Short answer: the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra. It ranks #18 of 110 subwoofers by sound quality at $2300; the Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30 ranks #27 and costs $3995, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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 Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30 offers: Published CEA-2010 specifications list 110.6 dB at 20 Hz and 125.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 15” (381mm) driver has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room. Watch for: The 571.5H x 609.6W x 457.2D mm cabinet and 48.5 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. A sealed cabinet still needs careful placement and calibration to avoid room-mode peaks.
Buy the Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice Monolith 16 THX Ultra | Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 | $3995 |
| Ranked | #18 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) | #27 of 110 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, front | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 107.3 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 118.4 dB | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 123.3 dB | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 125.1 dB | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 126.3 dB | 125.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 126.5 dB | 125.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 126.6 dB | 125.2 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 | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 126.5 dB | 125.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
| Dimensions | 25.6"H x 22"W x 28.1"D (650.2 x 558.8 x 713.7 mm) | 22.5"H x 24"W x 18"D (571.5 x 609.6 x 457.2 mm) |
| Weight | 171.5 lbs (77.8 kg) | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Manufacturer |
| Drivers | 16" (406mm) driver | 2x 15" (381mm) driver |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- 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
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
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- 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
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Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30: $3995 eBay
Pros: Published CEA-2010 specifications list 110.6 dB at 20 Hz and 125.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 15” (381mm) driver has the headroom for demanding film bass in a large room.
Cons: The 571.5H x 609.6W x 457.2D mm cabinet and 48.5 kg mass make this a serious placement and moving commitment. A sealed cabinet still needs careful placement and calibration to avoid room-mode peaks.
Full Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS30 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 125.2 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 24"W x 18"D (571.5 x 609.6 x 457.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 15" (381mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Manufacturer |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 125.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 125.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 125.2 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons