SPEEDWOOFER

i was a bit nervous about replacing a sealed Fathom {$3000} with a ported Speedwoofer. Nervousness gone!I love this subwoofer. Use mainly for music and has added a thrilling impact to the music. I feel it is a steal for the price and highly recommend.

I am completely satisfied with my 12S this subwoofer as it definitely lives up to the rave reviews and hype! Drew at technical support answered the phone and promptly answered my question, no recordings or unintelligible overseas staff.

And outstanding product, especially at this price point and impressive customer/technical support!

Thank you RSL!

This is one of the most amazing subwoofers: As soon as I hooked it up and started listening to music a smile appeared on my face and my jaw dropped. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. $799 is an absolute steal for this thing- is it big? Yes. Should that be a reason not to buy it? Not in the least. The thing violently shakes my floors when it needs to, and is also nimble and accurate for music. It is truly the best of both worlds: music and theater.

As a preface, I bought this sub for music and music alone - the kind of music that no mere 10” can handle. And it is without a doubt the lowest, loudest, cleanest and tightest sub I have ever heard. I’m a huge basshead who has owned many subs over the years, most quite a bit larger than the 12s, and was honestly skeptical it would really deliver the chest kick and pants-shaking lows I love. I was instantly humbled the moment I began testing this absolute beast.

The 12s can effortlessly pressurize the room on deep bass drop songs like SP:MC - “Taiko Dub” that usually reveal the lower limits of smaller subs, and has no problem keeping up with the huge blastbeats, tectonic 808 drops and tremolo-picking droptuned bass of tracks like Organectomy - “Existential Disconnect” that turn most other woofers into mush. Classic bass test tracks like Three 6 Mafia’s “Late Nite Tip” play back absolutely phenomenally, with the lowest notes filling the room completely and the rapid upward crawls sounding smooth as could be.

I am hearing low end detail in many of my favorite songs that I’ve never experienced before. So much texture and clarity, and never once has it sounded boomy or laggy. In fact I would say this bass is deceptively smooth and clean - I had no idea I was pushing it hard enough to rattle my entire house until I stepped outside my garage and noticed my gutters and AC unit resonating!

Overall the first descriptor I would use for this sub is simply addictive. Seamless blending, thunderous weight and snappy transients make for a hypnotic listening experience that sucks me in for hours at a time as I pass track after track to it. Honestly I am amazed by what RSL has packed into this box. I see lots of talk about how large it is, but the 12s is punching far above its weight class. An absolute steal at this price as well considering you couldn’t even DIY a similarly performing sub for anywhere close.

The 12S is my second RSL Speedwoofer. For a few years I kept hearing about the RSL Speedwoofer when I was searching for something better than my Klipsch 12 inch subwoofer. I finally decided to get the 10S Mk2 and now a year later I am very happy with it and it trounces the Klipsch in every way. I wouldn’t even consider giving that one up.

I’ve been using the 12S for about a month now, and I’m extremely satisfied with its performance.

The subwoofer is powerful and capable with 500 watts per channel RMS and a peak power of 1,550 watts and a frequency response of 16hz to 200hz anechoic.The driver is a Kevlar reinforced paper cone with full anodized aluminum dust cap and a Die-cast aluminum frame with dual spider configuration unlike a cheap stamped frame that other manufacturers use at this price point and often with higher priced drivers.

One of the standout features of this subwoofer is its range of DSP modes, including Reference, Music, Movies, and Boundary. These modes provide a lot of flexibility for different listening environments and preferences, and I’ve enjoyed experimenting with them to get the sound I want.

In addition to its impressive performance and range of DSP modes, this 12 inch subwoofer also comes with a cleverly designed remote. The remote includes buttons for the various DSP modes, as well as volume up and down, power on/off, and mute.

The DSP modes are particularly useful with the remote, as I can easily switch between them depending on what I’m listening to or watching. The Reference mode is great for natural, unprocessed sound, while the Music mode is ideal for extended bass and upper bass impact. The Movies mode is perfect for enhancing low frequency content, while the Boundary mode is ideal for reducing rumble through walls for a more limited bass for night time listening and also keeping the neighbors happy.

Rear controls include Low Pass Crossover

Frequency: 30-250 Hz variable (with integrated bypass switch)

Low Pass Crossover Slope: 24 db/oct.

High Pass RCA Output Crossover Frequency: 30-250 Hz variable (with integrated bypass switch)

High Pass RCA Output Crossover Slope: 24 db/oct.

Phase Control: 0 to 180 continuously variable.

There is also a off/auto power switch as well as a main power switch.

Installation was simple and straightforward, and the subwoofer feels sturdy and well-built. The sound quality is exceptional, with deep rich bass that fills a large room with ease. Whether I’m listening to music, watching movies or playing video games, the subwoofer adds an extra layer of depth and realism that enhances the overall experience.

One thing that I appreciate about this subwoofer is that it’s not just about power and performance. A good subwoofer won’t be a one note wonder with just the boom boom and not the subtle bass frequencies that is needed for a great low end experience and it’s also about versatility and user- friendliness. The rear LED indicator matches the front display, making it easy to see which DSP mode is currently selected, and the different modes themselves are well-designed and easy to understand.

I really appreciate the convenience of having a remote, as it allows me to adjust the settings and volume without having to get up and manually adjust the subwoofer. The buttons are well-labeled and easy to use, and the remote itself feels sturdy and well-built.

The DSP modes are particularly useful with the remote, as I can easily switch between them depending on what I’m listening to or watching I’m very happy with my purchase of this 12 inch subwoofer. It’s a high-quality and reliable product that delivers exceptional performance and sound quality. If you’re in the market for a subwoofer that can handle anything you throw at it, this one is definitely worth considering.

Best bang for you buck doesn’t begin to describe how good this sub is. The 12S is a BIG subwoofer and weighs in at 85lbs so get a buddy to help you move it and save your back.

After trying all of the big named subs like SVS, Klipsch and Polk I have finally found the right subwoofer I have been searching for many years.

The Speedwoofer 12S is my “forever subwoofer” along with my Speedwoofer 10S mkii and both blend seamlessly with my home theater. Finally when you open the first box (yes, there’s a box in a box) you will see how much thought went into the box let alone what’s inside the box.

I have been a member of the RSL family since I bought my 10S Mk2 and I have found the the customer service is second to none and while I’m not saying other manufacturers leave you hanging when you have a problem with their equipment but the folks at RSL treat you like a family member and will never leave you on your own if any problem comes up in the future. And with their 30 day in home trial you have nothing to lose. I bet when you here this big boy you will want to keep it as I did.

The bottom line is I think the 12S is for people who think good isn’t good enough.

It checks all the boxes and I believe you too will consider it your forever subwoofer.

Well folks....it's finally here.

You've heard the rumours for years.

RSL took their time and went through countless design decisions and gave us the Speedwoofer 12S.

Just take everything you loved about the 10S and up the ante....this sub delivers what most want, yet wince when asked to pay what is usually required to get it.

You want gut wrenching low bass that shakes you fillings (or dentures) loose?...you got it.

You want a sub that can't quite be localized?...you got it.

You want tight, clean bass that is there only when it is supposed to be?...you got it.

You want seamless blending with your main speakers?...you got it.

You want high and low pass filter capability right on the sub itself?...you got it.

You want another remote for your dog to chew on?...you got it.

You want your bank account emptied in a heartbeat? That you don't get.

This sub is a marvel of design and functionality.

Most importantly, it is being sold to you and serviced by the best company in the business.

A company that doesn't need or want to make the ridiculous profit margins charged by others.

This sub is the game changer that we always knew that RSL could come up with.

Mark my words...the 12S revolution is just beginning.

I’ve really loved my time so far with this sub. The 12S is extremely versatile and transitions between movies/games/music without the need for any EQ tuning – I keep it set to “Reference” no matter what. I’ve been really surprised with how it handles itself along different genres. I’ve thrown EVERYTHING at it from John Denver to Greensky Bluegrass to Ben Böhmer to Lil Baby. The 12S maintains a magical amount of control even during my bass-head moments of grabbing the remote and hitting the little “+” a couple two tree. My experience with the 12S is not just “bigger and louder” though, it’s actually a completely new experience in listening to the music I’ve loved for years. The 12S is rhythmic and quick and has me nodding my head while I tap on my keyboard throughout the day. I’m hearing details in the low-end that I haven’t had the ability to hear before now – it’s really the largest audible upgrade in my system that I’ve made since I first ditched soundbars.

