JBL S120P II ($699)

What's in the Box? • Driver size 12 inches • Rated power 400 watts • Cabinet design ported • Finish black woodgrain • Controls variable 50- to 150-Hz low-pass crossover, level, auto-on, phase switch • Ins & outs LFE and line- and speaker-level inputs, speaker-level output with 150-Hz high-pass filter • Warranty 5 years speaker, 1 year electronics

How Big Is It? • Dimensions (WxHxD) 16 1/4 x 17 1/4 x 19 1/8 inches • Volume 3 1/8 cubic feet • Footprint 2 square feet • Weight 60 1/2 pounds

How Low Does It Go? • Bass limit 20 Hz at 76 dB

How Big the Bang? • Average SPL from 25 to 62 Hz 105 dB • Maximum SPL 112 dB at 50 Hz • Dollars per dB $6.66

What About Setup? I measured the crossover range as only 65 to 80 Hz, so you'll need main speakers with solid bass capability for a smooth blend.

How Does It Sound? The S120P II delivered strong bass - better than 107 dB at frequencies above 32 Hz - but it couldn't play loud enough at the lowest frequencies to provide a strong sense of envelopment and thunder.

The Bottom Line A nicely styled, high-performance sub at an even nicer price.

Manufacturer JBL, www.jbl.com, 516-496-3400 PDF: In the Lab