Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 3.9/5 (#123 and #124 of 143 subwoofers) at nearly the same price ($5,000 vs $4,999), so choose on features and fit.
What the JL Audio Fathom f112v2 does well: A sealed 12” Fathom with JL’s ultra-long-throw W7 driver and an 1800W amplifier, rated 21 to 119Hz (±1.5dB) and 19Hz at -3dB anechoic. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured JL Audio Fathom f113 (118.9dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands) and placed below it.
The case for the REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label: A Serie S flagship with an all-carbon fiber 12” active driver and a 12” down-firing passive radiator, driven by a 900W Linear Class D amplifier and reaching 19Hz (-6dB) in-room. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II (118.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands) and REL Acoustics R-528.
Buy the JL Audio Fathom f112v2 or the REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: JL Audio Fathom f112v2 3.5 to 4.1; REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label 3.5 to 4.2). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JL Audio Fathom f112v2 | REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,000.00 | $4,999.00 |
| Ranked | #123 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) Estimated | #124 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) Estimated |
| Enclosure | sealed | passive radiator |
| Drivers | 12” W7 driver | 12” carbon fiber driver, 12” down-firing passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 1800W | 900W Linear Class D |
| Frequency Response | 21-119Hz ±1.5dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) | 19Hz -6dB in-room (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 19.6”H x 16.5”W x 19.3”D (498 x 419 x 489 mm) | 16.1”H x 19.2”W x 22.2”D (410 x 488 x 565 mm) |
| Weight | 130.1 lbs (59 kg) | 98.1 lbs (44.5 kg) |
| Country | - | United Kingdom |
| Warranty | - | 3 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JL Audio Fathom f112v2:
- Perlisten Audio R18s vs JL Audio Fathom f112v2
- Perlisten Audio D12s vs JL Audio Fathom f112v2
- Perlisten Audio R18s vs REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label
- Perlisten Audio D12s vs REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label
- Genelec 7380A vs Genelec 7071A
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM 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
JL Audio Fathom f112v2: $5,000.00 Estimated Paragon Sight & Sound eBay
Same family: the JL Audio Fathom f110 (smaller subwoofer, rated 3/5), the JL Audio Fathom f113 (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5) and the JL Audio Fathom f212v2 (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, estimated 4.3/5).
Pros: A sealed 12” Fathom with JL’s ultra-long-throw W7 driver and an 1800W amplifier, rated 21 to 119Hz (±1.5dB) and 19Hz at -3dB anechoic. JL’s automatic room optimization (ARO) and a 59kg braced cabinet are included.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured JL Audio Fathom f113 (118.9dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands) and placed below it.
Full JL Audio Fathom f112v2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1800W |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 19.6”H x 16.5”W x 19.3”D (498 x 419 x 489 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” W7 driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 21-119Hz ±1.5dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 130.1 lbs (59 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label: $4,999.00 Estimated ListenUp eBay
Same family: the REL Acoustics S/550 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.5/5), the REL Acoustics S/850 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.7/5) and the REL Acoustics 212 Black Label (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, estimated 4.2/5). See every REL S and Reference Series generation.
Pros: A Serie S flagship with an all-carbon fiber 12” active driver and a 12” down-firing passive radiator, driven by a 900W Linear Class D amplifier and reaching 19Hz (-6dB) in-room.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II (118.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands) and REL Acoustics R-528. It weighs 44.5kg.
Full REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 900W Linear Class D |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 16.1”H x 19.2”W x 22.2”D (410 x 488 x 565 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” carbon fiber driver, 12” down-firing passive radiator |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 19Hz -6dB in-room (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 98.1 lbs (44.5 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons