American bass XR 10/12/15 I tried sealed and ported

American bass XFL 12 dual ported

Stereo Integrity SQL series 2 12 in sealed

Re Audio SEx 12 v2 10 sealed corner loaded

Of all the setups I’ve heard and had in my own cars I loved the XR 15 in a sealed 2.5 cu ft box even though I’m pretty sure it’s better in the a ported box and my current SQL 12 in a 1 cu ft sealed box playing down to 8hz blows my mind daily. The sound quality is the best I’ve ever heard. I just wish it was louder sometimes because I know the madness of a ported 15 in a 1 series bmw.

Besides that I have 2 SVS sb 3000’s in my living room currently. They get loud enough with enough rumble to make you double check if the earth is moving in scenes where it’s not an obvious explosion or something causing the subwoofers to go off.

Before that I had 2 Klipsch SPL 150. Those are perfect if you don’t have neighbors and a single family otherwise the earthquakes they produce will surely get you evicted.

Rockford fosgate has nice subs the power t2 15s are monsters! Also Memphis mojo 15s are also powerful. And oz audio, smaller brand 2as crazy loud back around 2010.

I never see people rocking Fi Audios, but my buddy had a Fi Audio 12" BTL and that thing was an absolute monster.

Around 1999-2000, I had a Crystal CMP x2 15” that was absolutely ridiculous (ran it with a Fosgate Power 500.2). It wasn’t the best sounding, but it pounded like a pornstar.

Your list is pretty sufficient but everybody forgets about and some have never heard about cadence subs.

Im looking for my first sub purchase (after 20 years with nothing) and im leaning towards getting one.

Fi Audio makes subwoofers for every size and power handling you could want, mine has been going strong for 5 years and can take all the abuse I can throw at it

Is your goal SPL or sq? I personally like JL, to me they are a very good medium between SPL and SQ. And they tend to get the low notes better than they’re rating says.

There is no such thing as "best" because every subwoofer has a different goal. There are definitely brands to stay away from though.

If you want to narrow down what to get, find the max space you are willing to use for the subwoofer(s) and your budget for the system. If you just start trying to buy bigger subwoofers without planning ahead, you are going to be chasing a constantly moving goal post and you will keep spending more and more money chasing it down.

You will need a custom box optimizing the space you have and the subwoofers you choose.

Buy two Stereo Integrity SQL or two Image Dynamics IDQ.

Fi

Si

Yes I have some suggestions if you want the "hardest hitting" (whatever that metric of measurement is) sound system ever...

First, get like $150,000 and buy 40 banks of lithium LTO 50ah, strap that shit to 200,000W RMS of amps and push it into like maybe ten or twelve Orion HCCA's or Alphard Audio AVATARS in a 6th order enclosure built with a steel cage and 50mm MDF face panels and triple baffle... you will need six 420a alternators and eighteen runs of 4/0 guage cabling.

Have fun and show us when it's all built!

Look into DD Audio, especially their American made subs

Sundown, Skar, Deaf Bonce,

Jl audio 13w7ae

Rockford Fosgate, because I'm old and that's what all the cool kids had back in the day.

High end ($400+) - JL Audio. Sundown.

Mid range ($150-300) - Rockford. Skar.

Budget - Skar.

Loved my 12W6 in 1998. Hate my 10W0 now. I went with an Orion XTR 12, but not happy with it at all. I'm looking for another 10" but want something that sounds amazing with that gut thump with rock and roll. I was thinking a 10W6 or 12W6... Just a single one. Something is just missing from my sub. It's loud, it's hits hard, it's just... not right. Once I had that 12W6, it kind of set the standard. It wasn't super loud, but it was a great sound. I want louder but that same quality.

That 10W0 isn't horrible. Just not great.

It's true! I have a JL 8" that blows away some cheaper 10"s and 12"s.

The higher tier Skar subs like the VXF series are pretty good actually.

Not sure what prices you are looking at, but the Punch P3 is 219ish on Amazon. The SA 12 is 349. So no.

But I was actually referring to the X series. Those are 600+ and are absolute beasts. Not sure Rockford makes anything that can compete with Sundown in that range.

Dayton Audio! Budget friendly and great SQ

Alpine series x >>>

http://ground-shaker.com/index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=product&task=show&cid=461&name=black-12-single-competition-ported-sub-box&Itemid=104&lang=en

https://www.daytonaudio.com/product/1118/um12-22-12-ultimax-dvc-subwoofer-2-ohm-per-coil

Kicker

Fosgate

Sundown, kicker are the two I really have experience with. I owned a couple pos skar subs too but those things were such trash. My vote always goes to sundown

Digital Design

I got a used Martin Logan subwoofer (Dynamo 800X) for under $500, retails currently for $900.

I’ve found used Martin Logan subs are fairly easy to come by for under $400-500, sometimes under $300. I would recommend getting one with built-in DSP, if possible. I love mine very much, no desire to change anything.

SVS, HSU, Rhythmik at that price range. REL has priced themselves so high now that they're not a good, cost efficient option anymore (you simply can do better for dollar with the previous three I mentioned).

If used, JL Audio (home gear) or Vandersteen 2Wq subwoofers are great, too.

I think you're on the right track but when it comes to used it can be difficult to find a great deal with the most popular subwoofer brands. At the top of your list I would put SVS, REL, and HSU.

Velodyne and Monolith are two others to add to your list of the top subwoofer brands to consider.

One bit of warning, some of these subwoofers are massive in size. My spouse took some convincing that we needed that giant black tube in the corner of the room when I brought home my first SVS sub.

If warranties are transferable, I would think any of the above with a 5 year warranty would be good. In particular, i know SVS subs have a 5 year, bumper to bumper (that's everything including amps).

Tossing in Monoprice Monolith. Seems to be a direct competitor to svs and hsu

JL Audio

As far as 8's go, I would go with either DD audio, or the DC Audio 8's personally

Sundown, Gladen, Jl audio or Rockford Fosgate

DD Audio.

Nep audio has some nice stuff you don't see often. Most of their subwoofers are made here in the USA. Same as Adire Audio.

I’ll have to check this stuff out! I appreciate the link! Your list is missing some of the most influential stuff tho!

Check out:

Techno: Bass 305:Techno bass (flight 305), techmaster PEB (bassgasum)

For rap: DJ Magic Mike, Spice 1

Those albums are from the 1990’s. The beginning era of bass heads!! They were literally sound engineered for sub frequencies. Bassgasum, I’ll warn you now… it will blow subs easily because of the way it’s designed. Flight 305 is one of my favorite “late night rollin” songs. But for SPL… these albums are INSANE! Check em out 🙂

Again, thanks for sharing!

Rel Subwoofers all day. Ht or Tx series both integrate phenomenally.

Oh I’m a big klipsch fan. Run towers, and bookshelves all throughout my home. Their subs are lacking to say the least.

I would honestly cross Klipsch off my list (have an r-110sw). Upgraded to an SVS PB-2000pro (and eventually a second one) and it’s a night and day difference. And it’s beyond just the size; SVS is in another class. Plus the app is a nice added bonus, not to mention the service you’ll get from SVS.

RSL speedwoofer 10s. Or whatever SVS you can find discounted on their outlet site

I have the Monolith. It has been as good as I expected. It is huge and has a complete sound.

As someone who was gone from klipsch to svs.....skip the klipsch.......