Subwoofers are a mandatory part of an audio system, producing a frequency range between 20 and 200 Hz. Whether you’re a musician or a concert organizer, a subwoofer is a must-have for your collection.
Yamaha has long been a market leader in the audio industry, and its subwoofers are just as reliable as its other musical products. Equipped with advanced YST technology for accurate bass, Yamaha subwoofers also boast versatile connectivity, including wireless.
Moreover, Yamaha subwoofers come with multiple control options, ranging from front panel controls and remote controls to smartphone apps. Some popular models include the Yamaha NS-SW1000, known for its 12-inch driver and YST technology, and the Yamaha MusicCast SUB 100, a wireless subwoofer that works with MusicCast devices for multi-room audio system creation.
But when it comes to choosing the best Yamaha subwoofer, you have to account for multiple factors, such as the size of your space, budget, and needs. After testing and reviewing Yamaha subwoofers on several aspects, we have created a roundup of the three best subwoofers for you to choose from.
Best Yamaha Subwoofer 2024
Yamaha 10″ 100W Powered Subwoofer
The Yamaha 10″ 100W subwoofer is a powerful and compact model that delivers a rich and deep bass sound, making it ideal for both music and movie applications. It features a built-in 100-watt amplifier with a 10” cone for a clear and distortion-free bass sound.
The frequency response ranges from 25 Hz to 180 Hz, which is hard to match at this size and price.
But that’s just the interior. The exterior of this Yamaha subwoofer is just as impressive, with a matte black finish and gentle curves that fit nicely into any customized space. Apart from elevating the appeal of your music roof or entertainment system, this subwoofer will also provide a high-quality sound to enhance your audio experience.
| Features | Yamaha 10″ 100W Powered Subwoofer |
| Driver | 10″ cone |
| Output Power | 50 W (100 Hz, 5 ohms, 10% THD) |
| Frequency Response | 25-180 Hz |
| Advanced YST | Yes |
| Finish | Textured black |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 13-7/8” x 13-7/8” x 16-1/8″ |
Key Features
- New Twisted Flare Port
- 10” cone woofer
- Yamaha Active Servo Technology II
- Discrete amp circuitry
Starting with the design, the Yamaha 10″ has an elegant and simple design that won’t clash with any customization you have in your music space. It’s also compact enough to fit in most home theater systems. Plus, the front-firing design means you can place it in any part of the room and enjoy easy accessibility.
Since the box has a wooden build, it is durable and long-lasting. However, it’s important to note that the subwoofer doesn’t turn on automatically when the receiver is turned on. Instead, it has a manual operation, requiring you to turn it on and off with the remote.
The Advanced YST technology is another notable feature of this Yamaha subwoofer as it is based on the negative impedance technology to ensure linear speaker cone motion for a powerful and accurate bass sound. The technology allows you to hear precise bass notes even at high volumes.
Yamaha has also incorporated its new Twisted Flare port in this subwoofer. The gently twisting flared shape ensures a smooth airflow around the port’s edge, which is much better than the turbulent airflow that traditional ports have.
As a result, there’s little to no extraneous noise in the input signal, facilitating clear low-frequency reproduction. The port shape allows you to enjoy special effects and low-frequency sounds in any movie or music without distortion.
As for connectivity, the Yamaha 10″ subwoofer has RCA inputs and outputs. So you can integrate it with your home theater or music system easily. Depending on your system, you can also adjust the subwoofer’s phase with other speakers using the phase control switch.
Pros
- Comes with a new port shape that prevents turbulent airflow
- Has advanced YST technology for better bass
- Has multiple input options for easy accessibility
- Is the right size for most home theaters and music setups
Cons
- Has to be turned on manually
- Only comes with a power cord and not the audio cables
Yamaha NS-SW1000 Powered Subwoofer
When it comes to sound quality, the YAMAHA NS-SW1000 takes the crown by providing 1000W of power and a high-efficiency digital amplifier. It also features a servo control circuitry that ensures the driver is always in perfect balance with its environment, resulting in just the bass for your audio needs.
The Yamaha subwoofer also features the company’s Twisted Flare Port, which reduces distortion by ensuring a streamlined airflow. The result is tight and clear bass that elevates any audio experience.
| Features | YAMAHA NS-SW1000 Powered Subwoofer |
| Driver | 12” cone |
| Output Power | 1,000 watts |
| Frequency Response | 18–160 Hz |
| Advanced YST | Yes |
| Finish | Piano finish |
| Weight | 90.4 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 17-3/8” x 18-3/16” x 20-5/8” |
Key Features
- Advanced YST technology
- 12-inch cone driver
- 1000-watt amplifier
- RCA and XLR inputs
- Twisted Flare Port
The YAMAHA NS-SW1000 uses the company YST II technology that reduces impedance to improve linearity for detailed and accurate sound reproduction. Supplementing this technology is the dual feedback circuit, which optimizes the drivers’ performance to provide a better bass response.
