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• We’ve replaced our also-great pick, the SVS SB-1000, with its successor, the SVS SB-1000 Pro. We’ve also added a new section on sustainability and some recent introductions to What to look forward to.

September 30, 2021

A home audio system without a good subwoofer is like a rock band without a bass player: It just never sounds right. When you’re ready to step up from a budget subwoofer, we recommend the Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S. Even when we pitted it against much more expensive models, it emerged as the top pick in our listening tests, and its measured performance was excellent for a model at this price.

• We test subwoofers with an expert listening panel, and we conceal the identities of the subwoofers to eliminate bias.

• We conduct CTA-2010 output measurements of all subwoofers to obtain an objective comparison of their capabilities.

• Big subwoofers tend to sound better and play louder, but they take up a lot of space. We’ve included picks of all sizes.

• We limited our testing to subwoofers in the $300 to $800 price range to keep the number of competitors manageable.

Our pick

Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S

The Speedwoofer 10S offers an ideal blend of bass power and finesse in a compact and affordable package.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $430.

The Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S 10-inch subwoofer is a refreshing surprise for those who think subwoofers are nothing but big, ugly boom machines. It sounds great with both music and movies. Despite being half the price of the most expensive model we tested, the Speedwoofer 10S delivered a clear, precise, full sound that made it the favorite in our brand-concealed listening tests, and it has more deep-bass output than the best budget (and some not-so-budget) subwoofers we’ve tried. Yet at 16 by 15 by 16¾ inches (HWD), it’s still compact enough to fit unobtrusively into most rooms or even under some end tables. Note that it’s sold only through the Rogersound Labs website.

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Runner-up

Polk Audio HTS 10

This subwoofer combines good performance with a more attractive design than you get from many subwoofers at this price.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $400.

The Polk Audio HTS 10 ranked second in our brand-concealed listening tests. Although its deep-bass output was only about half as loud as that of the Speedwoofer 10S, our panelists concluded that this 10-inch subwoofer’s satisfying, full sound made it good for music and great for home theater. It’s reasonably compact at 16⅝ by 15⅛ by 16⅛ inches (HWD), and its radiused edges and corner-cut grille give it more style than most other subs can muster. Plus, the HTS 10 is available through more retailers than the Speedwoofer 10S, if that matters to you.

Upgrade pick

Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5

The VTF-2 MK5 is large and powerful, and it offers more tuning options for you to tailor the sound to your taste and room.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $610.

For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles, the Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5 12-inch subwoofer is the stuff of dreams. For those who crave a beautiful living room, however, it may be the stuff of nightmares, as its bulky, 15-by-21-by-22-inch (HWD) physique and basic-black-box design certainly conform to subwoofer stereotypes. In our tests, on average the VTF-2 MK5 played 50% louder across the entire measurement range than the Speedwoofer 10S, and our panelists were impressed with its ability to shake their listening chair. The more discerning movie or music fan will appreciate the inclusion of tuning modes that optimize this subwoofer’s sound to taste. Like the Speedwoofer 10S, this model is sold only through the manufacturer’s website.

Also great

SVS SB-1000 Pro

If you need high performance but don’t have space for a big subwoofer, the SB-1000 Pro is a great choice.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $500.

The SVS SB-1000 Pro is a great choice for people who live in small spaces or who are averse to cluttering their living room floor, as well as for audiophiles who want to dial in their bass to perfection. Measuring 13½ by 13 by 13¾ inches (HWD), this subwoofer is compact enough to hide under many end tables, yet in our tests it actually exceeded the performance of some larger subs we evaluated. It costs more than the Rogersound sub and doesn’t deliver as much deep bass, but it includes a smartphone app with an equalizer that lets you adjust the sound so that it’s smoother and more natural. This sub’s 12-inch woofer delivers punchy, well-defined bass that is better for music than for action movies, but it’ll do a respectable job with anything you play through it.

Our pick

Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S

The Speedwoofer 10S offers an ideal blend of bass power and finesse in a compact and affordable package.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $430.

