In this review, we will be comparing DB4S and S8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Audioengine. 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 B&W DB4S and Audioengine S8 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 B&W DB4Sand Audioengine S8 have a single woofer setup however the B&W DB4S's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Audioengine S8 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz whereas S8 has a frequency range of 27-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S8's min frequency of 27Hz.
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
Cabinet Type
The B&W DB4S has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Audioengine S8 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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.
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 B&W DB4S's and Audioengine S8's external dimensions. 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) whereas Audioengine S8 has external dimensions of 334.0 x 293.0 x 337.0mm (13-1/8 x 11-1/2 x 13-1/4inch).
B&W DB4S is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 69mm wider, 41mm taller and 97mm deeper than Audioengine S8.
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 B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2 and base area of the Audioengine S8 is approximately 987.4cm2 / 153.0inch2. The DB4S requires 59% more surface area than the S8 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 B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs and the Audioengine S8 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the DB4S 91% heavier than the S8.
Here is a comparison of how DB4S and S8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W DB4S?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DB4S:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Decoupling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- Cleaning cloth
- Quickstart Guide
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
- Cleaning cloth instructions
What's in the Box of Audioengine S8?
Here are the items that come with the S8:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 6.5-feet Stereo RCA cable
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack audio cable
- Cloth subwoofer bag
- Cloth cable bag
- Quick Start Guide
- Audioengine brochure
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
350 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
334mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
987cm2
vs
1571cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
2199USD
|
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.
B&W DB4S needs about 59% more floor area. B&W DB4S stands 97mm further into the room. B&W DB4S is 41mm taller.
| General |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
Audioengine S8 |
| Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
125 watts |
| Frequency Response |
10-350 Hz |
27-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
125-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Treated paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Width |
362.0mm (14.3") |
293.0mm (11.5") |
| Depth |
434.0mm (17.1") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | B&W DB4S goes deeper - 10Hz against 27Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | B&W DB4S has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 125W RMS, about 9dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | B&W DB4S 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. |
| Enclosure | depends | B&W DB4S is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Audioengine S8 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Driver placement | depends | B&W DB4S fires front and Audioengine S8 fires down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Audioengine S8 is about 44% 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. |
| Warranty | B | Audioengine S8 carries 3 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | Audioengine S8 costs less - $349 against $2,199, about 84% less. |
A B&W DB4S B Audioengine S8
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?
The usual trade-off: B&W DB4S measures better, Audioengine S8 costs about 84% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Audioengine S8 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W DB4S is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $349 each, two Audioengine S8 cost about $698 against $2,199 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.