We seek to learn how deep a sub can play, how visceral the low bass response is, how well it can be adjusted to integrate with both small and large satellite speakers, and how musically accurate it is capable of playing. Testing material includes everything from test tone sweeps to blockbuster movies and a selection of music from multiple genres. Our subwoofer tests take place in at least two different rooms, any of which we are intimately familiar with, and we generally test the subwoofer in three locations that we know offer the best possible response within those rooms. While there is much debate over whether the "break-in effect" is real, we prefer to get that factor covered so it doesn't play a role in our evaluation one way or another. We run the subwoofer for several hours before beginning any critical evaluation. Honorable mention goes to the HSU ULS-15 MK 2 and the Monoprice Monolith range of subwoofers, two of the best-sounding $1,000-plus subwoofers we've checked out recently. For our money, this is the best subwoofer you can buy, period. Gunshots and explosions in films register with a hefty thump to the chest, and the sub manages low-end instrumentation beautifully, allowing acoustic bass to bounce smoothly while electronic bass and kick drums shake the foundation of your home. Beneath a sleek, stylish subwoofer box, the cubic SVS SB16 houses a monstrous 16-inch Ultra driver with an 8-inch, edge-wound voice coil and a ridiculous 1,500-watt continuous Sledge amplifier with discrete MOSFET output that tops out at 5,000 watts peak power.Īdditionally, a smartphone app for iOS and Android has upped the SB16 Ultra's game significantly, taking the pain out of setting up your sub by allowing you to fine-tune the speaker from your optimal listening position and create custom presets for different listening situations.Īll of this is to say: No matter how you're using the SB16, it impresses. This subwoofer has become our measuring stick, which might actually be unfair to the competition - it's that good. The SVS SB-16 Ultra has been on our list for some time, mainly because we haven't found anything worthy to take its place. While the fantastic SVS SB16-Ultra is our favorite, we've also collected a list of alternatives ranging from the budget $130 range to the higher-end $2,000-plus mark, each with its own specific strengths, ranging from auto-equalization to saving on space without giving up the bass. ![]() Additionally, many of the powered speaker solutions s we're seeing in the market also come with subwoofer-out ports, so you can significantly improve their bass sound. Beyond the obvious ideas about subwoofers - that they add big boom and rumble to your movies as well as a swift kick in the chest with your music - adding lower frequencies can also bring depth, drama, and tension to whatever you're watching, even when it's quieter.Ī dedicated subwoofer can also take a significant amount of strain off of your amplifier, resulting in cleaner sound and higher dynamics from the other speakers in your system. ![]() If you've found your way to this post, you're likely considering adding a subwoofer to your home audio or home theater setup, and we think that's a great idea.
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