Recoil PWS8D4 Review: 250 W RMS Shallow 8-Inch Subwoofer, Wiring and Amplifier Pairing
The Recoil PWS8D4 is an 8-inch dual 4-ohm subwoofer that our listing describes as shallow-mount, rated at 250 W RMS and 500 W peak, with a 2 in (50.8 mm) voice coil and a carbon-fibre cone. Its Indian MRP is ₹18,000, against ₹12,000 for the standard-depth PW8D4 and the same ₹18,000 as the 10-inch PW10D4. It suits an install where depth behind the baffle is the limit and the amplifier is rated near 250 W RMS at 2 ohm. You can see it on our Recoil PWS8D4 product page.
Quick summary
The 500 W in the product name is the peak figure. Plan around 250 W RMS.
Our listing gives a 73.2 mm mounting depth and a 182 mm cut-out. Recoil's own page gives neither, so measure the driver before cutting a baffle.
The standard-depth PW8D4 is rated 400 W RMS at ₹12,000 MRP and lists a 105 mm mounting depth on Recoil's US site.
No owner reviews or independent tests turned up in October 2026.
Recoil PWS8D4 specifications
Specification | Recoil PWS8D4 |
|---|---|
Type | 8-inch dual 4-ohm subwoofer, Echo Pro series, shallow-mount per our listing |
RMS power handling | 250 W |
Peak power handling (not RMS) | 500 W |
Impedance | Dual 4 Ω (wireable to 2 Ω or 8 Ω) |
Voice coil | 2 in (50.8 mm) |
Cone, surround and basket | Carbon-fibre cone, NBR rubber surround, stamped steel basket |
Magnet | 49 oz, ferrite |
Sensitivity | 82.4 dB |
Frequency response | 38 Hz – 600 Hz |
Xmax | 10 mm |
Fs / Qts / Vas | 49.4 Hz / 0.61 / 6.7 L |
Mounting depth | 73.2 mm (2.9 in) |
Cut-out diameter | 182 mm (7.17 in) |
Overall diameter | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
Sealing | Wrap-sealed rubber gasket |
Warranty | Per Recoil's published terms, written for the US; India terms not stated |
India MRP | ₹18,000 |
Power, impedance, voice coil, cone, magnet, sensitivity and frequency response agree between our listing and Recoil's own PWS8D4 page, which is a bare specification list. The other specifications, including Xmax, the Thiele/Small figures, depth and diameters, appear only in our listing: the Recoil Audio USA pages we read list no PWS8D4, so there is no second source for them.
What the 500W in the product name leaves out
Recoil's page and our listing label 250 W as RMS and 500 W as peak, so the name quotes twice the continuous rating. A peak rating describes a short burst, and the RMS figure is the one to size an amplifier against.
The name is no amplifier size either. The Deaf Bonce Machete MLA-500.1XS lists 500 W RMS at 1 ohm but 360 W RMS at 2 ohm, and 2 ohm is the load this driver can present. Recoil's warranty terms, written for the US, say blown or burned voice coils are not manufacturing defects, so a careful gain setting matters.
Wiring and amplifier pairing
Our listing says the two 4-ohm coils can be wired for 2 ohm or 8 ohm: parallel gives 2 ohm and series gives 8 ohm. The amplifiers below list ratings at 4 ohm and 2 ohm and none at 8 ohm, so wiring the coils in parallel for 2 ohm is how you reach their listed output.
The Zapco ST-1B (₹15,990 MRP) is a mono Class AB amplifier listing 300 W at 2 ohm and 200 W at 4 ohm. Zapco's page gives watts without an RMS label, so treat that as the maker's figure. It is about 310 mm long and 182 mm wide overall. The Deaf Bonce MLA-500.1XS (₹27,990 MRP) lists 360 W RMS at 2 ohm at 14.4 V in a 151 x 83 x 35 mm case, with a 10 – 50 Hz subsonic filter and a remote in the box.
Both list more than 250 W at 2 ohm, so set the gain against a test tone instead of by ear. The MLA-500.1XS manual also lists a 0 – 18 dB bass boost at 45 Hz, which is best left at zero on a 250 W driver.
PWS8D4 or PW8D4: what the higher MRP changes
Both are 8-inch dual 4-ohm Echo Pro drivers with a 2 in coil. The Recoil PW8D4 figures below come from Recoil Audio USA and the PWS8D4 figures from our listing, so the comparison is indicative.
