Woody Piano Shack’s Subwoofer Hack: Give Your Keyboard Some Real Guts

Ever felt your digital piano’s built-in speakers sound like they’re gasping for air? Woody Piano Shack’s latest video throws a subwoofer under your keyboard and suddenly the room’s shaking—without shaking down your wallet. Woody’s got a knack for making even the nerdiest upgrades sound like a party trick, and this time he’s showing how a humble Yamaha NS-SW100 can turn your polite piano into a sonic street weapon. If you think monitor speakers are the only way to beef up your setup, think again. This one’s for anyone who wants more thump, less faff, and a setup that doesn’t swallow your studio.

Drop the Bass: Why Subwoofers Change Everything

Woody wastes no time getting to the punchline: if your keyboard or digital piano sounds anaemic, a subwoofer is the fix. Built-in speakers just don’t cut it when you want to actually feel the low end, not just imagine it. The upgrade isn’t just about rattling your windows—it’s about making your drums kick and your basslines punch through the mix like they mean it.

He’s not precious about brands either. Any subwoofer will do the job, but Woody’s quick to show off his own Yamaha unit sitting smugly on the floor. The message is clear: you don’t need to remortgage your flat for a pro rig. A subwoofer, even a cheap one, can transform your keyboard from a polite dinner guest into the life of the rave bunker.

It's a subwoofer. This is a Yamaha unit.

"It's a subwoofer. This is a Yamaha unit."
© Screenshot/Quote: Woodypianoshack (YouTube)

Yamaha NS-SW100: Small Box, Big Boom

"This is only about 200 bucks."
© Screenshot/Quote: Woodypianoshack (YouTube)

Woody spotlights the Yamaha NS-SW100, a compact 10-inch subwoofer that’s more home hi-fi than touring PA. It’s affordable, tidy, and packs enough punch to make your keyboard sound like it’s been hitting the gym. No fancy features—just a single RCA input, a volume knob, and the kind of low-end grunt that makes you grin. If you’re hunting for a sub, this one’s a solid shout, but Woody’s not fussy—grab whatever you can find on the cheap and get shaking.

Plug It In: How to Set Up Without Losing Your Mind

Setting up isn’t rocket science, but Woody’s got some crucial tips to avoid rookie mistakes. Use the main stereo outputs on your keyboard, not the so-called ‘sub’ outputs—those aren’t for subwoofers and will leave your bass thumping at full tilt no matter what you do with the volume knob. Main outs mean your sub follows your overall volume, so you’re not scrambling for the back panel mid-jam.

Balance is everything. Set your keyboard to noon, then tweak the sub’s volume until the room feels right. Woody even dives into EQ settings, showing how Yamaha’s ‘subwoofer’ preset cuts bass from the internal speakers for clarity, but he prefers running things flat for a richer, warmer vibe. The real trick? Don’t overthink it—get the levels right, and let the sub do the heavy lifting.

If you turn down the volume, the subwoofer will still be pounding.

"If you turn down the volume, the subwoofer will still be pounding."
© Screenshot/Quote: Woodypianoshack (YouTube)

Subwoofers vs. Monitors: The Great Studio Standoff

Woody tackles the age-old debate: subwoofer or active monitors? If your keyboard’s built-in speakers are decent, a subwoofer is the perfect sidekick—no need to clutter your space with bulky monitors and stands. Active monitors can sound great, but they cost more, take up space, and need more cables than a modular synth meet-up.

For most home players, a subwoofer is the smarter, cheaper upgrade. Woody’s not anti-monitor—he just knows most of us don’t want to spend £800 and turn our practice corner into a cable jungle. The sub gets you 90% of the way there for a fraction of the price and hassle.

Proof in the Punch: Hearing Is Believing

Once you've had a subwoofer, there's no going back. It's night and day.

"Once you've had a subwoofer, there's no going back. It's night and day."
© Screenshot/Quote: Woodypianoshack (YouTube)

Here’s where Woody puts his money where his mouth is. He flips the sub on and off, playing the same riffs so you can hear the difference—even through a humble lav mic. The verdict? With the sub engaged, the sound’s got more depth, weight, and, frankly, balls. Switch it off, and everything shrinks back to polite and thin.

Woody’s clear: once you’ve played with a sub, there’s no going back. It’s not just for EDM heads—piano sounds get a lift too. If you want to feel your music, not just hear it, this is the best value upgrade you can make. For the full sonic gut-punch, though, you’ll want to watch the video and let your own ears decide.