The SUB-10A from ToneWinner is a 10in base-firing active subwoofer with treated paper cone.

Makers are relying more on their clients for major product development. Some units come with other audio products.

Interviewed mainland China companies produce active and passive subwoofers. These companies also specialize in other audio products such as home theater systems, speakers and amplifiers. Some companies also produce subwoofers that can be installed in a vehicle.

Most companies export their entire subwoofer output. North America and Europe absorb most of the companies' exports. Although prices are projected to be stable in 2007, a price increase looms as component costs and labor costs have been steadily rising.

Product development is currently at a standstill, as makers rely mostly on their clients for product design. On their own, these makers only aim to improve the sound quality and external appearance of their products.

Hangzhou Manko Audio Electronics Co. Ltd makes both active and passive subwoofers for in-car and home use. Subwoofer models for use in vehicles take up about 80 percent of the company's subwoofer output. Manko also makes amplifiers and speakers. The company's future releases will have improved audio quality and external designs.

ToneWinner Electronics Co. Ltd manufactures active subwoofers that are aimed at home theater system and hi-fi audio markets. ToneWinner's subwoofer output is based on realtime client demand, as subwoofers comprise only a small portion of the company's total manufacturing output. The company plans to work on class D subwoofers for appliances with digital signal processors (DSP).

Zhongshan Unichina Electronic Technology Co. Ltd targets the hi-fi market. Hi-fi products comprise 50 percent of Unichina's output. The company's high-end offerings are mostly passive products; for its midrange offerings, Unichina can customize its products according to clients' requirements. The company does not accept orders for entry-level subwoofers. Unichina also manufactures home theater systems and in-car subwoofers. The company's future releases will be based on the blueprints of its OEM clients.

Makers differ in their opinion regarding the trend in subwoofer prices. Some said that the prices of subwoofers have gone relatively unchanged in the last six months, and that this trend may continue.

At the same time, makers cannot ignore the fact that some component costs have been increasing. Some makers said that they would find ways to absorb the added costs, while others said that they would have to increase their prices soon.

ToneWinner said that since end-2006, prices of its subwoofers for export have remained steady. This trend is attributed to the relatively steady costs of components. In the next six to 12 months, however, the company said that the costs of copper and aluminum may rise, as well as the cost of labor. ToneWinner will still keep its prices stable, though. The company said that it would improve its processes and develop new subwoofers that will make it possible for the company to absorb the projected increase in production costs. ToneWinner's hi-fi subwoofers are priced at about $200.

Unichina mainly manufactures high-end subwoofers that generally have amplifiers and high-quality materials. The company said that its enclosures, usually of wood, are spray-painted five times. This results in Unichina subwoofers' much higher prices than those from other manufacturers. Unichina said that the prices of subwoofers might increase by up to 10 percent as the costs of components have steadily started to increase.

All interviewed makers' factories are ISO 9001:2000- certified.

ToneWinner's factory houses 200 workers. Manufacturing processes such as PCB making, components insertion and final assembly are all done in-house. QC and R&D are also conducted in-house. ToneWinner's R&D team consists of 35 members. ToneWinner's monthly subwoofer output is up to 200 units. The company plans to add another factory to increase its production.

For Unichina, manufacturing processes such as mold making, enclosure polishing, packaging, silkscreening and assembling are all done in-house. Unichina's polishing stage consists of two parts—manual polishing by about 30 workers and machine polishing. The company conducts QC and R&D in-house. Its QC team is composed of 30 people while its R&D team consists of 10 people.

Manko also has an ISO 9001:2000-certified factory. About 60 percent of the factory's finished output is accounted for by subwoofers, and the rest are amplifiers and speakers.

ToneWinner's revenue consists of 40 percent domestic sales and 60 percent export sales. All of ToneWinner's exports are accounted for by ODM orders. Fifty percent of ToneWinner's exports go to Europe, 30 percent to North America, and the rest to Oceania, specifically in Australia.

ToneWinner projects its 2007 subwoofer sales to increase by at least 30 percent.

Unichina's subwoofers are all exported. The company's main markets are the United States and the United Kingdom. Its other markets are Norway, Japan and India. The company's current job orders are predominantly ODM contracts. The company has a minimum order requirement of 200 units. At times, the company's subwoofers are bundled with its home theater systems.

Subwoofers made by Manko are all exported. Europe and North America take up 80 percent of its exports. The company accepts OEM and ODM orders.