Short answer: the Dayton Audio SUB-1000L. It ranks #20 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality at $150; the Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified ranks #43 and costs $350, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

What the Dayton Audio SUB-1000L offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 89.9 dB at 20 Hz and 110.0 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, bottom enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver is best suited to upper-bass support in a modest room. Watch for: Deep-bass output is limited relative to its midbass result, so it is not the right choice for the lowest movie effects. The 152.4H x 635.0W x 400.0D mm cabinet and 12.9 kg mass still need deliberate placement and calibration.
What the Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified offers: A compact 9kg, ported 8-inch subwoofer with THX certification that can suit a small room or satellite-based system without taking much floor space. Measured output is useful through the upper bass: 99.3dB at 50Hz, 100.7dB at 63Hz and 101.6dB at 80Hz. Its selectable THX/EQ modes provide a more controlled option for music than the extended setting. Watch for: Deep-bass output is modest for a home-theater subwoofer, falling to 72.9dB at 20Hz and 86.1dB at 25Hz. It will not deliver the infrasonic impact or room-filling output of a larger model, and the manufacturer lists it as out of stock. Choose it for compactness and moderate listening levels, not for demanding cinema effects.
Buy the Dayton Audio SUB-1000L. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified. It ranks near the bottom of the 48 subwoofers, so look higher up the list instead.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Dayton Audio SUB-1000L | Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $350 |
| Ranked | #20 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #43 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | ported |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 89.9 dB | 72.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 96.8 dB | 86.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 100.9 dB | 93.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 104.9 dB | 96.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.3 dB | 99.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 111.9 dB | 100.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.7 dB | 101.6 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.0 dB | 99.6 dB |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 25"W x 15.7"D (152.4 x 635.0 x 400.0 mm) | 12.6"H x 13.5"W x 12.6"D (319.8 x 342.9 x 319.8 mm) |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs (12.9 kg) | 19.8 lbs (9.0 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver | 8" (203mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 101.9 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Dayton Audio SUB-1000L:
- ELAC SUB1010 vs Dayton Audio SUB-1000L
- Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt vs Dayton Audio SUB-1000L
- Dayton Audio SUB-1000L vs Yamaha HS8S
- Dayton Audio SUB-1000L vs Jamo SUB 800
- Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt vs Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Dayton Audio SUB-1000L: $150 eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 89.9 dB at 20 Hz and 110.0 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, bottom enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver is best suited to upper-bass support in a modest room.
Cons: Deep-bass output is limited relative to its midbass result, so it is not the right choice for the lowest movie effects. The 152.4H x 635.0W x 400.0D mm cabinet and 12.9 kg mass still need deliberate placement and calibration.
Notes: low profile (<8in)
Full Dayton Audio SUB-1000L review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.0 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 6"H x 25"W x 15.7"D (152.4 x 635.0 x 400.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 89.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 96.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 100.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 104.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.7 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs (12.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified: $350 eBay
Pros: A compact 9kg, ported 8-inch subwoofer with THX certification that can suit a small room or satellite-based system without taking much floor space. Measured output is useful through the upper bass: 99.3dB at 50Hz, 100.7dB at 63Hz and 101.6dB at 80Hz. Its selectable THX/EQ modes provide a more controlled option for music than the extended setting.
Cons: Deep-bass output is modest for a home-theater subwoofer, falling to 72.9dB at 20Hz and 86.1dB at 25Hz. It will not deliver the infrasonic impact or room-filling output of a larger model, and the manufacturer lists it as out of stock. Choose it for compactness and moderate listening levels, not for demanding cinema effects.
Notes: Product # 41289
Full Monoprice Monolith 8 THX Certified review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 99.6 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 12.6"H x 13.5"W x 12.6"D (319.8 x 342.9 x 319.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 72.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 86.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 93.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 96.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 99.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 100.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 101.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 101.9 dB |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs (9.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by ErinsAudioCorner; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons

