In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and DB4S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Aperion and Bowers Wilkins. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and B&W DB4S first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwooferand B&W DB4S have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's woofer is 15-inch whereas the B&W DB4S features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-195 Hz whereas DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's min frequency of 18Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
The Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W DB4S have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's and B&W DB4S's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 569.0 x 469.9 x 551.2mm (22.4 x 18.5 x 21.7inch) whereas B&W DB4S has external dimensions of 375.0 x 362.0 x 434.0mm (14-3/4 x 14-1/4 x 17-1/16inch).
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107.9mm wider, 194mm taller and 117.2mm deeper than B&W DB4S.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 2590.1cm2 / 401.5inch2 and base area of the B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2. The Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer requires 65% more surface area than the DB4S which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer weighs 35.38kg / 77.8lbs and the B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs. This makes the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 36% heavier than the DB4S.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and DB4S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
350k Hz
vs
195k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
375mm
vs
569mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1571cm2
vs
2590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
550 watts |
1000 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
18-195 Hz |
10-350 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
550-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
569.0mm (22.4") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
469.9mm (18.5") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
551.2mm (21.7") |
434.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
35.38kg (77.8lbs) |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |