Baby Boomer

JL Audio Fathom F11OV2 Powered Subwoofer

- By David Vaughn

ACCORDING TO Merriam-Webster, a fathom is a unit of length equal to six feet that’s used to measure the depth of water. But for JL Audio, Fathom is a family of subwoofers that dig deep into the lower depths of the audio spectrum. The company, which has been around north of forty years, was started by Jim Birch and Lucio Proni, who started building loudspeakers during their summer break back in the 1970s and never stopped. I had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of JL Audio’s entry-level Dominion d110 subwoofers a few years back and loved their performance. The company’s Fathom line of subwoofers are considered in home theater and hi-fi circles to be some of the best, though, so I could hardly wait to put a Fathom f110v2 through its paces when the company offered to send a pair.

The Fathom line consists of the f110v2 (10-inch driver), f112v2 (12-inch driver), f113v2 (13-inch driver), and F212v2 (dual 12-inch drivers). With an MSRP of $3,500, the Fathom f110v2 is the most expensive subwoofer I’ve ever reviewed. As one would expect from something in this price class, build quality is second to none. It sports a flawless gloss-black paint job and tips the scales at 69 pounds—definitely not a lightweight by any measure.

While some may balk at the f110v2’s price tag, it’s a model that caters to a high-end audience seeking powerful bass in a highly compact package. Heck, by JL Audio standards, the Fathom f110v2 is a relative bargain compared with the company’s super-premium Gotham v2 subwoofer, which checks in at $16,500.

SIZE MATTERS NOT

- JEDI MASTER YODA