Sometimes, you need to find a way to make your music sound great in smaller cars. In the years I’ve spent as an audio engineer, I have found that many low-profile subwoofers are still too large to comfortably comfortably fit under or behind your seats. Thankfully, the Sound Storm Laboratories’ LOPRO8 8” subwoofer delivers on their low-profile name. This under seat subwoofer is compact and powerful.
If you choose one of these larger subwoofers, you may struggle to get it installed correctly. Finding an optimal place to get it hooked into your system will be difficult. That’s why it’s important to go with the LOPRO8 if you have space issues in your car or truck.
In this Sound Storm Laboratories LOPRO8 Subwoofer Review, we’ll go into what makes this subwoofer sound so great and how the low profile doesn’t distract from its amazing performance.
Sound Storm Laboratories LOPRO8 Review – Big Sound with a Low Profile
The Sound Storm Laboratories LOPRO8 was created as one of the premier products from SSL. This company has worked hard to bring affordability to subwoofers, car audio, and other mobile audio solutions. Overall, while Sound Storm Laboratories isn’t the most well-known car audio company, people do react favorably to their products.
The LOPRO8 is harder to find now, but it used to be a great option for an affordable start to your journey into car audio. With a ton of features and solid performance, the SSL LOPRO8 still looks and sounds great! Let’s get into the features that make this subwoofer an attractive option.
What I Liked
- Easy Installation and Mounting. Everything about the LOPRO8 is created to allow you to mount and install this subwoofer easily. From the super-low profile to the simple Plug’n’Play input design, it’s simple to get this subwoofer in your car.
- Under seat design. The mounting depth is less than 3” on the LOPRO8. That’s perfect for mounting anywhere in your car, including under the seats in the back of your sedan or behind the seat in your pickup truck.
- Remote Control. You can easily adjust the levels for all of your settings with the wired remote control. You won’t have to fiddle with the controls at the subwoofer itself.
- Variable Bass Boost. The high range on the variable bass boost allows you to get lower bass notes so that your music punches that much harder. You can add up to 12 decibels to the bass in this sub.
- Built-in Amplifier. This subwoofer is ready to go. The amplifier is in the enclosure, already wired up and optimized so you don’t have to purchase an additional amplifier for your system. This improves the sound quality as well.
What I Didn’t Like
- Longevity Issues. Some users have had a lot of issues getting this subwoofer to last past a few months. Some even report that it blows out after a single-use, so quality control might be an issue.
- Price. In most places, this subwoofer is more expensive than the 10” option. That’s not usual. It may mean that this sub is more popular than the LOPRO10, but it can make getting your hands on one more difficult.
Feature #1: Low Profile Mounting
The LOPRO8 is one of the lowest-profile SSL subwoofers you can get right now. The enclosure for this sub is less than 3 inches high (coming in at 2.8”), meaning you can put it just about anywhere in your car. Under the seats or in the trunk, this subwoofer will easily mount out of the way so you can get the best sound quality even in the smallest cars.
The low-profile easy mounting is perfect for sedans and smaller cars. When you don’t have space for an entire stereo system, the LOPRO8 can still deliver crisp sound, deep bass, and lower lows even with the small profile. It’s easy to set this sub up and get it hooked right into your system.
Feature #2: High and Low-level Inputs
The presence of high and low level outputs on the LOPRO8 is another way that Sound Storm Laboratories made this subwoofer user friendly and easy to install. No matter what type of input you are using (head unit or another audio source), you can connect this subwoofer into your audio system. If you have access to both, you can choose whichever connection you like!
High-level inputs are used to connect the subwoofer to your radio without RCA inputs. They are generally seen as a better option because high-level inputs offer a great depth of sound. Low-level inputs are RCA connections. These might not offer the same sound quality, but it is still an option you can use if you’re connecting the subwoofer from a head unit.
Feature #3: Short Protection
The SSL LOPRO8 offers short protection. This means that the sub will automatically shut itself off if the temperature gets too high. If something goes wrong in your wiring or the subwoofer gets pushed too hard, it might turn itself off to protect the amplifier and other internal components from melting.
It will also shut off if the speakers fail. Because this subwoofer has a built-in amplifier, there is an entire system of wiring inside the case. If one of the components fails, it could put the others at risk of blowing or burning out.
Because of this, the sub must shut itself off if it gets too warm or if one part of the system fails. With this feature, you can rest assured that your sub and all of the internal components are safe if something goes wrong.
Easy Installation and a Built-In Amp
Everything about the SSL LOPRO8 was engineered to make it easy to install in your car. From the small mounting depth to the ready-to-go sealed enclosure, this sub makes setting up your system simple! This sub has a built-in amp so you don’t have to purchase one separately. It’s all wired up in the low-profile enclosure.
There are high and low level inputs, as we talked about above. That means that this sub will work with just about any audio source you have. It comes with all the wires and cables that will get you ready to go right away. You will be bopping along to your favorite tracks in no time!
