If you are currently searching for a pair of multimedia speakers to be part of your desktop sound system, the Bose Companion 2 is certainly one of the top choices to aim for. Bose Companion 2 is very highly rated and has received plenty of positive praises from satisfied users including critics. It is very modestly priced and has a pretty good sound quality for a desktop multimedia speaker.
They are very compact in size as well, you can simply plug them into your computers, laptops, stereo amplifiers, etc., without worrying about space. Still, like most small desktop speakers at this price range, they will need support from an active subwoofer to help produce bass frequencies with weight. We are preparing a list of the best matching subwoofers to go for and will need to work on your requirements too.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics of Bose Companion 2 and Subwoofer Requirements
The Bose Companion 2 has a safe and traditional multimedia speaker design, it is not as flashy as some of the other desktop speakers. The sleek and minimal design does help the Companion 2 to fit in nicely onto most desktop setups. Its volume dial is conveniently located at the front and you will spot a headphone output as well. Since the Bose Companion 2 doesn’t have a built-in DAC, it has rather limited connections and will need to depend on external audio components such as a separate D/A converter, computer soundcard, digital amplifier, and others to decode high-res audio files. For a multimedia speaker system at this price point, we don’t really expect much in terms of connectivity.
Another aspect of the Bose Companion 2 which we didn’t expect will be how wide their soundstage is. The scale of the sound coming from the Companion 2 speakers really belies their size and is a pleasant surprise for us. The sound field is certainly big enough for nearfield listening and the stereo imaging is precise. Their bass performance is more pronounced than expected too, it has weight and can be punchy when it needs to. Still, when it comes to deep bass reproductions, the Bose Companion 2 will need some help and your desktop sound system will benefit from integrating a powered subwoofer.
The treble sounds a bit highlighted and does provide some level of clarity which overall is still good though. It would have been better if the Bose Companion 2 midrange reproduction is more prominent and clearer. All in all, the Companion 2 is a good all-rounded multimedia speaker and when paired with the right subwoofer, your desktop sound system would be ideal for both music and movie playbacks. Critical listeners and analytical audio enthusiasts might want to look elsewhere like going for active studio monitors or bookshelf speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Bose Companion 2 Series III Multimedia Speakers
Depending on your setup, you might require certain connections from the subwoofer and you should take your time to work it out. Listeners who are using an AV receiver or amplifiers which have dedicated subwoofer outputs would be a lot more straightforward. This is also a good opportunity to work on your budget and find out what other HiFi audio components you may need. You are probably using the Bose Companion 2 for nearfield listening and if that’s the case, you don’t really need a large subwoofer, but you will still need enough space to position the active sub near you.
Unless you have specific subterranean low-frequency level requirements such as being able to deliver down to 20Hz bass extension then you might need a larger subwoofer. For listeners who need a big subwoofer to fill mid to large-sized rooms, we highly suggest using another pair of speakers instead of the Bose Companion 2 as they are at most suitable for small listening rooms. Going for expensive subwoofers is not recommended as well, and you should upgrade the speakers first. These are some of the subwoofer requirements that are worth your time to consider and you might want to add in more on your own. When you are sure of what you want from a subwoofer, then please take a look at the list we have prepared for you below.
Best Subwoofers to match with Bose Companion 2
Elac Sub1010 is an ideal choice as firstly the ported subwoofer is within the same price range as the Bose Companion 2 speakers and it is highly rated by their owners too. The Elac Sub1010 is a 10″ subwoofer with a rear-firing bass port and you can position it nearer to the walls for more bass reinforcements. This Elac subwoofer has a frequency response of 38Hz-200Hz which fits well with the Bose Companion 2 multimedia speakers and has up to 120 Watts of peak power. For nearfield listening, the Sub1010 will perform efficiently.
More Details at Amazon – Elac SUB1010 Subwoofer – Black, SUB1010-BK
For listeners with a tight budget or who just doesn’t want to spend much on a subwoofer, this Monoprice 60 Watt powered subwoofer will be a decent choice to go for and pair up with the Bose Companion 2. The frequency response of this Monoprice subwoofer is 50Hz to 250Hz and is good enough to make the overall bass performance sound more pronounced. The added weight to the sound reproduction makes the Bose Companion 2 sound more powerful and bigger. It is difficult to nitpick a subwoofer at this price point though.
More Details at Amazon – Monoprice 60-Watt 8″ Powered Subwoofer Black
The Polk Audio PSW10 is an incredibly highly rated subwoofer and will be a worthy match with your Bose Companion 2 multimedia speakers. This is a 10″ powered subwoofer with a very modest price tag and has the bass performance to boot. Polk Audio PSW10 is capable of delivering tight and accurate low frequencies with sufficient impact which is impressive for a sub with only 100 Watts of power (Peak). It is ideal for both music and movie playbacks. The Polk Audio PSW10 is definitely worth your time to hear them out.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio PSW10 10″ Powered Subwoofer Black
If you really want precision then perhaps a studio subwoofer will be the right choice for you and your Bose Companion 2. The PreSonus Eris Sub 8 is a compact studio-grade subwoofer specially designed for professionals. The 8″ front-firing subwoofer is able to produce clean and detailed bass frequencies with accuracy. It uses a Class AB amplifier to drive up to 100 Watts of power. The compact size of the Eris Sub 8 will make it an ideal subwoofer for desktop sound systems.
More Details at Amazon – PreSonus Eris Sub 8 – 8″ Compact Studio Subwoofer
The Klipsch R-12SW is another highly rated subwoofer that will match well with the Bose Companion 2 speakers. Klipsch R-12SW has a 12″ front-firing copper-spun woofer and it is being driven with 400 Watts of dynamic power. The 12″ driver enables the R-12SW to fill a small listening room with bass energy and presence. Its bass performance is clean and can pack a punch, the ported subwoofer could go surprisingly loud which is quite unexpected from a powered sub at this price range.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer
For listeners who are willing to spend a bit more and require a subwoofer that can go below 20Hz bass extension, the SVS PB-1000 Pro will be an exceptional choice for you. This is an entry-level 12″ ported subwoofer made by the renowned subwoofer maker SVS which is well recognized by HT enthusiasts and audiophiles. The PB-1000 Pro has a frequency response of 17Hz to 260Hz and has a peak power of 820+ Watts. You can switch it to “Sealed” mode for slightly tighter and faster bass response. The SVS PB-1000 Pro is more than a worthy match for your Bose Companion 2.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
Most of the subwoofers listed here are closely priced with the Bose Companion 2 with an exception of the SVS PB-1000 Pro. You can shortlist the subwoofers for audition either solely based on price or your other requirements. As mentioned earlier, if you really want to improve the overall sound quality and sonic performance, another way is to upgrade your current multimedia speakers. If you are planning to change your speakers soon then you might not want to get an active subwoofer now. As the subwoofer should match with the new stereo speakers you are getting.