Runner-up

Polk Audio HTS 10

This subwoofer combines good performance with a more attractive design than you get from many subwoofers at this price.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $400.

Upgrade pick

Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5

The VTF-2 MK5 is large and powerful, and it offers more tuning options for you to tailor the sound to your taste and room.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $610.

Also great

SVS SB-1000 Pro

If you need high performance but don’t have space for a big subwoofer, the SB-1000 Pro is a great choice.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $500.

I’ve been reviewing subwoofers since 1991, when only a few were available. Since then, I’ve probably reviewed more home-audio subwoofers than anyone in the world, for magazines including Sound & Vision and Home Theater as well as for websites such as Home Theater Review, SoundStage, and Lifewire. I’m the most active advocate of the CTA-2010 subwoofer measurement standard, and I wrote an online manual for it. I have conducted at least eight multiple-listener subwoofer comparison tests to date, so my statements are guided by the opinions of many listeners, not just my own. This page on my website provides a more extensive list of my audio credentials.

More so, as an upright bass player who records and plays several gigs a month with Take2, Tonic Trio, Green Street Jazz Quartet, White Chocolate Martini, and other groups in the Los Angeles area, I have a good understanding of what bass and drums sound like—so with jazz and rock recordings, at least, I have a pretty good sense of when a subwoofer is getting the sound wrong.

I had help on this guide from three other listeners. First is Wirecutter senior staff writer and headphone editor Lauren Dragan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, has spent several years in terrestrial radio, currently works as a professional voice actor in Los Angeles, and has helped me with countless brand-concealed listening tests for Wirecutter and Sound & Vision. Second is Dan Gonda, who plays saxophone in more jazz, R&B, and rock bands than he can count. And finally, saxophonist Ron Cyger also plays in many Los Angeles–area bands, has appeared on several jazz recordings, and is a longtime headphone enthusiast.

A subwoofer is a speaker dedicated purely to reproducing bass—the deep, couch-shaking tones of kick drums, bass guitars, and synthesizers, as well as explosions and crashes in movies and TV shows. A subwoofer adds extra bass (and, potentially, a higher maximum volume) to an existing set of speakers. Bass is important because it’s what makes you tap your feet or bob your head when music is playing—without it, most music doesn’t seem realistic. There’s no denying that most listeners love having a decent (or even indecent) amount of bass; as a scientist with decades of experience in brand-concealed audio-product comparisons once told me, “Bass wins.”

However, many people have a bad impression of subwoofers because they can make a boomy, annoying sound if improperly positioned and adjusted. Proper setup, as I describe in this blog post, is important and can help any subwoofer perform its best. Still, there are limits to the performance of any entry-level subwoofer, such as the models in our best budget subwoofer guide. A subwoofer designed for high performance rather than a low price is likely to sound clearer and more precise when reproducing music, and it shouldn’t distort or boom when reproducing movie soundtracks. Anyone who is serious about sound quality—and especially anyone who prefers hip-hop, heavy rock, or action movies—will be happy they bought a high-performance subwoofer rather than a budget model. Companies have ways to make great speakers for cheap, but they can’t make a great subwoofer for cheap. Subwoofers are like power tools, where an increase in power almost always costs substantially more but almost always results in noticeably better performance.

Note that subwoofers are far more affected by room acoustics than other speakers are: The shape and size of a room, and the positions of the subwoofer and the listening chair or couch, may emphasize certain bass tones and cancel others. Many audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts combat this phenomenon by using two or four subwoofers, which makes the bass sound more even as you move from seat to seat. If you care about whether your system delivers quality sound across several seats in your room, it may be a better idea to buy two relatively inexpensive subwoofers than to upgrade to a more expensive single subwoofer—but as I found when I compared one-, two- and four-subwoofer systems, a single, more powerful subwoofer can be a better choice when you have only one or two listeners.

