A subwoofer is a speaker specialised in reproducing the very lowest frequencies in a soundscape, between 20 and 200Hz. Adding a subwoofer to your sound system builds out the sound further for superb detail and allows you to feel the depth of the bass in your chest physically.

A passive subwoofer doesn’t have an amplifier built-in, so it will have to be connected to an amp to drive powerful sound. Whilst all of KEF’s subwoofers are active, meaning that they have an amplifier built in so that you can enjoy rumbling, deep bass right away. 

Subwoofers enhance a home theatre setup, reproducing the depth of rolling thunder or a monster’s roar with perfect precision.

See our guide to setting up the perfect home theatre for tips on the speakers and subwoofers that will make your movie nights magnificent, or explore our home theatre bundles to find everything you need in one place.

Subwoofer placement is completely down to your preference. Placing them in the front of the room is a popular choice as it creates a seamless blend of subwoofers and speakers. Corners are also an excellent choice as they can create a denser standing wave pattern in the room.

However, we suggest exploring other placements based on your space and how you like to listen. For example, if you have limited floor space, you may want to consider a subwoofer that can be placed on a shelf. 

Try playing the same bass-heavy track on your subwoofer in different room locations to find that perfect placement. You could even place the subwoofer in your sitting spot and move yourself around the room, low to the ground, to find where the bass sounds best - then put your subwoofer in that spot. 

See our guide to getting the most out of your subwoofer for further placement tips. 

A single subwoofer revolutionises your listening. But if you’re struggling to find a speaker setup that offers truly phenomenal sound, two subwoofers at opposite sides may be the solution. 

See our guide to decide if multiple subwoofers could be the audio option for you. 

The perfect subwoofer for you isn’t necessarily the biggest or most powerful. Consider the space you’re trying to fill, how much room you have for your subwoofer, and, of course, your budget. 

KEF offers subwoofers in various sizes, wattages and price points to bring exquisite bass to listeners of all kinds. From the cleverly compact KC62 that slots perfectly into a smaller listening nook to the phenomenal Reference 8b that blasts bass through your space for phenomenal parties and immersive movie nights, KEF will surely have the right active subwoofer for your home.   

See our complete subwoofer guide for further help in making your decision.

Connect your subwoofer to speakers via the LFE or pre-amp outputs on your amplifier or AV receiver through a cable. See our subwoofer connection tips blog for more guidance. 

Audiophiles often find speakers and subwoofers produce richer sound after a break-in period. See our guide to speaker break-in to learn how to achieve flawless audio.

At KEF, we have been creating groundbreaking audio equipment since 1961, when we were founded to remain always on the cutting edge of audio.
 
Our subwoofer range was created from this wealth of expertise, passion and ambition. Containing unparalleled technology like the Uni-Core Driver Configuration and Music Integrity Engine, you simply won’t find subwoofers like this anywhere else. 

The general rule is to have only one crossover in a signal path. If you are using the crossover function on an AV Receiver, stereo amplifier/preamplifier or the LS Wireless Collection wireless HiFi speakers, then your subwoofer should be set to LFE mode. This will bypass the crossover on the subwoofer itself.

If your speaker does not have bass management, then leave the subwoofer in Manual mode, and adjust the crossover dial on the subwoofer itself as necessary.

KEF active subwoofers support RCA line level inputs and also support a speaker level input if your AV Receiver or integrated amplifier/preamplifier does not have RCA line level outputs*.

KC92, KC62 and Kube subwoofers are also compatible KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit for more flexible placement without signal cables to pair with wireless HiFi speakers.

*Applicable to Reference 8b, KC92, KC92, Kube subwoofers

KEF active subwoofers can be easily set up with the LS Wireless Collection speakers through the KEF Connect app by simply choosing the relevant subwoofer from the list in the app’s EQ profiles. This will set the relevant crossovers and gain settings.

These settings can also be adjusted. To return to the original preset, simply choose the subwoofer again from the list.

See our guide to integrating the subwoofer with LS wireless speakers for more tips.

It is not recommended to plug multiple systems into your KEF subwoofer, as some inputs may disable the use of others.

Found in KC92, KC62, and Kube, "EQ" mode is an equaliser mainly used for boundary gain compensation. When a subwoofer is placed near a boundary (wall), the low frequencies are often reinforced. In many cases this is welcomed. Sometimes, however, it can result in boomy, less defined bass. The EQ switch reduces the output by different amounts to compensate for this increase. The Room setting does not change the output, whilst Wall, Corner and Cabinet progressively reduce the output more and more.

Apartment mode (available in KC92/KC62) is different, in that it reduces output very steeply from 30Hz downwards. This is to help stop very low frequencies from travelling to neighbouring homes, whilst still maintaining great depth in-room.