Are Renegade Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
Sometimes it can be very hectic and confusing when looking for a subwoofer to buy. Do you go for the higher-end brands, or do you go for that subwoofer recommended by a friend? It depends.
Higher-end brands took their time and have refined their manufacturing and distribution processes to deliver quality premium products; hence, they are your safest bet. But what if someone convinces you to buy a Renegade by Rockford Fosgate subwoofer? Great, isn’t it? Well, it depends.
Renegade subwoofers are of decent quality and will serve you for some time. Also, they’re strong, durable, and cheaper than most medium-to-high-end brands locally. However, the brand suffers from quality issues and will overheat and have distortions when heavily overpowered.
Regardless, the subwoofers are durable, have some good bass, and are budget-friendly.
Are Renegade Subs Good Quality?
Yes. Renegade subs are of decent-to-good quality but will fall short compared to higher-end brands such as Yamaha and Rockford Fosgate.
If you’re into subwoofers manufactured by Rockford Fosgate, you’d know they’re premium quality. And Rockford Fosgate is Audio Design’s partner and sells their car audio systems locally.
So some people assume that Renegade subs have the same quality standard as Rockford Fosgate. On the contrary, Renegade subwoofers are even poorer than Rockford’s budget brand Lightning Audio.
Here Are Reasons Why You Should Buy Renegade Subwoofers.
They’re Fairly-Priced
Generally, Renegade makes decent car audio systems that rival some American brands. Their performance is excellent, the bass sound is heavy and well-refined at low to medium load, and they meet the European Union and American standards.
Furthermore, Renegade subwoofers are priced at between $80 to $300. Therefore, at a price that’s half what you pay for a Rockford Fosgate, I genuinely believe that the Renegade subwoofers are a steal for the budget-minded folks.
They are Durable
Renegade subwoofers are more durable compared to others in their price category. They’re sturdier, solid, and blend well with your car’s interior. Moreover, the subwoofers are German-certified.
Their only downside is that the company opted to design and develop cheaper alternatives to the premium sound system brands in Europe. The result was that they make subwoofers that last more than five years under moderate use but last less under intensive use.
Where Are Renegade Subs Made?
Renegade Subwoofers are made in Kronau, Germany, by car audio specialist Audio Design GmbH.
The company also owns the brands Crunch and HiFonics in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and Renegade and ESX Worldwide.
Who Owns Renegade?
Renegade is owned by Audio Design Lautsprecher Vertriebs GmbH, from Kronau, Germany.
Audio Design GmbH was founded in 1984 in North Baden/Kronau and specializes in designing, developing, manufacturing, and distributing sound aftermarket products and high-quality car hi-fi components.
Does Rockford Fosgate Make Renegade Subs?
Many people assume that the Rockford Fosgate corporation manufactures the Renegade line of subwoofers and related audio systems, but it isn’t the case.
Rockford Fosgate doesn’t engineer, develop, validate, or test any Renegade products. They’re just the American distributor for the German brand.
Cons of Renegade Subwoofers
Given that Renegade subwoofers aren’t the best that you can find in the market, here are their main shortcomings.
Overheating
Renegade subwoofers get hot quickly, especially when heavily loaded or nearing full blast. A reason that we can attribute to the heating is the use of substandard or non-premium materials such as cables and leads.
The not-so-ideal materials tend to have more impurities in their material hence more current resistance. And since subwoofers rely on electricity to convert electrical signals to sound energy or vibrations, the louder it gets, the more the vibrations and vice versa.
Therefore, you won’t notice your Renegade subwoofer’s heating problems until they’re loud or at full blast or on for some time. But generally, most subwoofers overheat, and manufacturers work on ways to dissipate heat, but Renegade fails massively in this regard.
Dull Bass at Higher Volume
The fact that Renegade uses some non-ideal materials in their subwoofer design results in sound distortion at higher power or volume. The cables and materials used in their making generate a lot of heat within the cone leading to more distortion.
And sometimes, it may not be your fault that your subwoofer’s bass sound quality declines when you increase the volume.
Renegade has a habit of falsifying the ratings on their products leading to appliance owners overpowering them, leading to distortions. To be safe, make sure that you don’t power the subwoofer past the 80% mark.
How Long Do Renegade Subwoofers Last?
Despite their shortcomings, Renegade subwoofers are still pretty durable and will serve you for five to 10 years, depending on their use.
However, the subwoofers’ mid-quality parts often break down or have other minor reliability issues. They’re not top-drawer subwoofers, and you might find yourself at the repair shop more often than you anticipate.
Does Renegade Subwoofer Have Warranty?
Audio Design offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its subwoofers on the condition that you provide proof of ownership. The subwoofers are safeguarded against defects in workmanship or faults that arise due to the use of substandard materials during production.
The warranty doesn’t cover accidents, poor installation, defective wiring, change of barcode or date code labels, natural disasters, and damages from repairs outside the parent dealerships or factories.
What Do Reviews Say About Renegade Subwoofers?
Overall, the Renegade line of audio systems is an average fairly-priced brand. Therefore, most of the Renegade subwoofers received mixed reviews, with most claiming that the appliances were not up to standard.
Additionally, the labeling on most Renegade subwoofers is false and misleading as they’re underpowered, not so loud, have a moderate bass, and are unreliable.
Also, some wiring kits feature sub-standard cables, with some being too hard or too loose to assure longevity.
On the positive, the subs are cheaper than equally-rated subwoofers from other brands. If you don’t mind having an affordable and less reliable subwoofer, try a Renegade.
So Should You Buy?
It depends.
Renegade subwoofers are cheaper than similar-rated subwoofers and will serve you under low-to-medium use for close to five years or more. And, due to their cheap construction, it would be best if you secure them firmly in position to reduce any movements that would damage the components.
Also, if you’re not planning to stay with one subwoofer for an extended period, go for the Renegades, as they are cheaper and perform decently. However, I believe that they aren’t the best for heavy use.
The overheating, distortions and unwanted vibrations will instantly make you regret buying the subwoofer.
Final Remarks
Renegade subwoofers are decent appliances that you should probably consider if you need a budget-friendly sub. However, they’re not the most ideal; hence won’t stand up to aggressive use.
Therefore, for heavy use, ensure to place a fan to aid in heat dissipation and limit the amount of sound distortion you’ll experience.