Based on our experience in producing our best budget subwoofer guide, we settled on a few criteria for the subwoofers we would consider for this test:

• Price: Because the price ceiling of our best budget subwoofer guide was $300, we decided to make that the minimum price for the models in this guide, with the understanding that prices fluctuate. We set $800 as a maximum, figuring that would allow us to call in major models from most of the leading brands while still providing a manageable number of subwoofers to evaluate. With this price cap, we’re not suggesting that subwoofers costing more than $800 aren’t worth the investment—in my experience, many are—but there’s a practical limit to how many of these bulky, heavy devices we can pack into a single guide.
• Size: Because these are step-up models, they’re all capable of delivering at least a useful amount of bass, so we didn’t set a minimum woofer size. Neither did we set a maximum, figuring that many people in search of higher performance would be happy to accommodate a larger subwoofer.
• Inputs: Because these subwoofers are most likely to be used with home theater systems rather than stereo systems, we didn’t require that they have speaker-level connections, as we did with the models we considered for our budget subwoofer guide. However, most models do offer both speaker- and line-level connections, which allows them to connect to practically any type of audio system. See our blog post on subwoofer setup for more information on these connection types.
• Woofer loading (sealed, ported, or passive radiator): You can find three basic types of subwoofers: those with a sealed box, those with a ported box, and those that use one or more passive radiators (essentially an extra speaker cone that’s not powered and works acoustically much like a port). Sealed subwoofers are often considered “tighter” and more precise, while ported and passive-radiator subs are considered more powerful. In reality, you can run across great and bad subwoofers of every type, so we don’t focus on a particular type here; however, we do note the type in our descriptions below.
• Equalization and tuning features: In this price range, many subwoofers include advanced features and tuning options. Some offer automatic room equalization (or room EQ) that compensates to some degree for problems with your room’s acoustics. Others offer different modes for music or movie listening, or for tailoring the sound to the listener’s taste. We considered these features a plus but not a requirement. As our listening tests showed, in some cases it may be more prudent to invest in better or larger drivers and amplifiers rather than in advanced audio-processing technology. Also, many AV receivers include room EQ, but the efficacy of the technology differs from receiver to receiver.
• Aesthetics: Although most subwoofers are plain matte-black boxes, some have nice design touches such as an attractive finish or a form that’s easy to conceal. We made sure to test several models built with design and visual aesthetics in mind, although many of those can’t match the performance of conventional (read: ugly) designs.

Since 2019, we’ve evaluated a total of 20 subwoofers for this guide. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test every single model that met our criteria, but we did at least get a sample or two from almost all of the leading manufacturers. You can read our comments about the other subwoofers we tested in the Competition section below. Also, I maintain an online spreadsheet showing the CTA-2010 output measurements of most of the subwoofers I’ve tested in the past few years, so you can see more in-depth comparisons of the subs I’ve tested for this guide and others I’ve tested for different projects.

The primary criteria that our panelists considered in our evaluations were:

• how much clean bass a subwoofer could put out
• how deep the subwoofer could play
• how natural the bass sounded (that is, not excessively boomy or punchy)
• appearance
• inclusion of tuning and EQ adjustments

We conducted the listening tests for this guide in the same acoustically treated listening room I’ve used to test more than 150 subwoofers over the past 19 years. I know this room’s characteristics (and how they affect speaker performance) extremely well. In this room, I’ve run countless tests and measurements, had dozens of manufacturers set up their subwoofers, and at one point even had a scientist from Harman International come over to run tests using as many as four separate subwoofers.

I placed each of the subwoofers into my room’s “subwoofer sweet spot,” the place where I’ve found that most subs sound their best when I’m sitting in my favorite listening chair (which my listening panelists also used). I connected the subwoofers to a Sony STR-ZA5000ES home theater receiver and used an ELAC Debut 2.0 surround-sound speaker system, the runner-up in our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people. I used a crossover point (the frequency at which sounds are redirected from the speakers to the subwoofer) of 80 hertz, which is the industry standard for high-quality surround-sound systems. I matched their levels to within 0.5 decibel using a calibrated NTi Mini SPL microphone and an NTi Minilyzer ML1 audio analyzer, which has an unweighted measurement mode appropriate for accurate bass measurements.

