Short answer: the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra. It ranks #13 of 97 subwoofers at $2300; the JBL HDI-1200P ranks #14 and costs $2310, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the JBL HDI-1200P: Dual-ported 1000W 12-inch high-excursion cone.
What the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra gets right: 16-inch ported driver and THX Ultra certification deliver 126.5dB CEA-2010-A average at a fraction of the price of the subwoofers ranked. Set against that: Heavy at 78 kg and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
Buy the JBL HDI-1200P if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL HDI-1200P | Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,310 | $2,300 |
| Ranked | #14 of 137 in Medium Powered Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #13 of 97 in Large Powered Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 93.2 dB | 123.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.5 dB | 125.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB | 126.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.1 dB | 126.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.0 dB | 126.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.9 dB | 126.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 115.4 dB | 127.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 117.2 dB | 127.6 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.2 dB | 126.5 dB |
| Dimensions | 16.95"H x 16.3"W x 17.77"D (430.5 x 414.0 x 451.4 mm) | 25.6"H x 22.0"W x 28.1"D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs / 32.1 kg | 171.5 lbs / 77.8 kg |
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Cabinet Color | black, wood | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Audioholics |
| Frequency Response | 28-150Hz (-6dB) | - |
| Power Output (Watts) | 1000W RMS | - |
| Crossover | 50-150Hz, 24dB/octave | - |
| Input Connections | RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) | - |
| Features | Single-band parametric EQ | - |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver | 16" (406mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 107.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 118.4 dB |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL HDI-1200P: $2,310
Pros: Dual-ported 1000W 12-inch high-excursion cone. Symmetric Field motor design controls stray magnetic flux for refined response. Plays very clean with super low distortion (<1% THD) down to tuning frequency. Dual down-firing ports extend low-end with 28-150Hz frequency response. Adjustable crossover (50-150Hz) and phase control for seamless integration. Compact ~17-inch cube with automotive-gloss or furniture-grade finishes.
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.2 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, wood |
| Country | United States |
| Crossover | 50-150Hz, 24dB/octave |
| Dimensions | 16.95"H x 16.3"W x 17.77"D (430.5 x 414.0 x 451.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom |
| Features | Single-band parametric EQ |
| Frequency Response | 28-150Hz (-6dB) |
| Input Connections | RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 93.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 115.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 117.2 dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 1000W RMS |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs / 32.1 kg |
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra: $2,300
Pros: 16-inch ported driver and THX Ultra certification deliver 126.5dB CEA-2010-A average at a fraction of the price of the subwoofers ranked above it.
Cons: Heavy at 78 kg and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
Notes: Product # 42031
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 126.5 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 25.6"H x 22.0"W x 28.1"D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 16" (406mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 126.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 127.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 127.6 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs / 77.8 kg |
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- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.