In this review, we will be comparing SUB80P and KUBE 10b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL 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 JBL SUB80P and KEF KUBE 10b 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 JBL SUB80Pand KEF KUBE 10b have a single woofer setup however the JBL SUB80P's woofer is 8-inch whereas the KEF KUBE 10b features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SUB80P has a frequency range of 45-200 Hz whereas KUBE 10b has a frequency range of 24-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the KUBE 10b can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SUB80P's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 JBL SUB80P and KEF KUBE 10b 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 JBL SUB80P's and KEF KUBE 10b's external dimensions. JBL SUB80P has external dimensions of 353.0 x 267.0 x 267.0mm (13-7/8 x 10-1/2 x 10-1/2inch) whereas KEF KUBE 10b has external dimensions of 372.0 x 356.0 x 397.0mm (14-5/8 x 14 x 15-5/8inch).
KEF KUBE 10b is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89mm wider, 19mm taller and 130mm deeper than JBL SUB80P.
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.
KEF KUBE 10b needs about 98% more floor or shelf area. KEF KUBE 10b is 130mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF KUBE 10b is 19mm 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 JBL SUB80P is approximately 712.9cm2 / 110.5inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 10b is approximately 1413.3cm2 / 219.1inch2. The SUB80P requires 50% less surface area than the KUBE 10b 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 JBL SUB80P weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the KEF KUBE 10b weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs. This makes the KUBE 10b 94% heavier than the SUB80P.
Here is a comparison of how SUB80P and KUBE 10b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
353mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
712cm2
vs
1413cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
45 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.
KEF KUBE 10b needs about 98% more floor area. KEF KUBE 10b stands 130mm further into the room. KEF KUBE 10b is 19mm taller.
| General |
JBL SUB80P |
KEF KUBE 10b |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
45-200 Hz |
24-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
400-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibre composite |
|
| 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 |
353.0mm (13.9") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
267.0mm (10.5") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
397.0mm (15.6") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 | KEF KUBE 10b goes deeper - 24Hz against 45Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KUBE 10b has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 200W RMS, about 1.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | KEF KUBE 10b moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | JBL SUB80P fires down and KEF KUBE 10b 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | JBL SUB80P is about 52% 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 | JBL SUB80P costs less - $599 against $750, about 20% less. |
A JBL SUB80P B KEF KUBE 10b
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 10b leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. JBL SUB80P is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - JBL SUB80P 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.