For the listening tests, I used several of the toughest bass test tracks I know of, including Holly Cole’s “Train Song,” Olive’s “Falling,” Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown,” and the recording of Camille Saint-Saëns’s Symphony No. 3 “Organ” from the Boston Audio Society Test CD-1, which has notes that drop to 16 Hz. (A tuba would have to measure about 9 feet tall to play that low.) I also used bass-heavy action-movie soundtracks—most notably, the opening scene of Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, in which a spaceship flies overhead and then explodes. For Ron Cyger’s test, I added “Findango,” a tune from his album in which most of the bass playing is in the upright bass’s lowest range. (When you use a subwoofer with an 80 Hz crossover, the subwoofer reproduces the fundamental tones of only the lowest 12 notes of a standard upright or electric bass; higher notes on the bass come primarily from the main speakers.) I made sure that all of the listening sessions were brand-concealed, using a thin black drape to hide the subs’ identities. I also presented the subwoofers in random order and changed the order for each panelist.

I finished by running CTA-2010 output measurements on each subwoofer. CTA-2010 is to subwoofers what a grip test is to fitness buffs—a precise strength evaluation in which there’s no way to cheat. This measurement uses test tones that simulate the bass content of music and movies. When played through the subwoofers and viewed on an audio spectrum analyzer, these tones show how loudly and clearly a subwoofer can play at several different frequencies in the bass range. The higher the number, the louder the subwoofer plays, and the clearer it sounds even if it’s not cranked to the max. I keep a log of all my CTA-2010 results.

The chart below shows the CTA-2010 results for our top picks and a few other subs we tested (including the Dayton Audio SUB-1200, the top pick in our best budget subwoofer guide).

Our pick

Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S

The Speedwoofer 10S offers an ideal blend of bass power and finesse in a compact and affordable package.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $430.

The Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S offers practically everything one could want in a midpriced subwoofer. For its size and price, it provides plenty of output for action movies and bassy hip-hop and EDM recordings, and our testing panel found that its clarity and precision matched or exceeded that of many more expensive subwoofers we tried. It incorporates a 10-inch woofer in a ported enclosure, driven by a 350-watt internal amplifier, and it measures a relatively compact 16 by 15 by 16¾ inches (HWD). The subwoofer has a built-in wireless receiver, so you can pair it with Rogersound’s inexpensive wireless transmitter for even easier setup and positioning.

The Speedwoofer 10S is one of the relatively rare subwoofers that sound equally great with music and movies. It’s punchy and precise enough to reproduce the chest-thumping, upper-bass snap of kick drum and thumb-slapped electric bass, yet it also maintains its composure (and shakes the couch) when asked to reproduce ultra-deep bass tones such as the submarine-engine and depth-charge sound effects in U-571. In our listening tests, the panelists praised the Speedwoofer 10S for its ability to blend with the other speakers, with Lauren noting that “it sounds like an extension of the rest of the system” and Ron commenting that “it has a clean transition from the upper-bass notes down to the low pipe organ tones.” Ultimately, Lauren placed the Speedwoofer 10S in a tie with the Klipsch SPL-120 for first place, but she immediately named the Speedwoofer 10S as her number one choice when she heard the prices. Ron picked it as his second-favorite; Dan ranked it in the middle of the pack.

When it came to measured performance, the Speedwoofer 10S did just what we hoped such an upscale subwoofer would do—it clearly outperformed less costly models such as the Dayton Audio SUB-1200, our favorite budget subwoofer. The Speedwoofer 10S puts out about the same amount of midbass as the SUB-1200, but when you get into the really low, couch-shaking deep-bass frequencies, the Speedwoofer 10S practically tosses the SUB-1200 out of the room, delivering a whopping 10 decibels more output (double the perceived volume) at 20 Hz. To put it more simply, the Speedwoofer 10S is just a lot more fun to listen to. In our evaluation, the Speedwoofer 10S’s measured output averaged 115.5 dB in the midbass and 107.5 dB in the low bass.

Although the Speedwoofer 10S follows the “plain black box” visual aesthetic common to subwoofers, at least it’s an attractively finished and reasonably compact plain black box.

The Speedwoofer 10S offers line-level RCA stereo inputs and outputs, which make it compatible with receivers that have a line-level subwoofer output (included on all surround-sound AV receivers and some stereo receivers) as well as with stereo systems that use a separate amp and preamp. If your audio gear lacks a subwoofer output, the Speedwoofer 10S also has speaker-level input connections, so you can connect the subwoofer to your speakers or amplifier and use the subwoofer’s crossover-frequency control to blend it with the speakers. (See our blog post on subwoofer setup for more information on these connection types.) It also has a built-in wireless receiver, so you can connect Rogersound Labs’s optional wireless transmitter to your receiver’s subwoofer output and avoid running a long cable to the sub.

Here I have to add a disclosure: When I was working as a consultant prior to my employment at Wirecutter, Rogersound Labs paid me to measure the CTA-2010 output of some prototype subs it was developing at the time. I also gave Rogersound my CTA-2010 measurement results for the Speedwoofer 10S at no charge (which the company then published on its website). Now that I’ve joined Wirecutter’s staff, I no longer do consulting work, but to avoid any potential conflict of interest, we relied on the opinions of our other three listeners and on the objectivity of the CTA-2010 measurements when making our picks for this guide. Reviews of the Speedwoofer 10S in many audio publications, including Audioholics, Home Theater Review, and Sound & Vision, corroborate our judgment.

The Speedwoofer 10S does exactly what we hope a sub of its size and price can do, and we’ve never heard a complaint about its sound. Some people might want built-in equalization, a remote control, or different modes for music, movies, and the like, but we don’t think those features are must-haves or, in the case of the Speedwoofer 10S, even necessary.

The Speedwoofer 10S is available only through the Rogersound Labs website, so you can’t go to a different dealer if it sells out, and you’re 100% reliant on Rogersound for support.

Runner-up

Polk Audio HTS 10

This subwoofer combines good performance with a more attractive design than you get from many subwoofers at this price.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $400.

The Polk Audio HTS 10 was our panelists’ second-favorite subwoofer—and it’s the only one in our test group that looks as if it was designed by someone who cares about aesthetics. Measuring 16⅝ by 15⅛ by 16⅛ inches (HWD), it’s reasonably sized, and the radiused edges, port-damping cone, and corner-cut grille make it look sleek and modern. It has a 10-inch driver in a ported enclosure with a 100-watt internal amp, and it comes in your choice of faux black-walnut or brown-walnut wood grain for the same price. It’s designed to match the look of the Polk Signature Series speakers that we picked in our guide to the best surround-sound speakers for most people.

Lauren and Ron both ranked the HTS 10 high, but they described it differently. Ron focused far more on music in his test, and he ranked the HTS 10 number one, praising its “bouncy sound” and “even response from note to note.” Lauren wasn’t so impressed with the HTS 10’s performance on music, saying it lacked the definition of the Rogersound and Klipsch models, but she called it “fun” and said, “It’s good if you want to feel a powerful bass sound but don’t want it to be real sloppy.” (Dan ranked the HTS 10 in the middle.)

From a measurement standpoint, the HTS 10’s output is about the same as that of our budget subwoofer pick, the Dayton Audio SUB-1200, which is considerably less expensive (although in our opinion much less attractive). In our tests, the HTS 10’s average for the midbass (40 to 63 Hz) was 114.6 dB, and for the low bass (20 to 31.5 Hz) it was 102.5 dB—these are okay numbers considering the HTS 10’s price and size, but they’re not impressive results. Although the two models are comparable in sound quality, the SUB-1200, like most ultra-low-cost subwoofers we’ve tested, is covered in extremely thin black vinyl that nicks easily and tends to peel at the edges, revealing the MDF below. The HTS 10, in contrast, not only looks better when new but is more likely to keep its looks over time.

The HTS 10 has line-level RCA inputs, so it works with any receiver that has a subwoofer output, or with a stereo preamp. However, because it has no speaker-cable inputs, it doesn’t work with any stereo system that lacks some sort of line-level subwoofer output or preamp output. (See our blog post on subwoofer setup for more information on these connection types.) If you need an inexpensive sub to add to a stereo system without subwoofer or preamp outputs, get the Dayton Audio SUB-1200 or step up to the Rogersound Labs Speedwoofer 10S.

Upgrade pick

Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5

The VTF-2 MK5 is large and powerful, and it offers more tuning options for you to tailor the sound to your taste and room.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $610.

The Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5 is the subwoofer your ears may want you to buy but your eyes might rather you didn’t. It’s the plainest of plain black boxes, its 15-by-21-by-22-inch bulk offends interior designers, and its sound is powerful enough to annoy any bassphobe within 100 feet. Yet it delivers a thrilling sense of shake and presence that can subjectively transform your living room into a battered submarine, an earthquake-ravaged building, or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It also offers tuning modes that can tailor its sound to any taste. The VTF-2 MK5 has a 12-inch driver powered by a 350-watt amplifier.

Adjusting the tuning mode on the VTF-2 MK5 involves the use of an EQ switch on the back panel and the choice of using two, one, or none of the subwoofer’s front ports. (There’s also a Q control, which basically adjusts between boomy and tight sound, but it’s not as effective as the port-and-EQ adjustments.) You can choose a sealed mode that delivers a tight, punchy sound for music, a ported mode that delivers maximum deep-bass output for extra couch shaking during action movies, or one of several modes in between. Selecting a mode involves physically plugging or unplugging the ports (the plugs are included in the package) and reaching around the back of this big sub to flip the EQ switch, so you’re unlikely to want to change modes once you settle on the one you like best.

The tuning modes complicated our listening tests, as I had to choose one mode that I thought would best suit each listener’s taste. (For Ron, I tried a couple of modes.) Partly because I had to make these guesses, our panelists didn’t rank the VTF-2 MK5 as high as they did some of the smaller subs; Dan ranked the VTF-2 MK5 second and Ron ranked it fifth, while Lauren ranked it in the middle of the pack. But all of the panelists were impressed with its sheer power and its ability to reproduce the deepest pipe organ notes from Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony, and the tuning modes should allow a patient audio enthusiast to get whatever sonic character they want from the VTF-2 MK5.

The VTF-2 MK5 can play loud enough for people who like to crank up their music or for home theater fans who love to feel their couch shake every time a cannon fires or the Hulk smashes something. I measured its CTA-2010 output in three modes. In ported max output mode, it averaged 120.8 dB from 40 to 63 Hz and 114.4 dB from 20 to 31.5 Hz. In ported max headroom mode, the respective numbers were 119.6 dB and 112.8 dB. In sealed max headroom mode, they were 118.1 dB and 106.9 dB. These numbers are easily competitive with those of any other subwoofer we’ve tested for this guide, and in most cases are far better.

The VTF-2 MK5 offers both line-level RCA stereo inputs and speaker-cable inputs, so it can work with any surround-sound receiver and with any stereo receiver or preamp.

Also great

SVS SB-1000 Pro

If you need high performance but don’t have space for a big subwoofer, the SB-1000 Pro is a great choice.

Buying Options

*At the time of publishing, the price was $500.

Consider the SVS SB-1000 Pro the opposite of the Hsu Research VTF-2 MK5: It’s the subwoofer you buy when you’re trying to find one small and sleek enough that it disappears into your decor but still powerful enough that it delivers satisfying performance. With its 13½-by-13-by-13¾-inch sealed enclosure, it’s easy to conceal under many end tables, at the corner of a couch, or behind a potted plant. The SB-1000 Pro is basically the same as our former also-great pick, the SB-1000, with the addition of an app-controlled equalizer that allows precise tuning of the bass levels at different frequencies—so you can make the bass sound more (or less!) even and natural. We have found flatter, slimmer subs that are easier to conceal, but none we’ve tested can match the SB-1000 Pro’s performance.

