In this review, we will be comparing KC62 and CW10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF and Monitor Audio. 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 Monitor Audio CW10 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 Monitor Audio CW10 have a totally different setup: the KEF KC62 features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers whereas the CW10 features 1 x 10-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz whereas CW10 has a frequency range of 32-135 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CW10'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 KEF KC62 and Monitor Audio CW10 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 Monitor Audio CW10'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 Monitor Audio CW10 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 307.0 x 375.0mm (12-1/2 x 12-1/16 x 14-3/4inch).
Monitor Audio CW10 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 73mm taller and 94mm deeper than KEF KC62.
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 Monitor Audio CW10 is approximately 1151.3cm2 / 178.5inch2. The KC62 requires 37% less surface area than the CW10 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 Monitor Audio CW10 weighs 12.61kg / 27.7lbs. This makes the KC62 11% heavier than the CW10.
Here is a comparison of how KC62 and CW10'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 Monitor Audio CW10?
Here are the items that come with the CW10:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 10-feet Mono-minijack cable
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Safety Instructions
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
135 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
245mm
vs
318mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
1151cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1325USD
vs
1500USD
|
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.
Monitor Audio CW10 needs about 59% more floor area. Monitor Audio CW10 stands 94mm further into the room. Monitor Audio CW10 is 73mm taller.
| General |
KEF KC62 |
Monitor Audio CW10 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
11-200 Hz |
32-135 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
245.0mm (9.6") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Weight |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
12.61kg (27.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
5 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 32Hz. 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 400W RMS, about 4dB 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | KEF KC62 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. |
| 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 Monitor Audio CW10 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 51% 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 | B | Monitor Audio CW10 carries 5 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 | Monitor Audio CW10 costs less - $1,325 against $1,500, about 12% less. |
A KEF KC62 B Monitor Audio CW10
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: KEF KC62 measures better, Monitor Audio CW10 costs about 12% 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, KEF KC62 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. 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.