Our subwoofers run from a 6-inch desktop model to 15 and 17-inch SVS designs for big rooms, with REL, Bowers & Wilkins, Monitor Audio, Wharfedale and Acoustic Energy in between. Wall-mounted, in-wall and wireless options cover rooms where a box on the floor won't fly. Whether you're adding weight to a stereo pair, a home cinema or both, the choice comes down to cabinet type, connection and room.
Sealed or ported
A sealed cabinet uses the trapped air as a spring behind the cone. The aim is tight, controlled bass from a smaller box. A ported cabinet adds a tuned vent so the design can reach lower and play louder for its size, at the cost of a bigger enclosure.
SVS makes the split easy to read: the SB-1000 and SB-3000 R|Evolution are sealed, the PB-1000 is ported, and the PB-3000 R|Evolution comes with port plugs so it can run either way. Monitor Audio does the same within one family, with the Vestra W10 and W12 sealed and the Vestra W15 ported. A third route is the passive radiator, an unpowered cone that does a port's job. The REL S/550 pairs a 10-inch active driver with a 12-inch down-firing passive radiator.
Subwoofers for stereo music systems
If you're shopping for a REL subwoofer, the High Level connection is the feature to understand first. It takes its signal from your amplifier's speaker terminals, so the sub is designed to blend with your main speakers rather than play as a separate box. The S/850 can run High Level and .1/LFE at the same time, so one sub can serve music and movies.
The REL range runs from the T/5x, T/7x and T/9x through the S/550 and S/850 to the 212 Black Label, with the Classic 98 and Classic 99 in mid-century styling. Bowers & Wilkins covers smaller rooms with the sealed ASW608 and ASW610, both with a 200W amplifier built in. A compact sealed sub like these is a common partner for bookshelf speakers, taking the lowest notes off a small cabinet.
Home theatre subwoofer setups and the LFE channel
In a cinema system, your AV receiver sends the low-frequency effects (the .1 in 5.1) to a dedicated output, usually over a single subwoofer cable. If you're after an SVS subwoofer, the range climbs from the PB-1000 Pro to the 15-inch PB-5000 R|Evolution and the 17-inch SB17-Ultra and PB17-Ultra R|Evolution. Monitor Audio's Anthra W15, Wharfedale's SW-10 and SW-12, Acoustic Energy's AE108.2 and AE308, and REL's HT/1003 mkII sit alongside.
Some designs use opposed drivers, mounted back to back so their forces cancel and the cabinet is designed to stay still. You'll find that idea in the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D, DB2D and DB3D and in the compact SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution, which also adds a balanced XLR input and app control.
When the floor is already spoken for
REL's Planar PL-1 and PL-2 are ultra-thin wall-mounting designs with Airship Direct wireless built in, and the PL-2 cabinet is only 144mm deep. For bass you don't see at all, our custom install range includes the SVS 3000 In-Wall, the Bowers & Wilkins ISW-4 and ISW-3, and Monitor Audio's IWS-10 and ICS-8. If your system is wireless already, the Bluesound Pulse Sub+ and Denon Home Sub are designed to pair wirelessly with their own brand's products.
Questions we get asked
What is an active subwoofer?
An active subwoofer has its own amplifier inside, so it needs a power point and a signal but no separate amp. Some in-wall designs split the job, such as the Monitor Audio IWS-10, which runs with its IWA-250 amplifier.
Can I add a subwoofer to a stereo amplifier?
If your amplifier has no subwoofer or pre-out socket, REL's High Level input connects to the speaker terminals instead. Tell us your amplifier model and we'll work out the cleanest way in.
Is a 6 inch subwoofer enough?
For a desk, gaming setup or small room it can be. The Audioengine S6 is a 6-inch sealed design aimed at exactly those spaces. A lounge or open living area generally calls for a bigger driver or more than one sub.
Should I run one subwoofer or two?
Two subs placed apart are a common way to even out bass across more seats, because every room has spots where low notes build up or disappear. The REL S/550 can start as a stereo pair, and the sealed Vestra W12 is built with multi-sub systems in mind.
Room size, placement and your main speakers all shape which subwoofers make sense, so give the team a call or visit our Murarrie showroom in Brisbane to talk it through. Demos are by appointment, so call or message first.
Stuart Taylor, founder and director
