2017 Subwoofer Roundup: Seven Models Compared From $600-$700

You need a job done and you have a seven hundred dollar budget to get it done with. The job is getting great bass in your audio system, whether it be for a two-channel music system that needs some help with the lowest octave or a full surround sound home theater system that needs to bring out the deepest bass for those gut-rumbling action scenes. So what subs should you be looking at for this job? In this article, we will briefly go over seven of the top contenders in this price range. The subs we will cover are more alike than different in terms of specifications, and any of them look to be fine choices for accomplishing the task of great bass. But each does have different strengths, so which is best for your application? Read on to find out the specialty of each.

Elac Debut S12EQ

Also known as “The Sophisticate”, “The Intellectual”, “The Doctor” 

The Elac S12EQ makes no pretensions about its shape: it is a cube and proud of it, with no rounded corners, beveled edges, or curved sides to soften that fact. The Elac S12EQ is one of two subs in our roundup that are set apart by using a passive radiator to produce low frequencies instead of a port. The passive radiator is hidden in the bottom panel, and it allows the S12EQ to use a smaller enclosure than the other ported behemoths yet still produce a healthy amount of low frequency output from its prudent 17” cube size. However, the cleverness doesn’t stop there; the S12EQ is controlled by a smartphone app that manages a wide array of the subwoofer’s behavior, from phase, delay, auto-on, low-pass filters, and a parametric equalizer. It even has a auto-equalization system that uses the smartphone’s mic to automatically smooth the bass response. This subwoofer is so sophisticated that it doesn’t even have controls on the amp plate; it is all done through the app.  That's cool!

Yeah, the S12EQ is a subwoofer with brains, but it is not without brawn with its 500 watt BASH amplifier and 12” passive radiator. It is spec’d by Elac to dig down to 25 Hz but Elac does not provide a window of response, although the design choices for the S12EQ certainly make it a plausible claim within a +/- 3 dB window. The S12EQ is a part of the Debut line of speakers from Elac which are designed by acclaimed speaker designer Andrew Jones, so its pedigree is top-notch and makes it a safe-bet for outstanding performance from a reasonable sized package.

Emotiva Airmotiv S12

Also known as “The Headliner”, “The Maestro”, “The Artiste”

The Emotiva Airmotiv S12 is the one other subs in our roundup that uses a passive radiator, thereby reducing the size without reducing the extension. Like the Elac S12EQ, the Airmotiv S12 uses a 12” passive radiator, although the orientation of the driver and passive radiator are reversed on the Airmotiv, with the radiator firing forward and the driver mounted on the bottom. They both use a 500 watt amplifier. Their dimensions are nearly the same too. Similarly, Emotiva specs the Airmotiv to dig down to 24 Hz in a 0/-3 dB window. Its pricing is even the same: $699. So, what differentiates the two? There are a few important aspects that separate them, the most obvious aspect is visual; they are both made with a modernistic style, but the Airmotiv is a bit bolder with its heavily beveled corners which carry into and shape the grille. While the Airmotiv S12 is a bit more forward stylistically, it is a bit more old-fashioned in the controls department, because it has physical controls. Truth be told, this is a bit more re-assuring for us oldsters who do not always have full faith in Bluetooth connectivity or who may not even own a smartphone *gasp!*

The Airmotiv S12 uses a class A/B amplifier with a reassuringly large toroidal power transformer and heatsink. One nice touch on the amp is the inclusion of a balanced input. The muscular-looking amplifier is no surprise in a product coming from Emotiva whose reputation is built in high-quality amplifiers. Also reassuring is the beefy motor and large surround on the driver. Large motors and large surrounds don’t necessarily mean the driver will perform great, but it does mean that they will not inhibit performance, at least for a long, linear stroke. The Airmotiv S12 looks to have the makings of a great subwoofer, and we are hoping to get one in our lab soon to see what it can do.

Hsu Research VTF-2 mk5

Also known as “The Bruiser”, “The Brawler”, “The Muscle”

The performance of the Hsu VTF-2 mk5 is no mystery to us at Audioholics due to our extensive review; the thing is a beast. It is a large sub, perhaps pressing up against spousal-approval-factor acceptable limits, but it is not gigantic nor is it absurdly heavy. It is a subwoofer that makes its highest priority clear the moment you let it rip. This is a performance-first sub, and this is unsurprising coming from Hsu Research. This isn’t to say it looks bad or is considerably compromised in any other way, except for needing a significantly larger cabinet than more conventional subwoofers at big box discount stores. Subjectively speaking, it is not the prettiest subwoofer in our roundup, but may well be the all-around most powerful sub, despite being on the lower side in cost. But don’t think the VTF-2 mk5 can merely get loud; it maintains a very high level of fidelity even at roaring output levels, which is a Hsu tradition where accuracy is not compromised for the sake of loudness.

