In this review, we will be comparing KUBE 10b and Cub Evo, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF and Focal. 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 KUBE 10b and Focal Cub Evo 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 KEF KUBE 10band Focal Cub Evo have a single woofer setup however the KEF KUBE 10b's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Focal Cub Evo features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
KUBE 10b has a frequency range of 24-140 Hz whereas Cub Evo has a frequency range of 35-150 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 Cub Evo's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
The KEF KUBE 10b has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Focal Cub Evo have Bass Reflex type enclosure. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed 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 KUBE 10b's and Focal Cub Evo's external dimensions. KEF KUBE 10b has external dimensions of 372.0 x 356.0 x 397.0mm (14-5/8 x 14 x 15-5/8inch) whereas Focal Cub Evo has external dimensions of 308.0 x 285.0 x 328.0mm (12-1/8 x 11-3/16 x 12-7/8inch).
KEF KUBE 10b is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 71mm wider, 64mm taller and 69mm deeper than Focal Cub Evo.
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 KUBE 10b is approximately 1413.3cm2 / 219.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Cub Evo is approximately 934.8cm2 / 144.9inch2. The KUBE 10b requires 51% more surface area than the Cub Evo 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 KEF KUBE 10b weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Focal Cub Evo weighs 7.95kg / 17.5lbs. This makes the KUBE 10b 120% heavier than the Cub Evo.
Here is a comparison of how KUBE 10b and Cub Evo'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 KUBE 10b?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of KUBE 10b:
- 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 Focal Cub Evo?
Here are the items that come with the Cub Evo:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Thank You Card
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
308mm
vs
372mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
934cm2
vs
1413cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
750USD
|
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.
KEF KUBE 10b needs about 51% more floor area. KEF KUBE 10b stands 69mm further into the room. KEF KUBE 10b is 64mm taller.
| General |
KEF KUBE 10b |
Focal Cub Evo |
| Brand |
KEF |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-140 Hz |
35-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polyflex |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-140 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
372.0mm (14.6") |
308.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
356.0mm (14") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Depth |
397.0mm (15.6") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
7.95kg (17.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | KEF KUBE 10b goes deeper - 24Hz against 35Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | A | 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 | A | 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 | depends | KEF KUBE 10b is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Focal Cub Evo is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only KEF KUBE 10b 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 KUBE 10b fires front and Focal Cub Evo fires down. 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 | Focal Cub Evo is about 45% 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 | Focal Cub Evo 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 | Focal Cub Evo costs less - $599 against $750, about 20% less. |
A KEF KUBE 10b B Focal Cub Evo
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 KUBE 10b measures better, Focal Cub Evo costs about 20% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Focal Cub Evo will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KUBE 10b is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Focal Cub Evo 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.