When we tested the original SB-1000, our panelists all liked its punchy, precise sound when they were listening to music, although even with the size of the sub concealed, it was obvious to them that the SB-1000 was no home theater bruiser. The addition of the equalizer in the SB-1000 Pro doesn’t change any of that. Although we found that the EQ could make the SB-1000 Pro sound even smoother and better defined when playing music, it did nothing to help the subwoofer reproduce the lowest bass frequencies, which are necessary for realistic reproduction of movie soundtracks. However, for a small home theater system, played at modest levels, the SB-1000 Pro will get the job done.

The Bluetooth-connected smartphone app links quickly to the subwoofer and allows precise adjustment of such functions as volume and crossover frequency, as well as selection of Movie and Music listening modes plus a user-programmable Custom mode. The big advantage of the app is the parametric equalizer, which allows you to boost or cut three different bands of audio; you can select the frequencies and widths of these bands in the app. Using the pink-noise generator and audio spectrum analyzer included in the inexpensive AudioTool Android app, connected to my sound system via Bluetooth, I was able to quickly adjust the parametric EQ to get an even, flat bass response from my listening seat, and then from there to fine-tune the sound to my liking. (iOS users can get similar results with Spectrum Analyzer RTA.) If you just want a good, small subwoofer and don’t want to fuss with audio geekery, however, you can use the sub on its own without the app.

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As of 2019, the app has approximately 15+ million members worldwide^[2] with SCRUFF downloads taking place throughout 180 countries and six continents.^[3][4] The app has been translated into 10 languages including Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Chinese, and Arabic.^[4][5]

The app is free to download. Users can opt to purchase a paid membership, Scruff Pro, to access additional features.^[6]

History[edit]

The company was founded in 2010 by Johnny Skandros and Eric Silverberg, now its CEO.^[3]

In 2013, the app added a community for HIV-positive users called 'Poz.' Scruff was the first app to include options for members of the military and transgender community.^[7]

In October, 2015, the company launched Scruff Version 5, which included new communities, relationship types, sex preferences, and safety practices.

In 2018, Scruff stopped using third-party programmatic ads, such as banner ads, and moved to a revenue model based on subscriptions and direct advertising.^[8] Company CEO Eric Silverberg said that the decision was based on concerns about “shady advertising,”^[9] as well as user safety and privacy, particularly in regions or countries where homophobia is still widespread.^[5][10]

As of August 2018, Scruff does not require members to provide information about race or ethnicity.^[10] CEO Eric Silverberg said the decision will help the company “ensure that harassment, racism, and abuse doesn’t happen.”^[11]

In January 2019, after multiple suspensions from Google Play, Scruff announced that it was banning profile photos featuring “sexually suggestive embraces” or members in their underwear or in swimming trunks.^[12]

Scruff launched a live-streaming trivia game show called “Hosting” in March 2019. Users compete for cash prizes by answering LGBT-themed pop culture and history questions through the Scruff app. They can also view and send “Woof” notifications to other players.^[13][14]

Awards and recognition[edit]

In 2014, the company won several mobile app awards including Time Out New York's Best App Award.^[7][10]

In 2018, Scruff was included in Digital Trends’ list of “Best LGBT dating apps for Android and iOS.'^[15]

In 2018, The Daily Dot named Scruff as one of the “9 best dating sites and apps for gay men.”^[10]

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TechRadar included Scruff on its list of “best dating apps 2019.'^[16]

Safety, awareness and security[edit]

In 2015, the company added a traveler alert feature that notifies users when they reach one of approximately 100 countries where homosexuality is criminalized, sends alerts to members about immediate safety concerns in these regions, and partners with the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), on a web page identifying anti-gay laws in such countries.^[3]

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In 2018, Scruff CEO Eric Silverberg said that Scruff has no plans to integrate with Facebook due to concerns about privacy and data mining.^[10]

Operations[edit]

Using geolocation, the home interface displays a grid of user profile pictures, arranged from nearest to farthest away. Tapping a picture opens a users’ profile displaying options to chat, send a 'Woof,' save profiles, and unlock private photos, videos, and other information from the user.

