Best Under-Seat Subwoofers for 2017+ Ford F-150 Guide

The best under-seat subwoofers for a 2017+ Ford F-150 add deep, daily-driver bass without sacrificing a single inch of cab or bed space. An under-seat subwoofer for the F-150 is a compact, direct-fit sealed enclosure that mounts beneath the rear seat of the SuperCrew cab, using the factory dead space to house 8-inch or 10-inch subwoofers and an amplifier. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, the DS18 FORDBASS line is the system we fit most often on late-model F-150s — it drops in behind the OE seat brackets, keeps the second row usable, and turns a flat factory stereo into something that actually moves air. Below we compare the two direct-fit DS18 loaded packages against budget 10-inch shallow options, with real specs, wattage, fitment years, and pricing so you can pick the right box the first time.

What Is the Best Under-Seat Subwoofer for a 2017+ F-150?

The best under-seat subwoofer for a 2017+ Ford F-150 SuperCrew is the DS18 Forward-Firing Loaded Under-Seat Box (EXCL-FORDBASS.FF/17-UP), because it delivers the most output of any bolt-in option we sell — four 8-inch EXL-X8.2D subwoofers driven by a 2,500-watt Class D amplifier — while hiding entirely under the rear seat. It is a complete system: the $1,095.78 loaded package ships with the enclosure, all four subwoofers, the amplifier, and a wiring kit, so there is no guesswork matching components. For drivers who prefer tighter, more accurate low end, or who own a Super Duty, the DS18 Down-Firing package (EXCL-FORDBASS.DF/17-UP) with dual 10-inch subs is the better fit. If you want big-truck bass on a smaller budget, a single 10-inch shallow enclosure from $238.49 fits the same space and still hits hard.

All four options below fit the 2017-2027 F-150 SuperCrew (the down-firing box also covers 2017-2026 Super Duty F-250/F-350 crew cabs). Every one of them is a sealed design, which trades a little raw volume for cleaner, punchier bass that suits a truck cab far better than a boomy ported box. Here is how they stack up.

DS18 Forward-Firing Loaded Box — Our Top Pick

The DS18 Forward-Firing Loaded Under-Seat Box is the loudest direct-fit F-150 bass system we install, with four 8-inch EXL-X8.2D subwoofers and a 2,500-watt FRP2.5K amplifier firing forward into the cab. Forward-firing means the cones face the front of the truck rather than the floor, which throws more midbass slam toward the driver and passengers — ideal if you like your bass to hit you in the chest. The enclosure is built from 3/4-inch MDF, wrapped in black leather, and topped with a DS18 Dream Digital LED display, so it looks like a factory-plus upgrade rather than a hacked-in box. Because it is a loaded package, the subs, amp, and wiring are all matched and included; you are not buying an empty shell.

DS18 Down-Firing Loaded Box — Tightest, Most Accurate Bass

The DS18 Down-Firing Loaded Under-Seat Box trades a pair of the 8-inch drivers for two 10-inch IXS10.4D subwoofers that fire down into the cab floor, producing tighter, more musical bass that many drivers prefer for daily music. Each 10-inch sub is rated for 600 watts RMS (1,200 watts max), covers a 20-800 Hz frequency range, and runs a 4-ohm dual voice coil, for a combined 1,200 watts RMS of clean low end. Power comes from the included ZR1500.1D monoblock amplifier, which makes 1,500 watts at 1 ohm. Down-firing designs use the truck floor as an extension of the enclosure, so the bass feels like it comes from everywhere rather than punching from one spot. This package also has the widest fitment of the group: it covers the 2017-2027 F-150 and the 2017-2026 Super Duty F-250/F-350 crew cab.

Best Budget Under-Seat Bass: 10-Inch Shallow Enclosures

If a $1,000-plus loaded system is more than you need, a single 10-inch shallow enclosure gives your F-150 real bass for under $260. These universal-fit sealed boxes are slim enough to slide into the same under-seat or behind-seat space, and they are the value pick we recommend for drivers who mostly want to fill in the bottom end the factory system misses. There are two ways to go: a passive box that you pair with your own amplifier, or an all-in-one amplified box with the amp built in.