The Yamaha subwoofer also has large 12” cones with double damper and double magnet. Since the driver system employs two large-diameter ferrite magnets with a double damper, it reduces unwanted resonance even when you’re listening to music at a high volume.
Moreover, the woofer unit is designed to reproduce tonal nuances that are common in classical and acoustic music, making it a great choice for those who appreciate the high-fidelity sound.
It also has multiple inputs, including XLR and RCA, allowing you to connect it to several audio devices. The subwoofer’s adjustable phase control and crossover further allow fine-tuning of the bass response to match the listener’s personal and room preferences.
You can link the subwoofer’s system control terminal with the amplifier power to turn it on and off automatically. The Auto Standby Function turns the subwoofer to a standby state automatically if it’s not receiving any input signal from the amplifier for a certain period. As soon as the signal resumes, the standby state is canceled, turning the subwoofer on again.
Pros
- Features an auto standby to save power
- Comes with an analog power supply
- Has YST II technology for better bass
- Has multiple connectivity options
Cons
- Is on the pricier side
- Does not have wireless capabilities
Yamaha 8″ 100W Powered Subwoofer
The Yamaha 8″ 100W subwoofer is ideal for small rooms due to its smaller size and 8″ cone woofer. Its sleek design makes it a perfect addition to any room, such as a bedroom, office, or den.
With its 100W of power and low-frequency response, this subwoofer offers great sound quality that can fill up any small room. Additionally, its ports and adjustable gain control allow you to customize the audio to your specific preferences.
| Features | Yamaha 8″ 100W Powered Subwoofer |
| Driver | 8” cone |
| Output Power | 50 W (100 Hz, 5 ohms, 10% THD) |
| Frequency Response | 28–200 Hz |
| Advanced YST | Yes |
| Finish | Textured black |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 11-1/2” x 11-1/2” x 13-3/8” |
Key Features
- New Twisted Flare Port
- Advanced YST II (Yamaha Active Servo Technology II)
- 8″ Cone woofer
- Dynamic power of 100W (5 ohms)
The Yamaha 8″ 100W packs a powerful punch with YST technology and the Twisted Flare port. Its resonant and deep bass enhances your listening experience, regardless of the audio source.
Due to its 11-1/2″ x 11-1/2″ x 13-3/8″ dimensions, the subwoofer is compact enough for small rooms. Since it doesn’t take up a lot of space, you can couple it with speakers and other equipment.
But don’t be fooled by its small size. The Yamaha subwoofer has a 100W amplifier and an 8″ cone driver that offers great sound quality. These features make it perfect for music and movies, so you can enjoy all your favorite tunes in any room.
The driver’s capabilities are matched by YST II, Yamaha’s Active Servo Technology II, which uses a negative-impedance amplifier to ensure synchronization between the input signal and the cone driver. That results in accurate and distortion-free bass at high volumes too.
What makes this Yamaha subwoofer better than its competitors is its ease of use. The intuitive control panel lets you adjust phase, frequency, and volume per your preferences. Plus, the auto standby function turns off the subwoofer when not in use and turns it back on when it receives an input signal. The standby mode helps save energy and lower your power bills.
Pros
- Is compact enough for small rooms
- Is easy to use due to an intuitive control panel
- Provides accurate bass at all volumes
- Has a standby mode for energy conservation
Cons
- Cannot be used with electronics that do not have bass management functions
- Does not come with cables
Final Thoughts
Summing up, the Yamaha 10″ 100W takes the lead among these three subwoofers due to its YST technology, discrete amp circuitry, and flare port design. Besides offering an amazing and distortion-free bass, the subwoofer is also easily accessible due to its intuitive controls.
But if you need a subwoofer for a smaller space, we’d recommend the Yamaha 8″ 100W. It has the same YST technology as other higher-end models but has just the right size for smaller home theaters or music production studios.
If sound quality is the biggest determinant for your choice of subwoofers, the YAMAHA NS-SW1000 will not disappoint. While the Twisted Flare Port prevents turbulent airflow, the linear response drive unit offers a distortion-free sound. No matter which subwoofer you choose from our list, we assure you that it will live up to your expectations.
