Short answer: the Paradigm Persona SUB. It ranks #81 of 143 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $7,499.99. The Bowers & Wilkins DB1D ranks #101, rated 4.1/5, at $7,200, $299.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Paradigm Persona SUB: Six 8” woofers in a sealed hexagonal cabinet with a 1700W amplifier and Anthem Room Correction. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D: Flagship dual-opposed 12-inch Aerofoil drivers powered by 2,000 watts of dedicated Hypex Class D amplification. The catch: Flagship pricing represents a substantial investment.
Buy the Paradigm Persona SUB. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $299.99 saving on the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D is not enough to make up the difference.
About the ratings: the Paradigm Persona SUB’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.9 to 4.5, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Paradigm Persona SUB | Bowers & Wilkins DB1D | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,499.99 each | $7,200.00 each |
| Ranked | #81 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) Estimated | #101 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Country | Canada | United Kingdom |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Drivers | 6x 8” X-PAL woofers | 2x 12” (305mm) Aerofoil drivers |
| Frequency Response | 19Hz - 220Hz (±2dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 15Hz (manufacturer specified, ±3dB 15Hz - 235Hz) | - |
| Dimensions | 20.7”H x 20.2”W x 18.9”D (525 x 512 x 480 mm) | 18.1”H x 16.9”W x 16.1”D (460.0 x 429.0 x 410.0 mm) |
| Weight | 118.2 lbs (53.6 kg) | 94.8 lbs (43.0 kg) |
| Enclosure | Sealed (acoustic suspension), hexagonal vibration-canceling | sealed |
| Inputs | RCA and XLR | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 2000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 120.0 dB |
| Cabinet Color | - | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Measurement Source | - | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 103.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | - | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 113.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | - | 117.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | - | 119.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | - | 121.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 121.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 121.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Paradigm Persona SUB compares with other leading options:
- Paradigm Persona SUB vs Perlisten Audio D212s
- Paradigm Persona SUB vs PSB SubSeries BP12
- Perlisten Audio D212s vs Bowers & Wilkins DB1D
- PSB SubSeries BP12 vs Bowers & Wilkins DB1D
- Bowers & Wilkins DB1D vs Perlisten Audio D15s
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Paradigm Persona SUB: $7,499.99 each Estimated Paradigm eBay
Same family: the Paradigm Persona B (bookshelf, estimated 4.1/5), the Paradigm Persona 3F (smallest floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Paradigm Persona 5F (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5), the Paradigm Persona 7F (floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5), the Paradigm Persona 9H (largest floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5) and the Paradigm Persona C (center, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: Six 8” woofers in a sealed hexagonal cabinet with a 1700W amplifier and Anthem Room Correction. Sound & Vision measured bass to 22Hz (-3dB).
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers. At 53.6 kg it is heavy.
Full Paradigm Persona SUB review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 15Hz (manufacturer specified, ±3dB 15Hz - 235Hz) |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Dimensions | 20.7”H x 20.2”W x 18.9”D (525 x 512 x 480 mm) |
| Drivers | 6x 8” X-PAL woofers |
| Enclosure | Sealed (acoustic suspension), hexagonal vibration-canceling |
| Frequency Response | 19Hz - 220Hz (±2dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | RCA and XLR |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 118.2 lbs (53.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bowers & Wilkins DB1D: $7,200.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.8/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Flagship dual-opposed 12-inch Aerofoil drivers powered by 2,000 watts of dedicated Hypex Class D amplification. Opposing driver reaction forces cancel cabinet resonances entirely, producing pristine, tight, distortion-free bass reaching over 120 dB in mid-bass and 103.8 dB at 20 Hz. Includes app-based automated room acoustic correction and balanced XLR connectivity.
Cons: Flagship pricing represents a substantial investment. The sealed, compact cabinet relies heavily on its 2 kW amplifier to achieve deep bass and does not produce the extreme sub-15Hz output of massive vented subs.
Full Bowers & Wilkins DB1D review and specifications →
| Released | May 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 2000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 120.0 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 16.9”W x 16.1”D (460.0 x 429.0 x 410.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 12” (305mm) Aerofoil drivers |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 103.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 113.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 117.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 121.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 121.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 94.8 lbs (43.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons