Do I Need A Subwoofer For Turntable?

It is not cool when the level of bass is entirely out of proportion to the rest of the music you are listening to on your turntables. That is because, big punchy bass is pretty cool within reasonable limits and balance and for the right kind of music.

And a subwoofer is used with your turntables for this purpose because subwoofers are really good at producing low-frequency basses that deliver the original sound quality with all the emotions.

Of course, there are numerous factors to consider before incorporating a subwoofer into your turntable system. And most importantly knowing that a subwoofer for turntables is really necessary or not?

So without any further ado Let’s get started  

Do I Need A Subwoofer For The Turntable?

turntable-connected speakers

To begin, a subwoofer is not necessary or you can say that it is one’s personal preference for using a subwoofer for playing music on turntables. 

Most turntable-connected speakers should be capable of producing moderate bass tones. But still using a subwoofer will enhance the low bass tones in music.

And if you really want to add some extra bass to your system, some of you may think of buying  an incredible new turntable or go to some thrift stores and look for a fantastic 80’s model and that will be the end of it. 

That’s wrong!! Because If you want the best sound and extra bass, you simply must purchase a subwoofer.

A subwoofer can assist with sound design decisions, arrangement decisions, the ever-coveted drop, and other factors that attract people to dance through its deep bass music.

Adding A Subwoofer To A Turntable Setup

If you want to connect a subwoofer to your existing speakers, you’re in luck because it’s a relatively simple process. 

Connect some speaker wire to your sub’s right and left wire inputs, then match the right and left cables back to your amplifier.

But here the mixing of subwoofer is more important. You want to ensure that the subwoofer is wholly implemented with your existing speakers. 

Turn on the sub, play a record, and adjust the volume until it’s barely audible, then turn on your speakers. 

Fine-tune the sub’s volume once more to ensure that the bass presence is felt while none of the mid and high tones are negatively affected.

You will have a better quality of sound at this point!

Also Read: Do You Need A Subwoofer For Vinyl?

What Is The Best Location For A Turntable With A Subwoofer?

Since the deepest bass frequencies are not directional, subwoofers can be placed almost anywhere in your listening space. 

Generally, placing a subwoofer in a room’s corner, or slightly off-center in the middle of a room, produces the best results.

Try to take the following precautionary measures before placing your subwoofers with your turntable

Isolation of the speakers: Place your turntable and subwoofers on different surfaces to prevent speaker vibrations from reaching the turntable. Also, don’t forget to position your speakers properly.

Level the ground beneath your turntable: Maintain the level of your turntable to avoid tracking issues and excessive tonearm friction.

Interference should be avoided: Isolate your turntable (particularly the tonearm and cartridge) from electrical noise sources such as amplifiers, high-power electronics, and anything with a wireless transmitter.

Environmental considerations: Keep your turntable and subwoofers in an indoor climate-controlled space.

Is It Worthwhile To Use A Subwoofer With A Turntable?

vinyl subwoofers

This question can be answered in a single word: yes! However, you should think about whether a turntable is suitable for you, even if it is this author’s opinion that they are a far superior way to listen to music for a music lover.

If you want the best and want to enjoy the best sound from your turntable, then a turntable with subwoofers is worth it. It retains its value while providing excellent sound and experience to its listeners.

If done correctly, they offer a much higher quality than a CD player or a Bluetooth speaker.

When deciding whether Turntables with Subwoofers are worth collecting, purchasing, and using, there are a few factors to consider. 

Pros Of Using A Turntable With Subwoofer

1-Nostalgia

Turntables with subwoofers could evoke feelings of nostalgia even if you were born after millennia. 

According to turntable experts, this nostalgia can transport you to a past era. Using your turntable with subwoofers can almost become a ritual. 

You’ll need a tumbler of brown liquor, a leather chair, and your Turntable. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into Space ship and been shipped backward in history to a simpler time.

2-Superior Audio Quality

The quality provided by modern turntables with subwoofers is far superior to that offered by most speakers and stereos that use Bluetooth or are connected via auxiliary cables. 

Turntables with subwoofers have an intense and intimate sound quality that can make listening to music much more enjoyable. 

The sound quality of the music we listen to is just as important as the music itself, so why settle for less by using inferior sound devices?

It would be best if you choose subwoofers with turntables, as older Turntables and their speakers can have inferior sound quality.

3-Hobby

Turntable listening with subwoofers and storing them can become a hobby. If you’re an obsessive-compulsive like me, you’ll enjoy alphabetically classifying your records, stacking them up, and playing them. It is a fun hobby that can keep you entertained on long evenings.

Cons Of Using A Turntable With Subwoofer

1-Cost

Turntables with subwoofers will cost you at least a few hundred dollars and, in some cases, thousands of dollars. 

The turntables themselves can be purchased for very little money, though some go for much more.

If you add a subwoofer with it, it will become more costly.

On the other hand, a turntable store will usually sell a Turntable for between ten and twenty dollars. 

Turntable hobbyists can expect to spend hundreds of dollars on maintenance and records over the course of a year. 

2-Inconvenience

Turntables when used with subwoofers can be challenging to maintain because they require cleaning, maintenance, and stylus adjustment. 

When playing Turntable with Subwoofers, you can’t sit back and relax because you have to be quick to flip it when the record ends, or the record will be damaged. 

They can’t be that inconvenient, though, because they see a massive spike in popularity.

However, it is not their practicality that attracts customers, but rather the experience that they provide; nostalgia. 

3-Space

Turntables with subwoofers can use a lot of space, to be sure. A record stack can quickly form, and a corner of your room can quickly resemble a Turntable store. 

The amplifiers, subwoofers, and turntable will also need to have their own dedicated space to avoid damage.

How To Use A Subwoofer To Get More Bass For Your Turntable

powered subwoofer

Adding a subwoofer to your turntable setup is a great way to get more bass. And when you want to listen to music without boosted bass, a subwoofer has the benefit of being able to be turned off. 

You can also adjust most subwoofers’ volume and crossover/cutoff frequency. So there are numerous things you can do with a subwoofer to tailor it to your specific sound preferences. 

As a result, it is a more versatile option than purchasing more prominent speakers, as discussed in the preceding tip.

Another advantage of a powered subwoofer is that it has a built-in power amplifier. This is fantastic because deep tight bass requires a lot of amplification power to produce. 

As a result, if you choose to buy larger subwoofers for more bass, you may be forced to upgrade your amplifier/receiver to be able to drive them adequately. 

However, there is no need to upgrade to a more powerful amplifier/receiver with an active subwoofer since it is built-in.

If you are picky about sound and already have a good quality set of smaller (bookshelf) speakers, an excellent way to add a subwoofer to your system is to choose one that is designed to be matched with your speakers. 

This is something I’m thinking about doing myself. My Bowers and Wilkins 705 speakers are outstanding. 

Separate subwoofers will suit various stereo configurations, needs, and budgets. To begin, you might want to look at the top-selling home audio subwoofers to find a good match for your Turntable.

Best subwoofers for Turntable listening

1-Yamaha 10″ 100W Powered Subwoofer – Black (NS-SW100BL)

The Yamaha NS-SW100BL Subwoofer costs a little more than the $200 we aim for with our low-cost subwoofers list. But I think this is a very excellent piece of equipment.

Take a look at it! It is one of the classiest-looking subwoofers on this list, and its slimmer design allows it to easily fit into an entertainment center. I like how the black body contrasts with the chrome feet.

In terms of sound quality, Yamaha makes a big deal about how their technology prevents buzzing sounds, which some cheaper subwoofers can make when things are quiet. 

However, this is mostly silent. Overall, the sound is excellent, and regardless of the type of music you listen, you get an adorable bass level with this.

  • Very stylish appearance
  • Fits into tighter spaces
  • Design for down-firing
  • Simple to use
  • There are no buzzing sounds

Buy on Amazon

2-Klipsch R-120SW

This subwoofer produces sharp, clear sounds with heavy bass, creating a truly mesmerizing experience when watching movies or listening to music on your turntable.

A 400-watt digital amplifier in the subwoofer aids a front-firing woofer in delivering awe-inspiring bass for your home audio system.

The subwoofer’s digital amplifier allows it to reach low frequencies with high efficiency and easily achieve maximum output.

The Klipsch R-120SW subwoofer is housed in a stylish cabinet made of strengthened MDF of good quality. Aside from ensuring that the subwoofer lasts a long time, the MDF construction ensures that you have a great listening experience that is vibration-free.

The use of lighter wood is fascinating, and it adds a lot of personality to the piece. They’ve also kept it slim so that it can be placed almost anywhere. 

So, all in all, I was delighted to use it. It’s the type of subwoofer that does its job so well that you don’t even notice it’s there after a while and take it for granted.

  • Stunning wooden design
  • Has a refined sense of style
  • It comes with a slim design that enables it to fit into most spaces.
  • Excellent low-level bass.
  • Very simple to use

Buy on Amazon

3-ACOUSTIC AUDIO PSW400-10

The cables that come with it are durable and long. I’ve looked at a few Acoustic Audio subwoofers, including this one, the Acoustic Audio CS-PS65-B Front Firing Subwoofer. 

It maintains the trend of having a remarkable appearance and some thumping bass. This is only a 6.5-inch subwoofer, but it really kicks in when there’s a lot of action going on. 

If you have a home theater and want something that will have some severe kick and not take up much space, this could be the ideal budget subwoofer for you.

The sound is fantastic, and to be honest. I didn’t turn it all the way up because there was no need, and I was afraid my wife would freak out. Its excellent design makes it something that will fit into any home theater and not be an eyesore.

As an added bonus, it comes with some RCA cables, which is unusual for a subwoofer.

  • Excellent value
  • Elegant and clever design
  • It does not take up much space
  • 250 watts power output
Buy on Amazon

4-BIC America F12

The BIC America F12 Subwoofer is manufactured by BIC America. BIC America is known for producing high-quality sound products at a reasonable price, such as subwoofers and speakers.

In correlation to other similar home subwoofers, the BIC F12 subwoofer has a powerful amplifier that allows it to produce deeper bass.

The BIC F12 sub’s incredible bass gives you the sensation of being immersed in a fluid made of sound. It also gives the impression that the sounds are audible to any nearby neighbors.

One thing to note is that this subwoofer is much larger than it appears. As a result, if you’re thinking about buying it, double-check the dimensions to make sure it’ll fit where you want it. The BIC F12 subwoofer is a beast that will shake your room with earth-shattering beats.

The type of sound that is ideal for a large home theater or for playing it with your turntable, because that requires some serious bass to shake things up! While I think the sound quality is excellent (especially for the price). 

To me, this has an 80’s vibe to it, and if the rest of your setup is black, this will look great with them. If you require even more bass in your life, a 12-inch version of this subwoofer is available.

  • Driver reinforcement for improved, more stable sound
  • There is an auto on the setting.
  • Subwoofer sound that is timeless
  • Excellent value for a 12-inch subwoofer.
  • Solid sound

Buy on Amazon

5-Audioengine S8

The Audioengine S8 subwoofer would be a wonderful addition to your Audioengine speakers or your turntable music system if you want to add bass.

When listening to music of any genre on your turntable , this subwoofer is wireless, compact, and capable of producing high-quality beats.

Thanks to the Audioengine W3 wireless audio adapter, the Audioengine subwoofer can be placed virtually anywhere in the room.

As a result, the subwoofer can be placed away from the other powered speakers in your home setup. You can easily power the wireless adapters by plugging them into the AC outlet on the back of the subwoofer.

This is a solid 8-inch subwoofer that is ideal for those who don’t have a lot of space but want something with a little more kick than a 6.5-inch subwoofer.

The bass is incredible, and it, like the other Audioengine subwoofers, has a very “real” sound and feel to it. I used this to listen to “Fleetwood Mac – The Chain” on my turntable and was delighted with the sound quality. 

Also, because it appears so classy, it is the type of thing that will not stand out in your home turntable system. It has a charming finish and I think it looks fantastic. 

  • The design is very elegant.
  • The sound is fantastic.
  • It couldn’t be simpler to set up.
  • Has a lot of basses.
  • The cost is very reasonable

Buy on Amazon

Conclusion

Finally, incorporating a subwoofer into your Turntable system is a decision you must make based on your music preferences and existing speakers. 

We recommend that you upgrade your speakers first before getting a sub.  We hope you found this information to be beneficial. Thanks a lot for your time!

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