Subwoofer Reviews

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Significant upgrades to the driver and amplifier
App is intuitive and responsive
SVS's industry leading Bill of Rights

Minus
Enclosure is fairly deep
Grill doesn't look or feel like it's from a flagship product
So powerful it can blow port plugs out during heavy use (depending upon your perspective, that could be a Plus or a Minus)

THE VERDICT
The PB17-Ultra R|Evolution will likely prove to be a huge success for SVS. It is a noticeable upgrade to their previous flagship, the PB-16 Ultra. This subwoofer excels when pushed, having dynamic range to spare. The app makes tuning a breeze, the resulting sound quality and performance means you’ll probably want to own it for years. This is a long term investment, one you’ll almost certainly be reluctant to upgrade for a very long time.

Introduction
Go big or go home. I'm not sure if that was the theme when SVS was designing the new PB17-Ultra R|Evolution, but it certainly could have been. The motor on this driver is big, the cabinet is big, the sound is big, the feature list is big. There's a saying in the automotive world, there's no replacement for displacement. While forced induction (turbocharger or supercharger) is nice, nothing beats cubic inches. A comparable axiom holds true with subwoofers, if you want a lot of deep bass you'll need a big driver and a large enclosure. It's simple physics really.

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Inexpensive
Small for 15-inch subwoofer
Deep, rich sound

Minus
Generic appearance
Takes prodding to wake from standby mode

THE VERDICT
If you want the horsepower of a 15-inch subwoofer but can only accommodate an enclosure that typically comes with a 12-inch sub, the Starke Sound SW15 might be where your search ends.

Subwoofers, an essential component for every home theater system. Unless you have an extraordinary set of speakers the same holds true for a two-channel setup, you need a sub to reinforce the bottom end. While their contribution is critical for the reproduction of full-range sound, for the most part they aren’t much to look at.

Often little more than square black cabinets, subwoofers rarely enhance the aesthetics of your HT room. I’ve reviewed over 50 of them in the past 12 years and in that time very few have visually differentiated themselves from the rest. The Starke Sound SW15 is no exception from an appearance perspective, but can it stand out from the crowd in some other way?

RSL SpeedWoofer 12S
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Poised, even when pushed hard
Response rated into the teens
All this output from a single 12-inch driver?
Minus
No XLR (balanced) input
Large relative to other RSL subwoofers
Similar in price to the competition now

THE VERDICT
The SpeedWoofer 12S is a fantastic addition to the RSL family of products, it’s a subwoofer that does it all. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself saying ‘this thing only has a 12-inch driver?’. I certainly did.

RSL Speakers, by now most of you have heard of this company. But a decade ago? Not so much. I suspect the reason — or to be more precise, reasons — you’ve heard of them now are manifold.

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Rock solid build quality
Full featured, intuitive app
Tiny size and stylish appearance make it very decor friendly
Minus
Amp gets warm when pushed
On the expensive side
Warranty is only 1 year (*see update in the Impressions section)

THE VERDICT
A little powerhouse of a subwoofer, despite its diminutive stature the ELAC DS1200 comes ready to play. The compact size does take away a little from the lowest octave, but its fidelity and unflappable nature easily make up for that.

When you hear the name ELAC, do you immediately think of subwoofers? Speakers yes, but probably not subwoofers. Did you know they currently sell 9 different models? What I have in front of me is their top-of-the-line; the Varro Dual Reference Series 12" subwoofer, or DS1200 for short. That’s a big name for a small sub, calling it “reference series” adds some expectations too. Can it can live up to those?

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Tight and fast bass response
Adjustable tuning controls via handy app
Frees up floor space
Minus
Installation limitations based on room construction
In-wall convenience comes with a steep price

THE VERDICT
The SVS 3000 In-Wall subwoofer is a powerful and customizable high-end subwoofer that delivers impactful bass without taking up any floor space.

Renowned for its expertise in crafting high-performance subwoofers, SVS has carved a niche for itself within the home theater and music system communities. Established in 1998 by a team of passionate audio enthusiasts their mission was to revolutionize the subwoofer market by delivering exceptional performance that exceeded existing offerings.

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact design
Plenty of output above 35 Hertz
Very musical
Minus
Tepid output below 27 Hz
Limited controls and no app support

THE VERDICT If music is your main passion, you'll love what the ForceField 40 brings to the table, but movie lovers searching for foundation-shaking bass may want to look elsewhere.

As longtime readers of Sound & Vision know, I have a passion for bass. Some might say I need to seek professional help in this regard—well, at least that's what my wife tells me! I've reviewed products for nearly 20 years and had dozens of subwoofers in and out of my theater during that time, and I am generally easy to please. Surprisingly, in all that time, I've never had the pleasure of reviewing anything from GoldenEar, even though the company boasts a broad line of loudspeakers and subwoofers. Well, the time has finally come.

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Deep bass response with extremely high output
Impeccable build quality
THX Dominus Certification
Minus
No built-in parametric EQ or room correction
No control app or handset

THE VERDICT
The performance of M&K Sound’s THX Dominus Certified X15+ is over the top. Highly recommended if you demand bass that can go extremely deep and loud even in the largest of rooms.

Let me state from the outset that I'm a fan of M&K Sound speakers. I have owned an M&K S-150 surround system for the past 18-plus years and have zero desire to change it out anytime soon. The first time I auditioned it in a Magnolia Hi-Fi store back in 2002 made me an instant admirer of the brand, and it took me two years of saving up to be able to afford a full 7.1 speaker package. I fully bought into M&K's—and THX's—principle that using a subwoofer/satellite configuration to separate and optimize the reproduction of low frequencies improves midrange purity and accuracy.