The VTF-2 mk5 is one of three subwoofers in our roundup that can trade extended deep bass for louder deep bass through its variable port tuning. This, in combination with its Q control, allows users to customize its sound to suit their tastes. Remarkably, it also performs well as a sealed sub too. So, those purists who eschew bass reflex designs would do well to consider the VTF-2 mk5 in its sealed mode. It’s not surprising that using a brawny 12” driver and powerful 350 watt BASH amp in a healthy-sized enclosure is going to produce reasonably good performance, but Hsu manages to surpass already high expectations in that criteria with the VTF-2 mk5.

Outlaw Audio Ultra-X12  

Also known as “The Man Upstairs”, “The Executive”, “The Heavy-Hitter”

The Outlaw Audio Ultra-X12 separates itself from the other subs in this roundup by hiding the driver in a down-firing orientation. This gives it a stately appearance and an all-business attitude that looks to be backed up by its performance. The Ultra-X12 is Outlaw Audio’s successor to their successful LFM-1 subwoofer series and combines the deep extension of their EX subwoofer with the size of their Plus subwoofer. Among our roundup, it bears most resemblance to the Hsu VTF-2 mk5 in design, because it uses a powerful 12” driver with a 350 watt amplifier and two ports with the ability to use variable tuning points. Where it differs is that the driver and ports face downward, and the sub sports a fine satin black finish with a slick gloss plexiglass top. The form factor plus the appearance of the Ultra-X12 makes it ideal to also serve as an end table, and this can get you the intensely powerful nearfield bass of a large ported subwoofer but still remain visually inconspicuous. It’s a large subwoofer, but the understated yet tasteful finish and design make the Ultra-X12 a secret weapon to skirt around the laws of spousal-approval-factor without compromising major deep bass output. The Ultra-X12 looks to be the deepest extending of the subs in our roundup with a tuning point of 17 Hz, narrowly edging out the Hsu VTF-2 mk5 and RBH I-12/e by 1 Hz. One interesting and uncommon feature found on the Ultra-X12 is the addition of speaker-level inputs and outputs. This makes it especially easy to integrate into older two-channel systems. The Ultra-X12 continues Outlaw Audio’s tradition of doing an awful lot right at a very affordable price.

RBH Sound I-12/e

Also known as “The Headturner”, “The Casanova”, “The 500-watt Adonis”

The first thing that hits you about the RBH Sound I-12/e is that drop-dead gorgeous high-gloss red burl finish; it is pretty sweet. One might infer from the exquisite finish that it is all style and no substance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Our recent review of the I-12/e showed it to be as much of a performer as a looker, seeing how it manages 100 dB at 20 Hz and is measuring over 109 dB from 40 Hz to 80 Hz. One aspect of the design that allows that kind of performance is the somewhat large size. Larger enclosures typically mean greater efficiency. Of course, large enclosures also mean lower spousal-approval-factor, but the I-12/e addresses that with its nice finish and curved cabinet. In our roundup, it has the most attractive finish and shape and is tied with the Ultra-X12 for having the largest cabinet. Like the Ultra-X12, it also has variable port tuning, although the nature of its different port tuning does not quite change performance as dramatically as on the Ultra-X12 or VTF-2 mk5, since the I-12/e has three ports instead of two. As with the VTF-2 mk5, the I-12/e does support a sealed operation mode. When sealed, the sub can damp the low end, and this is useful for situations in small rooms where room gain boosts the low frequencies more than the user might want. 

One unusual feature that the I-12/e possesses is a balanced input and output. This makes it a great choice for avoiding cable spaghetti messes for long cable runs in multiple sub setups. It is a feature typically found on much more expensive subwoofers. A pair of line-level inputs and outputs also make it easy to daisy-chain multiple subs and merge into simpler two-channel systems like setups that use integrated amplifiers. The RBH I-12/e’s versatility, good looks, and high performance make it a class act when viewed from any angle.

Rythmik Audio LV12r

Also known as “The Sleuth”, “The Private Eye”, “The Ace Detective”

In the last decade Rythmik Audio have carved out a reputation for refined sound quality through use of their servo technology. In Rythmik’s servo system, the amplifier uses a feedback loop to reposition the cone if it is found to be out of place, and the cone position is always being monitored. By constantly inspecting and correcting the motion of the driver, the driver should stay more faithful to the source signal which should make for a very accurate subwoofer. While Rythmik Audio isn’t the only subwoofer manufacturer to use servo feedback systems, they do claim that their sensory system is superior to that of other varieties of servo systems. Rythmik’s LV12r subwoofer might be considered a large subwoofer by some, but it is the smaller ported 12” subwoofer of the two offered by Rythmik. It has a healthy-sized cabinet, a driver that looks up to the task, a 300 watt Hypex amplifier, and a rearward-facing port, all of which are the base ingredients that can add up to very good performance regardless of servo technology. The LV12r has an extension setting that reduces the low-end output to three different levels which can make for better sound in a room with lots of low-end gain. Speaking of the low-end, the LV12r has plenty of it, spec’d with a response of +/- 2dB from 19 Hz to 300 Hz. That response is a nice spread, especially for those who want a higher crossover point than the traditional 80 Hz. One unique feature to the LV12r in our roundup is the ability to adjust the low-pass filter slope from a 12 dB/octave slope to a 24 dB/octave slope. In the looks department, the LV12r isn’t bad, but it doesn’t really stand out either. In this writer’s opinion, the black oak option looks much better than the matte black finish, but it isn’t the LV12r’s looks that is supposed to stand out, it’s the sound.