I don’t game a ton, but I do like some GTA with a couple beers on occasion. For fun I cranked the sub up a couple notches because.. why not? Let me tell you: I got blown up by a submarine missile and physically experienced that death while seated comfortably in my living room. Full s***-eating grins happen in the gaming chair now. But then an hour later, I’m listening to Trout Steak Revival in the best form I’ve heard aside from seeing them live.

I was (obviously) looking for a larger sub that can dig deeper than what I’ve been using, but the ability to integrate with my ever-changing setup (currently Elac DBR62s) was the top of the list. Having the flexibility of high level, LFE, RCA, and wireless is paramount for many people including myself. The insane output is an added bonus as I likely won’t ever need the power of my 12S, but I keep wanting a little bit more as time goes on – the good news is that it’s got plenty more to give.

Side note: the packaging is super dialed. I can tell that RSL really worked around the size and weight of the unit, rather than modifying the unit to ship cheaply. The custom stamped RSL foam made for a really fun unboxing experience. You’ll need a friend to help get it inside though!

Initial impressions

The 12S arrived in a heavy box, encased in thick custom cut foam that should make it nearly indestructible in shipment. Unpacking and set up instructions were straight forward and easy to follow.

This is a large, heavy subwoofer, but still manageable with the provided sliders. Exterior volume is within a couple percent of my HSU 15”, and weight at 82 pounds is only 3 pounds less.

Solid and utilitarian construction. Nice quality plate amp and front display.

Past subs included the Janis W1, Infinity HPS500 & HPS1000, current HSU VTF3 MK5. I don’t change equipment frequently, and try to maximize the cost/performance tradeoff when I do buy something. I am an engineer, and worked as a project manager for over 40 years in aerospace, so everything gets analyzed…

My system

Marantz SR6013, Audyssey XT32, MultEQ app

Mirage OMD-15 mains; Omni FX side; Omnisat height; GoldenEar SuperSat 60C center

Subwoofers- RSL 12S and HSU VTF3 Mk5

Sony 75” X750F

Hard wired ethernet, SurgeX 1120RT, Monster HTS3500 Mk2, dedicated 120V circuit

For setup- MacBook Pro, REW software (free), UMIK-1 microphone

Setup

My room is not optimum, fireplace on one end, and a half wall open to the kitchen at the opposing end. The listening positions are a couch against the long wall.

I evaluated individual and combined sub responses in four room locations using REW. At each location I tested the different RSL modes and adjusted phase to get the best bass response possible. I found that the Reference mode always yielded the flattest and deepest overall response. In my room/system when the RSL is switched to other modes, the phase changed and reduced the overall bass response. Note that it would also affect Audyssey calibration if the mode were switched post cal.

The RSL, depending on room position, exhibited response to 15Hz or slightly below. At the 75db REW calibration level post Audyssey, the combined system response in my room/system is flat to ~13.5Hz.

I measured actual bass response post Audyssey with and without the main speakers, and adjusted the crossover to get the best overall response. Audyssey set my mains to small, with a crossover at 40hz, haven’t figured that one out yet. They do have good bass but… See graph below.

Review notes

I did listening tests on the RSL as an individual sub with both music and movie to get a feel for their performance. The bass is articulate, tactile and quicker/a little bit more dynamic than my HSU. There was real low end subsonic growl and room vibration in the appropriate places on organ recordings.

I see many people on forums who bought “subwoofers” that play louder than their last one and therefore are judged to be better. The RSL is a true subwoofer with real low end response and output power, not a mid woofer with little response below 30Hz.

Looking at the market at this price point, I’d say it’s a best buy. I considered SVS, but comprehensive specs are not published on their site and for what I think will be comparable performance they costs quite a bit more. The Monoprice 12” Monolith is probably a competitor. There are no others at/below this point that I believe will perform as well. Definitely should be on the short list by those in the market for a new sub.

Movies/Streaming shows/Music via Tidal

Interstellar, Bladerunner 2049, Dune 2021, Jurassic Park, Top Gun: Maverick, War of the Worlds, U571, Master & Commander: Far Side of the World, The Peripheral

Note: very few music recordings have much content below 30hz

Drum Stop, No Good- Steve Smith

Flight of the Cosmic Hippo- Bella Fleck & the Flecktones

My Bass: Brian Bromberg

The Orchestral Organ- Kraybill (A Prof Johnson Reference Recording)- This recording has very deep bass content

Miles Davis- Kind of Blue

This newest model in the Speedwoofer line arrives double boxed with foam and bracing snugly protecting it during transit. Inside the inner box, you find a handy remote control to adjust gain and change listening modes. Your colored light indicators on the back plate and behind the grille will let you know the state of the unit. Also inside are pads, one set for carpet floors and one set for hard surfaces. With each pad’s firm grip on the leg and its soft texture on the hard floor, you will easily glide your Speedwoofer to all your candidate locations for optimal sound throughout the room. I would recommend breaking in the speaker for at least ten hours before giving your 12S the grand tour of your listening space.

I would like to address anyone feeling concerned about the speaker’s size. Don’t! Just measure first before you buy. My tape measure showed I had 3 places in my living room where the 12S could comfortably set up shop and call home. Talk it over with the wife or mother-in-law and remember: you can’t expect to earn the most robust, most reliable, most powerful home security system if the salesman or loved one convinces you to buy the superficially cute but ultimately snippy and annoying chihuahua. And if you aren’t there at RSL delivery time, then please treat to lunch that security guard who signed for it. Mine — thanks, John! — got a delicious double smash burger.

I would like to address the 12S’s relationship to the flagship 10S MKII. With its black matte finish, its gloss badge along the front face’s bottom edge and its back face’s slotted port, the 12S’s cabinet mirrors that of the beloved 10S, showing off that the two are true second generation siblings with the same proud parents. On closer inspection, we see that the 12S’s weighty driver gives it 44% more speaker surface area over the 10S. And furthermore its cabinet is an even bigger leap, 1 1/2 times more spatial volume, which enables the big 12S to excel in sound characteristic and power. And behind good internals there belies good mass and the 12S is no exception weighing exactly double the 10S. In my case, and after much positional testing, I determined that the very flexibly placed 10S works best in the near field slightly pulled out from the front corners of the listening area and the larger and more powerful 12S does its heavy lifting and blends best across all listener seats when located at my side and aimed to the front center. I absolutely love the 10S for its performance coming out of such a small cabinet which will fit anywhere in your listening space. But you need the 12S if you have a medium to large room and demand authority and greater extension into the low bass region. I own two RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKIIs, and so within thirty seconds I had the 12S daisy chaining LFE output to those speakers wirelessly with RSL’s AT-4 transmitter accessory. Furthermore, with the testing help of an audio spectrum analyzer smartphone app, in literally less than an hour of repositioning, then phase knob adjustment, then a single parametric EQ on my AVR I had the three RSL Speedwoofers working together delivering flat response (+- 2.5dB) along my four person sofa between 48 Hz and 108 Hz without escalation to an introduced DSP or fancy calibration tools. The integration across RSL products could not be easier.

How does the Speedwoofer perform with movies and music?

I have not gone out one night to enjoy a movie or live music since I integrated the 12S into my living area. Literally every late afternoon mthat I am driving home I am brainstorming which musical recording or what show I am going to stream through the 12S before I go to sleep to put my sound system and that content through its paces. What a smart, fun, and affordable addition the Speedwoofer has been to my appreciation of sound in art.

Besides output, how do you feel about the quality of the bass?

Articulation – Like the 10S, the 12S excels at delivering crisp mid-bass and I am yet to hear a moment of boominess.

Dynamics – the 12S impressed me with how well it delivered slam to action scenes and yet how clearly it reproduced the bass of quieter passages in movies and music.

Depth – The 12S digs deep into my sound track bass. I know the low end of my songs very well through repetition and am hearing things I never heard before and am hearing things I expect reproduced even richer than I have been with the 10S.

Transient performance – the 12S does not let its size and power compromise how accurately it reproduces notes and how crisply it stops a note before starting its next one.

Integration – After setting the gain right and the crossover as high as 100 Hz, the 12S blends into music and soundtrack without detection of being a different sound source unless the moment needs the subwoofer to reproduce a blast of felt slam.

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with?

So if this sub is priced well then it will be luring consumers looking for similar performance out of an SPL vented subwoofer. Those shoppers will be comparing “bang for buck” and because of the 12S’s “outstanding” size maybe “bang for cubic foot”.

When considering buying the 12S, depending on what camp you fall into, you will be looking for models which might offer …

– bigger bang, similar buck

– bigger bang, similar size

– similar bang, lesser buck

– similar bang, lesser size

I think you will discover that the 12S has no rival in a similar SPL vented subwoofer or at similar price:

Bigger bang, similar buck:

– I can’t think of any sub model even close.

