Short answer: the REL Acoustics 212 Black Label. It ranks #75 of 143 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $5,999; the Perlisten Audio D15s ranks #99, rated 4.1/5, at $5,995. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the REL Acoustics 212 Black Label: REL’s largest Serie S subwoofer: two 12” CarbonAlloy active drivers and two 12” passive radiators, over 450 square inches of cone area, driven by a 1000W amplifier and reaching 18Hz (-6dB). The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II (118.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands): two active 12” drivers and two passive radiators should add several dB over it.
What the Perlisten Audio D15s does well: The smallest-footprint subwoofer to achieve THX Dominus certification. The tradeoff: Substantial 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) weight and luxury pricing.
Buy the REL Acoustics 212 Black Label. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4 saving on the Perlisten Audio D15s is not enough to make up the difference.
Worth knowing: the REL Acoustics 212 Black Label has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.8 to 4.4, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| REL Acoustics 212 Black Label | Perlisten Audio D15s | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,999.00 | $5,995.00 each |
| Ranked | #75 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) Estimated | #99 of 143 in Large Home Subwoofers (Over 75 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 33.1”H x 14.3”W x 20.6”D (840 x 362 x 523 mm) | 20.8”H x 19.7”W x 19.7”D (528.0 x 500.0 x 500.0 mm) |
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| Warranty | 3 | 5 |
| Enclosure | passive radiator | sealed |
| Drivers | 2 x 12” CarbonAlloy drivers, 2 x 12” passive radiators | 15” (381mm) carbon fiber driver |
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS | 1500W RMS |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz -6dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Weight | 134 lbs (60.8 kg) | 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | - | 118.3 dB |
| Cabinet Color | - | piano black, piano white |
| Inputs | - | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | - | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 92.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 103.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | - | 107.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | - | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | - | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | - | 119.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 120.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to REL Acoustics 212 Black Label:
- PSB SubSeries BP12 vs REL Acoustics 212 Black Label
- REL Acoustics 212 Black Label vs MartinLogan Depth 212
- MartinLogan Depth 212 vs Perlisten Audio D15s
- Perlisten Audio D15s vs Perlisten Audio D12s
- 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
REL Acoustics 212 Black Label: $5,999.00 Estimated Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the REL Acoustics S/550 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.5/5), the REL Acoustics S/850 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.7/5) and the REL Acoustics Carbon Special Black Label (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.9/5). See every REL S and Reference Series generation.
Pros: REL’s largest Serie S subwoofer: two 12” CarbonAlloy active drivers and two 12” passive radiators, over 450 square inches of cone area, driven by a 1000W amplifier and reaching 18Hz (-6dB).
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II (118.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands): two active 12” drivers and two passive radiators should add several dB over it. It weighs 61kg.
Full REL Acoustics 212 Black Label review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 33.1”H x 14.3”W x 20.6”D (840 x 362 x 523 mm) |
| Drivers | 2 x 12” CarbonAlloy drivers, 2 x 12” passive radiators |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz -6dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 134 lbs (60.8 kg) |
- 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
Perlisten Audio D15s: $5,995.00 each Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the Perlisten Audio D12s (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 4/5), the Perlisten Audio D212s (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5) and the Perlisten Audio D215s (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: The smallest-footprint subwoofer to achieve THX Dominus certification. Massive 15-inch carbon fiber cone driven by a 1.5 kW smart amplifier in an inert sealed cabinet, delivering lightning-fast transient grip, 10-band parametric EQ, and touchscreen control.
Cons: Substantial 45.6 kg weight and luxury pricing. Being a sealed enclosure, single-digit infra-sub output rolls off naturally without room gain compared to enormous ported theater subs.
Full Perlisten Audio D15s review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 118.3 dB |
| Cabinet Color | piano black, piano white |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 20.8”H x 19.7”W x 19.7”D (528.0 x 500.0 x 500.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) carbon fiber driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 92.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 98.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 103.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 107.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 117.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 120.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 121.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 122.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 100.5 lbs (45.6 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons