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Product Recommendations: Subwoofers

AUDIO

Subwoofer Recommendations | Updated: April 2022 | Written by u/Bill_Money & u/DZCreeper | edited & maintained by: u/htmod

Sealed, Ported, Passive Radiator, Horn-Loaded, Infinite Baffle Explained (Courtesy of AVSForum):

Sealed subwoofers are the simplest design, typically consisting of either one-two drivers mounted in an airtight enclosure. Sealed subs may be more compact.

Some sealed subs use multiple drivers in a force-cancelling configuration where the cones are facing in opposite directions. This is a very effective design for getting a lot of clean output from a small box, but models that implement it tend to be pricey.

Ported subwoofers rely on a tuned port to amplify bass response at a specific resonance frequency. (Some ported subs include more than one port, and you can put a plug in one or another port to change the tuning.)

Large, ported subwoofers often represent the best bang for the buck for home-theater applications.

Horn-loaded subs place a horn in front of the driver and offer high sensitivity, but they take up quite a bit of space.

SVS - Sealed vs. Ported Subwoofers

Audioholics - Sealed vs Ported Subwoofers: Which Is Right For You?

FOR THOSE IN EUROPE

Look into Arendal, BK Electronics, Dali, ELAC, Focal, Kef, M&K Sound, Mission, & XTZ Sound for subwoofers.

$0-500

GbMaxSE's Public Service Announcement: STOP asking if you should buy Polk Subwoofers < $100. No. You shouldn't.

  • 8 Inch
ModelPorted
Dayton SUB-800Bottom
  • 10 Inch
ModelPorted
Dayton SUB-1000Bottom
Infinity Reference Sub R10Front
RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKII White or BlackFront
SVS PB-1000Front
Polk Audio HTS10Front
JBL Stage A100PRear
  • 12 Inch
ModelPorted
Dayton SUB-1200Bottom
Bic Formula F12Rear
Bic Acoustech H-100IIFront
Bic Acoustech PL-200 IIFront
Infinity Reference Sub R12Front
Polk Monitor XT12Front
Polk Audio HTS 12Front
JBL Stage A120PRear

Erin's Audio Corner - Budget 12-inch Subwoofer Shootout

  • 15 Inch
ModelPorted
Dayton SUB-1500Bottom

$500-1,000

  • 8 Inch
ModelPorted
Rythmik FM8Dual Front
SVS 3000 MicroDual Opposed 8 Inch
  • 12 Inch
ModelPorted
OSD Audio Black Trevoce 12 EQ DSPDual - Front & Side
SVS SB-1000 ProSealed
HSU VTF-2 MK5Front
Rythmik L12Sealed
Rythmik LV12MFront
SVS PB-1000 ProFront
SVS SB-2000 ProSealed
Rythmik LVX12Front
Rythmik F12-400Sealed
  • 15 Inch
ModelPorted
HSU VTF-3 MK5Front
HSU ULS-15 MK2Sealed

$1,000-2,000

  • 12 Inch
ModelPorted
Rythmik L22Dual Front
SVS PB-2000 ProFront
SVS PC-2000 ProBottom
Rythmik FVX12Front
Rythmik F12Sealed
Rythmik F12SESealed
Rythmik F12GSealed
Rythmik G22Dual opposed Sealed
Rythmik E22Dual Sealed
  • 13 or 13.5 Inch
ModelPorted
SVS SB-3000Sealed
SVS PB-3000 Front
SVS SB-4000Sealed
  • 15 Inch
ModelPorted
HSU VTF-15H MK2Front
PSA S1512DFSealed Down
Rythmik FXV15Front
PSA V1512DFVented Down
PSA S1512Sealed
Rythmik F15HPsealed
PSA V1512Vented
Rythmik E15/E15HP2sealed
Rythmik FV15HPFront
PSA TV1512Vented
Paradigm Defiance X15Front
  • 18 Inch
ModelPorted
PSA S1812Sealed
PSA V1812Vented
Rythmik F18sealed
PSA S1813Front
PSA EV1813Front