SVS SB-2000

Also known as “The Safecracker”, “The Smooth Operator”, “The Magician”

The SVS SB-2000’s major distinction in our roundup is that it is a sealed subwoofer. It is therefore the smallest subwoofer, and, in its piano gloss finish, certainly has the highest spousal-approval-factor. A high spousal-approval-factor is always a nice thing, but how does that compromise performance? Well, sealed designs always give up low-end output to ported or passive radiator designs, but they typically do have ultra low-end output as opposed to ported and passive radiators which very rapidly lose output below their tuning frequencies. Due to the shallower rolloff inherent in a sealed system design, a system using multiple SB-2000’s could very well have palpable output down to the low teen frequencies (with enough of them), where the ported subwoofers in our roundup never could, no matter how many are used. The SB-2000 is a lot easier to deal with not just in size, but in weight, so moving it around to find the best location is not a laborious chore. Its relatively diminutive size can mean it will fit in places larger subs will not, which can allow for a better in-room frequency response and an overall better bass sound. While the SB-2000 might not have the 20 Hz output of these other subs, it gives up very little at 40 Hz and above, and, for most music recordings that is more than enough low-end extension. The driver used in the SB-2000 is based off the highly-regarded Tymphany Peerless XXLS platform that is known for its extraordinary linearity and extremely low distortion. Indeed, this is what is shown in our review of the PC-2000 which uses the same driver. From this, the SB-2000 promises exceptionally clean bass in music frequencies. The SB-2000 remains one of our favorite small subs, regardless of price.

Summary

One thing these subs ALL have in common is they employ a 12” woofer. That driver size chosen seems to make for the most balanced subwoofer in this price range. There are similarly priced subs with larger and smaller diameter woofers, but, from what we have seen, those approaches involve some kind of performance compromise for a less balanced system overall. For example, a larger woofer can get you more upper bass output, but since it cannot be a heavy-duty driver in this price range, they tend to have relatively poor deep bass performance with respect to mid-bass. Similarly priced subs with smaller 10” drivers simply cannot have the displacement and therefore performance of these 12”s. There are subwoofers with high-excursion 10” drivers that can match the displacement of the subwoofers in our roundup, but they tend to be a lot more expensive than $700 because of the heavy-duty motors and high-power amplifiers needed for those designs.

Make	Elac	Emotiva	Hsu Research	Outlaw Audio	RBH Sound	Rythmik Audio	SVS
Model	Debut S12EQ	Airmotiv S12	VTF-2 mk5	Ultra-X12	I-12/e	LV12r	SB-2000
MSRP	$699.99	$699	$539 + $65 S/H	$659 + shipping	$699	$599	$699.99
Frequency Response	25-150 Hz	24-200 Hz (+0/-3 dB)	18-200 Hz (+/- 2dB)	17-200 Hz (+/- 2dB)	20-200 Hz (+/- 3dB)	19-300 Hz (+/- 2dB)	19-220 Hz (+/- 3dB)
Design Type	Passive Radiator	Passive Radiator	Ported	Ported	Ported	Ported	Sealed
Amplifier Power	500 Watts	500 Watts	350 Watts	350 Watts	500 Watts	300 Watts	500 Watts
Dimensions (HxWxD)	17” x 17” x  17”	17.3” x 15.8” x 16.9”	21.5” x 15” x 24”	21.25” x 16” x 23”	22.75” x 17.5” x 22”	22” x 16” x 19”	14.6” x 14.2” x 17.1”
Weight	54.9 lbs	66.2 lbs	62 lbs	66 lbs	65 lbs	69 lbs	34.8 lbs
Warranty	3 years driver/ 1 year amp	5 years	7 years driver/ 2 years amp	3 years	5 years driver/ 2 year amp	5 years driver/ 3 years amp	5 years

 

One thing we do see when we compare these subwoofers to what was available a decade ago or further back in the same price range is the march of progress. Any of these are significant steps up to what was available back then, whether in features, performance, or aesthetics. Because of this, we are looking forward to what will be available in the next 10 years; if the subwoofers to choose from are this good now, the improvements made over the next decade will make some amazing bass available to this range of affordability.  As always, spring for dual subs if you can to take advantage of modal manipulation for smoother bass across your entire listening area. 

In the related forum thread below, please share with us which of these subwoofers are on your shortlist or if you already own one.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.