What This Page Is
This page is the scoreboard for our Independent Subwoofer Testing. It’s a centralized view of all tested subwoofers that shows how each one ranks based on our scoring system derived from the published Klippel LSI and TRF measurements.
By default, it displays the overall rank order from 1st place to last, based on total score. There is also a dropdown that lets you sort the list by score category, so you can view the lineup through the lens of one specific category at a time.
Why This Page Exists
Most people do not know how to confidently interpret BL, KMS, Le, Qts(x), and distortion plots on their own. The measurements themselves are objective, but deciding what matters most, and how much it matters, requires interpretation.
This scoring system exists to bridge that gap. The scores are our subjective interpretation of objective measurements, presented in a consistent way so readers who do not fully understand the data yet can still make useful comparisons and smarter decisions.
To be clear, the data is the authority, not the score. The score is a tool to help summarize and compare, it is not a replacement for reading the plots.
How to Use This Page
Start with the default total ranking if you want a broad view of overall performance within our scoring framework.
If you care about a specific aspect of performance more than the total, use the dropdown to sort the list by that score category. This lets you see which subwoofers rise to the top, or fall to the bottom, in that one area. The scoreboard is meant to guide you with the data, not replace it.
What the Total Rank Means, and What It Does Not Mean
The total rank is not a recommendation and it is not a statement of what you should buy. It is simply how each driver stacks up within our scoring framework.
Your priorities may be different than ours. That’s why the per-category sorting exists, it lets you focus on what matters to you instead of only relying on the overall total.
Subjectivity and Scoring Disclaimer
All scoring on this page is subjective. It represents our honest interpretation of objective measurements, applied as consistently as possible across all tested drivers. An important thing to note, we do not score drivers based on what they could excel at while ignoring what they dont excel at, and vice versa. They ALL get scored to the exact same standard and same criteria, as all of these drivers are marketed as subwoofers by the companies that sell them. Trying to score them based on what could allow them to look better in a certain situation makes this a mess.
Scores and rankings can change. We may update them at our discretion if we gain new information, identify an error, refine our interpretation, or adjust how a category is scored to better reflect real-world use. When changes are made, the leaderboard may shift accordingly.
Sample, Variability, and Real-World Use Disclaimer
Each score reflects how a single tested sample performed under our stated procedures and conditions. Unit-to-unit variation exists. Enclosure loading changes behavior. Vehicle cabin gain, installation quality, and system integration and tuning all matter.
This page is a comparison and education tool, not a guarantee of identical results in every vehicle or system.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
Do not over-fixate on small point differences. Minor gaps between scores are often not meaningful by themselves and should be interpreted alongside the underlying data.
A “Last Updated” date will be featured here if things change with the scoring.
1/16/25
Change Log
On 1/11/26 we recently updated some of the performance scores to better reflect what the measurements show, and to make the criteria more reflective of real-world performance.
- Distortion Stability: Criteria change. The only way a subwoofer can have a relatively good score in this category now is if both 1v and high voltage distortion tests show high performance. Previously, this allowed subwoofers with poor performing 1v distortion to score well here based on our defined criteria.
- BL & CMS Curve and Symmetry: Reanalyzed. Once we had a new tool developed that allows us to better see the data and the scores that associate with them, we were able to better hone in on the ranks, and how far the scores should be spaced out from each other.
On 1/14/26 we updated how Le(x) and Le(i) are scored by coming up with a more repeatable and realistic scoring formula. All new scores are calculated based on inductance values on an excel sheet with our formula to generate the new inductance scores.
