Pioneer TS-SW301
The 12" TS-SW301 shallow subwoofer is less than 3.5" deep and requires an extremely small enclosure. Pioneer's unique control system seals air into a pocket between a front and rear cone, creating an "air suspension system" that requires less enclosure volume to control the speaker cone. additional features include c-type-shaped reinforced nodes, m-shaped three-layer fiber woven radial surround and immP cone. Best of all, they're affordable at $160. www.pioneerelectronics.com
Kenwood Excelon X-Series
With a depth of only 4", Kenwood's X-series shallow subs feature high-quality components such as a lightweight, ultra-rigid, carbon glass fiber honeycomb cone and cast-aluminum basket with built-in speaker terminals. They also use a smooth linear rubber surround and super-linear spider to minimize distortion and a counter-drive magnetic circuit for maximum output and clear sound. a welcome addition to the understated eXcelon brand. www.kenwoodusa.com
Realm lFT 12-D4F
The new kids on the block, realm, wasted no time in getting with the shallow woofer program. designed to fit virtually anywhere, the lFT12-d4F subwoofer is ideal for installations underneath or behind a seat or in a small trunk. less than half the depth of a typical subwoofer, the lFT12-d4F has a mounting depth of only 2.87" and handles 600 watts max and 300 watts rmS power through dual 4-ohm voice coils. it's optimized for modest-sized enclosures without sacrificing low extension to ensure flawless output. mSrP is $299.99 www.realm-audio.com
Slim Subs
MTX Thunder Thin
Until now, shallow subwoofers have been designed to fill the need of a subwoofer in a limited-depth environment, but couldn't provide the low-end response of a conventional subwoofer due to limited excursion capabilities. mTX's Thunder Thin series of subwoofers have been designed to respond and perform as a conventional subwoofer by providing true bass response and high output. The TT 10" and 12" drivers are compact at only 3.325" and available in 2 or 4-ohm varieties. www.mtx.com
Memphis S-Class
With a mounting depth of less than 3", the S-class subwoofers are perfect for application-driven installations. Their single piece composite cone/dust cap uses a stiff aluminum honeycomb core for ultimate rigidity under high excursion. a patent-pending voice coil lock and aluminum heatsink that joins with the spider ensure maximum sound quality and power performance. it's available in both 10" and 12" sizes. www.memphiscaraudio.com
JL audio TW5
We were excited last year when we saw them and doubly excited this year when we learned they were finally available. The TW5 woofer technology compresses the architecture of a standard Jl audio woofer to make it seriously thin. central to the technology is the "concentric tube" structure that supports the voice coil and suspension attachments. This permits placing the motor of the woofer much further forward in the speaker than with conventional designs, while maintaining excellent linear excursion capability. TW5 designs are also optimized for extremely small enclosures and high-power handling. www.jlaudio.com