Compact Active Subwoofers

[-Lummox-]

I have a car with a shallow, visible boot which means I can't fit a normal subwoofer to beef up my stereo a bit, and standard 4x6" speakers which won't add a useful amount of bass no matter what aftermarket units I fit.

For this reason I've decided that a compact active subwoofer is the way forward, but I'm not clear on which one to go for. Several of the options appear to be the same thing with different badges on, I was wondering if anyone could confirm if there is actually any difference between them since the price can be sizeable, e.g.

Beat BSW8ACT - £80
Focal BUS20 - £180
Auna 8Sub-AC - £105

Externally these all look like the same unit shipped out from the same factory, and then branded by whichever company is importing them into the UK. But can anyone say for definite whether that is the case? I know Focal normally make some top-notch equipment, but I'm not going to pay an extra £100 to get the same badge on an identical product I could get for £80. Similary Focal do a BUS25 for £250 which looks the same as the Auna unit for £120.

Does anyone know?

[U T]

What's a subwoofer. Sounds like a replacement dog.

I take it it's something to do with the radio. I'm too old for this forum!

[kambites]

I don't know, but it's quite possible that they simply share the case design and put completely different internals in it.

[DanielJames]

any specs/pics?

[-Lummox-]

http://www.bassjunkies.com/beat-bsw8act

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/focal-access-bus-2...

http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Auna-8Sub-AC-Car-Hifi-...

They all look remarkably similar...

[-Lummox-]

Similarly:

http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Auna-10-Compact-Active...

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-focal-bu...

Tempted by the Auna 10" version, I have a Clarion unit at the moment but it only has a 5" driver and is therefore a bit gutless.

Does anyone have first-hand experience of any of these units?

[Chodosh Corvette]

I had a similar problem with I had my S2000 - I didnt want to fill the boot with audio but it was missing a kick.

I found an Alpine unit that I was able to fit under the passenger seat. Alpine SWD something or other. It was cheap as chips and did a (reasonable) job

[DanielJames]

I would go for the Auna out of the ones you've posted!

[-Lummox-]

Chodosh Corvette said:

I had a similar problem with I had my S2000 - I didnt want to fill the boot with audio but it was missing a kick.

I found an Alpine unit that I was able to fit under the passenger seat. Alpine SWD something or other. It was cheap as chips and did a (reasonable) job

I think that's the SWD1600. It's discontinued now, so quite hard to find new, and it's only a 6.5" speaker so I'm inclined to go for something bigger. On closer inspection my existing Clarion is a 6.5" jobbie so I doubt the Alpine will be significantly better.