Manufacturer claimed Xmax
ResoNix GUS-15 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 1
1077
High level broadband distortion: 220/250
Distortion shape stability: 80/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 218/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 33/40
BL window width & flatness: 126/130
BL symmetry: 67/70
Cms window width & flatness: 85/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 84/90
Le(i) stability: 36/40
Qts(x) stability: 93/100
Total score: 1077/1250
ResoNix GUS-12 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 3
1068
High level broadband distortion: 225/250
Distortion shape stability: 80/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 221/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 30/40
BL window width & flatness: 122/130
BL symmetry: 60/70
Cms window width & flatness: 79/90
Cms symmetry: 41/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 84/90
Le(i) stability: 36/40
Qts(x) stability: 90/100
Total score: 1068/1250
ResoNix GUS-10 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 1
996
High level broadband distortion: 225/250
Distortion shape stability: 77/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 171/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 30/40
BL window width & flatness: 115/130
BL symmetry: 61/70
Cms window width & flatness: 75/90
Cms symmetry: 41/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 85/90
Le(i) stability: 38/40
Qts(x) stability: 78/100
Total score: 996/1250
Acoustic Elegance SBP 15 with Apollo Motor Upgrade
983
High level broadband distortion: 235/250
Distortion shape stability: 85/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 162/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 37/40
BL window width & flatness: 112/130
BL symmetry: 68/70
Cms window width & flatness: 75/90
Cms symmetry: 7/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 90/90
Le(i) stability: 40/40
Qts(x) stability: 72/100
Total score: 983/1250
Dynaudio Esotar² 1200
904
High level broadband distortion: 225/250
Distortion shape stability: 80/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 155/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 17/40
BL window width & flatness: 120/130
BL symmetry: 60/70
Cms window width & flatness: 55/90
Cms symmetry: 37/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 36/90
Le(i) stability: 36/40
Qts(x) stability: 83/100
Total score: 904/1250
Audiomobile Encore 4412
891
High level broadband distortion: 175/250
Distortion shape stability: 55/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 166/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 13/40
BL window width & flatness: 120/130
BL symmetry: 70/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 66/90
Le(i) stability: 33/40
Qts(x) stability: 78/100
Total score: 891/1250
Image Dynamics IDMAX v4 12"
863
High level broadband distortion: 175/250
Distortion shape stability: 70/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 179/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 34/40
BL window width & flatness: 75/130
BL symmetry: 28/70
Cms window width & flatness: 75/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 77/90
Le(i) stability: 27/40
Qts(x) stability: 88/100
Total score: 863/1250
Sundown Audio Zv5 12
802
High level broadband distortion: 150/250
Distortion shape stability: 60/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 227/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 23/40
BL window width & flatness: 126/130
BL symmetry: 60/70
Cms window width & flatness: 10/90
Cms symmetry: 8/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 48/90
Le(i) stability: 30/40
Qts(x) stability: 60/100
Total score: 802/1250
Illusion Audio C10XL
764
High level broadband distortion: 185/250
Distortion shape stability: 65/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 184/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 16/40
BL window width & flatness: 40/130
BL symmetry: 48/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 32/90
Le(i) stability: 19/40
Qts(x) stability: 60/100
Total score: 764/1250
Focal SUB 10WM Utopia M
737
High level broadband distortion: 160/250
Distortion shape stability: 63/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 168/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 28/40
BL window width & flatness: 55/130
BL symmetry: 20/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 29/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 9/90
Le(i) stability: 35/40
Qts(x) stability: 90/100
Total score: 737/1250
Morel Ultimo PowerSlim PS104D
705
High level broadband distortion: 120/250
Distortion shape stability: 20/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 110/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 19/40
BL window width & flatness: 85/130
BL symmetry: 40/70
Cms window width & flatness: 65/90
Cms symmetry: 45/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 84/90
Le(i) stability: 35/40
Qts(x) stability: 82/100
Total score: 705/1250
Audiofrog GB12D4
647
High level broadband distortion: 140/250
Distortion shape stability: 30/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 157/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 35/40
BL window width & flatness: 48/130
BL symmetry: 30/70
Cms window width & flatness: 30/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 32/90
Le(i) stability: 34/40
Qts(x) stability: 76/100
Total score: 647/1250
Wavtech thinPRO12
636
High level broadband distortion: 180/250
Distortion shape stability: 36/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 126/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 22/40
BL window width & flatness: 15/130
BL symmetry: 45/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 35/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 5/90
Le(i) stability: 27/40
Qts(x) stability: 65/100
Total score: 636/1250
JL Audio 12W7AE-3
595
High level broadband distortion: 40/250
Distortion shape stability: 10/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 201/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 21/40
BL window width & flatness: 85/130
BL symmetry: 20/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 7/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 16/90
Le(i) stability: 25/40
Qts(x) stability: 90/100
Total score: 595/1250
Xcelsus XXS12
575
High level broadband distortion: 125/250
Distortion shape stability: 15/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 60/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 24/40
BL window width & flatness: 35/130
BL symmetry: 30/70
Cms window width & flatness: 80/90
Cms symmetry: 45/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 40/90
Le(i) stability: 34/40
Qts(x) stability: 87/100
Total score: 575/1250
JL Audio 12W3v3-4
564
High level broadband distortion: 150/250
Distortion shape stability: 14/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 136/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 17/40
BL window width & flatness: 55/130
BL symmetry: 49/70
Cms window width & flatness: 68/90
Cms symmetry: 40/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 3/90
Le(i) stability: 20/40
Qts(x) stability: 12/100
Total score: 564/1250
Arc Audio A10
561
High level broadband distortion: 80/250
Distortion shape stability: 13/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 96/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 3/40
BL window width & flatness: 100/130
BL symmetry: 62/70
Cms window width & flatness: 70/90
Cms symmetry: 32/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 4/90
Le(i) stability: 26/40
Qts(x) stability: 73/100
Total score: 561/1250
Adire Audio Brahma Mk2.5 Rev. A 12"
472
High level broadband distortion: 35/250
Distortion shape stability: 15/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 132/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 25/40
BL window width & flatness: 20/130
BL symmetry: 50/70
Cms window width & flatness: 70/90
Cms symmetry: 37/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 8/90
Le(i) stability: 6/40
Qts(x) stability: 74/100
Total score: 472/1250
Stereo Integrity SQL 10" D2 (Series 2)
441
High level broadband distortion: 75/250
Distortion shape stability: 15/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 141/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 2/40
BL window width & flatness: 50/130
BL symmetry: 1/70
Cms window width & flatness: 45/90
Cms symmetry: 30/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 15/90
Le(i) stability: 27/40
Qts(x) stability: 40/100
Total score: 441/1250
JL Audio 10TW3 D4
404
High level broadband distortion: 55/250
Distortion shape stability: 8/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 111/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 7/40
BL window width & flatness: 45/130
BL symmetry: 35/70
Cms window width & flatness: 60/90
Cms symmetry: 10/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 4/90
Le(i) stability: 14/40
Qts(x) stability: 55/100
Total score: 404/1250
Stereo Integrity BM-11
225
High level broadband distortion: 22/250
Distortion shape stability: 3/90
High level excursion weighted distortion: 61/300
1v baseline broadband distortion: 5/40
BL window width & flatness: 40/130
BL symmetry: 33/70
Cms window width & flatness: 3/90
Cms symmetry: 13/50
Le(x) level & flatness: 9/90
Le(i) stability: 31/40
Qts(x) stability: 5/100
Total score: 225/1250
Individual subwoofer test results
- Acoustic Elegance SBP 15 with Apollo Motor Upgrade
- Adire Audio Brahma Mk2.5 Rev. A 12"
- Arc Audio A10
- Audiofrog GB12D4
- Audiomobile Encore 4412
- Dynaudio Esotar² 1200
- Focal SUB 10WM Utopia M
- Illusion Audio C10XL
- Image Dynamics IDMAX v4 12"
- JL Audio 10TW3 D4
- JL Audio 12W3v3-4
- JL Audio 12W7AE-3
- Morel Ultimo PowerSlim PS104D
- ResoNix GUS-10 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 1
- ResoNix GUS-12 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 3
- ResoNix GUS-15 Pre Production Prototype Rev. 1
- Stereo Integrity BM-11
- Stereo Integrity SQL 10" D2 (Series 2)
- Sundown Audio Zv5 12
- Wavtech thinPRO12
- Xcelsus XXS12