In this review, we will be comparing SuperCube 4000 and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Definitive Technology 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 DT SuperCube 4000 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.DT SuperCube 4000and B&W ASW608 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
SuperCube 4000 has a frequency range of 16-200 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SuperCube 4000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ASW608's min frequency of 32Hz.
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 DT SuperCube 4000 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W ASW608 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 DT SuperCube 4000's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. DT SuperCube 4000 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 281.0 x 318.0mm (11-7/8 x 11-1/16 x 12-1/2inch) 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 20mm narrower and 30mm shorter than DT SuperCube 4000 but it is also 32mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of DT SuperCube 4000 and B&W ASW608 in scale.
Comparison image of DT SuperCube 4000 and B&W ASW608 Size and External Dimensions
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 DT SuperCube 4000 is approximately 893.6cm2 / 138.5inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The SuperCube 4000 requires 2% 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 DT SuperCube 4000 weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the SuperCube 4000 28% heavier than the ASW608.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCube 4000 and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of DT SuperCube 4000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCube 4000:
- 8-inch Powered subwoofer
- 7-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (CR2025 battery installed)
- 4 Threaded rubber-feet
- 4 Spike feet (hex-nut attached)
- Owners Manual
- SC4000 Booklet
What's in the Box of B&W ASW608?
Here are the items that come with the ASW608:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
893cm2
vs
913cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
272mm
vs
302mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
799USD
|
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.
Near-identical footprints. B&W ASW608 stands 32mm further into the room. DT SuperCube 4000 is 30mm taller.
| General |
Definitive Technology SuperCube 4000 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-200 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-150 Hz and 40-150 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
302.0mm (11.9") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
318.0mm (12.5") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 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 | A | DT SuperCube 4000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 32Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | DT SuperCube 4000 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 200W RMS, about 7.8dB 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 | DT SuperCube 4000 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. |
| Warranty | A | DT SuperCube 4000 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 | B&W ASW608 costs less - $599 against $799, about 25% less. |
A DT SuperCube 4000 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: DT SuperCube 4000 measures better, B&W ASW608 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, DT SuperCube 4000 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.
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.