Specifications
Let’s take a look at some of the in-depth specs on the SSL LOPRO8.
| Feature | Sound Storm Laboratories LOPRO8 Specification |
|---|---|
| Subwoofer Size | 8” |
| Enclosure Type | Sealed |
| Peak Power | 600W |
| RMS Power | 300W |
| Impedance | 4 Ohms |
| Mounting Depth | 2.79” |
| S/N Ratio | >88db |
| Input Sensitivity | 200 mV – 6V |
| Frequency Response | 15 Hz – 150 Hz |
| Low Pass Filter | 50 Hz – 150 Hz @ 12dB |
| Subsonic Filter | 20 Hz – 50 Hz @ 6dB |
| Bass Boost | 0 to +12 dB @ 45Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.5 x 9 23/32 x 3” |
But what do these specs mean to you?
Subwoofer Size
The size of your subwoofer will tell you about the performance you can expect to get from them. An 8-inch subwoofer may not deliver the deepest bass, but the sound you get is much cleaner than with your factor sub and speakers. This is great for people who want detailed music, not necessarily more punch.
Enclosure Type
The SSL LOPRO8 comes in a sealed enclosure. A sealed enclosure makes it easy to get started. You only have to plug the sub in to get the sound quality you want! While a sealed enclosure won’t get you the same sound that a component subwoofer in a vented box will, it makes the process of setting up your system that much easier.
Peak Power
Peak power is a measure of how much power a subwoofer can manage in short bursts. This isn’t the level you should strive to reach regularly, but it is the upper limit of how much the subwoofer can handle. For those bass-y songs, you can help but rock out to, use the peak power to determine occasional load capabilities.
RMS Power
RMS power represents a more realistic measure of how much the subwoofer can handle. This is the continuous power that the sub can put out over time, every day. If you try to push the sub beyond this limit continuously, it may result in damage. This is what you’ll be working with most of the time.
Impedance
Impedance is a measure of how much resistance your audio signal faces on its way into the sub. The impedance level is like a balancing act. Too low, and you get distortion and possible sub damage. Too high and your sound loses depth. Thankfully, the LOPRO8 has a nice 4Ohm level that is optimized for the built-in amplifier.
Mounting Depth
The mounting depth of the subwoofer is how far it will stick out from the surface you’re mounting it to. Lower-profile speakers have smaller mounting depths (as seen here), which means you can fit it under your seats easily.
S/N Ratio
The S/N (or Signal-to-Noise Ratio) is representative of how much noise your signal picks up as it transmits through your system. A higher S/N ratio means your sound is going to have less static or distortion. >88db is a decent S/N Ratio for an 8” subwoofer.
Input Sensitivity
Input sensitivity measures how well your system can replicate the sound, down to the very finest details. A higher range of input sensitivity means more depth, more volume, and less distortion. Thankfully, the input sensitivity on this SSL subwoofer is very inclusive.
Frequency Response
A high-frequency response range (including those extreme lows) means that your sound will be cleaner. If your system can respond to a greater range of frequencies, it’s going to pick up on nuance and depth that isn’t available in your standard stock radio system.
Low Pass Filter
The low pass filter range allows you to adjust what frequencies your subwoofer picks up. When you set a number, all of the frequencies below that level will be reproduced. This can help you control every aspect of your sound.
Subsonic Filter
The subsonic filter range allows the subwoofer to hit those deep bass notes on lower frequencies. This is an optimization tool that allows the bass to respond more effectively, even when the subwoofer is lacking. The range here represents which ranges will be reproduced best.
Bass Boost
A bass boost feature helps keep your favorite tracks punchy and deep. With the LOPRO8, you can boost the low bass levels up to 18db. They’ll sound even lower and punch harder than ever when you activate the bass boost.
Dimensions
The LOPRO8 is an under seat subwoofer with an extremely low profile. This sub can fit just about anywhere in your car, and the dimensions of the enclosure reflect that. This means you won’t have to struggle to find a space to mount it, as it can squeeze into a lot of tight spots.
What the Customers Are Saying
Overall, customers seem to be responding positively to the Storm Sound Laboratories LOPRO8 subwoofer. Many consumers love the love profile look and how easy it is to mount this subwoofer anywhere. They are pleasantly surprised by the well-defined lows.
However, many people seem to have longevity problems when it comes to this under seat subwoofer. There are numerous reports of this subwoofer blowing out easily, or else failing to work after a certain amount of time has passed.
For a more in-depth user opinion, check out this SSL LOPRO8 review video.
Final Thoughts
Sound Storm Laboratories’ LOPRO8 8” subwoofer is great for getting clean sound, clear bass, and depth that stock radios just can’t give you. It isn’t going to make your windows rattle, but it will make your music sound better. If that’s all you’re looking for, the SSL LOPRO8 is the perfect option.
If you’re looking to spend a little more money (and don’t mind providing your enclosure), check out the Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 8” Subwoofer. It has amazing sound quality and a decent punch!
