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Zorba1446 5.7K Views
Aug 24, 2026 8:15 PM

Emotiva XS12e 300 watt 12" ported subwoofer, $399 shipped

$399

$699

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Emotiva
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Emotiva's specs claim 28Hz F3, which means you won't get the wall-rattling subsonics of a $800 sub but otherwise it's pretty good if true. (Our resident SVS salesmen will disagree of course. 😆)

https://emotiva.com/products/airm...-subwoofer
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Emotiva's specs claim 28Hz F3, which means you won't get the wall-rattling subsonics of a $800 sub but otherwise it's pretty good if true. (Our resident SVS salesmen will disagree of course. 😆)

https://emotiva.com/products/airm...-subwoofer

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Aug 24, 2026 8:40 PM
13.2K Comments
Joined Jul 2010
supermanrobAug 24, 2026 8:40 PM
13.2K Comments
You're better off going with the RSL10e.
People claim it's embarrassingly close to $1300+ subs so it should destroy this.

Great thing, it's less expensive, $339 right now!
If you're in no hurry, you can keep in eye at their Encore store and save like another $40+ more.
https://rslspeakers.com/pages/lan...1787603651
1
6
Aug 24, 2026 9:48 PM
139 Comments
Joined Apr 2006
WaDesiAug 24, 2026 9:48 PM
139 Comments
Quote from supermanrob View quoted comment :
You're better off going with the RSL10e.
People claim it's embarrassingly close to $1300+ subs so it should destroy this.

Great thing, it's less expensive, $339 right now!
If you're in no hurry, you can keep in eye at their Encore store and save like another $40+ more.
https://rslspeakers.com/pages/lan...1787603651
Only way to compare is to look at the CEA 2010 data for both subs. The data is available for all RSL subs but not for the new Emotiva. Hopefully we get some professional reviews on it to be able to objectively compare.
1
Aug 24, 2026 10:53 PM
13.2K Comments
Joined Jul 2010
supermanrobAug 24, 2026 10:53 PM
13.2K Comments
Quote from WaDesi View quoted comment :
Only way to compare is to look at the CEA 2010 data for both subs. The data is available for all RSL subs but not for the new Emotiva. Hopefully we get some professional reviews on it to be able to objectively compare.
If your main priority is objective measurements, yes CEA measurements is the only way.

For me, the only way to compare(most accurate) is within my own setup/system, for obvious reasons.

As you pointed out, people call on "reviews" also for a reason.
Most credible professional reviewers will advise everyone that their results are their own and yours will be different(for the same obvious reasons).

There are always different priorities/expectation & trade offs to consider.
3
Aug 24, 2026 10:55 PM
824 Comments
Joined Oct 2020
realmccoy12406Aug 24, 2026 10:55 PM
824 Comments
Quote from supermanrob View quoted comment :
You're better off going with the RSL10e.People claim it's embarrassingly close to $1300+ subs so it should destroy this. Great thing, it's less expensive, $339 right now! If you're in no hurry, you can keep in eye at their Encore store and save like another $40+ more. https://rslspeakers.com/pages/lan...1787603651
Agreed. I love Emotiva, but my RSL 10e still amazes me after 2 years.
Aug 24, 2026 11:13 PM
887 Comments
Joined May 2010
sirdan357Aug 24, 2026 11:13 PM
887 Comments
Emotiva used to have a couple cool looking mid-tier subs that they unfortunately discontinued. Now they just have this entry level model and the way overpriced Nostala sub.
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Aug 24, 2026 11:26 PM
1.5K Comments
Joined Sep 2018
Zorba1446Aug 24, 2026 11:26 PM
Original Poster
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Quote from sirdan357 View quoted comment :
Emotiva used to have a couple cool looking mid-tier subs that they unfortunately discontinued. Now they just have this entry level model and the way overpriced Nostala sub.
Yeah I don't know wtf they were even thinking with those stupid Nostala models. They make great products sometimes, but sometimes just do stupid af things for no apparent reason.
1
Original Poster
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Aug 25, 2026 12:17 AM
1.5K Comments
Joined Sep 2018
Zorba1446Aug 25, 2026 12:17 AM
Original Poster
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Quote from realmccoy12406 View quoted comment :
Agreed. I love Emotiva, but my RSL 10e still amazes me after 2 years.
Good for you---some of the SVS shills on here occasionally like to spread rumors that the 10e has had "amp failure issues" but that's only because it's such an outstanding value proposition compared to SVS's overpriced but under-performing entry level models, especially their dinky little sealed subs.
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Aug 25, 2026 1:14 AM
312 Comments
Joined Feb 2017
rooxAug 25, 2026 1:14 AM
312 Comments
Quote from Zorba1446 View quoted comment :
Good for you---some of the SVS shills on here occasionally like to spread rumors that the 10e has had "amp failure issues" but that's only because it's such an outstanding value proposition compared to SVS's overpriced but under-performing entry level models, especially their dinky little sealed subs.
I had an amp failure on my 12s... But it was easily sorted in line 2 days. And it is pretty awesome.

But yeah, there have been a number of rsl amps failing from what I saw when I was sitting my issue out.
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Aug 25, 2026 2:00 AM
1.5K Comments
Joined Sep 2018
Zorba1446Aug 25, 2026 2:00 AM
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Quote from roox View quoted comment :
I had an amp failure on my 12s... But it was easily sorted in line 2 days. And it is pretty awesome.

But yeah, there have been a number of rsl amps failing from what I saw when I was sitting my issue out.
Yeah, pretty much any electronic product is going to have a certain % of duds...the only subs where the complaints seem to come really often and consistently are the older pre-RP Klipsch subs. But really any of these small sub specialist companies like RSL, Hsu, Rythmik, PSA, etc. are known to stand behind their products and provide top notch service after the sale. RSL just seems to dominate the under-$1K sub market, especially the $500 and under range, and they do get a lot of cheap shots from competitors' shills/salesmen on SD who bend over backwards to find fault in them. The "oh but gosh make sure you have enough space because they're so BIGGGGG" claim, especially when applied even to the 10" models, is hilarious.
1
Aug 25, 2026 1:12 PM
13.2K Comments
Joined Jul 2010
supermanrobAug 25, 2026 1:12 PM
13.2K Comments
Quote from realmccoy12406 View quoted comment :
Agreed. I love Emotiva, but my RSL 10e still amazes me after 2 years.
Not surprised, on a budget it can provide pretty satisfying performance.

I get the amazement, I went dual SB 3000R(not SB 3000 LOL).
Same footprint as the 10e with comparable(imo overall better) performance of their 12s in real world use!
Last edited by supermanrob August 29, 2026 at 05:17 AM.
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