Short answer: the MartinLogan Dynamo 12. It ranks #105 of 145 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $1,599.99; the MartinLogan Abyss 10 ranks #132, rated 3.2/5, and costs $1,899.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the MartinLogan Dynamo 12: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 91.7 dB at 20 Hz and 110.6 dB through 40-80 Hz. The tradeoff: Nearly all controls, including low-pass frequency and phase, are app-only, with no physical switches for systems that lack separate bass management.
The case for the MartinLogan Abyss 10: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 93.5 dB at 20 Hz and 106.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The tradeoff: Most controls, including low-pass frequency and phase, require the smartphone app, with sparse physical controls on the unit itself.
Buy the MartinLogan Dynamo 12. It is rated higher for sound quality than the MartinLogan Abyss 10 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| MartinLogan Dynamo 12 | MartinLogan Abyss 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1599.99 | $1899.99 |
| Ranked | #105 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #132 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 81.1 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 85.7 dB | 83.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 91.7 dB | 93.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 97.6 dB | 99.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 102.5 dB | 103.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.7 dB | 107.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 110.6 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 111.9 dB | 105.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.2 dB | 103.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 110.1 dB | 102.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 108.7 dB | 99.6 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.6 dB | 106.4 dB |
| Dimensions | 16.8”H x 15.8”W x 15.8”D (425.5 x 400.1 x 400.1 mm) | 15.5”H x 15”W x 16.2”D (393.7 x 381.0 x 411.5 mm) |
| Weight | 61.5 lbs (27.9 kg) | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Audioholics |
| Frequency Response | 23-200Hz, ±3dB | 22-120Hz, ±3dB |
| Amplifier Power | 800W RMS / 1600W peak | 800W RMS / 1600W peak |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) driver | 10” driver + 2x 10” passive radiators |
| Inputs | XLR (L/R/LFE), speaker-level | XLR (LFE), RCA (LFE), RCA (stereo), speaker-level |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to MartinLogan Dynamo 12:
- Monoprice SW-15 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 12
- SVS SB-3000 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 12
- MartinLogan Dynamo 12 vs JL Audio Fathom f110
- ELAC PS350 vs MartinLogan Abyss 10
- BK Electronics XLS200-DF MK2 vs MartinLogan Abyss 10
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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 Dynamo 12: $1599.99 Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 91.7 dB at 20 Hz and 110.6 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 12” (305mm) anodized-aluminum driver suits a mid-size room. Anthem Room Correction (ARC Genesis) and app-based control simplify setup.
Cons: Nearly all controls, including low-pass frequency and phase, are app-only, with no physical switches for systems that lack separate bass management.
Full MartinLogan Dynamo 12 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 800W RMS / 1600W peak |
| Aux Input | No |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 110.6 dB |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 16.8”H x 15.8”W x 15.8”D (425.5 x 400.1 x 400.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 23-200Hz, ±3dB |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR (L/R/LFE), speaker-level |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Optical Input | No |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 81.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 85.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 91.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 97.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 102.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 110.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| RCA Input | No |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 61.5 lbs (27.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
MartinLogan Abyss 10: $1899.99 Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 93.5 dB at 20 Hz and 106.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure combines a 10” active driver with dual 10” passive radiators in a compact 15” cube. Anthem Room Correction (ARC) and wireless streaming simplify integration.
Cons: Most controls, including low-pass frequency and phase, require the smartphone app, with sparse physical controls on the unit itself.
Full MartinLogan Abyss 10 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 800W RMS / 1600W peak |
| Aux Input | No |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 106.4 dB |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 15.5”H x 15”W x 16.2”D (393.7 x 381.0 x 411.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” driver + 2x 10” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 22-120Hz, ±3dB |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR (LFE), RCA (LFE), RCA (stereo), speaker-level |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Optical Input | No |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 83.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 93.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 99.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 105.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 103.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 102.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 99.6 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons


