Who wouldn’t want a new sub for the holidays? After all, nothing makes watching TV and movies—or listening to music—more involving than tight, deep bass. Here are three great subwoofers that are ready to rumble.

Value: Hsu Research VTF-2 MK4 Subwoofer  ($530 each, plus $67 shipping and handling)


Here's a sub that will deliver a true full-range listening experience for just over 500 bucks. This sub plays deep; at 20 Hz, the VTF-2 MK4 can output over 107 dB, and it can reproduce 16 Hz sound at 103 dB. Additionally, Hsu’s sub features a Q control and variable port tuning, allowing owners to tailor bass response to their needs.

I heard Hsu’s subs at the 2014 New York Audio Show, and the experience was a wakeup call—if you want your modest speakers to sound like six-figure super-speakers, nothing will get you closer that goal than adding a great sub to your system. With the VTF-2 MK4, you don’t have to break the bank to get there.

Performance: SVS PB13-Ultra - ($2000, free shipping)


The 150-pound PB13-Ultra is the sort of sub your neighbors have nightmares about. With a rated frequency response of 14 Hz to 200 Hz +/- 3dB, it’s ready to transduce 1000 watts of power (3500 peak) into soul-stirring music and hair-raising sound effects.

The rear panel of the PB-13 Ultra offers RCA and balanced XLR inputs plus outputs. An LCD control panel lets you adjust subwoofer features, including the incredibly useful "high-pass delay" function that facilitates integrating the sub into a traditional two-channel system.

Cost No Object: Paradigm Sub 2   ($10,500)


There may be a few subs out there that produce more bass than the Sub 2, but there are none that provide such capability in as compact and refined a package. Paradigm's uncompromising design relies on an amplifier that delivers 4500 watts of continuous power—with 9000-watt peaks—to effortlessly move a ton of air. The result is a sub that’s no larger than the SVS PB13-Ultra, yet is capable of outputting 10 Hz bass at 112 dB.

The Sub 2's hexagonal cabinet serves a performance-enhancing purpose. The sub's six 10-inch drivers are mounted in a force canceling arrangement, eliminating vibrations. With Paradigm's flagship subwoofer, you get the bass, the whole bass, and nothing but the bass.