Short answer: the BIC America F-12, if you are buying new. The MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X ranks higher than it (#3 vs #163 of 212 subwoofers, 4.2/5 vs 3.4/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the BIC America F-12 is still sold new at $299.
The MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X is the better-sounding option. A sealed 15 inch subwoofer with forceful, tight bass, front or down firing setup, and app based room correction, now discontinued. The catch: Output falls to 86.2dB at 15Hz, so the very lowest effects are weaker than the strong midbass numbers suggest.
The case for the BIC America F-12: A budget 12 inch ported subwoofer with a long warranty for basic home theater bass. Watch for: Internal cabinet resonances show up around 50 to 60Hz, and its frequency response was less linear than the better 12-inch budget subs tested alongside it.
Buy the BIC America F-12, since the MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
A sealed 15 inch subwoofer with forceful, tight bass, front or down firing setup, and app based room correction, now discontinued.
A budget 12 inch ported subwoofer with a long warranty for basic home theater bass.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X | BIC America F-12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,606.77 Discontinued | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #3 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #163 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | sealed | ported, rear |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 86.2 dB | 74.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 99.4 dB | 83.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 103.9 dB | 95.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.7 dB | 101.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 118.4 dB | 104.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 121.0 dB | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.8 dB | 113.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.0 dB | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 120.2 dB | 110.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 119.0 dB | 106.7 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 120.5 dB | 110.1 dB |
| Dimensions | 20.1”H x 17.9”W x 19.1”D (510.5 x 454.7 x 485.1 mm) | 17”H x 14.7”W x 17.2”D (431.8 x 374.6 x 438.1 mm) |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Frequency Response | 20-200Hz, ±3dB | 25-200Hz |
| Amplifier Power | 900W RMS / 1800W peak | 150W RMS |
| Inputs | RCA (stereo and LFE), XLR (LFE), speaker-level (banana) | - |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 12” (305mm) driver |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| RCA Input | Yes | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X: