In this review, we will be comparing Kube 15 MIE and Kube 12 MIE, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by 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 KEF Kube 15 MIE and KEF Kube 12 MIE 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 15 MIEand KEF Kube 12 MIE have a single woofer setup however the KEF Kube 15 MIE's woofer is 15-inch whereas the KEF Kube 12 MIE features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Kube 15 MIE has a frequency range of 20-140 Hz whereas Kube 12 MIE has a frequency range of 22-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Kube 15 MIE can go slightly deeper then the Kube 12 MIE's min frequency of 22Hz.
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 Kube 15 MIE and KEF Kube 12 MIE 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 Kube 15 MIE's and KEF Kube 12 MIE's external dimensions. KEF Kube 15 MIE has external dimensions of 519 x 500 x 515 mm (20.4 x 19.7 x 20.3 in) whereas KEF Kube 12 MIE has external dimensions of 410 x 393 x 410 mm (16.1 x 15.5 x 16.1 in).
KEF Kube 15 MIE is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107mm wider, 109mm taller and 105mm deeper than KEF Kube 12 MIE.
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 15 MIE needs about 60% more floor or shelf area. KEF Kube 15 MIE is 105mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Kube 15 MIE is 109mm 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 KEF Kube 15 MIE is approximately 2575.0cm2 / 399.1inch2 and base area of the KEF Kube 12 MIE is approximately 1611.3cm2 / 249.8inch2. The Kube 15 MIE requires 60% more surface area than the Kube 12 MIE 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 15 MIE weighs 27.50kg / 60.5lbs and the KEF Kube 12 MIE weighs 18.60kg / 40.9lbs. This makes the Kube 15 MIE 48% heavier than the Kube 12 MIE.
Here is a comparison of how Kube 15 MIE and Kube 12 MIE'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 15 MIE?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kube 15 MIE:
- Kube 15 MIE subwoofer
- Power cord
- Euroblock speaker level connector
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of KEF Kube 12 MIE?
Here are the items that come with the Kube 12 MIE:
- Kube 12 MIE subwoofer
- Power cord
- Euroblock speaker level connector
- User manual and warranty information
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
410mm
vs
519mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1611cm2
vs
2575cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1399USD
|
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 15 MIE needs about 60% more floor area. KEF Kube 15 MIE stands 105mm further into the room. KEF Kube 15 MIE is 109mm taller.
| General |
KEF Kube 15 MIE |
KEF Kube 12 MIE |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-140 Hz |
22-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-140 Hz |
40-140 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
519.0mm (20.4") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
515.0mm (20.3") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
27.50kg (60.5lbs) |
18.60kg (40.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
Siblings in KEF's KUBE MIE range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (20Hz vs 22Hz). |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (300W vs 300W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | KEF Kube 15 MIE moves more air: 15" against 12" 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. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction and onboard DSP). |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF Kube 12 MIE 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. |
| Price | B | KEF Kube 12 MIE costs less - $999 against $1,399, about 29% less. |
A KEF Kube 15 MIE B KEF Kube 12 MIE
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 15 MIE is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 40% more. KEF Kube 12 MIE is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF Kube 12 MIE 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.