Are Kenwood Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
For those of us that like to listen to music while driving to work, you know how irritating it is to have a subwoofer whose sound is full of distortions and clippings.
On the other hand, having a premium-quality subwoofer is great as it has better sound quality and packs a ton of features that will instantly improve your mood.
Therefore, if you’ve been in the subwoofer market for some time, you’ll know of the consumer electronics manufacturer JVCKenwood or Kenwood. Are their subwoofers good?
Kenwood subwoofers are undeniably some of the best affordable subs you’ll find today. They’re well-designed with excellent low-frequency response, great heat dissipation, and minimal distortion. Furthermore, the subs are durable, compact, and have a decent warranty cover that you might not need as they’re very reliable.
Here, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about Kenwood subwoofers and why you should try them.
Who Owns Kenwood Subwoofers?
Kenwood subwoofers are made and distributed in the United States by JVCKenwood USA, a subsidiary of Japanese consumer electronics giant JVCKenwood Corporation.
JVCKenwood USA develops, makes, tests, and distributes home and automobile communication products and entertainment systems to consumers locally.
Where are Kenwood Subwoofers Made?
Kenwood subwoofers are made in JVCKenwood’s production facilities across the globe.
Locally, the company has its headquarters in Worsham Ave Long Beach, California.
Overall, Is JVCKenwood a Good Brand?
JVCKenwood is an excellent brand, manufacturer, and distributor of wireless electronics systems, car and home electronics, two-way radio equipment and systems, CCTVs, etc.
The company’s keywords of “Sharpness,” “Advanced,” and “High quality” are the primary driving forces for the brand.
Like most Japanese manufacturers, quality is a primary consideration over cosmetic appeal and profits. Therefore, their products are very reliable, durable, have accurate ratings, and affordable.
Here’s Why You Should Buy Kenwood Subwoofers?
Kenwood is a leading manufacturer of car electronics, speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers. Its subwoofers are a definite buy for me due to their fair pricing and quality.
Here, we focus solely on their subwoofers’ quality, reliability, and why they’re your best suit.
Kenwood is a veteran in the audio systems industry, having been in existence for close to 80 years. They’re regarded as a good manufacturer whose products can stand against competition from mid-range audio system companies.
Additionally, the company invests massively in its production and supply lines to ensure that most products pass the final inspection before being released to the market.
As a result, their subwoofers have deep and precise bass that offers a clean and full, punchy sound that you’ll enjoy in your car or home. Another advantage of Kenwood subwoofers is their variety is amazing, and you’ll have a lot of sub-options that vary in depth and size.
Let’s look at some Kenwood subs’ qualities and why you should buy them.
Kenwood Subs Are Well-Engineered and Durable
Kenwood subs stand out due to their high-quality material, impressive bass, great engineering, and packing many great features.
For example, the Kenwood Excelon series are highly-rated subs that have great peak power, carbon glass fiber honeycomb cones, and a state-of-the-art aluminum diecast basket. But what I like about the Kenwood Excelon subwoofers is their height/thinness.
The Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1200F is one of the thinnest 12″ subs in the market and will fit in most spaces within your vehicle. Thinner subs that pack a heavy punchy base usually work well with most vehicles as you want to enjoy your music but still be able to hear surrounding sounds such as hooting or screeching.
It’s also very durable and will remain in excellent condition for more than five years.
However, the subs have some minor shortcomings that you might not even notice and hence shouldn’t deter you from the brand. First, the subs lack perfect-sounding lows common in the high-end models. Second, the subwoofers produce a burning smell during the initial break-in period.
But you don’t need to worry as it’s normal for the “burning” to take place as the excess glue on the subwoofer’s voice coil burns off.
Kenwood Subs are Feature-Packed
Kenwood subwoofers such as the KFC-XW1241HP boast great features and technology to give you the best sound. For example, they have PP dual area cones that give their diaphragm the rigidity necessary to handle higher power and deliver a punchy and accurate bass. Also, the subwoofers have very minimal distortions even at higher volumes.
And a reason for the accurate sound is a well-designed thermal management system that channels the hot air away from the sub. It comprises a closed yoke with advanced airflow control and an aluminum bobbin.
And with all the great features, Kenwood subs are very durable due to computer-optimized stress-controlled dampers that limit stress and improve their mechanical durability.
What do Kenwood Subwoofer Reviews say?
Online ratings indicate how good a product is and give a general impression of your position once you complete your purchase.
Kenwood subwoofers are well-rated on Amazon, with the Kenwood KSC-SW11 Compact Powered Enclosed Subwoofer receiving a 4.3 out of 5-star rating from 2,848 reviews.
The subs’ popularity boils down to their excellent material quality, good sound quality, punchy bass quality, and great value for money. At a budget-friendly price of $198, the KSC-SW11 puts out more bass than expected for such a diminutive sub.
Generally, Kenwood subs have a great sound and are easy to tune to your desired setting. However, the subs won’t perform well under constrained spaces as they quickly get hot, have quality defects, and burn out when heavily loaded.
But remember that Kenwood’s subs are some of the best in their price category. Don’t expect them to perform and have the same quality as higher-end brands.
What’s the Price of Kenwood Subwoofers?
Kenwood subwoofers are fair-priced and very affordable despite being of decent quality.
Most of its subwoofers have price tags ranging from $80 to $250 on Amazon.
How Long Is the Warranty on Kenwood Subwoofers?
Kenwood offers a 2-year warranty on all its subwoofers and related accessories.
When purchasing electronics, one very important consideration is their warranty cover, as some may have defects that went undetected during production and inspection. And, despite Kenwood’s warranty cover being just two years, the company compensates by ensuring that any repairs or replacements are done free of charge.
The only catch is that you have to have purchased the subwoofers from the company’s retailer or dealerships. Additionally, you must do all repairs at a Kenwood Authorised Service Center (KASC) or an authorized retailer; otherwise, you’ll void your warranty.
Furthermore, Kenwood honors warranties by individuals that present the original invoice, a duly filled out Kenwood Warranty Certificate, and/or a clear sales receipt. Failure to present any documents leaves the company with no option but to reject your warranty claim.
At their discretion, they can also determine whether to repair or replace your defective subwoofer when necessary.
Here are other warranty terms.
- The warranty doesn’t cover subwoofers used for business, trade, industrial, or commercial purposes.
- The warranty isn’t applicable in other cases than just defects in materials or workmanship.
- Also, it doesn’t cover damage resulting from modifications, accidents, use of non-Kenwood parts, poor usage, and negligence.
- Additionally, the warranty doesn’t cover subwoofers that have been overpowered or altered, are missing serial numbers, or have damages from non-compliance with the instruction manual.
Final Words
JVCKenwood makes very good subwoofers that perform well beyond what most people expect of the brand. And as we’ve seen, Kenwood subwoofers have been around for quite some time.
The company continually invests massive resources in research and development to produce high-quality sound systems that are good and reliable but lack the cosmetic appeal of known American brands.
But what their subs lack in features and aesthetics is compensated by the high-end quality and solid performance.
Sources
Speakers | Car Entertainment | KENWOOD USA
KFC-XW1241HP | eXcelon | Car Entertainment | KENWOOD USA