Best Subwoofers for Soundbars UK: Can You Add One?
Adding aftermarket subwoofer to soundbar requires Sub Out or LFE port on soundbar which most modern models lack per AVS Forum and Eneba 2025 research. Wireless subwoofers use proprietary protocols: Samsung wireless sub only works with Samsung soundbars. Wired connection needs RCA Sub Out port on soundbar plus powered subwoofer with RCA input. Avoid buying separate subwoofer before checking soundbar has Sub Out port. Choose soundbar-plus-sub combo system instead for reliable compatibility.
| Connection Type | Compatibility | Requirements | Recommendation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless (Proprietary) BRAND-LOCKED |
Single-brand only | ❌ Samsung sub only works with Samsung soundbar ❌ LG sub only with LG ❌ Sonos Sub only with Sonos |
Samsung SWA-W500 £150-200 if you have Samsung soundbar. Sonos Sub £699 if you have Sonos Beam/Arc. Cannot mix brands. | Samsung | Sonos |
| Wired (RCA/LFE) UNIVERSAL |
If soundbar has Sub Out | ✅ Soundbar needs "Sub Out" or "LFE Out" RCA port ✅ Subwoofer needs RCA input ✅ Connect with RCA/LFE cable |
BK Electronics Gemini II £200-215 or Wharfedale SW150 £60-100 used. Requires soundbar with Sub Out port (rare on modern models). | BK Sub |
| Soundbar+Sub Combo RECOMMENDED |
Guaranteed compatibility | ✅ Buy soundbar and subwoofer together as matched system ✅ Wireless pairing pre-configured ✅ No compatibility guesswork |
Sony HT-S400 £199 (330W wireless sub), Sharp HT-SBW202 £100-140, Denon DHT-S316 £279. Better than aftermarket approach. | View Combos |
| Universal Wireless Subs ❌ AVOID |
Do not exist | No universal wireless standard for soundbars. Each brand uses proprietary wireless protocol incompatible with others. | Do not buy "universal wireless subwoofer" — they do not work with soundbars. Only wired RCA connection universal if soundbar has Sub Out port. | Not compatible |
🔍 Key Compatibility Rules
- Wireless subwoofers are brand-locked: Samsung wireless subs use proprietary wireless protocol that only pairs with Samsung soundbars. LG wireless subs only pair with LG. Sonos Sub (£699) only pairs with Sonos Beam/Arc/Playbar. Cannot buy Samsung wireless sub and pair with LG soundbar — incompatible wireless protocols. This is by design not limitation.
- Wired subwoofers need Sub Out port: On soundbar look for ports labeled "Sub Out," "LFE Out," or "Subwoofer Output" — usually single RCA port (red or white). Connect to powered subwoofer RCA input with LFE cable. BK Electronics Gemini II, Wharfedale SW150, REL subs all accept RCA input and work with any soundbar that has Sub Out port.
- Most modern soundbars lack Sub Out port: AVS Forum and Eneba research confirms 4-5 years ago lots of soundbars had sub pre-out ports but feature disappeared with trend toward wireless subs. Current soundbars with sub pre-out RCA connector exist but none under £300. Klipsch Cinema 600 sometimes found £299 on sale with Sub Out port.
- Soundbar+sub combo systems recommended: Sony HT-S400 (£199), Sharp HT-SBW202 (£100-140), Denon DHT-S316 (£279) all include wireless subwoofer pre-paired with guaranteed compatibility. Better approach than buying soundbar then trying to add aftermarket sub later. Which? testing confirms dedicated subwoofer provides bass soundbars cannot produce.
- Cannot add second subwoofer to existing system: Tom's Guide Forum confirms most soundbars with included wireless sub cannot pair second subwoofer. Samsung, Sony, LG soundbars pair one wireless sub only. Some high-end models support dual subs but typically £800+ flagship tier. For dual-sub setup need AV receiver not soundbar.
Sources: Eneba, Tom's Guide Forum, AVS Forum, HiFiVision, SVS, The Home Theater DIY, Burton's Blog, Audioholics. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Last updated February 2026.
