Short answer: the Perlisten Audio R18s. Both are rated 4.1/5 for sound quality (#100 and #106 of 143 subwoofers), and the Perlisten Audio R18s costs $4,995 against $5,499.99 for the MartinLogan Depth 212, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the MartinLogan Depth 212: MartinLogan’s luxury subwoofer, with two opposed 12” Carbon Aerocore woofers in cast aluminum baskets that cancel cabinet vibration, a 2200W peak amplifier, and a finished rear panel so it looks good from any side. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from MartinLogan’s measured subs, the best of which, the single-15” MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X, reached 120.5dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands.
Why pick the Perlisten Audio R18s: A massive 18-inch glass fiber composite driver in a sealed enclosure driven by a 1,000W RMS smart amplifier. Watch for: The 600H x 550W x 620D mm cabinet is wide and deep, weighing 114.6 lbs (52 kg).
Buy the Perlisten Audio R18s. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $504.99 less than the MartinLogan Depth 212.
Worth knowing: the MartinLogan Depth 212 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.7 to 4.4, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| MartinLogan Depth 212 | Perlisten Audio R18s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,499.99 | $4,995.00 each |
| Ranked | #106 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) Estimated | #100 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Drivers | 2 x 12” Carbon Aerocore woofers (opposed) | 18” (457mm) glass fiber driver |
| Amplifier Power | 2200W peak | 1000W RMS |
| Frequency Response | 18-120Hz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 21”H x 19.8”W x 20.4”D (533 x 503 x 518 mm) | 23.6”H x 21.7”W x 24.4”D (600.0 x 550.0 x 620.0 mm) |
| Weight | 127 lbs (57.6 kg) | 114.6 lbs (52.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| AES Input | No | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 121.9 dB |
| Cabinet Color | - | satin black |
| Inputs | - | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | - | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 95.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 101.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 106.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | - | 111.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 115.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | - | 119.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | - | 121.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | - | 122.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 123.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 124.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 124.2 dB |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Perlisten Audio R18s:
- JTR Speakers Captivator 218PRO vs Perlisten Audio R18s
- Paradigm XR13 vs Perlisten Audio R18s
- Perlisten Audio R18s vs JL Audio Fathom f112v2
- Perlisten Audio R18s vs REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label
- Paradigm XR13 vs MartinLogan Depth 212
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
MartinLogan Depth 212: $5,499.99 Estimated MartinLogan eBay
Same family: the MartinLogan Depth 215 (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, estimated 4.3/5).
Pros: MartinLogan’s luxury subwoofer, with two opposed 12” Carbon Aerocore woofers in cast aluminum baskets that cancel cabinet vibration, a 2200W peak amplifier, and a finished rear panel so it looks good from any side. Rated 18 to 120Hz (±3dB).
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from MartinLogan’s measured subs, the best of which, the single-15” MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X, reached 120.5dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands. Two opposed 12” drivers in a sealed box should land close to it. It weighs 57.6kg.
Full MartinLogan Depth 212 review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2025 (11 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 2200W peak |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 21”H x 19.8”W x 20.4”D (533 x 503 x 518 mm) |
| Drivers | 2 x 12” Carbon Aerocore woofers (opposed) |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 18-120Hz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 127 lbs (57.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- 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
Perlisten Audio R18s: $4,995.00 each Perlisten eBay
Same family: the Perlisten Audio R10s (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.8/5), the Perlisten Audio R12s (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.9/5), the Perlisten Audio R15s (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 4/5), the Perlisten R210s (smaller subwoofer, estimated 4/5) and the Perlisten Audio R212s (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: A massive 18-inch glass fiber composite driver in a sealed enclosure driven by a 1,000W RMS smart amplifier. Delivers immense subterranean displacement with 106.8 dB output at 20 Hz and over 121 dB through the mid-bass, controlled via a 2.4-inch LCD touchscreen and mobile app PEQ.
Cons: The 600H x 550W x 620D mm cabinet is wide and deep, weighing 52 kg. High-output deep bass requires solid room acoustics to prevent standing-wave excitation.
Full Perlisten Audio R18s review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 121.9 dB |
| Cabinet Color | satin black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 23.6”H x 21.7”W x 24.4”D (600.0 x 550.0 x 620.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 18” (457mm) glass fiber driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 95.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 101.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 106.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 111.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 115.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 119.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 121.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 122.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 123.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 124.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 124.2 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 114.6 lbs (52.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons