In this review, we will be comparing Flexus Sub 100 and ASW608, 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 Flexus Sub 100 and B&W ASW608 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 Flexus Sub 100and B&W ASW608 have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch Flexus Sub 100's woofer is 10-inch whereas the B&W ASW608 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Flexus Sub 100 has a frequency range of 26-250 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the Flexus Sub 100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ASW608'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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 and B&W ASW608 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 335.0 x 349.0mm (13-3/8 x 13-3/16 x 13-3/4inch) whereas B&W ASW608 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 261.0 x 350.0mm (10-11/16 x 10-1/4 x 13-3/4inch).
B&W ASW608 is 74mm narrower and 68mm shorter than Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 but it is also 1mm deeper.
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.
Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 needs about 28% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is 68mm 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is approximately 1169.2cm2 / 181.2inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The Flexus Sub 100 requires 28% more surface area than the ASW608 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 Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 weighs 9.40kg / 20.7lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the Flexus Sub 100 6% heavier than the ASW608.
Here is a comparison of how Flexus Sub 100 and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
250 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
350USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Height |
272mm
vs
340mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
913cm2
vs
1169cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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.
Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 needs about 28% more floor area. Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is 68mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
80 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
26-250 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
80-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
160-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
335.0mm (13.2") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
349.0mm (13.7") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
9.40kg (20.7lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
Different price classes - B&W ASW608 costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 goes deeper - 26Hz against 32Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 32Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | B&W ASW608 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 80W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 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 | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 offers a wireless link. It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W ASW608 is about 37% 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 | A | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 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 | A | Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 costs less - $350 against $599, about 42% less. |
A Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 B B&W ASW608
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?
Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take B&W ASW608 if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $350 each, two Klipsch Flexus Sub 100 cost about $700 against $599 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - B&W ASW608 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.