Specification | PWS8D4 | PW8D4 |
|---|---|---|
India MRP | ₹18,000 | ₹12,000 |
RMS power / peak | 250 W / 500 W | 400 W / 800 W |
Cone | Carbon fibre | IMPP |
Frequency response | 38 Hz – 600 Hz | 32 Hz – 600 Hz |
Mounting depth | 73.2 mm | 105 mm |
Cut-out | 182 mm | 184 mm |
Xmax | 10 mm | 8.8 mm |
Fs / Qts / Vas | 49.4 Hz / 0.61 / 6.7 L | 39.7 Hz / 0.58 / 12.4 L |
The shallow driver lists less RMS power at a higher MRP, and in return it lists a shallower mounting depth for almost the same cut-out. If you have the depth, the PW8D4 is the higher-rated and lower-priced of the two; if you do not, depth is the reason to choose the PWS8D4.
Box volume and the 73.2 mm depth
Recoil gives no recommended enclosure volume or type. The Vas of 6.7 L is lower than the PW8D4's 12.4 L, and a lower Vas generally goes with a smaller box. A Qts of 0.61 is usually considered friendly to sealed enclosures, though that is a rule of thumb rather than a Recoil recommendation. VA3 Car Studio builds custom subwoofer enclosures.
The shallow driver lists a higher Fs than the PW8D4 (49.4 Hz against 39.7 Hz) and a frequency response that starts higher (38 Hz against 32 Hz), so do not assume it digs as low. The figures come from different sources and the box changes the result, so read this as a direction, not a measurement.
What owners and reviewers say about the Recoil PWS8D4
When we looked in October 2026 we found no owner reviews or independent tests. Recoil's own PWS8D4 page shows Reviews (0). Its page for the dual 2-ohm PWS8D2, a different model, shows none either.
We found no PWS8D4 page on Recoil Audio USA, and our attempts to read DIYMobileAudio and Sonic Electronix search pages returned errors. Discussion may exist that we could not see. If you run a PWS8D4, leave a comment with your box and amplifier.
Who should buy the PWS8D4, and who shouldn't
Buy it if the space behind the baffle is the limit, you can supply an amplifier near 250 W RMS at 2 ohm, and you are happy to verify the depth and cut-out against the driver before building a box.
Look elsewhere if you have the depth to spare, since the PW8D4 lists more RMS power for less money, or if you need a recommended box volume from the maker. A 10-inch such as the Recoil PW10D4 lists 600 W RMS at the same MRP but a 148 mm mounting depth.
Installation notes for Indian cars
Measure the free space behind the mounting spot against the listed 73.2 mm, and keep wiring and trim clear of the back of the magnet. Screw the driver down evenly on its gasket so the seal holds. Wherever the box sits, keep the amplifier and connections away from places where water can collect in the monsoon, such as the floor of the boot.
Damping the panels around a small box helps stop rattles; our sound damping guide explains how. VA3 Car Studio in Ghaziabad offers professional installation.
Price and where to buy
The PWS8D4 has an India MRP of ₹18,000. VA3 Car Studio often sells below MRP, so check today's price on the PWS8D4 product page. Recoil's warranty terms are written for the US, so confirm the India terms with Recoil or its distributor before you order.
The bottom line
The PWS8D4 is an 8-inch driver chosen for its listed 73.2 mm depth, not for its 250 W RMS rating. It costs more than the PW8D4 and lists less power, so it makes sense only when depth rules the other drivers out. Its depth figure comes from our listing alone, and we found no owner feedback to back it up.
Recoil PWS8D4 FAQ
Is the Recoil PWS8D4 250 W or 500 W?
It is rated 250 W RMS. The 500 W in the product name is the peak rating. Size the amplifier by the RMS figure at the load you wire the coils to, and set the gain carefully.
How shallow is the Recoil PWS8D4?
Our listing gives a 73.2 mm (2.9 in) mounting depth and a 182 mm cut-out. Recoil's own page lists neither, so measure the driver itself before you cut a baffle or build a box.
What is the difference between the PWS8D4 and the PW8D4?
The PWS8D4 lists 250 W RMS, a 73.2 mm mounting depth and an MRP of ₹18,000. The PW8D4 lists 400 W RMS, a 105 mm mounting depth and an MRP of ₹12,000.
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