Short answer: the Paradigm XR11. It ranks #22 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $3,999.99; the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D ranks #44, rated 3.9/5, and costs $5,800, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Paradigm XR11: 11-inch ultra-high-excursion CARBON-X driver with ART surround in an ultra-rigid sealed cabinet, driven by an immense 1,100W RMS / 2,200W peak Class D amplifier. The catch: High investment cost.
What the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D does well: Dual-opposed 10-inch Aerofoil drive units identical to those in the flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers, driven by 1,000 watts of Class D amplification. The catch: Substantial price point for a dual 10-inch system.
Buy the Paradigm XR11. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Paradigm XR11 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.9 to 4.3, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Paradigm XR11 | Bowers & Wilkins DB2D | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,999.99 | $5,800.00 each |
| Ranked | #22 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated | #44 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Country | Canada | United Kingdom |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Drivers | 11” (279mm) ultra-high-excursion CARBON-X unibody driver with ART surround | 2x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil drivers |
| Amplifier Power | 1,100W RMS / 2,200W dynamic peak (Class D) | 1000W RMS |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 140Hz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 16.2”H x 15.3”W x 16.9”D (412 x 388 x 429 mm) | 16.9”H x 14.8”W x 14.2”D (430.0 x 377.0 x 360.0 mm) |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs (29.0 kg) | 76.1 lbs (34.5 kg) |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 115.7 dB |
| Cabinet Color | - | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Inputs | - | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | - | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 91.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 98.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | - | 103.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | - | 113.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | - | 115.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | - | 116.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 117.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 118.0 dB |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Paradigm XR11:
- Paradigm XR11 vs Perlisten R210s
- Paradigm XR11 vs Sigberg Audio 10D
- Paradigm XR11 vs REL Acoustics S/850
- Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs Sigberg Audio 10D
- Perlisten R210s vs Bowers & Wilkins DB2D
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 XR11: $3,999.99 Estimated Paradigm eBay
Same family: the Paradigm XR13 (larger subwoofer, estimated 4.3/5).
Pros: 11-inch ultra-high-excursion CARBON-X driver with ART surround in an ultra-rigid sealed cabinet, driven by an immense 1,100W RMS / 2,200W peak Class D amplifier. Advanced Anthem Room Correction (ARC Genesis) delivers clean reference bass down to 20Hz.
Cons: High investment cost. Sealed alignment trades ultimate 16Hz output headroom compared to larger 13-inch and 15-inch flagship subwoofers.
Full Paradigm XR11 review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1,100W RMS / 2,200W dynamic peak (Class D) |
| Country | Canada |
| Dimensions | 16.2”H x 15.3”W x 16.9”D (412 x 388 x 429 mm) |
| Drivers | 11” (279mm) ultra-high-excursion CARBON-X unibody driver with ART surround |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 140Hz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 63.9 lbs (29.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bowers & Wilkins DB2D: $5,800.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D (larger subwoofer, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: Dual-opposed 10-inch Aerofoil drive units identical to those in the flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers, driven by 1,000 watts of Class D amplification. Completely inertia-balanced cabinet delivers clean, highly musical low end with app-based parametric EQ and digital room correction.
Cons: Substantial price point for a dual 10-inch system. Maximum SPL drops below 25Hz compared to larger 12-inch or 15-inch subwoofers.
Full Bowers & Wilkins DB2D review and specifications →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 115.7 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 16.9”H x 14.8”W x 14.2”D (430.0 x 377.0 x 360.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil drivers |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 91.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 98.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 103.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 108.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 113.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 115.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 116.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 117.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 118.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 76.1 lbs (34.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons