In this review, we will be comparing PULSE SUB+ and KUBE 10b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Bluesound and KEF. 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB+ and KEF KUBE 10b 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.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Bluesound PULSE SUB+and KEF KUBE 10b have a single woofer setup however the Bluesound PULSE SUB+'s woofer is 8-inch whereas the KEF KUBE 10b features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PULSE SUB+ has a frequency range of 22-150 Hz whereas KUBE 10b has a frequency range of 24-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the PULSE SUB+ can go slightly deeper then the KUBE 10b's min frequency of 24Hz.
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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
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 Bluesound PULSE SUB+'s and KEF KUBE 10b's external dimensions. Bluesound PULSE SUB+ has external dimensions of 300 x 457 x 146 mm () whereas KEF KUBE 10b has external dimensions of 372.0 x 356.0 x 397.0mm (14-5/8 x 14 x 15-5/8inch).
Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is 72mm shorter and 251mm less deeper than KEF KUBE 10b but it is also 101mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF KUBE 10b needs about 112% more floor or shelf area. KEF KUBE 10b is 251mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF KUBE 10b is 72mm taller.
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 Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is approximately 667.2cm2 / 103.4inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 10b is approximately 1413.3cm2 / 219.1inch2. The PULSE SUB+ requires 53% less surface area than the KUBE 10b which gives it a small advantage 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB+ weighs 8.28kg / 18.2lbs and the KEF KUBE 10b weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs. This makes the KUBE 10b 111% heavier than the PULSE SUB+.
Here is a comparison of how PULSE SUB+ and KUBE 10b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
BluOS Controller (iOS, Android)
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
300mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
667cm2
vs
1413cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
1149USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
KEF KUBE 10b needs about 112% more floor area. KEF KUBE 10b stands 251mm further into the room. KEF KUBE 10b is 72mm taller.
| General |
Bluesound PULSE SUB+ |
KEF KUBE 10b |
| Brand |
Bluesound |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
22-150 Hz |
24-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-140 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
457.0mm (18") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
146.0mm (5.7") |
397.0mm (15.6") |
| Weight |
8.28kg (18.2lbs) |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Matte |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, White |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
Type A (upgrade only), Type B mini (service) |
n/a |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (22Hz vs 24Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KUBE 10b has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 150W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | KEF KUBE 10b moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is about 62% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | KEF KUBE 10b costs less - $750 against $1,149, about 35% less. |
A Bluesound PULSE SUB+ B KEF KUBE 10b
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KEF KUBE 10b is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Bluesound PULSE SUB+ if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Bluesound PULSE SUB+ is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.