Why Most Soundbars No Longer Have Sub Out Ports
AVS Forum discussion confirms 4 or 5 years ago lots of soundbars had sub pre-out RCA connectors but that feature disappeared with trend toward wireless subwoofers. Manufacturers transitioned to proprietary wireless protocols specific to each brand — Samsung SWA wireless system, LG WPL wireless, Sonos WiFi multiroom. This eliminated RCA Sub Out ports from most models. Current soundbars with sub pre-out exist but none under £300 per AVS Forum consensus. Klipsch Cinema 600 sometimes found on sale £299 with Sub Out port but stock limited. Budget soundbars under £200 universally lack Sub Out ports in 2025-2026 models.
| Era | Soundbar Sub Out Availability | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2018 | Common on mid-range and premium soundbars | Wireless subs expensive, wired connection standard |
| 2018-2021 | Declining as wireless subs became mainstream | Brands shifted to proprietary wireless protocols |
| 2022-2026 | Rare — mostly absent except premium models £300+ | Wireless standard, manufacturers eliminate RCA ports |
| Budget under £200 | Virtually non-existent | Cost-cutting, proprietary wireless preferred |
"4 or 5 years ago lots of soundbars had sub pre-out ports, but that feature disappeared with the trend towards wireless subs. Some current soundbars with a sub pre-out RCA connector exist, but none are under $300."
— AVS Forum, "Suggestion for best soundbar with a subwoofer pre-out?" thread
Brand-Specific Wireless Subwoofers: What Works With What
Samsung SWA-W500 and SWA-9000S wireless subwoofers only pair with Samsung Q-series and HW-B series soundbars using Samsung proprietary wireless protocol. Sonos Sub (£699) only pairs with Sonos Beam, Arc, Playbar, Playbase using Sonos WiFi multiroom system. LG wireless subs (SPK8-S, SPK8-W) only pair with LG S-series and SN-series soundbars. Cannot mix brands — Samsung sub will not pair with LG soundbar even if both support "wireless subwoofer." Proprietary protocols intentionally incompatible to lock buyers into brand ecosystem. Only universal connection method is wired RCA if soundbar has Sub Out port which most modern models lack.
- Samsung: SWA-W500 (£150-200), SWA-9000S (£200-300) — pairs with Q-series and HW-B soundbars only
- Sonos: Sonos Sub (£699), Sonos Sub Mini (£399) — pairs with Beam, Arc, Ray, Playbar only
- LG: SPK8-S, SPK8-W wireless subs — pairs with LG S-series and SN-series only
- Sony: SA-SW3, SA-SW5 wireless subs — pairs with Sony HT-A series soundbars only
- Yamaha: NS-SW050, NS-SW100 wireless — pairs with Yamaha MusicCast soundbars only
- Universal wired: BK Gemini II, Wharfedale SW150, REL subs — requires soundbar with Sub Out RCA port
FAQ: Adding Subwoofer to Soundbar Questions
Can I Add Any Subwoofer to Any Soundbar?
No. Wireless subwoofers use proprietary protocols specific to each manufacturer — Samsung wireless sub will not connect to LG soundbar. Wired subwoofers require soundbar with "Sub Out" or "LFE" output RCA port which most modern soundbars lack per AVS Forum. Only soundbars with Sub Out port support universal wired subwoofers. Most soundbars under £300 in 2025-2026 have no Sub Out port. Check soundbar specifications for "Sub Out" or "LFE Out" before buying any aftermarket subwoofer. Better approach: buy soundbar-plus-sub combo system with guaranteed compatibility like Sony HT-S400 or Sharp HT-SBW202.
Which Soundbars Have Subwoofer Output in 2026?
Very few. Klipsch Cinema 600 (£299 on sale) has Sub Out RCA port. Some premium soundbars over £500 retain Sub Out for adding second subwoofer or upgrading. Budget soundbars under £200 universally lack Sub Out ports in 2026 models per Eneba and AVS Forum research. Manufacturers eliminated feature as wireless subwoofers became standard. If need Sub Out port specifically for adding aftermarket wired subwoofer expect to spend £300+ on soundbar or buy older pre-2020 model second-hand that still has RCA Sub Out connector. Most UK buyers better served buying soundbar-plus-sub combo system.
Can I Add Samsung Wireless Sub to Non-Samsung Soundbar?
Avoid buying separate subwoofer before confirming soundbar has Sub Out or LFE RCA port which most modern models lack. Wireless subwoofers use proprietary protocols: Samsung wireless sub only works with Samsung soundbars per AVS Forum and Audioholics 2025 research. Wired connection needs RCA Sub Out port on soundbar plus powered subwoofer with RCA input. Most soundbars under £300 in 2026 have no Sub Out port as manufacturers transitioned to proprietary wireless systems. Choose soundbar-plus-sub combo system instead: Sony HT-S400 £199, Sharp HT-SBW202 £100-140, Denon DHT-S316 £279 all include wireless subwoofer with guaranteed compatibility better than aftermarket approach.
