In this review, we will be comparing MSX Sub 200 and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Cambridge Audio 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 and B&W ASW608 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200and B&W ASW608 have a single woofer setup however the Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200's woofer is 6.5-inch whereas the B&W ASW608 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
MSX Sub 200 has a frequency range of 36-200 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the ASW608 can go slightly deeper then the MSX Sub 200's min frequency of 36Hz.
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
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200
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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 has external dimensions of 217.5 x 209.6 x 257.2mm () whereas B&W ASW608 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 261.0 x 350.0mm (10-11/16 x 10-1/4 x 13-3/4inch).
B&W ASW608 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51.4mm wider, 54.5mm taller and 92.8mm deeper than Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200.
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.
B&W ASW608 needs about 69% more floor or shelf area. B&W ASW608 is 93mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W ASW608 is 55mm 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 is approximately 539.1cm2 / 83.6inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The MSX Sub 200 requires 41% less surface area than the ASW608 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 weighs 4.99kg / 11lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the ASW608 78% heavier than the MSX Sub 200.
Here is a comparison of how MSX Sub 200 and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
217mm
vs
272mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
539cm2
vs
913cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
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 ASW608 needs about 69% more floor area. B&W ASW608 stands 93mm further into the room. B&W ASW608 is 55mm taller.
| General |
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Cambridge Audio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
36-200 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
217.5mm (8.6") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
209.6mm (8.3") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
257.2mm (10.1") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
4.99kg (11lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
A passive radiator subwoofer against a sealed 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 | B | B&W ASW608 goes deeper - 32Hz against 36Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 36Hz. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (200W vs 200W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | B&W ASW608 moves more air: 8" against 6.5" is 1.51x the cone area, not the 1.23x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; B&W ASW608 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 is about 53% 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 | A | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 costs less - $449 against $599, about 25% less. |
A Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 B B&W ASW608
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 ASW608 measures better, Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 costs about 25% 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, Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W ASW608 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 200 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.