Are Targa Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
If you are new to the subwoofer world, you may not want to spend much money on the most expensive subwoofers. Budget-friendly brands like Targa subwoofers can offer you a great sound experience without creating a massive hole in your pocket.
While many people often think that low price means poor quality, Targa subwoofers are designed to make you satisfied with costs and quality at the same time. They make outstanding subwoofers, especially in the car audio world.
We will help you decide whether to buy a subwoofer from this brand or not by walking you through everything you need to learn about their series and models.
What are Some of the Popular Targa Subwoofer Series?
Generally, Targa subwoofers are not very popular, but you can find quite a number of them in the market today. The most popular series you may have heard about is the X-series, available in 8″, 10″ or 12″. They are not very powerful, with a 250-300 watts rating.
However, this power range is the best wattage for a car subwoofer. It is enough to give clear and loud music while at the same time, don’t drain a lot of your car battery.
The 8″ subwoofer is the most economical choice, but it doesn’t deliver real heart-thumping bass and doesn’t keep up with the lowest sound. The best deal is the 10″ and 12″ subs, which can keep up with any track while reproducing the lowest sounds.
Though other top series from this brand are designed for home use, they aren’t a good bet. They don’t perform as great as those with the same power rating from top popular brands.
We tested the Targa Venom 18″ sub rated at 15 000W – something you would expect to produce bass that would peal the paints of your wall. However, that was not the case. It sounded more like a 400W sub from a top brand.
If you need a reliable, powerful subwoofer for home use, you may consider other brands such as SVS subs.
What are Some of the Great Features of Targa Subwoofers?
Targa specializes in small and compact subwoofers that are great for car entertainment. However, the brand is not left behind when it comes to offering features you would expect from a sub. Their subwoofers come with features that compare well with their competitors.
For instance, all Targa subs have a bass driver capable of a great deal of movement. Even the ones with smaller voice coil diameters, such as the X-series, can produce an average sound pressure level.
To move the drivers with speed and accuracy, you would expect their amplifier power to be strong. Yes, most Targa sub, especially the X-series, have amps that put out more power than the sub. The amps are bigger than you would expect to see for their price.
Targa subwoofers also have a good frequency response. This is a crucial aspect of a subwoofer as it shows how low the bass can go.
As you may have heard, human ears can perceive sound as low as 20Hz. Targa Subwoofers in the X-series can go down to as low as 20Hz bass.
The cabinet’s design of most Targa subwoofers adds a lot of value to its performance. Like many other brands, the most common model is the “sealed box” and “ported box.”
The sealed box reproduces accurate bass, and you can customize the sound quality to better match your room’s acoustic characteristics. However, they require more power than the tuned port enclosure.
How Much Do Targa Subwoofers Cost?
Targa offers one of the most affordable subs in the market. Some of their subwoofers can cost as low as R250, around $15.90. Finding a good subwoofer at this price from other brands is not easy.
Though their prices tend to increase as the size and power increase, spending more than $250 on their subs is not easy. The most expensive we came across was Targa Venom 18″ 15 000W costing R3,200 (around $203).
This price is way too low compared to subs from other brands known to be budget-friendly. For instance, the starting price for an SVS sub, 12″ rated 820W on peaks, is $499, which is way too expensive compared to 18″ 15 000W Targa Venom.
Are Targa SubWoofers Reliable?
Considering the price, we have to admit Targa offers very reliable woofers. Those who get disappointed with these subwoofers are the ones who expect performance similar to those from high-end subwoofers.
Though Targa strives to offer subs for both car and home use, the best bet is purchasing their X-series for car use. Most people prefer them for car use due to their deep, tight bass despite their low power ratings.
Most of the Targa Venom with high power ratings don’t reproduce what you would expect from them. For the best quality subs you will ever buy for home use, you better consider other brands.
Are Targa Subwoofers Durable?
You realize your subwoofer is getting old when the sound quality begins to deteriorate. For Targa subs, you may start noticing this within five years of use. But this will depend on how you handle the subwoofer. If adequately maintained, some Targa subs may offer you up to 10 years of quality sound.
That said, as long as you use them within the scope of their capability and handle them with care, the subs are durable. Targa subwoofers such as Simon Mdladla TARGA last longer than those from their popular competitors such as Pioneer subs.
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend a lot to find a quality sub, especially for your car. Targa offers great subs for car use at amazingly lower prices. You can’t go wrong with this brand for beginners looking for an affordable subwoofer.
However, if you need a massive subwoofer for your home theater, I recommend you consider top brands. Though Targa also produces subs with high power ratings for home use, they don’t offer the quality you may find in leading brands.