In this review, we will be comparing Sub 6 and DB4S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Dynaudio 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 Dynaudio Sub 6 and B&W DB4S 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 Dynaudio Sub 6and B&W DB4S have a single woofer setup however the Dynaudio Sub 6's woofer is 9.5-inch whereas the B&W DB4S features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Sub 6 has a frequency range of 16-230 Hz whereas DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sub 6's min frequency of 16Hz.
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 Dynaudio Sub 6 and B&W DB4S 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 Dynaudio Sub 6's and B&W DB4S's external dimensions. Dynaudio Sub 6 has external dimensions of 334.0 x 477.0 x 312.0mm (13-1/8 x 18-3/4 x 12-1/4inch) whereas 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).
Dynaudio Sub 6 is 41mm shorter and 122mm less deeper than B&W DB4S but it is also 115mm wider.
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.
Near-identical footprints. B&W DB4S is 122mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. B&W DB4S is 41mm 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 Dynaudio Sub 6 is approximately 1488.2cm2 / 230.7inch2 and base area of the B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2. The Sub 6 requires 5% less surface area than the DB4S 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 Dynaudio Sub 6 weighs 20.55kg / 45.2lbs and the B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs. This makes the DB4S 27% heavier than the Sub 6.
Here is a comparison of how Sub 6 and DB4S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Sub 6?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sub 6:
- Powered subwoofer
- 2 Grilles
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Hex-nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- Wrench
- Owners Manual
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Extension Card
- Warning note
What's in the Box of B&W DB4S?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Height |
334mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1488cm2
vs
1571cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
9.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
16 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
350 Hz
vs
230 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2399USD
|
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 DB4S stands 122mm further into the room. B&W DB4S is 41mm taller.
| General |
Dynaudio Sub 6 |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-230 Hz |
10-350 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
9.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
334.0mm (13.1") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
477.0mm (18.8") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
434.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
20.55kg (45.2lbs) |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
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 | B&W DB4S goes deeper - 10Hz against 16Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | B&W DB4S has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 500W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (9.5" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Driver placement | depends | Dynaudio Sub 6 fires side and B&W DB4S 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. |
| Warranty | A | Dynaudio Sub 6 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 DB4S costs less - $2,199 against $2,399, about 8% less. |
A Dynaudio Sub 6 B B&W DB4S
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?
B&W DB4S has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is.
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.