DS18 10-Inch Shallow Down-Firing Enclosure (600W)

The DS18 DFPU110IX is a single 10-inch shallow subwoofer in a sealed, down-firing enclosure rated for 600 watts RMS. It is a passive box, so it needs an external amplifier — pair it with the DS18 SXE monoblock below and you have a clean, hard-hitting single-10 setup for around $400 all in. At $252.22 (down from $349.95) it is the most bass-per-dollar option we stock for F-150 owners.

DS18 10-Inch Shallow Amplified Enclosure (300W)

The DS18 EN-DF10A is the simplest way to add bass to an F-150: a 10-inch shallow subwoofer with a 300-watt amplifier built right into the enclosure. Because the amp is integrated, there is no separate amplifier to mount or match — you run power, ground, and a signal wire, and you are done. At $238.49 (down from $359.95) it is the easiest install in this guide and a great choice for a clean, subtle bass bump.

How Do These F-150 Under-Seat Subwoofers Compare?

Here is every under-seat subwoofer option side by side, from the flagship forward-firing loaded package down to the budget 10-inch shallow boxes. Prices are current NLP Performance pricing, and every kit fits the 2017+ Ford F-150 under-seat space.

How to Complete Your F-150 Bass Build

The two DS18 FORDBASS loaded packages are complete out of the box — the subs, amplifier, and wiring all ship together, so there is nothing else to buy. The passive 10-inch shallow box is the only option that needs an amplifier and wiring added. For that build, we pair the DS18 SXE 1-channel Class D amplifier with a proper amp install kit.

DS18 SXE 1-Channel Amplifier (800W)

The DS18 SXE monoblock makes 800 watts at 1 ohm, 600 watts at 2 ohms, and 300 watts at 4 ohms, which is an ideal match for the 600-watt passive shallow box. At $154.70 (down from $239.95) it is a compact, efficient Class D amp that mounts easily behind or under the seat next to the enclosure.

To wire any add-on amplifier the right way, use a proper install kit. The DS18 4-GA Amplifier Install Kit ($34.20, from $53.95) includes the 4-gauge power and ground cable, an inline fuse holder, RCA signal cable, and remote turn-on wire — everything you need to power a single subwoofer amp cleanly. Undersized wiring is the number-one cause of weak bass and clipping we see in the shop, so do not skip this step.

Forward-Firing vs Down-Firing: Which Fires Better in an F-150?

Forward-firing is louder and more aggressive, while down-firing is tighter and more musical — both fit the same F-150 under-seat space, so the choice comes down to how you listen. Forward-firing subwoofers point their cones toward the front of the cab, throwing midbass punch directly at the occupants; the DS18 forward-firing package leans into that with four 8-inch drivers and a 2,500-watt amp, making it the pick for drivers who want maximum slam and volume. Down-firing subwoofers face the floor and use the cab as an acoustic extension, which smooths the response and delivers deeper, more even bass everywhere in the truck; the down-firing package and its dual 10-inch subs are the better call for music-first listeners and anyone who finds forward-firing setups too in-your-face. In our Tampa install bay, we steer bass-heads and SPL fans toward the forward-firing box and audiophiles toward the down-firing box — and either way, a sealed enclosure keeps the sound cleaner than a ported box in a small truck cab.

Installation and Fitment Notes for the 2017+ F-150

Installing a DS18 under-seat subwoofer box in a 2017+ F-150 SuperCrew is a bolt-in job that most owners finish in 60 to 90 minutes. The FORDBASS enclosures are shaped to sit under the folding rear seat, so you flip the seat bottom up, set the box in the factory dead space, and route power from the battery to the amp with the included wiring. Because these are direct-fit, there is no cutting, drilling into structural metal, or fabrication required — the hardest part is running the power wire through the firewall grommet. We recommend an inline fuse within 18 inches of the battery, a clean chassis ground, and a signal tap from the factory head unit or a line-output converter if your truck lacks preamp outputs. The universal 10-inch shallow boxes install the same way but give you freedom to mount them under the seat or behind it. If you would rather have it done right, our Tampa, FL shop installs these systems every week and dials in the amp gain and crossover so nothing distorts.