$2,000+

  • 13.5 Inch
ModelPorted
SVS PB-4000Front
SVS PC-4000Bottom
  • 15 Inch
ModelPorted
Rythmik G25HPDual Opposed Sealed
PSA S3012Two 15 Inch Sealed
Rythmik FV25HPDual Ported
  • 16 Inch
ModelPorted
SVS SB-16Front
SVS PB-16Sealed
  • 18 Inch
ModelPorted
Rythmik FV18Front
PSA TV1812Vented
PSA TV1813Front
PSA TV1813DFDown
PSA V18 IPALVented
PSA S3012Dual Sealed
PSA 3612Dual Sealed
PSA TV18 IPALVented
PSA S3612Dual opposing 18 inch Sealed
PSA S36 IPALDual opposing 18 inch Sealed
PSA TV3612Two 18 Inch Vented
PSA S3613Dual Opposed 18 Inch Side
PSA TV3613Dual 18 Inch Front
PSA TV36 IPALTwo 18 Inch Vented
JTR Captivator RS1Front
JTR Captivator RS1 2Dual 18 Inch Front
  • 21 Inch
ModelPorted
PSA S2112Front
PSA TV2112Vented
PSA TV21 IPALVented
PSA S21 IPALFront
PSA S42 IPALTwo 21 Inch Sealed
PSA TV42 IPALTwo 21 Inch Vented

DIY Subs

Building your own sub can save a considerable amount, but does require some tools such as table saw, large clamps, and jigsaw or router. There are far more possible designs, these are just a handful to demonstrate what is available at certain price points.

High-pass aka sub-sonic filters should be added on ported subs to prevent excess cone excursion. Some amplifiers include one. DSP is encouraged where possible, for tuning subwoofer output to match room.

  • $330 - 4ft ported box, 20Hz port tune. -3dB at 21Hz, -10dB at 17Hz. 106dB output at 21Hz at 1 metre with 300 watts. Ideal for high output movies on a budget.

4x8ft MDF .75” thickness + Yung SD300 300W Class D Subwoofer Plate Amplifier Module No Boost + GRS 12SW-4HE 12" Paper Cone Rubber Surround High Excursion Subwoofer 4 Ohm + GRS 12SW-4HE 12" Paper Cone Rubber Surround High Excursion Subwoofer 4 Ohm

  • $510 - 3.75ft sealed box. -3dB at 33Hz, -10dB at 21Hz. 110dB output at 33Hz at 1 meter with 350 watts. Requires parametric EQ (40Hz, Q 2.00, Gain 2dB) Ideal for low distortion, high output music on a budget. Place drivers in opposing directions for reduced cabinet vibration.

4x8ft MDF .75” thickness + Dayton Audio SPA500DSP 500W Subwoofer Plate Amplifier with DSP + 2X GRS 12SW-4HE 12" Paper Cone Rubber Surround High Excursion Subwoofer 4 Ohm + GRS 12SW-4HE 12" Paper Cone Rubber Surround High Excursion Subwoofer 4 Ohm

  • $600 - VBSS, 6.25ft ported box. Variable slope and peak output depending on DSP settings. Lots of mid-bass SPL per dollar, good for mixed usage in medium to large rooms if you sacrifice deep bass.

AVS Forums Design Thread

4x8ft MDF .75” thickness + 2x4ft MDF .75” thickness + Precision Port 4" Flared Speaker Cabinet Port Tube Kit + Dayton Audio PA460-8 18" Pro Woofer + Behringer NX1000D Power Amplifier with DSP

  • $845 - 5ft sealed box. -3dB at 31Hz, -10dB at 20Hz. 111dB at 31Hz at 1 meter with 570 watts. Ideal for mixed usage in small to medium rooms.

4x8ft MDF .75” thickness + 2x4ft MDF .75” thickness + Dayton Audio SPA1000 1000W Subwoofer Plate Amplifier + Dayton Audio UM15-22 15" Ultimax DVC Subwoofer 2 ohms Per Coil

  • $990 - 7ft sealed box. -3dB at 28Hz, -10dB at 19Hz. 113dB at 28Hz at 1 meter with 1000 watts. Ideal for music in large rooms, movies in medium rooms.

4x8ft MDF .75” thickness + 2x4ft MDF .75” thickness + Dayton Audio SPA1000 1000W Subwoofer Plate Amplifier + Dayton Audio UM18-22 18" Ultimax DVC Subwoofer 2 ohms Per Coil

  • $1,000+

GSG flat-pack kits Variable slope and peak output depending on model. When you want to go deep and loud at the same time.

Posted Apr 20, 2022, 1:10 AM UTC · locked

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