Where subwoofers are manufactured
Rythmik is assembled in the US. Zu subwoofer enclosures are manufactured here, but the drivers and amps are likely produced overseas. Also check out Seaton Sound, Salk (Rythmik driver and amp, US made enclosure). Finally, Tyler Acoustics builds in the US and may use domestically manufactured drivers. |
Yes China! Take a look at the rear of this REL! All the newer models have been made in China for years! https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RLT9I |
JL is a good value. I know it is weird to say but if you want made in the West, US or Europe, their pricing is excellent. Any sub that is under $1000 is almost assuredly made in the Far East. The COGS on these things are brutal if you can even find US or European made parts. I set out with the mission of producing speakers and subs that are made in the USA at competitive prices. No possible. You can’t source all the parts from US companies. So expanded to Western Europe. With my speakers I am really close. The only part that might not be made in the West is the inductors I use in the shunts of my crossovers. My primary inductors are German or Canadian. Caps from the UK or Canada. For the stands, spike are a problem. Those are from China. Otherwise my stands are made in NJ and IsoAcoustics stuff is made in Canada. Subs are a problem though. They are simple. Cabinet, driver, amp & DSP, wire and feet (depending on manufacturer). The amp is the challenge here. Then you have your amps. I opted for SpeakerPower, ICE driven amps and they are at least designed and assembled in the US but you know that the core of it has to be made in China. SpeakerPower amps are 2x as expensive as made in China amps. I can’t produce an MDF sub with these components for less than $3K at retail going direct. Fiberglass or Carbon Fiber Cabinet I can’t do for less than $6K. And i have a basic DSP that is factory set and not consumer modifiable, nothing like what JL uses. Of course, material costs for the the composite cabinets are 80x more expensive while labor is similar. My prototype sounds tremendous. People at AXPONA though it was great but for $6K???? Yikes!!! Just buy a JL. |
http://www.paradigm.com/en/ported/defiance-x12 All Paradigm Subs starting with the Defiance X10 and above are made in Canada. Starting with the X12, the amps for the subs are made in Canada. From $400-$700 the Defiance V-Series is made in China. Starting at $550 the V10 and above and the entire Defiance Series Subs offers Anthem Room Correction and full App Control with wireless capability. |
The OP didn’t ask about value, he asked who manufactures in the US. I have a background in economics. I fully appreciate that I can get better value by purchasing from overseas companies, but I am often willing to pay a reasonable premium to purchase from US based companies because it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. |
Pretty much all your electronics in your home are made overseas. Usually the design, engineering and assembly process is regulated by the US company. These companies have people usually living overseas or at least visit often to check QC, in a lot of cases the plant GM is a US person, the general labor is local. Not sure that makes anyone feel better about buying something assembled in China but most products are this way. The guts of amps (wires, PSU, boards, IC or such) are made overseas.........Like verdantaudio details, unless you want to pay dbl or triple or more, companies will continue to use SE Asia assembly plants. |
Just to report back, I decided to buy a pair of Rythmik Audio F8's, which I began setting up last evening, perched on a pair of Auralex Subdude II's to limit vibrations in my basement. These subs were assembled in Austin, Texas, and while I'm sure that they contain components from beyond North America, at least my dollars were spent on some American labor in the process. Now, I have to figure out the best solution to a wiring issue, which means a new forum thread. Thanks to all who replied earlier for sharing your tips and leads on subwoofer manufacuturers and assemblers in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. |
Excellent choicer, @conlad! More important that where a sub woofer (or any component, for that matter) is manufactured (or assembled), is who designed it. Brian Ding of Rythmik is a very smart guy (PhD in physics, I believe) and subwoofer designer, and his subs really good. Sealed, Ported, Open Baffle. 8", 12", 15", 18" woofers, all with his own servo-feedback system. Even better than the servo woofers in the Infinity RS-1b I owned for a few years. The Rythmik woofers themselves are manufactured by TC Sounds, by the guy (I have forgotten his name) who designed and made the legendary LMS woofer ALL the monster sub DIY’ers were using when that $1,000 driver was aviailable. Very high quality woofers. Jim Salk likes the Rythmik subs so much he offers them built in to some of his speaker models. Jim also builds really nice enclosures into which he installs the DIY kit version of the 12" and 15" Rythmiks, those enclosures having the most incredible bracing I’ve ever seen. It looks like the honeycomb pattern seen in beehives! Beautiful real wood veneers too. |