Short answer: the Paradigm Prestige 2000SW, if you are buying new. The Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra ranks higher than it (#19 vs #125 of 143 subwoofers, 4.4/5 vs 3.8/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Paradigm Prestige 2000SW is still sold new at $2,499.

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 tradeoff: Heavy at 172 lbs (78 kg) and ported design can interact with room acoustics.
The case for the Paradigm Prestige 2000SW: A sealed 15 inch subwoofer with solid upper bass output for movie effects and music in a large cabinet. 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.
Buy the Paradigm Prestige 2000SW, since the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
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 15 inch subwoofer with solid upper bass output for movie effects and music in a large cabinet.
Prices on this page were last checked October 29, 2026 at 4:42 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra | Paradigm Prestige 2000SW | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 Discontinued | $2,499 |
| Ranked | #19 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #125 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, front | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB | 96.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB | 101.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB | 108.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB | 112.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB | 115.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB | 117.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB | 116.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 126.8 dB | 114.8 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 | 116.1 dB |
| Dimensions | 25.6”H x 22”W x 28.1”D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) | 22.2”H x 21.7”W x 20.3”D (565.1 x 552.4 x 514.4 mm) |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs (77.8 kg) | 121 lbs (54.9 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | 3 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white, wood |
| Country | United States | Canada |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Drivers | 16” (406mm) driver | 15” (381mm) driver |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA, XLR out | - |
| 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 | - |
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