Are there any aesthetically beautiful subwoofers? (with photos)

[kawauso]

Not exactly a "beautiful" subwoofer in the traditional sense,
but I use the JTR Captivator 2400, and I personally think it looks pretty cool.

 

[Talisman]

Not exactly a "beautiful" subwoofer in the traditional sense,
but I use the JTR Captivator 2400, and I personally think it looks pretty cool.
View attachment 441233

We can all find a subwoofer beautiful, but they are huge black and bulky boxes, the concept of the post is a bit different

 

[VTKZ]

The question is, what is aesthetically beautiful ?
For me its a Cabinet, that looks for example in the color of the wall behind it, with an clean matt finished paint.
I dont like premade subs, specially with electronics inside. So,i would always go the DIY route with normal MDF,
maybe round up the edges, build an flat cabinet and youve an slim looking box. For example with this scanspeak driver on the picture,
you can build cabinets with only 14cm depth. When a short depth + wallpaint finish is not aesthetically, then i dont know.
With an Fabric Cover even more or just turn the sub so the drivers facing to the wall, or what is even better,
build an Bafflewall, place the subwoofer (best way is of course an double bass array) and cover everything with Fabric.

Then use some compact speakers in front of it and when you showcase the system - you get fullrange sound what nobody will expect.


Subwoofer by FM Audio (Germany)

Subwoofer by Speaker Base (Germany)

 

[dagfinn]

JBL B460.

 

[JiiPee]

Sonus Faber Suprema

 

[EJ3]

Nathan’s craftsmanship is one thing, but exposed drivers are IMO the opposite of easy-on-the-eye.



Here are two I designed and had commissioned, with a Nelson thin-edge vibe.

View attachment 436505

View attachment 436504
Both have 85L closed boxes as well as functional space. One currently holds a BMS 18n850 (was built for an Aurasound NS18-992-4a but that died; I have a JBL 2288 and Aurasound MR18.4 to replace the BMS (long story) but I’ve been lazy and honestly there’s nothing wrong with the “humble” BMS. The other has 2 Aurasound NS15-992-4a drivers.

Both of mine are downward firing but still look look like an unexplainable aesthetically black box under the speakers.
This looks wonderful & is a bigger box volume than I have. So much form & function here! Very, Very Nice!

 

[Esprit]

I've always liked the Spacehorn

 

[Behrelec 37]

Genelec. Digital/analog / room correction subwoovers 2. G 7382a.

 

[DanielT]

I think this sub turned out great! It even turned out to be aesthetically beautiful. That alone is a feat to achieve with a subwoofer. Good job @Aijan

Little Big 18" Subwoofer Build

I’ve been building subwoofers for years now, and I’ve always used car audio drivers. However, I recently started building speakers using pro-audio drivers, specifically mid-woofers and horn loaded compression drivers. I love how dynamic and clean-sounding these drivers are, so it was only...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[Rednaxela]

Agree, but for this thread I feel it lacks a grille.

 

[Talisman]

I've always liked the Spacehorn

View attachment 442351View attachment 442352

This would make my wife reevaluate black cubes....

 

[DanielT]

Genelec. Digital/analog / room correction subwoovers 2kpl 7382a.

They are most likely very good. But can you consider those black rectangular boxes created by Genelec to be aesthetically beautiful subwoofers?

Then I might as well say that my ugly black Yamaha cube-shaped subwoofers are beautiful. Not mine, but this is how they look:

 

[Behrelec 37]

DanielT

If you are a smart person, you can be creative, for example, with a beautiful fabric, for example, a curtain fabric in front of/on your Genelec speakers. Creativity is a natural human resource. It should not be left unused, right?


Google Translate is a pretty bad translator. Sorry for the translation errors. So you can also cover the subwoofer with cloth from above and in front.

 

[Shiva]

Infinite Baffle Subwoofer

For those who like a less intrusive aesthetic. Took me a few minutes to find this infinite baffle design on the web.. Saw it years ago and was quite impressed. 4 18” drivers built outside the house..

 

[VTKZ]

Its not the look, its the concept ;-) like this. Double Bass Array Perfection with 18x Drivers in the front. (owner: Follgott - Heimkinoverein Germany).Cant really get better than this in terms of the in room response.

Also nice look : Betonart Audio.
21'' - 110kg - Concrete Cabinets...

 

[Bjorn]

Vera Audio Dual 18.

 

[Werthers]

Funk Audio

nah, they're too small

One advancment i've noticed in subs are their ability to become "invisible" which i'm sure to many is the most aesthetically pleasing. I have a Paradigm sub that can be placed horizontally or vertically so it can easily be hidden under a table or couch and increasingly I see subs that are designed to be hidden this way

I think the only problem with this design is, it's hard to get really high performance from such a sub as they are so limited in size but then with multiples hidden under the couch your wife might enjoy them a little too much and end up divorcing you just so she can keep the subs

 

[MAB]

Infinity IRS

And IRS Beta:

Infinity IRS Beta loudspeaker

In 1966, two avid audiophile/music lovers—a nuclear physicist named Arnold Nudell and an airline pilot named Cary Christie—labored over weekends and evenings for 18 months in Nudell's garage to put together the world's first hybrid electrostatic/dynamic loudspeaker system. It cost them $5000 for...

www.stereophile.com

It may not be everybody's liking, but if you need a statement loudspeaker that actually sounds good...

Braun Atelier with integrated subwoofer and cabinetry:

I like it. Perhaps it would be mistakenly loaded with laundry one afternoon though.

 

[MattHooper]

I’ve long been a Thiel Audio fan, and they always designed their gear with an eye to contemporary styling.

I almost bought some Thiel subwoofers at one point. As subwoofers go, I think these are some of the nicer looking ones. At least they’re trying:

 

[boXem]

LXsub2