Bigger bang, similar size:

– There are lots of 13+ inch SPL subs (e.g. SVS PB-3000), but they are twice the price at $1599 and 12% bigger.

– If SPL style doesn’t matter (but I thought it did), you might be considering the Rythmik FVX12 which is not smaller by comparison (90% the size) and costs $300 (37%) more and despite its well-engineered SQ sound will not be providing the output or slam or style that the 12S is shining at.

Similar bang, lesser buck:

– I can’t think of any in this category either.

– The specs of the 12S (Hz, RMS, ported, SPL style) are like SVS PB-2000 Pro that (also) costs $300 (37%) more.

Similar bang, at least 20% less size:

– Emotiva Airmotiv RS11 ($53 more, 43% size, 500 RMS but only extends down to 20 Hz) and these months is “temporarily unavailable”.

– A “too different” honorable mention: JL Audio E-sub (SPL and 50% size but sealed, 22 Hz+, and 3x the RMS and price)

Translation: No buyer’s remorse for 12S owners! Just lots of blossoming bass.

In what scenes/songs did the Speedwoofer shine most?

* The Ambulance (2022) – The bank robbery escape scene has lots of deep, automatic gun fire, vehicle impact and 30 Hz / 60 Hz soundtrack bass rumble.

* “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi – Through the song are interspersed beautiful bass passages dancing from 100 Hz down to 35 Hz. So measurably richer to the ears when reproduced by the 12S!

* “New Rules” by Dua Lipa – A mid bass pulse warbles and descends from 100 Hz down to 40 around the half minute mark. The 10S does it but the 12S takes it to the stratosphere.

* “No Tears Left to Cry” by Ariana Grande – When you listen carefully you hear the production features on the low end rich and sustained electronic chord notes from 78 Hz down to an ear punching 32 Hz. I hear them in full glory now even at low volume and from any of my guests’ seats of choice!

* “Mind Games” by John Lennon – I have NEVER appreciated how wonderful the bass is in this recording until the RSL arrived for pick-up. The 12S wakes you up to a quarter of the music you hadn’t been experiencing. When the track finished, I realized how much I missed this artist and his music and for too many years.

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799?

The 12S clearly exceeds its price in value and output relative to other 12-inch ported subs. To get even close, you will have to spend $300 to $400 more. Believe me.

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts?

I take a fresh breath and highly recommend the RSL Speedwoofer 12S to any audio enthusiast on the lookout for a well-performing, vented subwoofer in the SPL spirit that unquestionably integrates with authority and extension into a medium to large main living area or listening space. On top of that, this handsome sonic dazzler represents an exceptional value well worthy of your expert ear, with no market rival seeming ready to compete anywhere near to either this price point or this new model’s caliber of performance.

How does the Speedwoofer perform with movies and music?

Spectacular! Though I am already spoiled with dual 10s MKII. This is a fantastic subwoofer! I think someone who is only interested in music would be fine with the 10s, but for movies, the 12s is soooo immersive and powerful.

Besides output, how do you feel about thequality of the bass?

Articulation?

Dynamics?

Depth?

Transient performance?

The 12s plays every note and blends well with my RSL 5.x.4 setup. It digs very low, lower than any subwoofer that I’ve owned. I’m so happy to have the kind of visceral, that shakes the walls and pounds your chest. My room is wood floors over concrete slab, so it takes a lot to “feel” the bass but the 12s is no slouch in that subterranean realm.

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with?

My two main points of comparison are my dual Speedwoofer 10s MKII (love those things), and my good friend’s dual SVS PB2000pro.

It is definitely an upgrade from the 10s, especially for powerful movie soundtracks. The 12s just seems to have bottomless bass and unlimited energy. For the testing period, I used the 12s on its own, and it filled my large room without breaking a sweat.

The 12s compares favorably to the PB2000pro, as well. Granted, my friend’s theater is a smaller, dedicated space with carpet and sound treatment, but I feel like the 12s is just as powerful. This is subjective of course, but it’s a close call.

In what scenes/songs did the Speedwoofer shine most?

Dune, Mad Max, John Wick 3: earth shattering bass. Gunshots and explosions are frighteningly loud. The 12s stays composed and delivers serious impact.

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799?

Absolute steal at that price. As I mentioned. I think it compares quite well to the SVS PB2000pro, which is $300 more than the 12s.

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts?

Yes! Can’t think of a better sub for the money right now.

How does the Speedwoofer perform with movies and music?

As expected it performed extremely well with movies. The bass was clear and controlled even at reference levels. Subtle when needed and earth shattering during explosions. I have all of the “must own” 4k discs and boy was it surprising to hear them with the 12s.

Much better for music than expected and i expected quite a lot. I thought my 10sMKii would outperform the 12 for music but not at all. Very subtle and precise for jazz and orchestral. A quick volume up for hip hop and rock and it performed equally well. It was able to dig much deeper and deliver strong clear bass without ever sounding boomy and left the 10s behind at higher volume.

Besides output, how do you feel about the qualityof the bass?

Articulation? Very good. You can clearly hear the attack and decay of bass drums and upright bass chords. Bass drum on Mombassa from the inception soundtrack is a good example.

Dynamics? Had no problem with my library of Hans Zimmer and John Williams. It handled the shifts in volume HZ very well

Depth? Incredibly powerful sub bass. My walls, windows, wife and pets are still recovering. Opening to edge of tomorrow had me worried for my house for a moment

Transient performance? Handles quick shifts in tempo and output well. Mombassa on the Inception soundtrack is very fast and dynamic and it handles the song with no effort at all. Wild Monk by Osamu Kitajima is packed with a variety of instruments in all different frequency ranges. Sounded amazing

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with? I had it in a head to head with the Rel HT1205 and the JL E112 for both HT and Music applications. The JL was slightly better for jazz and orchestral but the 12s wins for more hard hitting Rock and Hip Hop. For a dedicated HT setup it annihilated the REL in every category. Depth and output was a very unfair fight.

In what scenes/songs did the Speed woofer shine most?

For Music:

Pick any Hans Zimmer or John William soundtrack. Murph from Interstellar, Mombasa or Time from Inception. Love Pledge and the Arena from Attack of the Clones soundtrack. Eminem: when the music stops Dr. Dre whole Chronic 2001, Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill

For Movies:

Interstellar, both black hole scenes, the big wave, the rocket takeoff

Any airplane scene in Top Gun Maverick but especially the bombing run at the end

The scene in Dune where they run away from the worm and climb on the rock. The worm calls out in a series of thumps that get increasingly deeper followed by a “thumper” bring set off. Pure bass porn

Nightclub scene in John Wick or Mission Impossible Fallout. Just awesome mixing the deep rhythmic thump of the music with the sharp cracks of the bullets

The Greatest Showman. Opening song with the crowd stamping on the bleachers. The stomps will shake the earth

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799?

It outperforms $1500. There must be some sort of harry Potter witchcraft going on here

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts?

Without question. I dont think you will ever ever have these in stock though and Id hate to recommend something that will never be available!

Pictures required. We want to see your new Speedwoofer in its natural habitat. Selfies encouraged!

For scale, the 12s is next to the fully packaged and ready to return REL and it is bigger than the box. Up top is my trust 10S MKii in its cat deterring cage

My personal fav is the bottom photo. Cat getting a bass massage and my custom mantel with a CG23 center channel inside

I have been a fan of subwoofers in both multi-channel and two channel audio systems since hearing my first one. From my home theater, living room, cigar lounge, garage, to near field systems in my office at work and home, I have at least one subwoofer filling in the lower frequencies. I currently own 10 subwoofers from brands such as REL, JTR, SVS, Velodyne, Emotiva and Klipsch varying in driver size from 8” up to 18”. All of these are great for what they are intended for, and I plan on keeping and utilizing all of them for as long as they are operational. I can now add the RSL Speedwoofer 12S to this ever-growing list.

I have been eyeballing the RSL Speedwoofer 10S / 10S II for a quite some time, but I really couldn’t justify buying “another” subwoofer. When RSL introduced the Speedwoofer 12S with a 16Hz frequency response, DSP modes, remote control, and a respectable price point, I had to put my name in the hat for the early access program. I currently have the JTR Captivator S1 (sealed / 18” driver) and Velodyne DD12 (sealed / 12” driver) in my dedicated home theater (20’ x 17’ with 8.5’ ceilings) pulling double duty for both music and movies. Each one of these sold for multiples of the RSL 12S price when I purchased them (JTR S1 MSRP $2599.00 in 2015 / new model currently over $3K) and the (Velodyne DD12 MSRP of $2999.00 in 2004 / new model now over $6K). Full disclosure, I did not pay full MSRP for these subs, they were still expensive and much more than the 12S.

