Short answer: the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2S, if you are buying new. The Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra ranks higher than it (#19 vs #82 of 143 subwoofers, 4.4/5 vs 4.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2S is still sold new at $2,500.
The Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra is the better-sounding choice. A THX Ultra certified 16 inch ported subwoofer with huge output for far less money than most rivals, now worth finding used. The catch: Heavy at 172 lbs (78 kg) and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
What the Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2S does well: A sealed subwoofer with two 13.8 inch drivers and strong upper bass punch in a fairly compact cabinet. 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 Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2S new; the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
A THX Ultra certified 16 inch ported subwoofer with huge output for far less money than most rivals, now worth finding used.
A sealed subwoofer with two 13.8 inch drivers and strong upper bass punch in a fairly compact cabinet.
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
| Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra | Arendal 1723 Subwoofer 2S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 Discontinued | $2,500 |
| Ranked | #19 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #82 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, front | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB | 96.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB | 102.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB | 107.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB | 114.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 126.8 dB | 122.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 127.2 dB | 121.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 127.6 dB | 120.4 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 126.5 dB | 119.8 dB |
| Dimensions | 25.6”H x 22”W x 28.1”D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) | 20.9”H x 16.5”W x 19.7”D (529.8 x 419.9 x 499.9 mm) |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs (77.8 kg) | 91.3 lbs (41.4 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | 10/5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white |
| Country | United States | Norway |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Manufacturer |
| Drivers | 16” (406mm) driver | 2x 13.8” (351mm) driver |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA, XLR out | XLR (balanced), RCA |
| 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 12.5 Hz | - | 90.3 dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra compares with other leading options:
- JTR Speakers Orbit Shifter PRO vs Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra
- JTR Speakers Orbit Shifter LFU vs Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs WW Speaker Cabinets X21 - B&C 21DS115-4
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Pro Audio Technology LFC-24sm
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) TRIAX