JTR Speakers Captivator S2 vs Chase Home Theater SS18.1

Short answer: the JTR Speakers Captivator S2 for better sound quality, the Chase Home Theater SS18.1 for the lower price. The JTR Speakers Captivator S2 ranks #9 of 110 subwoofers at $3995. The Chase Home Theater SS18.1 ranks #32 at $2499, $1496 cheaper.

What the JTR Speakers Captivator S2 offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 115.1 dB at 20 Hz and 129.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 18” (457mm) drivers has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room. Watch for: The 1016.0H x 533.4W x 457.2D mm cabinet and 99.8 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. A sealed cabinet still needs careful placement and calibration to avoid room-mode peaks.

What the Chase Home Theater SS18.1 offers: 18-inch sealed driver delivers 125.2dB CEA-2010-A average from a dedicated cinema-style sealed cabinet. Watch for: Passive design needs external amplification, 41 kg weight, and sealed design room modes.

Buy the JTR Speakers Captivator S2 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Chase Home Theater SS18.1 if the price is the priority over sound quality.

Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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Prices on this page were last checked September 14, 2026 at 1:47 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

JTR Speakers Captivator S2: $3995 eBay

Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 115.1 dB at 20 Hz and 129.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 18” (457mm) drivers has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room.

Cons: The 1016.0H x 533.4W x 457.2D mm cabinet and 99.8 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. A sealed cabinet still needs careful placement and calibration to avoid room-mode peaks.

Notes: Replaced by “RS2”

Full JTR Speakers Captivator S2 review and specifications →

CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz)	129.4 dB
Country	United States
Dimensions	40"H x 21"W x 18"D (1016.0 x 533.4 x 457.2 mm)
Drivers	2x 18" (457mm) drivers
Enclosure	sealed
Measurement Source	Data-bass
Output SPL at 10 Hz	100.3 dB
Output SPL at 12.5 Hz	103.3 dB
Output SPL at 15 Hz	108.7 dB
Output SPL at 20 Hz	115.1 dB
Output SPL at 25 Hz	119.7 dB
Output SPL at 31.5 Hz	124.8 dB
Output SPL at 40 Hz	129.3 dB
Output SPL at 50 Hz	130.3 dB
Output SPL at 63 Hz	129.4 dB
Output SPL at 80 Hz	128.5 dB
Output SPL at 100 Hz	128.1 dB
Output SPL at 125 Hz	128.0 dB
Warranty	5/3
Weight	220 lbs (99.8 kg)

• Links
  • JTR Speakers Captivator S2 Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Independently measured by Data-bass; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
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  • See all 23 comparisons

Chase Home Theater SS18.1: $2499 Passive, Discontinued eBay

Pros: 18-inch sealed driver delivers 125.2dB CEA-2010-A average from a dedicated cinema-style sealed cabinet.

Cons: Passive design needs external amplification, 41 kg weight, and sealed design room modes. Discontinued.

Full Chase Home Theater SS18.1 review and specifications →

CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz)	125.2 dB
Dimensions	22"H x 24"W x 22"D (558.8 x 609.6 x 558.8 mm)
Discontinued	Yes
Drivers	18" (457mm) driver
Enclosure	sealed
Measurement Source	Data-bass
Output SPL at 12.5 Hz	92.8 dB
Output SPL at 15 Hz	97.2 dB
Output SPL at 20 Hz	101.3 dB
Output SPL at 25 Hz	106.0 dB
Output SPL at 31.5 Hz	111.6 dB
Output SPL at 40 Hz	118.2 dB
Output SPL at 50 Hz	123.6 dB
Output SPL at 63 Hz	128.1 dB
Output SPL at 80 Hz	130.8 dB
Output SPL at 100 Hz	132.6 dB
Output SPL at 125 Hz	133.7 dB
Passive	Yes
Weight	89.9 lbs (40.8 kg)

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Independently measured by Data-bass; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
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