Even though these sealed subwoofers perform excellent, I have been wanting to try two relatively equally matched ported subs in my theater, and the RSL 12S size and specs are similar to my SVS PB12+ that I purchased back in 2008 for around $900.00. The PB12+ is a triple rear ported sub with a down firing 12” driver, similar size enclosure (25” H x 18” W x 25” D), and a 525-Watt Digital BASH amplifier. The PB12+ can also reach down to 16Hz (with variable tuning). The biggest difference between the two is the down firing driver of the SVS compared to the front firing of the RSL.

Delivery and packaging of the 12S was excellent and you can tell RSL did not skimp on custom cut foam / bracing and double boxing this sub was shipped in. Even though there was some damage to the outside of the container, everything inside was in excellent condition and unaffected. Unpacking was a breeze and set up instructions were straight forward and easy to follow. This is a big subwoofer, but still manageable enough for one person to move around and install.

I placed the 12S in the front left corner of my theater (where the S1 was) and set the crossover at 80Hz for all my speakers even though my front L/R are rated down to 34Hz (+/- 3dB); just to see how the RSL performed in the 60-80Hz frequency band. This still gave the dual 8” woofers of my mains plenty of frequency range up to their 350Hz crossover to the midrange drivers. For this review, I used the DSP movie/music modes accordingly and made the required adjustments to make the 12S sound its’ best. The PB12+ was at the opposite diagonal corner in the rear of the room and crossed over at 80Hz as well.

A couple of the movies I watched were Mad Max – Fury Road, Star Trek – Into Darkness, and Guardians of the Galaxy. I listened to too many music tracks to list here, but mostly bass ladened tracks from artists like Tony Levin, Primus, The Stranglers, Jack Bruce, Iron Maiden, and some double bass tracks from Nenad Vasilic.

The performance of the RSL 12S / PB12+ combo easily equaled, and in some cases rivaled, the performance of my sealed subs in movies and, more importantly, it complimented the PB12+ much better than the S1 did with the DD12. Hard to explain, but they just seemed to integrate more seamlessly, not drawing attention to any one individual sub. I always felt a ported sub just couldn’t match the speed and accuracy of a sealed sub when it came to percussion and bass guitar. However, the 12S proved to be a very capable performer and produced musical bass notes with extreme accuracy and detail on everything I threw at it, never sounding slow or sloppy and absolutely no overhang. Bottom Line: I was so impressed with the ability of the 12S ability in both movies and music that I ultimately decided to replace my current sealed combo of the JTR / Velodyne with the RSL and the SVS. Yes, it was that good.

Just to get a sense of how the 12S performed by itself in the room, I unplugged the SVS and played a few audio tracks / movie scenes with just the RSL. Although the dispersion of bass in all seating areas wasn’t as good with running two subs, the RSL still provided excellent musical and LFE performance in my main seating area. The double bass of Nenad Vasilic’s “Bass Drops” was dynamic and articulate with each note sounding as if was suspended in midair. Percussion was also impressive, hitting with similar slam and authority that I received from the S1 and the DD12. This performance was consistent with every music track I threw at it.

My expectations for movie watching are much less than my requirements for music. I basically want a subwoofer to hit all the LFE in a movie with authority and with excellent transient performance. That is exactly what the 12S did every single time it was required to do so. Amazing speed and accuracy mixed with low distortion LFE that had slam and depth, what more could you ask for in a subwoofer? I have a novel idea … don’t stick a ridiculous price tag on it to justify that kind of performance! That is exactly what RSL did in the case of the 12S. At $800.00 for a subwoofer with 16Hz extension, a remote control, DSP modes, plenty of connection options, and a $50.00 wireless options, this is an easy recommendation to make for anyone looking for versatile / powerful subwoofer for under $1K or possibly even $2K.

If I had to compare the 12S to my other subwoofers, I would say it is closest to the JTR-S1 in articulation, dynamics, and transient response with the extension with the ability to dig deep as the SVS PB12+. It’s as if the S1 and the PB12+ got together and produced a child with the best traits of their parents; the musicality of an 18” sealed sub and LFE slam of a down firing 12” ported sub in a large enclosure. As I mentioned earlier, this was the key factor in choosing to swap out my already great sealed subs with the RSL / SVS dual set up. If the RSL didn’t wow me with musical detail in my theater room, I would have left the JTR/Velodyne in there and placed the RSL in a two-channel system. Did the JTR hit those musical bass notes with a little more slam and authority … probably. However, that is to be expected with an 18” driver that weighs as much as the DD12 (67lbs), 2400 watts RMS amplifier, rated frequency response of 16-104Hz +/- 1dB on a sub costing over THREE times the RSL. If I was given the option today to buy one more JTR S1 (now called the RS1 and going for an insane $3200.00…4 times the cost of the 12S) or buying three more of the RSL 12S, I would not hesitate to purchase three more RSLs. In fact, if I do decide down the road to have four identical subs in my home theater, the RSL 12S would be my subwoofer of choice and I would move the SVS into another system. I would most likely take advantage of the wireless transmitter offered by RSL if I decided to go that route.

Since I have my other subwoofers spread throughout my house and at work, it would have been difficult to do any type of A/B side-by-side comparisons. Also, my other subs are smaller 8” / 10” drivers with less powerful amplifiers and rated down to only around 30Hz, so it wouldn’t be a fair comparison. I purchased the REL-T2 and Emotiva SE8 in pairs just to round out a couple of 2 channel systems with bookshelf speakers. What I can tell you is that the 12S is a serious subwoofer that excels equally in both music and movie performance. Even though it would be great in a small two channel system as well, the Speedwoofer 10S II would probably be all you need. I used to take it with a grain of salt when I would see RSL claim that their Speedwoofer 10S was a “10” super-sub that dominates it’s 12” rivals”. Having never listened to the 10S or 10S II, I still can’t verify that. However, after spending some time with the RSL Speedwoofer 12S, I can verify, without a doubt, that it truly does have “15” performance and 12” accuracy all at a 10” price” as RSL so boldly claims. I may have to purchase a Speedwoofer 10S II now just to if their claims are accurate!

As far as any downsides, I really cannot think of any. I personally never consider the size of any subwoofer as a “downside”; a subwoofer needs to be as big as it is supposed to be to deliver its’ desired performance. Would a magnetic dust cover be nice, sure it would, but not necessary. If I had to come up with one gripe, it would be that RSL did not develop the 12S years ago when I was making other subwoofer purchases; I could have saved a considerable amount of money.

As you probably have already guessed, I am giving the Speedwoofer 12S my highest rating and would recommend to anyone looking for subwoofer for music, movies, or both. If RSL has the success I think they are going to have with the 12S, I hope they consider adding a Speedwoofer 15S (maybe 18S?) to their lineup in the future using the same design / value as their current Speedwoofers. This would most likely have to be a 200lb behemoth in a 3-foot cube that understandably costs more, but I would be one of the first in line to give it a try!

Included in this review are some pics of my theater room and the other subs I mentioned so you can reference the size differences and similarities. Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks to RSL for creating such a wonderful subwoofer and offering it at a reasonable price. Keep doing business this way and you are sure to corner the market for price vs. performance subwoofers.

How does the Speedwoofer perform with movies and music? I had the chance to move it between my music system (room is 26x22x14h) and my home theater (20x13x9) I compared vs my HSU vtf15mk2. In the end i kept the 12s in my theater. It goes as low as i would ever want, and pressurized the room to perfection. Wall shaking bass that fully enveloped the theater room better than any 12″ sub has before. The stereo system had 2 issues; 1) the sub was not playing nicely with my integrated amp, auto on wouldn’t work, and even though the amp supposedly puts out 2v, even manually turning the 12s on the sub would not output any perceived bass at lower listening volumes. This is a new issue, as the hsu and various other subs never had an issue. issue 2) it just was not quite up to filling the larger room like the vtf15. It was like 95% there, but just not quite there.

Besides output, how do you feel about the quality of the bass?

Articulation? Almost like a sealed sub (this applies for the transients as well)

Dynamics? Hits so far out of its price range its unfair to the competition.

Depth? same as Dynamics – it provided fully usable bass down to 16hz, and minus a little suck out around 35-45 (my room) it was perfect

Transient performance? Crazy fast – better than the hsu right out of the box. It would stay in the 2-channel room if it were not for the issues mentioned above.

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with?

Compared to budget subs, its bigger, better, deeper and more articulate than even swarm setups.

Compared to the biggest I’ve had in my system, its nipping at the heels for roughly 40% less money

In what scenes/songs did the Speedwoofer shine most? 6 underground, the boat scene. All of the show “The Peripheral”

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799? Without a doubt – nothing i have auditioned at that price comes close when its set up correctly. If it was $999, it would probably still be a value king. Remote control is awesome by the way.

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts? In almost all situations, yes.

Pictures attached – in its final resting place in the theater.

Monster. It's exactly the right kind of room filling, wall shaking, bass making machine I've been wanting for my ridiculously small space.

It completed my 2.1 setup perfectly and gave it the insanely fun sound I've been looking for.

RSL Speedwoofer 12S, Focal Chora 826's, Emotiva BasX TA2, BlueSound Node

I mostly listen to music as I work from home M-F and have it playing in the background right up until my wife comes home from work, at that point the party ends. I have found it to blend well with everything genre I listen to including Rock, Metal, Country, Rap, Pop.

This is my first RSL product, but I was well informed of the reputation of the 10S. I can easily tell you this is the best sub $1000 subwoofer I've ever purchased. The bass is tight, gets stupid low, fast, and LOUD.

The Monster produces bass that you feel inside you, the perfect kind!

The size is amazingly huge, it's comical in smaller rooms. Would I advise you to get a smaller sub for small spaces? No. This sub while it will sound amazing in my living room, daily it makes me smile and laugh out loud at how elevated my favorite songs sound in a small space.

Thank you RSL Team for creating this monster.

Music

I like to run my subwoofer’s conservatively to see if I can get loud bass at a somewhat restrained gain level. I run a 2.1 music listening setup with 2 Klipsch RP-600M bookshelf’s, through an Onkyo midrange receiver that outputs 100 watts per channel. I am a musician and always listen carefully for the articulation between the bass drum kicks and the bass guitar.

I run all the music bass tests with the Speedwoofer at 60-85% gain. And let me tell you I was not disappointed in the least.

Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta” is one of my favorite hip-hop bass testers. At 70% gain I was getting thumping, dynamic and loud, articulate bass.

“Big Subwoofer” by Mount Westmore was another great bass test. The Speedwoofer handled low and articulate quick 16th notes of bass. No muddying, no distortion. No jumbling or delay. Each note was clear and distinct. Amazing transient performance.

“Lovely Day” by Robert Glasper is another track that let the Speedwoofer shine. Clear and articulate bass. The dynamic bass in the song is definitely a show of the transient performance of the 12s.

“Neon Afterglow” by Johnny Tobin, is another example of amazing articulation and clarity with quick, low bass.

“Break of Dawn” by Michael Jackson, showcases nice bass dynamics and balance.

“Hail Mary” by Tupac. Amazing low, low but clean bass.

“Digital Animal” by Honey Claws. A bass heavy song. Speedwoofer maintains clarity and transient performance.

“Break you off” by The Roots. Showcase of hard hitting, thumping but dynamic and clean bass.

“The Ringer” by Eminem. Phenomenal bass performance. Loud, thumping bass. Articulate, clear, clean. Dynamics are so clear, you can hear clarity between the thumping bass drum kick and the bass track.

“Flow” by Disclosure. Amazing clarity with a loud thumping bass track. Very dynamic, pulsating kicks and bass. The 12s handles it all.

“Bullets” by Kaytranada. The distinction in bass between the drum kicks, and synth bass, while maintaining amazing dynamics and extension.

Movies

Matt Reeve’s “The Batman” batmobile scene is where the Speedwoofer shines. Exceptional bass thumps, clean, cloud, distinct, dynamic.

Star Wars “The Rise of Skywalker” – opening scene, the speedwoofer gives life to Kylo Ren’s lightsaber and force rumble. It’s very but distinct, transient, articulate.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – The entire film’s bass sounds phenomenal through the Speedwoofer. Even with the gain set to a conservatively 40% I am hearing very distinct and dynamic booms and hits that you can feel in your chest. The end battle scene at the lake sounds amazing.

Besides output, how do you feel about the quality of the bass?

Articulation – Amazing articulation and clarity with everything thrown at it. From jazz to hip-hop and electronica, you can hear the articulation of the bass hits along with other bass instruments. There is no distortion or muddying of the sounds. There is no delay. You get the response of a sealed sub with the performance of a ported sub.

Dynamics – Great bass dynamics. At no point did the bass drop off or distort. Every bass kick, every bass note had clarity and dynamics.

Depth – Phenomenal depth, especially when placed correctly in the room. For my smaller home office setup 4 feet from the wall was the ideal placement. Definitely has a level of depth that smaller subs lack.

Transient performance – Amazing transient performance. You can hear the subtleties between variations in tone and pitch very clearly. I am a jazz head at heart so I pay attention to these details. Listen to “Kaleidoscope Love” by Kaytranada and the first 20 seconds showcases the Speedwoofer’s ability to articulate the different types of bass (synth bass kick, synth bass track) without the sounds blending in to one another.

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with?

The SVS PB 1000 Pro, which can sound great, requires the gain at 90-100% in order for any hard hitting bass to be audible. As far as articulation, the SVS highly lacked articulation and had bad transient performance. The bass hits felt slightly delayed/off. It does have decent dynamics and depth. The Speedwoofer 12 easily has more audible gain (the additional 150 Watts RMS of the RSL definitely makes a difference) much better articulation, better dynamics, no distortion, phenomenal transient performance, louder. The Speedwoofer 12 outshines the SVS PB 1000 Pro in every aspect.

Klipsch R-12SW. I had to run the gain at the highest to hear any decent bass, and even that came with distortion. There is almost no comparison with the Klipsch woofer. It’s made for people who don’t know anything about audio and are buying a woofer as part of a home theater package. The RSL outshines it in every way.

Speedwoofer 10s MK2 – There is no subwoofer that gives you that much value/cost ratio. The Speedwoofer 10 is my 2nd favorite. It has articulation and transient performance – but the 12s has more depth and more dynamic range. For overall gain I would not necessarily say the 10s MK2 is even quieter than the 12s. I don’t feel like the 10 MK2 is much far behind the 12s. Most people who are not bassheads/audiophiles may not even notice a huge difference in an everyday listening setup.

REL HT/1205 – Great articulation and performance, clarity, but it cannot extend low the way the Speedwoofer does.

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799?

Easily outperforms the $799. The SVS PB 1000 is the same price, and the 12s outshines it in every aspect. At no point did the Speedwoofer distort, or did I experience any low end drop off. I liked it better than the REL Acoustics HT series (HT/1205 MKI) as well. Same thing, gives you a much puncher, soulful bass without any distortion. REL HT series is not bad but its too “subtle.” I want to hear and feel the bass.

I honestly think the Speedwoofer should be compared to subs in the $1000-1400 range, like the SVS PB 2000 Pro (retails @ $1099.00) which has identical specs, RMS wattage, same driver size.

I like rotating my subs around, especially when testing, just to hear the differences in the positions. My little chihuahua doesn’t seem to mind the bass tests 😊

My standard settings – approx. 75-85% gain. High/low channel passes off. Phase at 0. All personal preference.

I used Reference\Music for my music listening, and Movie mode for movies/TV show testing.

I ultimately found this position to be the best for my small home office. About 4 feet from the wall.

Before I start my very honest review here is my equipment and room.

Equipment:

Onkyo RZ820

Emotiva BasX A7

Focal Chora 806 and 816

REL HT 1205

5.1.2 surround setup with Hight channels

Room:

20' x 20' x 10' Living room home theater

14' x 14' x 10' formal dinning

20' x 10' x 9' Kitchen

All of these rooms are very open to each other as well as a staircase and an office.

Now that is out of the way here is my very honest review.

My wife was not and is not a fan of the look of this Speedwoofer. but to fair she was comparing it to the REL and REL makes beautiful subs! The size was very unexpected and I think that was the main gripe not that the Speedwoofer looks bad. This is where the negative feedback starts and stops.

I've owned subs from Boston acoustics, Focal, OSD and REL but never anything this heavy!

The bass that comes from this RSL is weighty and emotional!

I've heard subs from other companies in demo and from the ones I've owned, but had never experienced bass with weight and emotion before.

My challenging living room home theater eats all the subs I have tried (Meaning there are nulls all over the room that kill bass)

This is the first sub I have tried that not only sounds awesome at every seating location but eliminated the need for a possible 2nd sub set-up!

The REL was a very fast and accurate sub that really brought out bass notes that I never detected before, until I heard the Speedwoofer12s. Not only does it start and stop just as quick I still was able to detect the same bass note distinction. But where the 12s took it to the next level was the output, low low extension and even bass throughout the room.

And the most unexpected performance of the 12s was how spectacular it sounds at low volume!!

This is not really spoken of in the home theater community is how great a sub will sound at very low volumes. I have 3 small kids that attend school and a grown daughter that works full time. My wife loves to watch movies on the projector with the sound system going but is always concerned about waking the kids or keeping them from having a good nights sleep. the biggest strength of this sub that I'm sure no one has thought of is can this sub play good at low volume? Answer is YES! every bass note available was playing out this 12s at low volume! this was a great discovery and a blessing to my family room.

I don't think you will find a sub that preforms like this one for the price. I'm sure if you are reading this review you already are considering this Speedwoofer 12s, to which I say don't hesitate unless you like having to wait for them. Because these Speedwoofers will sell out constantly!

The 12s is worth every penny and then some. I have a dedicated home theater that is 19' x 14.5' x 9' and the 12s is more than capable of filling up the entire space with deep, impactful bass. I replaced two 12' Klipsch subs with one 12s. The 12s hits harder, deeper, and faster than those 2 subs combined, while perfectly blending in with my 7.2 Atmos setup. For the first time, I have movie theater quality bass that I can feel.

From the first bass hit at the beginning of Godzilla vs. Kong (4K blu-ray), I could tell the 12s was a game changer. Every sound and movement Kong makes was so much more impactful than before that I finally feel like I have a proper home theater now. So far, I've also tested Fury, Alita, and Bumblebee (all on 4K blu-ray) and the 12s has consistently produced bass that creates a truly immersive experience. I had some friends over for a demo, and they all commented on how amazing the bass sounded, while still blending in with the rest of audio. The first time the bass hit, one of them exclaimed, "Holy crap! That's different!"

The 12s easily competes with subs that cost $300-$500 more. At $799, this sub is a no-brainer. It is a game changer at this price point. If you're looking for a sub that can easily dip below 20Hz and provide room-filling, impactful bass, you don't need to look anywhere else. 100% recommended!

For a long time, I read great reviews about RSL 10S subwoofer. In spite of good reviews, I never placed order for 10S only because it’s 10 inch. Last few years, few times I called and emailed to check either they are releasing any 12 inch subwoofer or not. When I came to know they are…. I became very excited. RSL sent me a link in “you tube” where there was a discussion of upcoming 12 S subwoofer. With great excitement I started watching and all my excitement went away when I came to know about the Size. I made my mind that I will not order this.

Not sure why I still enrolled for 12S early access program. After a while, I received an email that considering my previous experiences with subwoofers, I am one of the pioneers who got a chance to buy and review it. Another hesitation, should I order or not !!!! It took me more than a week to place order. I was mentally ready that worst case (Size), I would return it back and will pay the shipping fee. At least I would get the opportunity to play with it.

Box arrived, a huge box and two side damaged by the carrier. Rolled it to loft, with the help of my daughter. Opened the box, it had clear instruction inside about how to remove from box and set it up. No damage inside, layers of thick protections.

It looked amazing, couldn’t think of any better appearance (except size). The grill is cloth, looks way better than metal grill. Metal grill would be more protective. Best option would be plastic protective cover with cloth on top. Like Mirage Omni S8 that I used to have. Protective and same Clean Smart Looking (unfortunately with increased price).

One of my concerns was how I can move it from one place to other. With a pleasant surprise I found RSL did not forget to add furniture moving feet both for carpet and hardwood floors. This made everything a breeze. My loft size is about 16 feet X 14 feet X 9 feet, problem is back is open which lead to living room, kitchen and dining. A huge open space. In order to cover that I had to run 4 subwoofers at the same time.

Two Klipsch R-120SW (Ported)

One SVS SB 2000 (Sealed)

One HSU Research ULS 15 MK2 (Sealed)

I ran the Deon Adyssey to setup the subwoofer. Initially played few songs and video clips randomly…. I played one of my favorite Albums “Sade Love Deluxe”, Then “Nine million Bicycles – Katie Melua”, sounded so good. Bass was tight, clean, blending so smoothly with my speakers, more than what I expected from a ported sub. According to recordings sometimes I noticed bass is slamming and immediately stopping, not boomy at all like my Klipsch Subwoofers. My SVS SB2000 is good with music, still when playing RSL, there are times when I felt some vibrations floating around me which was missing with SVS.

I previously had SVS PB-2000, replaced that HSU Research ULS-15 MK2. I even ordered HSU VTF-2 MK5, paid over $200 just for returning. VTF-2 MK5 was better than ULS-15 MK2 but my wife couldn't accept the size.

My anxiety was either RSL 12s would be equal to ULS-15 MK2 or not (12 inches vs 15 inches woofer)??? With a surprise I found, RSL beat ULS-15 MK2 in every way except the size. It tempted me to order SVS PB-3000 and compare with the RSL.

When watching movies , iRobot, Jurassic World…. my jaws almost dropped. RSL 12s alone more than enough for my huge open space. I played “ (35) Bose Demonstration | high quality | Dolby Atmos - YouTube ”. It was shaking my sofa, floors. Windows started rattling due to vibration.

It comes with rubber feet, so no extra cost to buy separately. Included remote is very useful.

Subwoofer has Reference mode, Music mode, Movie mode and Boundary mode which can be chosen from the included remote or directly from the back of the subwoofer. To be honest I couldn’t differentiate that much, all went very deep. Again, I didn’t use any instrument to measure those. I found a USB port on the back of the subwoofer, likely that is for wireless connection.

I am sorry, few times I complained about the size, I know that I shouldn’t. RSL disclosed and warned about the size several times. I also know, due to get this kind of performance this size was needed. They did few years research before releasing it. For me height was the main issue. Just thinking, can RSL think of adding an option to attach the rubber feet either at bottom or side (so can be placed horizontally)? RSL Logo magnetic, so can be attached vertically or horizontally, according to placement? Again these will add extra costs which others may not like to pay for.

Communication and customer service is outstanding. I am a picky person and always bring questions. Joe took a lot time to read those in detailed and answered all my questions in spite of his very busy time. I am sure most of my questions were unnecessary.

At the end, I am very pleased with the performance with this subwoofer. I still don’t know how RSL is selling this at $799. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind paying few hundreds more for getting this subwoofer. Most importantly, my wife accepted the size. She realized, I fell in love with this subwoofer, and she loves me.

DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED IF YOUR SPOUSE LET YOU DEAL WITH THIS SIZE.

This highly anticipated subwoofer did not disappoint. The finish, the quality of materials/workmanship, the plate amp and driver appeared high quality.

Upon taking delivery of this monster, I noticed the size immediately, I mean how can you ignore it!? This is by far the largest sub enclosure I’ve ever worked with. While the dimensions are stated on the website, it looks and feels bigger than what is shown.

I first tested this immediately in my 2.1 music application. For reference, I am running an Onkyo receiver with vintage B&W dm640i towers. My first impression is WOW, the bass is very smooth. I tested it with The Isley Brothers footsteps in the dark. The drums and bass guitar sound life like. The sub has incredible output. I did find that moved out from the wall about 2.5 feet, the output decreases but tucked in a corner up against the wall and a few inches from the slot port, the bass is incredible!

The sound is not sloppy or muddy. Dynamics are also on point, I tested with and without the subwoofer and with the right tuning, the sub blends seamlessly with other speakers in your system. You really feel and hear the full dynamic range of music. The sub is nimble making it’s transient performance spot on. I believe that has a lot to do with the anechoic chamber design, its ported yet sound is tight like a sealed subwoofer.

The speedwoofer 12S outperforms any of the subs I have used in my past. The Klipsch SPL 120 is a powerful sub but sloppy in comparison, output was minimal in comparison to the 12s but again, enclosure has a lot to do with that. I have also used a Polk Audio sub and B&W subwoofer and this outperforms them by a huge margin. Sound depth, clarity and transient performance of the speedwoofer 12s is on par (if not better) with higher end subs in the $1200-1400 + range.

I tested the subwoofer with multiple vinyl records, U2, The Police, Metallica, The Isley Brothers and it did impress! I really, truly enjoyed listening to The Police and The Isley Brothers on it, it sounded amazing!

For movies, I had to take it back to the Jurassic Park movies, watched it on standard DVD with dolby digital. It was not 4K or remastered audio but it did not disappoint. I’ve heard the same dinosaur step being taken on multiple different subs and the speedwoofer made it sound like it was in my room, I felt it and heard it.

The 12S is worth every penny of $799 shipped. I will be adding a second one when available.

I have always been a fan of products with superior quality that are off the beaten path in a sense. I know RSL has been around a long time but with the limited quantities of products produced, I believe you can better focus on quality rather than quantity.

With that, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the early release program. Also, great job on the overall packaging and foam used for shipping. The carpet and floor sliders were also a nice touch!

Well I've spent about a week with the Speedwoofer 12S and I could not be more impressed.

Thanks to the woofer getting loose I was able to experience your customer service. 10/10

Also the packaging is 11/10.

I've owned a lot of subwoofers, all of which had a ton of output. The best sounding one by a fair margin was the PSB Sub series 300. The Speedwoofer matches it and probably even sounds a bit better. I didn't do any back to back comparison but I can really make out the subtle details easily with the RSL compared to the PSB. Both excel for being subtle when needed and punch you in the gut when called upon. Where the RSL really walks away from the PSB is in output and depth.

One of my favorite subwoofer scenes is the first cannon battle in Master and Commander. The PSB replaced two MFW-15s and while it sounded better it couldn't come close to the output. Don't get me wrong the PSB is no slouch and you feel the pressure of the basa but it couldn't slam you. The RSL made me feel like that cannon was in my room.

Dune is a great subwoofer movie. During the attack on Arrakis there are a number of explosions that just vaporize large amount of hardware and you just have wave after wave of bass hitting you. The PSB you could really feel it but it lacked the low end punch to your gut that for a second makes you feel uneasy. The Speedwoofer caused the first spousal complaints in over a decade. She is quite understanding but it your subwoofer pushed her over the limits.

For music I have a variety of tastes. When listening to Dark Side of the Moon I wasn't sure if the subwoofer was on initially as it blends so well with my mains. My front speakers are PSB Imagine T which use dual 5.25" drivers for mids and bass. It takes a quality sub to blend well and your sub does perfectly.

Then I played "DMT" which is a favorite Shpongle track. This has a wide variety of bass from instruments to deep drums, to deep throated chanting. Really just enjoyed the ability to cleaning reproduce all the harmonics that with other subwoofers can sound sloppy.

I kind of feel you have hit a spot in the market where people no longer have to choose between output, depth, and articulation. I can't think of another subwoofer at this price that can do all three well. I really think you have hit a home run with the Speedwoofer 12S.

The RSL Speedwoofer 12s is a truly impressive subwoofer that deserves a close look if you want to complete or upgrade your home theater. I am not an audio professional, a paid product reviewer, or a writer for an audio website. I do not have a special room in my home built to acoustic perfection to test audio gear. What I do have is a pretty standard listening environment in the form of a second living room upstairs that doubles as our home theater. I also have a passion for music, and have been a musician for years playing several instruments in several genres. Lastly, I am blind. So, high quality sound is not just a hobby, it’s a priority.

I have cycled through a lot of audio gear over the years in search of the best possible sound. I am willing to spend money for quality, but I learned long ago that the middle man mark ups of big box stores (or online vendors like the one named for a certain river) aren’t necessary. You just have to find companies that sell direct. Their gear easily outperforms those competitors for the same price, and sometimes even at a lower price point. The RSL Speedwoofer 12s definitely fits that category. I couldn’t find anything under $1,000 at a box store or online vendor that could even be considered competition for the 12s.

My theater room is approximately 360 square feet, carpeted, has a 9’ ceiling, and standard furnishings. I used several sound sources to throw variety at the sub including: Amazon FireTV with their high resolution audio music library, an Xbox for uncompressed (not streamed) media, a vinyl turntable, and a Crumar Mojo 61 Pro keyboard with excellent Hammond B3 and Pipe Organs. All of these were fed into a Denon AVRX3700H that was really used only to convert digital to analog and direct traffic as the 7 speakers in my 7.1 system are all powered by an Emotiva amplifier. This gave me the added benefit of being able to cut the sound of the main speakers to listen to the RSL Speedwoofer by itself as well as with the complete system.

After several hours of listening, I am blown away by the 12s. It shakes the floor with explosions, and pounds your chest with bass. Of course, this was expected considering the specifications of the amplifier, and the range down to 16Hz. The shocking thing is how clear and precise musical instruments sound. For example, the upright bass in a jazz quartet has natural tone and resonance that is lost with lesser subs that can only produce a big boom. usually this level of musical accuracy in a subwoofer isn’t possible with a port. You have to sacrifice punch, and go with a sealed box design. The RSL tech gurus and their compression guide port have created an extremely powerful subwoofer that is equally capable of heart pounding bass drops and accurate musical tone in a single unit. Other companies have tried to do this by selling ported subs with plugs to shove into the port when you want them to sound better for music. I am certainly not criticizing anyone who wants to do that, but I really like the simplicity of plugging in, setting the volume, and then leaving it alone. I did shop around and found a sealed box subwoofer that is probably big and beefy enough to keep up with the Speedwoofer’s thump, but it is twice the price. If I were going to spend double the money I would much rather have two of these RSL 12s subs to place in different locations in the room. That just isn’t in my future though. The 12s is so powerful that it fills the room with ease at less than 50% power. And that is with the audio setup on the Denon turning the subwoofer output down to -10db.

Remember the above mentioned keyboard? Organ sounds have complex harmonics, and are capable of producing very deep bass. In addition, this keyboard has an onboard reverb effect that can place the sound in a massive hall. To really push the limit I gave the 12s a challenge that it is unlikely to face in any real life music or movie situation. Deep bass in a large open venue sounds great, but when that sound is reproduced at home subs usually get muddy. The 12s handled the deep swells with clear accuracy all the way down to the tip of the fading reverb tail. I still can’t believe that RSL found a way to get a big ported subwoofer to sound so clean and clear. Amazing!

In summary I found the following reasons to put this sub at the top of your list for home theater and music:

1. You don’t have to choose between a sealed or ported box for music or theater use. The RSL compression guide tuning gives you accuracy, and punch in one subwoofer.

2. The performance to price ratio is the absolute best I could find anywhere. The closest competition for the Speedwoofer 12s with nearly identical Hz range and amplifier power costs ~30% more. And it is one of those ported box subs with a plug to insert when you want to listen to music.

This sub delivers!

How does the Speedwoofer 12S perform with movies and music?

I use the 12s mostly in my home theater for movies. Very impressed with the performance for movies and the few songs I have listened to. Big improvement in power over the 10s.

Besides output, how do you feel about the quality of the bass:

Articulation?

Outstanding. Just like the 10s somehow this sub reproduces every bass note precisely.

Dynamics?

The 12s is a perfect .1 for my 11 speaker RSL setup. Tight, controlled, powerful. Finally feel like I’m at the movie theater!

Depth?

I would say the biggest difference from the 10s is the depth. The 12s produces that tactile bass that you can feel!

Transient performance?

Impossible to locate in my room. Somehow the 12s just like my 10s disappears.

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with?

Velodyne HGS 10: this is the sub I would say is the closest match to the 12s. Original MSRP is double the price though at $1600. For that price I would much rather purchase 2 Speedwoofers. They are both similar in the Articulation, Dynamic and depth category. Where the 12s wins would be the transient performance. Don’t know how the engineers at RSL do it but this sub is one of a kind.

Monolith 15-Monolith has a bit more depth but lacks the articulation of the 12s. The articulation gap is bigger than the depth gap.

Speedwoofer 10s-very simple: 12s is a 10s on steriods!

In what scenes/songs did the Speedwoofer shine most?

Due to time constraints I watched a few of the Mandolorian episodes and the opening scene from Avengers Age of Ultron where they attack the base. There is a lot of deep scenes as well as fast action. The 12s performed admirably in all situations and didn’t break a sweat.

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799?

Just like the 10s at $499, the 12S is an absolute bargain at $799.(That is why they are ALWAYS sold out!) Worth every penny. I was originally going to purchase a 2nd Mono 15 to help alleviate the dead spots in my theater. Since hooking up the 12s I have not had those issues and if I do decide to get a 2nd it would be 1/2 the price! Also, the DSP and remote are an absolute game changer when trying to dial it in.

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts?

100% Give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed.

Sorry my theater is a bit of a mess. It is currently under construction and I had to take my 150 in screen down and use the tv in the meantime. Here are some current/past photos. When it is done I can send more. Thank you for selecting me as one of the early access members. As you can see I am a proud RSL owner!!

This Sub is the only game in town in the $1000,00 or under true sub. After spending a few days with mine I am flat from 18 to 80 +/- 2db. For the price this is a low frequency monster. I am using it in my dedicated room. I am comparing it to the two main subs out of 20 I have tried, a 14 inch $5000 monster, a 15 $3000 monster.

