JBL BassPro Hub Subwoofer vs Kicker 51HS12 Hideaway Powered Subwoofer

The JBL BassPro Hub is the better pick for most shoppers who want hidden bass without giving up cargo space. It drops into the spare tire hub, runs a 200W Class D amp, and its 11-inch fiberglass woofer gets strong marks from owners for tight, clean output. The Kicker Hideaway HS12 is the stronger choice if you have no spare tire well or want more power and a wider tuning range: 230W RMS, a 12-inch driver, response down to 25 Hz, and FIT+ input handling that works with start/stop vehicles. On build, the Kicker's all-aluminum frame feels tougher than the JBL's molded housing, but the JBL's fit-and-forget install is hard to beat.

• Choose the JBL BassPro Hub if you have a spare tire well and want out-of-sight bass with no lost cargo space and a simple install.
• Choose the Kicker Hideaway HS12 if you have no spare tire well, want more power and lower bass extension, or drive a newer start/stop vehicle.