If you’re a car audio enthusiast like me, you know that sound quality matters more than anything else when it comes to your stereo system. You want a subwoofer that punches deep but also helps clarify and improve your sound across all genres. When I heard the Rockville RW10CA 10” subwoofer in action, I immediately knew that it was something special.
Rockville is known for their expertise in sound quality, and the RW10CA does not disappoint. With a slim profile, nuanced bass, and boosted power, this subwoofer hits all of the requirements that I have for an under-seat subwoofer. Don’t settle for a subwoofer with a weak punch or low sound fidelity with the wrong slim subwoofer.
In this Rockville RM10CA 10” 800 Watt Slim Subwoofer review, we’ll explore the features that make this subwoofer so attractive and examine the potential drawbacks you may encounter as well. Let me guide you along an in-depth journey to find the best slim 10-inch subwoofer.
Rockville RW10CA Subwoofer Review – High-quality sound for every budget
The Rockville RW10CA is a 10” slim, low-profile car subwoofer that offers loud, high-quality sounds in most setups. The bass is potent and there is zero hassle involved in the installation. The subwoofer’s slim design fits perfectly behind or under most car seats, and there are very few wires required for installation.
The Rockville RW10CA 10 inch subwoofer was created by Rockville, an American audio company that specializes in car stereos. This company is well-established in terms of the audio quality they provide with their products.
Their team of designers and engineers strives to ensure the best quality is delivered at affordable prices. The Rockville RW10CA is a premier slim subwoofer in their line, and it’s another example of an extremely successful and affordable product.
This sub will satisfy any long-term car audio needs for those of you seeking beautifully layered, loud sound. It’s also dependable and practical. If you need to downsize your car in the future, you won’t have to worry about where you’ll put this subwoofer. The simple Rockville RW10CA installation is another bonus.
In general, the Rockville RW10CA will fulfill the needs of an experienced listener looking for high quality with an affordable price tag.
What I Liked
- High-fidelity sound. The Rockville RW10CA delivers powerful sound that punches well above its weight. The sound is crisp and loud.
- Slim design. The built-in case on this subwoofer was built specifically to slot under car seats, and it shows. Rockville also boasts that the RW10CA is in an exclusive company: only a few under-seat subwoofers are CEA compliant, and this is one of them.
- Deep bass. The large cone size ensures nuanced, powerful bass that will improve the quality of any song. You’ll be able to feel the bass rattle throughout your car. Get those beads on your rear-view mirror ready to go!
- Durability. The plastic housing is sturdy enough to last a while and is specifically designed to improve sound quality while maintaining a small footprint.
- Installation. No previous experience is necessary to install this subwoofer. The RW10CA is about as straightforward as they come. You’ll only need the correct tools and the proper wiring harness to have this product ready to go right out of the box.
- High-level inputs. The design of the inputs maximized efficiency. You won’t have to remove the receiver to hook it into your system. The input ports are easily accessible in any configuration.
- Smart circuits. Few subwoofers anticipate your needs like the RW10CA. When you hook up a specific signal, the circuits anticipate what you need from them. This eliminates a host of unnecessary actions.
- User first. Everything about the RW10CA is user-friendly. It seems like Rockville has gone to great lengths to design this subwoofer with the consumer in mind, from the slim profile to easy installation and beyond.
What I Didn’t Like
- No power wires. The Rockville RW10CA does not come with the power wires required to get it running. You’ll have to buy certain cords separately. You can purchase the wiring kit from the manufacturer or a third party, or use the wires you already have.
- Reliability can vary. In-depth analysis of customer responses and Rockville RW10CA reviews indicates that long-term reliability can vary. Some customers have issues with this subwoofer in the long-term.
- Design can seem flimsy. From the ABS mounting feet to the plastic frame, the design can seem like it lacks sturdiness.
Feature #1: High-Level Inputs
The design of the Rockville RW10CA is meant for maximum practicality and efficiency. This becomes apparent in the inclusion of the high-level inputs. Installation of your Rockville RW10CA is streamlined with these well-labeled and expertly placed ports and input locations. It also gives the user more control.
The user can turn the subwoofer on and off without having to go through the hassle of including a remote wire that leads to a receiver. In turn, the receiver no longer has to be removed. This leads to a cleaner, faster installation that’s even beginner-friendly.
Feature #2: High Peak Power
The star feature of the Rockville RW10CA is by far its tried and tested 800 watts peak power setting. You’ll get high-powered audio with 200 watts RMS. This means that no matter what, your subwoofer will have a consistent 200 watts of power. The 800 watts peak helps your music sound amazing, and it’s great to have it when you need it.
800 watts is the industry-certified power level, which means that the volume and quality of the RW10CA will be great. Particularly in its price range, the RW10CA is a consistent high-powered subwoofer.
Feature #3: Controls
Another compelling aspect of this 10-inch subwoofer is the design of the controls. Smart circuits react to input and output by turning the amplifier on and off, as well as witching on the radio if an audio signal is received. The controls are created with the user in mind, offering a great selection of options that allow for in-depth sound tweaking.
This subwoofer also has volume control and a subsonic filter to clean up frequencies. On top of that, there are controls for bass boost, a low pass crossover filter, and phase control. The factory settings for the Rockville RW10CA already offer high quality, but the rang of controls means that you can customize your sound experience to your specific tastes.
Installation Kits
The installation for the Rockville RW10CA may be simple, but there are a few things to be aware of. As we mentioned above, there are no power or connection wires included with the purchase of the Rockville RW10CA subwoofer. You’ll have to purchase certain cords separately, and you may even have to purchase a wiring harness to help support your system.
You can purchase the wiring kit from Rockville, but it is an additional cost. Other wires from your existing equipment may also work, but be sure that the inputs and power levels are correct before attempting to run this subwoofer on cords that aren’t meant for it.
Specifications
| Feature | Rockville RW10CA 10” 800 Watt Specification |
|---|---|
| Size | 10” |
| Dimensions | 12.4 x 13 x 2.7” |
| Fuse Rating | 25A |
| Bass Boost | 0 to +18dB @45Hz |
| Power | 800W Peak / 200W RMS |
| THD | <0.4% |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | >95dB |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 150Hz |
| Input Sensitivity, High Level | 0.61V |
| Input Sensitivity, Low Level | 200mV |
| Low Pass Filter | 50Hz – 150Hz |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Impedance | 2 Ohm |
What does this mean for you?
Size
The 10” surface of the subwoofer is compact but large enough for great sound quality. 10” subwoofers deliver better sound than 8” subwoofers, but not as great as some larger diameters.
Dimensions
Choose a subwoofer that will fit where you need it to go. The Rockville RW10CA will fit perfectly under any car seat, saving storage space and enabling great sounds in the smallest cars.
Fuse Rating
The fuse rating tells you what size fuse you’ll need to power your stereo system. Add the 25 amp fuse rating of this subwoofer to the fuse rating of your speakers and head unit to get an indication of the fuse you need to power it all.
Bass Boost
This metric shows you how much the subwoofer helps out the bass level on your favorite tracks. This feature can increase the sound level and volume in the bass frequency range so that you can hear the bass easier than on the vanilla track.
Power
You should go with a subwoofer that draws enough power for great-quality sound but doesn’t overload your car’s electrical system. The Rockville RW10CA under seat subwoofer is rated for 800 watts peak power and 200 watts RMS.
THD
THD stands for ‘total harmonic distortion’. In the Rockville RW10CA, this distortion is less than 0.4%. This adheres to the standards set out by the CEA and helps the subwoofer sound clear and clean.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
A higher signal-to-noise ratio means that the signal is coming through clearer than any noise on the line. With a high signal-to-noise ratio, you’ll get a clearer sound with very little fuzziness or distortion. For the Rockville RW10CA, the ration is 95dB, which is decently high.
Frequency Response
The frequency response specification indicates how well the subwoofer reproduces different sound frequencies. The high range on the Rockville RW10CA means that the sound is crisp and deep.
Input Sensitivity, High Level
The high-level inputs are used when there are no RCA outputs on your audio source. You can use the speaker outputs from the audio source (head unit or another device) straight to the subwoofer. This is the sensitivity from inputs that aren’t RCA-related.
Input Sensitivity, Low Level
Low-level inputs are how you connect your audio source to the subwoofer if you there are RCA inputs on the source or head unit. If you have a sound processor or other head unit or source type, you may have RCA inputs. This is the sensitivity you’ll get from those RCA inputs.
Low Pass Filter
You can adjust the Low Pass Filter option with a low pass filter. The subwoofer will play all sound below the frequency you select, so choose a level in the given spectrum that works best with the rest of your system. Some systems are better with mid-level tones, so you can set this to a lower frequency signal. If your system needs help with mids, choose a higher setting.
Sensitivity
A high sensitivity means that the subwoofer can pick up differences in sound without a whole lot of power required. With the 90dB sensitivity of the Rockville RW10CA, small nuances in the sound will be reproduced faithfully.
Impedance
Impedance refers to how the amplifier reacts to the output it receives. At lower impedance levels, there is often distortion or other issues with the way sound reproduces. Higher impedance levels produce clear and high-fidelity sound. The 2 Ohm that the Rockville RW10CA boasts is a middling value that produces good quality sound without too much distortion.
What the Customers are Saying
After an in-depth look at Rockville subwoofer reviews by customers, there seems to be an overall positive reaction to the Rockville RW10CA subwoofer. Customers are big fans of the high sound quality paired with an affordable price.
The slim design is a favorite among Rockville RW10CA reviews because it fits under just about any car seat. There is agreement across the board that the Rockville RW10CA installation is smooth and easy. This is often mentioned in positive reviews.
The most common drawback that customers mention are issues with long-term reliability. There are a few cases where the unit stopped working before a year had passed since the purchase. There have also been issues with the product intermittently stopping for no reason.
For more information, check out this Rockville RW10CA 10” 800 Watt Slim Subwoofer review video.
Final Verdict
I would recommend the Rockville RW10CA subwoofer for the discerning customer. You want a high-quality sound that is affordable and easy to use and install. The powerful wattage and the deep bass that this subwoofer produces offers constant quality that will make all of your music sound amazing. The control options allow you to tweak the sound to your specifications and customize your experience.
For its price range, this is an excellent product that allows you to enjoy high-quality sound that is powerful enough to keep your car rocking. If you’ve got a little more to invest, consider the Rockford Fosgate T1S2-10 for clearer sound and a deeper punch.
