In this review, we will be comparing BASIK SUB and KUBE 8b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from DALI 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 DALI BASIK SUB and KEF KUBE 8b 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.DALI BASIK SUBand KEF KUBE 8b have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
BASIK SUB has a frequency range of 33-200 Hz whereas KUBE 8b has a frequency range of 34-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the BASIK SUB can go slightly deeper then the KUBE 8b's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 DALI BASIK SUB 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 KEF KUBE 8b 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 DALI BASIK SUB's and KEF KUBE 8b's external dimensions. DALI BASIK SUB has external dimensions of 319.0 x 295.0 x 310.0mm () whereas KEF KUBE 8b has external dimensions of 294.0 x 296.0 x 339.0mm (11-9/16 x 11-5/8 x 13-5/16inch).
DALI BASIK SUB is 1mm narrower and 29mm less deeper than KEF KUBE 8b but it is also 25mm 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 DALI BASIK SUB is approximately 914.5cm2 / 141.7inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 8b is approximately 1003.4cm2 / 155.5inch2. The BASIK SUB requires 9% less surface area than the KUBE 8b 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 DALI BASIK SUB weighs 9.75kg / 21.5lbs and the KEF KUBE 8b weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs. This makes the KUBE 8b 17% heavier than the BASIK SUB.
Here is a comparison of how BASIK SUB and KUBE 8b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
914cm2
vs
1003cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
294mm
vs
319mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
800USD
|
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 8b needs about 10% more floor area. KEF KUBE 8b stands 29mm further into the room. DALI BASIK SUB is 25mm taller.
| General |
DALI BASIK SUB |
KEF KUBE 8b |
| Brand |
DALI |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
170 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
33-200 Hz |
34-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
170-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
220-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper, long stroke |
|
| 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 |
319.0mm (12.6") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Width |
295.0mm (11.6") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
9.75kg (21.5lbs) |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
A ported 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (33Hz vs 34Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KUBE 8b has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 170W RMS, about 2.5dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (8" against 8"). |
| Enclosure | depends | DALI BASIK SUB is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; KEF KUBE 8b 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | DALI BASIK SUB fires down and KEF KUBE 8b fires front. 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. |
| Price | B | KEF KUBE 8b costs less - $600 against $800, about 25% less. |
A DALI BASIK SUB B KEF KUBE 8b
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 8b has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, DALI BASIK SUB will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KUBE 8b is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.