Focal SW 1000 Be

The SW 1000 Be delivered exceptionally deep, tight and clean bass, with the reviewer calling it the tightest and cleanest low end heard in that system. It reached down to the lowest organ fundamentals without flinching, added roughly two octaves of extension, and did so without audible port chuffing.

It was praised for enhancing rather than taking over the system, adding full-range extension while subtracting nothing from the main speakers. The reviewer found that it improved every speaker it was paired with and could stay out of the way when recordings contained no deep bass, strong evidence of a seamless blend.

The subwoofer was described as powerful, lightning-fast and unfazed by demanding low-frequency material. Its ability to turn pipe-organ passages from polite to menacing points to convincing scale and impact, while the supplied night mode provides a practical option for reduced-level listening.

The review describes a premium, stout cabinet with curved sides, an integrated grille, and an elegant finish beyond a conventional box enclosure. It also highlights the quality of the remote and the unit's silent operation when not producing bass.

A 24-bit DSP and supplied remote allow listening-seat adjustment of volume, crossover, subsonic filtering, phase, and selectable bass boost. The controls are unusually comprehensive, with fine crossover increments and multiple filter and boost settings for tailoring placement and system matching.

At roughly $3,899 to $5,499, this is firmly a premium subwoofer, and the review considers it a worthy addition to high-end loudspeakers needing deeper extension. However, the review does not directly compare its asking price with competing models or make a stronger value claim.