Embarrassment of riches: Aurasound MR18.4 or JBL 2288 for 85L ~sealed cabinet

[DS-21]

Maybe 15 years ago I built a sealed subwoofer of about 85L and fitted it with an Aurasound NS18-992-4A. Alas, the woofer developed an issue and now has a ticking sound*, and I temporarily replaced it with a not-as-good driver. I ordered a JBL 2288 (apparent successor to the 2269) as its replacement.

However, Samsung had their typically long backorder, and in the interim I found an Aurasound MR18.4 (same woofer as NS18-992-4A except different color way - in my application the woofer is hidden so a distinction without a difference). I bought it and meant to cancel the 2288 order once the MR18.4 was in my hands and tested....but the 2288 finally shipped while the MR18.4 was in transit. So now I have both. I don't have any reasonable method to test them myself in cabinet. Which would you use, and why? DSP and amplification is 1 channel from a Crown DCI4-1250n, so high but not insane power. In the alternatives, what test(s) would you run of the naked drivers to indicate a performance differential. (The cabinet is too heavy to move to any place for serious subwoofer testing. And risk of finish damage is too high as it is veneered Baltic Birch.)

Comparative pros in my view of the MR18.4 is the rest of the subs in the system use Aurasound drivers and the cabinet was designed for the driver to start with.

Comparative pros in my view of the 2288H are it's probably more durable (expect it to last forever in a home audio environment, unless somebody physically destroys the cone) and will be easier to install because it's a much lighter driver (I don't think there are drivers with more steel in them than the 4" coil Aurasounds!). 

*I never could trace the issue with the NS18-992-4A. I removed the top assembly and the magnet plating seemed fine.