Short answer: the Onkyo SKW-204. It ranks #3 of 48 subwoofers by sound quality at $299; the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II ranks #9 and costs $499, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II offers: 12-inch sealed driver reaches 111.1dB CEA-2010-A average, second only to the pricier SVS SB-1000 PRO among compact subwoofers. Sealed cabinet suits smaller rooms without a large footprint. Watch for: Small sealed driver limits extension below 20 Hz and 9.5 kg compact size.
What the Onkyo SKW-204 offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 77.3 dB at 20 Hz and 115.9 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, front enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music. 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. The 472.9H x 274.6W x 428.5D mm cabinet and 11.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration.
Buy the Onkyo SKW-204. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II | Onkyo SKW-204 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 Discontinued | $299 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #3 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | sealed | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 95.2 dB | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 100.1 dB | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 105.0 dB | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 109.7 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.8 dB | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.0 dB | 119.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.0 dB | 121.4 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.1 dB | 115.9 dB |
| Dimensions | 14.7"H x 14.2"W x 16.4"D (374.6 x 361.9 x 415.8 mm) | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| Country | United States | Japan |
| Measurement Source | Ilkka Rissanen | Brent Butterworth |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Cabinet Color | - | black |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Onkyo SKW-204:
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- SVS SB-1000 PRO vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS 3000 Micro vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Polk Audio PSW10
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
Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II: $499 Discontinued eBay
Pros: 12-inch sealed driver reaches 111.1dB CEA-2010-A average, second only to the pricier SVS SB-1000 PRO among compact subwoofers. Sealed cabinet suits smaller rooms without a large footprint.
Cons: Small sealed driver limits extension below 20 Hz and 9.5 kg compact size. Discontinued.
Full Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.1 dB |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 14.7"H x 14.2"W x 16.4"D (374.6 x 361.9 x 415.8 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Ilkka Rissanen |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 95.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 100.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 105.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 109.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.0 dB |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Ilkka Rissanen; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS 3000 Micro
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Polk Audio PSW10
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs SVS SB-1000
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Monoprice Premium Select 8in 200-Watt
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Paradigm Defiance V12
Onkyo SKW-204: $299 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 77.3 dB at 20 Hz and 115.9 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, front enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: 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. The 472.9H x 274.6W x 428.5D mm cabinet and 11.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Full Onkyo SKW-204 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 115.9 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | Japan |
| Dimensions | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.4 dB |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS 3000 Micro
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Polk Audio PSW10
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 700w
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs ELAC IW-S10EQ in-wall
- See all 10 comparisons