A 15-inch subwoofer can add a big punch to your home theater system or blow up the deep beats in ... [+]
Sometimes, you just gotta bring the bass. From movie soundtracks to hip-hop and hard rock, to EDM and modern jazz, there’s a lot going down in those lower registers.
And while speakers today are better than ever, nothing really does the job of digging deep like a subwoofer. Big bass means moving a lot of air, all at once, and for home audio, nothing really gets the job done like a 15-inch sub. If you like high-impact surround sound or feeling that big bass hit in your favorite music, a 15-inch boomer has the power to (almost literally) move you. Here are the best around in a range of prices.
Monoprice Monolith M15-S 1,000-Watt Subwoofer
The Monoprice Monolith M15-S brings the pain with 1,000 watts of power (1,800 watts peak) in a ... [+]
Monoprice may be a new name in audio for some people, but their reputation is on the rise. While Monoprice makes a wide range of electronics, their Monolith line of audio gear is consistently highly rated. The M15-S subwoofer features a long-excursion 15-inch driver in a bass-reflex case for maximum output. The 1,000-watt amplifier ensures tight control over response while delivering crushing power. Inputs include two RCA line-level jacks along with XLR connections for pro-level equipment. There’s also a ton of adjustability to get the sound really dialed in with your system and room. It’s also THX-certified and bring a friend when it gets delivered: It weighs 133 pounds.
Klipsch SPL-150 400-watt Subwoofer
The Klipsch SPL-150 is a perfect addition to a musical audio system.
Klipsch has been making speakers in America since 1946, and you could say they know a thing or two about sound. It’s not all just power and looks; a great subwoofer is well-engineered to sound good and last a long time. The Klipsch SPL-150 15-inch subwoofer features a semi-metallic driver that’s both super strong and lightweight. It looks pretty good, too (a grille is included). And while the 150 uses an amplifier that puts out “only” 400 watts (800 watts peak), the efficient vented design means it sounds much bigger than it is. Phase, low-pass and gain controls help tailor the sound to perfection. This is a great choice if your audio system will have a lot of focus on music. There’s also an optional wireless kit for it.
Dayton Audio SUB-1500 150-watt Subwoofer
The Dayton Audio SUB-1500 is a great choice if you want to add a subwoofer to an existing audio ... [+]
Some of the subwoofers on this list cost thousands of dollars, and they’re worth it. But if you just need to punch up the low end on an audio system you already have, the Dayton Audio SUB 1500 is where price and performance meet. With 150 watts of power, it’s more designed to accentuate bass response than bring the house down. It also features adjustability for output, phase and crossover, and will accept both RCA line-level input and speaker wires for easy integration into your setup. And read those reviews: This sub gets the job done for music and home theater. For larger home theater setups, get two!
Jamo D600 SUB 400-Watt Subwoofer
The Jamo 600 has a wide array of adjustability and 400 watts of power.
Jamo makes a wide range of upper-end audio gear and their D600 is a powerful subwoofer with an emphasis on control. A top-mounted touch control panel and display lets users make changes to output, crossover and phase on the fly, and it has a dedicated THX Ultra 2 mode as well as several other sound modes. The D600 uses a 400-watt built-in amplifier that can jump to 1,600 watts of peak power when needed.
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X 1800-Watt Subwoofer
The MartinLogan Dynamo 1600 delivers exactly what you expect: Top-tier performance with both power ... [+]
MartinLogan products don’t really need an introduction. This audiophile brand can be found in high-end cars and expensive homes the world over, and for good reason. The Dynamo 1600X subwoofer continues that legacy with a massive 1,600-watt amplifier section powering a 15-inch polypropylene driver. It has a suite of controls but to really tune it up for your space, there’s a dedicated Anthem Room Correction app for getting it just right. Plus, it can be configured as front-firing or downward-firing by changing the innovative feet.
SVS PB-16 Ultra 1,500-Watt 16-inch Subwoofer
It's big and bad (and 200 pounds!) but we're including the SVS PB16-Ultra because it can literally ... [+]
OK, SVS is sneaking in an extra inch of diameter here, but it would be a shame to disqualify the PB16 Ultra from the list just for that. Want power? The PB16 packs a 1,500-watt amplifier that can hop to an incredible 5,000 watts peak when the situation calls for truly massive low end response. Control and tweak the Ultra’s performance with the top-mounted control panel or the dedicated smartphone app. And while huge power is great, the PB16 Ultra is also very musical and balanced. But if you need to fill a large space with bass, or just want that chest-pounding club-level output, here’s your sub.
Klipsch R-115SW 800-Watt Subwoofer
The Klipsch R-115SW packs power but it's also very musical and looks great.
The second entry from Klipsch on our list is the R-115SW, and it’s a powerful 800-watt sub that combines deep response with great musicality and a great look. It retains the spun Cerametallic driver for rigidity and accurate bass response, and there’s an optional wireless kit for adding it to your system without running long lengths of wire or audio cables. And for this kind of fit and finish, power and performance, the price is as amazing as the sound you’ll get from it.
