In this review, we will be comparing SUB10 and KC62, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Buchardt 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 Buchardt SUB10 and KEF KC62 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.Buchardt SUB10 and KEF KC62 have a totally different setup: the Buchardt SUB10 features 1 x 10-inch drivers whereas the KC62 features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
SUB10 has a frequency range of 20-300 Hz whereas KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SUB10's min frequency of 20Hz.
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
Both Buchardt SUB10 and KEF KC62 have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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 Buchardt SUB10's and KEF KC62's external dimensions. Buchardt SUB10 has external dimensions of 490 x 320 x 160 mm (19.3 x 12.6 x 6.3 inch) whereas KEF KC62 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 258.0 x 281.0mm (9-5/8inch x 10-1/8inch x 11-1/16inch).
KEF KC62 is 62mm narrower and 245mm shorter than Buchardt SUB10 but it is also 121mm deeper.
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 Buchardt SUB10 is approximately 512.0cm2 / 79.4inch2 and base area of the KEF KC62 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2. The SUB10 requires 29% less surface area than the KC62 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 Buchardt SUB10 weighs 14.00kg / 30.8lbs and the KEF KC62 weighs 14.05kg / 30.9lbs. This makes the KC62 0% heavier than the SUB10.
Here is a comparison of how SUB10 and KC62's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
300 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Yes
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Base Surface Area |
512cm2
vs
725cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
245mm
vs
490mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
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 KC62 needs about 42% more floor area. KEF KC62 stands 121mm further into the room. Buchardt SUB10 is 245mm taller.
| General |
Buchardt SUB10 |
KEF KC62 |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-300 Hz |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1200-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
490.0mm (19.3") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
320.0mm (12.6") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
160.0mm (6.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
14.00kg (30.8lbs) |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years on woofer and cabinet, 2 years on amp module |
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 | B | KEF KC62 goes deeper - 11Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KC62 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 400W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 2 x 6.5"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction and onboard DSP). |
| Driver placement | depends | Buchardt SUB10 fires front and KEF KC62 fires side. 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 | KEF KC62 is about 29% 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 | A | Buchardt SUB10 carries 5 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 | A | Buchardt SUB10 costs less - $1,300 against $1,500, about 13% less. |
A Buchardt SUB10 B KEF KC62
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: KEF KC62 measures better, Buchardt SUB10 costs about 13% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC62 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.