Subwoofer Enclosure
$279.95MAP pricing
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a loaded subwoofer enclosure?
A loaded enclosure is a box that already has the subwoofer mounted inside it. You just connect power, ground, remote, and signal — no driver installation required. An unloaded enclosure is just the box, designed to accept a specific driver size that you mount yourself.
Does a subwoofer package include everything I need?
Sub + amp + enclosure packages include the three main components but not a wiring kit. You'll still need an amplifier wiring kit (power cable, ground cable, remote turn-on wire, and fuse) plus RCA interconnects to run signal from your head unit. Amplified all-in-one packages also need a wiring kit. Check each product page for what's included.
What is a ThunderForm?
ThunderForms are vehicle-specific custom subwoofer enclosures made by MTX to fit exactly into unused spaces in popular trucks and SUVs — under rear seats, in spare tire wells, and in factory-molded areas. They give you real bass without sacrificing seating or cargo space. Check the ThunderForm page to see if one is available for your vehicle.
Is an integrated amplifier as powerful as an external amp?
Generally no. Integrated amplifiers are designed to fit inside the enclosure, which limits their size and therefore their power output. They are convenient and simple to install, but an external amplifier of the same price will typically deliver more power and more tuning options. If maximum output matters, go external. If easy install matters more, go integrated.
Will two subwoofers sound twice as loud as one?
Not exactly twice as loud, but noticeably louder. Doubling the number of subwoofers adds 3dB of output, which is a clearly audible increase. Doubling amplifier power also adds 3dB. So going from one sub to two, driven by an amp with double the power, gives you 6dB more output — which sounds roughly four times louder to most listeners.

Shop Packages

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TNP212D2
TNP212D2 — Dual 12" 400W Sealed
Sub + Amp + Enclosure · $369.95
View product
RT8PT
RT8PT — 8" 120W Amplified
All-in-one · $199.95
View product
MB210SP
MB210SP — Dual 10" 400W Vented
Sub + Amp + Enclosure · $269.95
View product
TNE212D
TNE212D — Dual 12" 400W Sealed
Sub + Enclosure · $219.95
View product