Short answer: the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra. It ranks #18 of 110 subwoofers by sound quality at $2300; the BK Electronics Monolith-DF ranks #107 and costs $8995, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra offers: 16-inch ported driver and THX Ultra certification deliver 126.5dB CEA-2010-A average at a fraction of the price of the subwoofers ranked above it. Watch for: Heavy at 78 kg and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
What the BK Electronics Monolith-DF offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 102.0 dB at 20 Hz and 108.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, bottom enclosure with 12” (305mm) driver with ported design delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music. Watch for: 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. The 603.8H x 539.8W x 419.9D mm cabinet and 46.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration.
Buy the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra. It ranks higher for sound quality than the BK Electronics Monolith-DF and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the BK Electronics Monolith-DF. It ranks near the bottom of the 110 subwoofers, so look higher up the list instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra | BK Electronics Monolith-DF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 | $8995 |
| Ranked | #18 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #107 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, front | ported, bottom |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB | 91.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB | 102.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB | 106.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB | 108.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 126.8 dB | 107.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 127.2 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 127.6 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 126.5 dB | 108.4 dB |
| Dimensions | 25.6"H x 22"W x 28.1"D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) | 23.8"H x 21.3"W x 16.5"D (603.8 x 539.8 x 419.9 mm) |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs (77.8 kg) | 103.2 lbs (46.8 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | 2 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, wood |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Ilkka Rissanen |
| Drivers | 16" (406mm) driver | 12" (305mm) driver with ported design |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) TRIAX
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
Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra: $2,300 eBay
Pros: 16-inch ported driver and THX Ultra certification deliver 126.5dB CEA-2010-A average at a fraction of the price of the subwoofers ranked above it.
Cons: Heavy at 78 kg and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
Notes: Product # 42031
Full Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 126.5 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 25.6"H x 22"W x 28.1"D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 16" (406mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 126.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 127.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 127.6 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs (77.8 kg) |
- 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
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- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Funk Audio Classic 18.0
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs JTR Speakers Captivator 2400
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Reaction Audio PV-15X
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Harbinger V2218S
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Danley Sound Labs DTS10
- Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra vs Rythmik FV25HP
- See all 54 comparisons
BK Electronics Monolith-DF: $8995 eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 102.0 dB at 20 Hz and 108.4 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, bottom enclosure with 12” (305mm) driver with ported design delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: 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. The 603.8H x 539.8W x 419.9D mm cabinet and 46.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration.
Full BK Electronics Monolith-DF review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.4 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, wood |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 23.8"H x 21.3"W x 16.5"D (603.8 x 539.8 x 419.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver with ported design |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom |
| Measurement Source | Ilkka Rissanen |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 91.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 102.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 108.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 107.7 dB |
| Warranty | 2 |
| Weight | 103.2 lbs (46.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Ilkka Rissanen; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons