In this review, we will be comparing Sub 1000 F and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Focal 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 Focal Sub 1000 F 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 Focal Sub 1000 Fand B&W ASW608 have a single woofer setup however the Focal Sub 1000 F's woofer is 12-inch whereas the B&W ASW608 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Sub 1000 F has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Sub 1000 F 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
Both Focal Sub 1000 F and B&W ASW608 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 Focal Sub 1000 F's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. Focal Sub 1000 F has external dimensions of 421.0 x 401.0 x 474.0mm (16-9/16 x 15-3/4 x 18-5/8inch) 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).
Focal Sub 1000 F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 149mm taller and 124mm deeper than B&W ASW608.
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 Focal Sub 1000 F is approximately 1900.7cm2 / 294.6inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The Sub 1000 F requires 108% more surface area than the ASW608 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Focal Sub 1000 F weighs 21.36kg / 47lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the Sub 1000 F 141% heavier than the ASW608.
Here is a comparison of how Sub 1000 F 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 Focal Sub 1000 F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sub 1000 F:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- User Manual
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
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
272mm
vs
421mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
913cm2
vs
1900cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
2099USD
|
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.
Focal Sub 1000 F needs about 108% more floor area. Focal Sub 1000 F stands 124mm further into the room. Focal Sub 1000 F is 149mm taller.
| General |
Focal Sub 1000 F |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-200 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
421.0mm (16.6") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
401.0mm (15.8") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
474.0mm (18.7") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
21.36kg (47lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| 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 |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Focal Sub 1000 F goes deeper - 24Hz against 32Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | A | Focal Sub 1000 F has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 200W RMS, about 7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Focal Sub 1000 F moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | B&W ASW608 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W ASW608 is about 69% 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 | Focal Sub 1000 F 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 $2,099, about 71% less. |
A Focal Sub 1000 F 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: Focal Sub 1000 F measures better, B&W ASW608 costs about 71% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, B&W ASW608 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $599 each, two B&W ASW608 cost about $1,198 against $2,099 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.