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2023 Editors’ Choice: Best Subwoofers $5,000 & Up

JL Audio Fathom f112/f113v2

JL Audio Fathom f112/f113v2

$5000/$6000

These two subs—identical except for woofer size (12″ vs. 13.5″) and amplifier power (1800W vs. 3000W)—raise the bar in subwoofer performance with their unlikely combination of brute-force power and tonal and dynamic finesse. Capable of delivering high SPLs at very low frequencies without strain, the Fathoms are adept at resolving the pitches, dynamics, and timbre of an acoustic bass. Reference-quality performance at a reasonable price, and dreadnought build quality to boot. New Mk.II versions offer even higher performance with greater amplifier power, revised drivers, and a much more effective room correction system, now performed in the digital domain. RH, 283

Read the full review: JL Audio Fathom f113v2 Subwoofer and CR-1 Active Crossover
REL Acoustics 212SX

REL Acoustics 212SX

$5000

The REL 212SX was designed to offer clean prodigious deep bass output at a reasonable price. In a beautifully finished piano-black cabinet, each 212SX houses two front-facing 12″ drivers made of continuous cast alloy and capable of 2″ linear excursion. The bass drivers are driven by an onboard Class D amplifier rated at 1000 watts. Each cabinet also contains a back-facing 12″ passive radiator and a downward-firing 12″ passive radiator, both made of the same alloy material. In use, the name of the game for this subwoofer is speed, speed, speed, with negligible distortion. Because of that speed, reviewer Don Saltzman found it was much easier to mate the 212SE with full-range loudspeakers. DS, 286

JL Audio Fathom IWSv2-SYS-213 In-Wall

JL Audio Fathom IWSv2-SYS-213 In-Wall

$6050 single enclosure–$9650 dual enclosure

Forget everything you think you know about in-wall speakers; JL’s in-wall subwoofer shatters the negative stereotypes. The subwoofer specialists mount an ultra-thin version of their 13.5″ TW5 platform in an innovative suspended enclosure that decouples it from the wall. The system is powered by a 1000W outboard amplifier (2000W in the dual-woofer version) with an extensive array of adjustments including JL’s excellent DARO room correction. The sound is classic JL Audio—a combination of an extremely powerful, dynamic, extended, iron-fisted bottom end on one hand, and a remarkable resolution of dynamics, pitch, and texture on the other. RH, 300

Read the full review: JL Audio Fathom IWSv2-SYS-213 In-Wall Subwoofer System
Wilson Audio LōKē

Wilson Audio LōKē

$8750

This diminutive sub explores the nether regions to devastating effect. Whether its rap or rock, classical or jazz, the LōKē has a decidedly salubrious effect, both in bass extension and the essential sense of hall space. With a built-in 500-watt subwoofer and a 10″ woofer, the LōKē is tight, impactful, and speedy. Wilson, which has always been a champ in reproducing the vital bass region, has scored big time. JHb, 330

Read the full review: Wilson Audio LōKē Subwoofer
Paradigm Ref Sig Series Sub 2

Paradigm Ref Sig Series Sub 2

$10,999

The Paradigm Sub 2 may be one of the few subwoofers that can be properly mated with planar loudspeakers. Its lightning speed and ability to project front, rear, and sideways mean that its presence and positioning are simply impossible to detect. The Sub 2 features what Paradigm calls Vibration-Canceling Design Architecture, and the design clearly delivers the goods. The hexagonal cabinet can make it hard to install, but once in place the Sub 2 can deliver a crushing 112dB at 10Hz. JHb, 214

JL Audio Gotham g213 v2

JL Audio Gotham g213 v2

$20,000

This subwoofer really leaves former subwoofer-hater JV at a loss for words. It is so good at what it does—which is deliver power, clarity, color, texture, and sheer oomph in the bottom octaves—that he’s never heard anything that can beat it in the bass, either in a subwoofer or a full-range floorstander. Using its own controls and/or the CR-1 outboard crossover, the Gotham can also be made to disappear more seamlessly than any other sub, which is truly amazing considering its sheer size (two 13.5″ woofers per side in huge rounded-off boxes) and 350-pound bulk. Thanks in part to its sealed-box loading, the Gotham has zero overhang, thickness, and bloat. Note that JL recommends deploying the Gotham in stereo pairs. JV, 254

Wilson Audio Subsonic

Wilson Audio Subsonic

$38,900

Most subwoofers today pack a large driver into a small enclosure, and then massively equalize the drive signal to compensate for the lack of cabinet volume. The Wilson Subsonic is not one of these. Rather, the Subsonic’s enclosure is as big as it needs to be for the woofers to operate correctly without resorting to equalization. About as tall and half as wide as a refrigerator, and weighing 610 pounds, the Subsonic requires a serious commitment of space. The three 12″ long-excursion woofers in the ported enclosure deliver bass response that is flat to an astonishing 10Hz (–2dB). Make no mistake; the Subsonic will reproduce music’s lower octave with majestic power and grace. By reproducing low-frequency spatial cues, the Subsonic greatly expands the soundstage, resulting in a markedly higher level of realism. Requires an outboard crossover, such as Wilson’s ActivXO, along with a power amplifier. RH, 308

Read the full review: Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Loudspeaker, Subsonic Subwoofer, and ActivXO Crossover
Wilson Audio Subsonic

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