In this review, we will be comparing KC62 and ASW610XP, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF 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 KEF KC62 and B&W ASW610XP 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.KEF KC62 and B&W ASW610XP have a totally different setup: the KEF KC62 features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers whereas the ASW610XP features 1 x 10-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz whereas ASW610XP has a frequency range of 25-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ASW610XP's min frequency of 25Hz.
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 KEF KC62 and B&W ASW610XP 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 KEF KC62's and B&W ASW610XP's external dimensions. KEF KC62 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 258.0 x 281.0mm (9-5/8inch x 10-1/8inch x 11-1/16inch) whereas B&W ASW610XP has external dimensions of 337.0 x 328.0 x 410.0mm (13-1/4 x 12-7/8 x 16-1/8inch).
B&W ASW610XP is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 92mm taller and 129mm deeper than KEF KC62.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF KC62 and B&W ASW610XP in scale.
Comparison image of KEF KC62 and B&W ASW610XP 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 KEF KC62 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610XP is approximately 1344.8cm2 / 208.4inch2. The KC62 requires 46% less surface area than the ASW610XP 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 KEF KC62 weighs 14.05kg / 30.9lbs and the B&W ASW610XP weighs 18.69kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the ASW610XP 33% heavier than the KC62.
Here is a comparison of how KC62 and ASW610XP's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF KC62?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of KC62:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Speaker-level input block
- User Manual
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of B&W ASW610XP?
Here are the items that come with the ASW610XP:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
25 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
245mm
vs
337mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
1344cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
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.
B&W ASW610XP needs about 85% more floor area. B&W ASW610XP stands 129mm further into the room. B&W ASW610XP is 92mm taller.
| General |
KEF KC62 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610XP |
| Brand |
KEF |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
11-200 Hz |
25-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper/Aramid Fiber/Resin |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
245.0mm (9.6") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
18.69kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 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 | A | KEF KC62 goes deeper - 11Hz against 25Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | KEF KC62 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 (2 x 6.5" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only KEF KC62 offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | KEF KC62 fires side and B&W ASW610XP 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 | KEF KC62 is about 61% 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 | KEF KC62 costs less - $1,500 against $1,799, about 17% less. |
A KEF KC62 B B&W ASW610XP
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 KC62 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take B&W ASW610XP if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC62 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.