Short answer: both are discontinued, and they are rated the same for sound quality (#90 and #89 of 143 subwoofers). Either one is only an option used, so choose on condition and price. If you want one new, the SVS SB17-Ultra R-Evolution replaces the SVS SB16-Ultra and is rated 4.1/5 at $2,699.
Why pick the JL Audio Fathom f113: A sealed 13.5 inch subwoofer with tight, strong bass for music and movies in a heavy, solid cabinet, now discontinued but worth buying used. The catch: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority.
What the SVS SB16-Ultra does well: A sealed 16 inch subwoofer with forceful, punchy bass for movies and music, now discontinued but worth buying used. The tradeoff: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority.
Buy the JL Audio Fathom f113 or the SVS SB16-Ultra, whichever you find used in better condition; both are discontinued. For a new speaker, buy the SVS SB17-Ultra R-Evolution, which replaces the SVS SB16-Ultra.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
A sealed 13.5 inch subwoofer with tight, strong bass for music and movies in a heavy, solid cabinet, now discontinued but worth buying used.
A sealed 16 inch subwoofer with forceful, punchy bass for movies and music, now discontinued but worth buying used.
Prices on this page were last checked October 23, 2026 at 8:27 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| JL Audio Fathom f113 | SVS SB16-Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,799 Discontinued | $2,300 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #90 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #89 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 94.5 dB | 91.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 99.7 dB | 97.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 104.3 dB | 103.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 108.5 dB | 109.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 112.8 dB | 116.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 117.0 dB | 118.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.5 dB | 119.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.9 dB | 119.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.2 dB | 119.0 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 118.9 dB | 119.0 dB |
| Dimensions | 19.7”H x 16.5”W x 19.2”D (501.6 x 419.1 x 488.9 mm) | 20”H x 19.5”W x 20.1”D (508.0 x 495.3 x 510.5 mm) |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Ilkka Rissanen | Audioholics |
| Weight | 130.1 lbs (59.0 kg) | 121.9 lbs (55.3 kg) |
| Drivers | 13.5” (343mm) driver | 16” (406mm) driver |
| Inputs | XLR combo (balanced, stereo/mono), RCA (unbalanced), XLR link output | XLR (balanced, LFE/stereo), RCA (LFE/stereo) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Output SPL at 10 Hz | - | 86.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 119.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 119.8 dB |
| Cabinet Color | - | black |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How SVS SB16-Ultra compares with other leading options: