In this review, we will be comparing C-308ASWi and ASW610, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi and B&W ASW610 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 Klipsch C-308ASWiand B&W ASW610 have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch C-308ASWi's woofer is 8-inch whereas the B&W ASW610 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
C-308ASWi has a frequency range of 28-150 Hz whereas ASW610 has a frequency range of 27-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the ASW610 can go slightly deeper then the C-308ASWi's min frequency of 28Hz.
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 Klipsch C-308ASWi has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W ASW610 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi's and B&W ASW610's external dimensions. Klipsch C-308ASWi has external dimensions of 299.0 x 286.0 x 356.0mm (11-3/4 x 11-1/4 x 14inch) whereas B&W ASW610 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 312.0 x 394.0mm (12-5/8 x 12-1/4 x 15-1/2inch).
B&W ASW610 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 22mm taller and 38mm deeper than Klipsch C-308ASWi.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch C-308ASWi and B&W ASW610 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch C-308ASWi and B&W ASW610 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi is approximately 1018.2cm2 / 157.8inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610 is approximately 1229.3cm2 / 190.5inch2. The C-308ASWi requires 17% less surface area than the ASW610 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi weighs 12.27kg / 27lbs and the B&W ASW610 weighs 12.55kg / 27.6lbs. This makes the ASW610 2% heavier than the C-308ASWi.
Here is a comparison of how C-308ASWi and ASW610's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch C-308ASWi?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of C-308ASWi:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
What's in the Box of B&W ASW610?
Here are the items that come with the ASW610:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
299mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1018cm2
vs
1229cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1299USD
|
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.
B&W ASW610 needs about 21% more floor area. B&W ASW610 stands 38mm further into the room. B&W ASW610 is 22mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch C Series C-308ASWi |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-150 Hz |
27-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
299.0mm (11.8") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Depth |
356.0mm (14") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
12.27kg (27lbs) |
12.55kg (27.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
A passive radiator subwoofer against a sealed 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (28Hz vs 27Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Klipsch C-308ASWi 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 | B&W ASW610 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 | Klipsch C-308ASWi is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; B&W ASW610 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. 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 Klipsch C-308ASWi 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch C-308ASWi is about 23% 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 | B&W ASW610 costs less - $899 against $1,299, about 31% less. |
A Klipsch C-308ASWi B B&W ASW610
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch C-308ASWi will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W ASW610 is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.