Features[edit]

• The travel-focused “Venture” service allows users to browse popular travel destinations around the world, meet up with other users, RSVP to local events, and search for accommodations. Venture also includes a chat function that connects users to local “ambassadors” who can provide suggestions about where to go and what to do in more than 500 destinations.^[10][13]
• The 'Woof' option enables members to express interest by 'woofing' at another member as an alternate choice to directly messaging them.^[13]
• The “Stealth Mode” feature uses GPS obfuscation to hide a user's location if a member chooses that option for their privacy or protection.^[15]
• Match: This feature allows users to use a photo swipe for members specifically seeking relationships.^[10]
• Insights: Allows users to see statistics based on a certain users’ responsiveness towards other communities within the app.

In popular culture[edit]

The company unveiled an ad campaign on a billboard just outside Super Bowl XLIX that read 'Play on Our Team' to encourage acceptance of gay professional athletes.^[17]

Founder Johnny Skandros and Scruff's Pit Crew were featured as challenge guests on Season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race.^[18]

SCRUFF supported the Delhi International Queer Theater and Film Festival in 2016.^[19]

In October 2018, YouTube personality and model Brendan Jordan partnered with Scruff to promote National Coming Out Day.^[20]

The app is referenced in a line from the 2020 Netflix film The Prom. The character Barry Glickman says “if they don’t have any gay people here, why is my ‘Scruff’ going crazy right now?”^[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Digital Trends'. www.digitaltrends.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
2. ^'Gay entrepreneur found the road to success full of slurs'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2017-05-29.
3. ^ ^abcMcElroy, Steven. 'Gay Dating App’s New Alert: Hooking Up Is Illegal Here.' The New York Times. May 22, 2015
4. ^ ^ab'Scruff Invades Houston.' The Montrose Star. Feb. 13, 2013
5. ^ ^ab'Gay Dating App Scruff Pulls All Programmatic Ads'. DMNews.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
6. ^'Digital Trends best dating apps'. www.digitaltrends.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
7. ^ ^ab'Will SCRUFF Be the only App to Be Trans-Inclusive?' Queerty. July 17, 2013
8. ^Monday, Allison Schiff //; August 27th; Am, 2018-10:58 (2018-08-27). 'Gay Dating App Scruff Isn't Interested In Third-Party Relationships'. AdExchanger. Retrieved 2019-05-23.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. ^August 31, Oliver McAteer; 2018. 'Gay dating app SCRUFF ditches 'malicious' programmatic ads'. www.campaignlive.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
10. ^ ^abcdefg'Scruff's Latest Update: Fighting Gay App Racism'. www.advocate.com. 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
11. ^Gremore, Graham (2018-09-04). 'After defending race-based filters for years, Scruff CEO acknowledges that maybe they're racist'. www.queerty.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
12. ^Fox, Chris (2019-01-30). 'Gay dating app Scruff bans underwear pics'. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
13. ^ ^abc'SCRUFF Launches 'Hosting,' a Live In-App Queer Quiz Show'. EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
14. ^'Scruff Launches Live Quiz Show 'Hosting''. Global Dating Insights. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
15. ^ ^ab'Digital Trends lgbt dating apps'. www.digitaltrends.com. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
16. ^phones, Staff 2019-02-14T11:33:09Z Mobile. 'The best dating apps 2019: straight, gay or bi, find love whatever your orientation'. TechRadar. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
17. ^'SCRUFF's Super Bowl Billboard Campaign Promotes Acceptance For Gay Athletes.' Huffpost Gay Voices. Jan. 30, 2015
18. ^Davis, Sean. 'RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6: NYC Premier Party was Everything.' The Quire. Feb. 20, 2014
19. ^Weed, Julie (2018-12-13). 'Forget Love. I'm Looking for Great Soup Dumplings'. The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
20. ^'Brendan Jordan Talks Self Expression with Scruff for National Coming Out Day'. www.out.com. 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
21. ^'A Collection Of The Best Quotes From Netflix's The Prom'. www. mamasgeeky.com. 2020-12-01. Retrieved 2021-01-05.