JL Audio Fathom f112 Subwoofer Reviewed

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HTR Product Rating

Performance
5 Stars
Value
4 Stars
Overall
4.5 Stars

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jl-audio-fathom-f112.jpgJL Audio, a leader in car audio products, has made a bold, high-end statement in the audiophile and home theater market with a number of very high-performance and high-dollar subwoofers that are designed to quite simply rock your world.  The JL Audio Fathom f112 is a $2,200 ($2,400 with a gloss black finish) subwoofer that packs a 12-inch driver and a whopping 1500 watts of power.  It weights over 115 pounds, which is absurd, considering this isn't the largest subwoofer you have ever seen.  Amazingly, it is about half of the weight of its bigger brother, the Gotham.  Overall, all of JL Audio's subs are built to unbelievable tolerances.

Additional Resources
• Read audiophile subwoofer reviews from the likes of B&W, Paradigm, Sunfire and others.
• Read a review of the JL Audio Gotham Subwoofer.

The JL Audio Fathom f112's controls are somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day Marshall guitar, amp including a one-quarter-inch jack for the setup mic used for the room correction on the woofer.  These DSP-based EQ systems have gotten very sophisticated these days and, within minutes, the average consumer has a chance to elicit room-optimized sound from his or her woofer without a degree in acoustics or $50,000 in test equipment.

The driver on the JL Audio Fathom f112 is a modern marvel.  It has an astonishing three-inch excursion and can rock you to your soul.  The measured response of the woofer is to a low but not subsonic level of 24 Hz, but the effect seems lower when you listen to the woofer.

Read about the high points and the low points of the Fathom f112 on Page 2.
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  • Comment on this article

  • By greg

This is a major achievement for a company that is known for car audio products. A total departure from home audio. It says a lot for JL that at their first attempt, they were highly successful.

I must assume this sub is for large rooms and media situations. For the question is., do you need a subwoofer like this in your home, probably not, but would we like one, YES!!!

you need TWO if you are a REAL man.

These are not car audio crap. These subs are VERY nicely made and VERY powerful.

  • By David

I have two of these set in a mono config. and the power and slam on these is just mind boggling. The whole house shakes when the cannons are firing in the Master and Commander blu-ray, and any other decent soundtrack you care to name. I do not even have lossless audio yet!

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