In unfairly comparing it to far price and bigger subs I am solid as a rock on flatness and sub sonic frequency it’s there in spades, if you want the best you can get for under $1000 you just found it. If you are a fan of monster subs in my comparisons there is a very good chance you are still there at a much cheaper price, the only noticeable difference is output (which is amazing close, tactile impact and chest slam is there is spades. I lack just bit of the output I am used to, about 3dbs of low end sonics and subsonics. I can only fit one monster sub in my room but I can fit two of these, that should give me the a 3 – 6 db bump in output placing me solidly where I want to be with a bonus of saving $1400 to $3400 over my favorites.

Comparing it to my favorites I found the Speedwoofer 12 to have a more balanced and detailed feel than all but the $5000 monster. That was a tie in my mind, both can turn on a dime but both have a slightly different sound signature. (Once again two Speedwoofer 12’s according to my math should get close that tie in output matching at a huge saving)

In short for the money this punches way above it’s price point. Real subsonic, tactile chest punching bass, solid mid bass, small enough to throw around and find the best place and the ability to add another, enlarge the sweet spot and still come in at a bargain price point. That’s my plan.

The remote is great for on the fly boosts for poorly recorded content or to add a bit more bass.

RSL Does it again.

Please, come out with a white one, if you do I will place one in my secondary HT, the wife must approve in that room and with a white one I think she will.

An absolutely amazing bargain in a very competitive field. In 30 years I have never been this shocked at this level of value and performance. If you want to spend under $1000 on a sub RSL is the only company you need to visit.

How does the Speedwoofer perform with movies and music? I couldn’t ask for a better sub it does absolutely fantastic with both movies and music it’s the sub of the year

Besides output, how do you feel about the quality of the bass?

Articulation? Amazing just as good as the rythmik I had

Dynamics? Explosive it pairs very well with my klipsch system movies come alive it brings a whole new dimension to the sound stage

Depth? I can feel this sub not just hear it the bass fills the room effortlessly

Transient performance? Very good it plays how a sub that is high quality should it hits all the right notes without any sloppiness

How do you feel the Speedwoofer performs against other subwoofers you have experience with? The speedwoofer 12s is the best sub out of all the ones I’ve had hands down

In what scenes/songs did the Speedwoofer shine most? Cars in the beginning racing seen I felt like I was actually there in the stands . Training day with every gun shot I felt it et I felt like I was inside the movie when the spaceships would take off daft punks do it right the speed and accuracy and deep bass it produces it phenomenal The Weeknd alone again sounds killer on this sub

Does your Speedwoofer 12S outperform $799? 100 percent yes

Would you recommend it to other enthusiasts? Absolutely I will definitely Recommend every chance I get

After seeing a 10s I had it in my head this thing would be more compact. Much larger than I anticipated but man is it worth it.

The packaging was top notch. Build quality is great. I am really digging the addition of the remote.

Used with Denon x3700h and s760h and JBL 580 and JBL 590 towers.

Music:

A lot of 90s and 2000s rap and hip hop and EDM. The bass is tight and hits hard. Jeezy -Put on was the first song and scared my wife. Nirvana-Come As You Are and Deadmau5-Deus Ex Machina shined too. I will say I do not believe it is as good as the 10s in articulation but it is very good and close....but the output is nuts. It really shines in movies.

Movies: No Way Home, Adam Project, Dune, A Quiet Place, Interstellar .

Wow- easily the best sub I have ever heard especially at this price range. Completely effortless and made both high and low end frequencies sound amazing.

The whole range digs deep and clean and has not shown any sign of struggling or distortion. This sub is very powerful.

Closest sub I have owned to this is the monolith m-15 and even though I no longer own it. It is so effortless at low frequency it is addicting. I can't recommend this sub enough. It easily outperforms its cost and I would like to hear it against some higher end subs like the Rythmik and Hsu 15. I think at this cost it competes well with subs that are in the 1200-1500 range but I know RSL service can't be beat. Why go with anything else? This sub is a beast in HT and what my primary use for it will be. I do not know how you are able to provide this quality at this price but I am happy to be a part of the RSL family.

It perfectly fills out a large loft area (20'x30') with rumbling bass. As you can see from the picture, it feels perfectly build for a large room. The hand offs from my RSL satellites to the sub is seamless and just right. In terms of depth - there's a noticeable deepness and punchiness at a lower level as compared to the 10s as tested in the first 10 minutes of Dune 4K (with atmos). On a scene with a heart beat sound track, the bass with the 12s feels fuller and the 10s almost feels anemic! This is the largest sub I've ever owned. Feels like a screaming deal vs the Monolith's for over $1,000.

A few nice touches I noticed that are included w/ the 12s vs 10s:

- Nice remote to manipulate the sub's power, volume, and scene selection (great for testing)

- Bass level meter on the face of the sub (visible through the face covering) that allows you to see exactly how loud the sub's volume is

- Bass volume dial has a nice resistance / notches as you turn it so you dial it in just right!

I have been living with the Speedwoofer 12S for 2 weeks, putting it through its paces. I have played with various positions, listen to it as a single subwoofer and also as part of a 4 subwoofer setup. I have tried each of these setups listening to both digital and analog music, as well as watching movies. What follows are the results in my 20′ x 12′ dedicated home theater/music room. I have included pictures of the room. I will first give general impressions, and then cover the various setups. I have a miniDSP and used REW to see what was going on measurement-wise. My system is now sounding better than ever. I’m completely satisfied with the results.

Overall impressions

The bass is FAST and TIGHT. It replaced 2 HSU ULS15 subwoofers on the front wall that were left and right of center in the ¼ & ¾ positions. I switched back to the HSUs several times, and the HSU subwoofers feel slow and tubby in comparison, something I never thought of them before.

Lowest end has BRUTE FORCE. They dig deeper than my prior/current subwoofers, yet keep their composure. I’m sure there is more to be had, but I don’t find myself wanting anything more.

The BEST POSITION in my room ended up being in the right front corner, firing across the room vs. down the length of it. In that position, it doesn’t necessarily produce more energy, but rather integrates better with the rest of the system in my room.

It is BIGGER than what the pictures lead you to believe.

They have a low-end BUMP in my room, between 20hz – 40hz, regardless of position. I could only get rid of it with EQ or mixing in other subwoofers that brought the > 40hz energy up.

I always preferred the REFERENCE DSP MODE when listening through the home theater processor. I’m sure this was because the processor was calibrated to the reference mode. When I switch to music or movie mode, it always sounded a little “off”.

Single Subwoofer – Movies

The 12S really shines with movies. I watched several movies where the bass was simply next level. It is exactly what I was lacking, but never really knew to what extent. It easily outperformed the 2 ULS15s it replaced, providing increased force you could hear, but also feel. The robot footsteps in Pacific Rim were amazing. Equally impressive was the entire 1st section of the Blade Runner sequel, which led to a discovery of new “rattles” in the room. I continually notice bass areas in movies that I didn’t know existed.

I tried the movie DSP mode with movies, but found I always went back to the reference setting.

Single Subwoofer – Music

I listened to vinyl, digital music from my music server and streaming lossless Apple Music. In every case, the bass blended seamlessly with my Magnepan 1.6QR main speakers. The bass was delicate when called to be delicate, but powerful when appropriate. It in no way felt bloating or over emphasized. The bass always felt natural. It did take some adjusting to listening to familiar tracks, as the speed and depth of the base was a fairly significant deviation from the ULS15s.

I tried the music DSP mode for all 3 types of music, but always preferred the reference DSP mode. I have an Athem AVM70 processor that does a really good job of calibrating things. I setup a sperate 2 channel calibrated profile for listening to music.

Multiple Subwoofers – Movies

I have a 9.4.6 setup. The other subwoofers are an old Def Tech 12 inch subwoofer and the pair of HSU ULS15s mentioned above. I used a miniDSP and REW to calibrate the subwoofers. I run a single subwoofer out from the Athem into the miniDSP, which handles the 4 subwoofer integration. I then ran Anthem ARC Genesis to calibrate the one “virtual sub” with the rest of the system. You can see the configuration in the attached room pictures. The Speedwoofer 12s as the backbone, with the other subwoofers in support, is glorious. I can’t image where I would go from here…. except maybe 3 more 12S

Downsides

There really isn’t much to complain about. The following is a “nice to have” and a minor cosmetic defect with one of the 12S.

It would be nice to have an XLR input. I prefer using that connection if possible.

The veneer was separating on an edge of one subwoofer. I thankfully noticed it and was able to glue it back down. However, I could have easily rubbed it when moving it around and tore a piece off.

Thank-you for selecting me to participate in the early evaluation. I’m thrilled with the Speedwoofer 12S!!!