2021 Product of the Year Awards: Subwoofer of the Year

JL Audio Dominion d108 and Dominion d110 

$900 and $1100

Even though they are the least costly products in JL’s subwoofer lineup, the Dominion d108 and d110 share much of the design technology and philosophy of JL Audio’s more upscale models. The subwoofer gurus at JL Audio developed some innovative methods of delivering high-quality bass reproduction in a relatively affordable package. For example, the driver basket incorporates the front baffle as part of its cast shape. By making it all one piece, JL achieved a more rigid structure than the traditional bolt-the-driver-to-a-thick-piece-of-something method, while also simplifying assembly and lowering cost. The d108 comes in at $900 in black ash and $1000 in gloss black, with the Dominion d110 adding $200 to those prices. Despite the affordable prices, the Dominion subs deliver all the hallmarks of JL performance, including solid impact from kick drum along with warmth and weight from bass guitar. JL knows that satisfying bass reproduction involves revealing texture, tone color, dynamic agility, and finesse, which these products did just as well as pumping out low bass on bombastic material. Unlike many boom-box subwoofers, the Dominion is capable of great finesse and resolution. The Dominion d108 and its big brother, the d110 are so good that you may question whether you need more sub.