In this review, we will be comparing CR8SBT and DB4S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Mackie 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 Mackie CR8SBT and B&W DB4S 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 Mackie CR8SBTand B&W DB4S have a single woofer setup however the Mackie CR8SBT's woofer is 8-inch whereas the B&W DB4S features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
CR8SBT has a frequency range of 37-400 Hz whereas DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CR8SBT's min frequency of 37Hz.
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
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 Mackie CR8SBT's and B&W DB4S's external dimensions. Mackie CR8SBT has external dimensions of 368.3 x 322.3 x 457.2mm () whereas B&W DB4S has external dimensions of 375.0 x 362.0 x 434.0mm (14-3/4 x 14-1/4 x 17-1/16inch).
Mackie CR8SBT is 39.7mm narrower and 6.7mm shorter than B&W DB4S but it is also 23.2mm 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.
Near-identical footprints. Mackie CR8SBT is 23mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Mackie CR8SBT is approximately 1473.6cm2 / 228.4inch2 and base area of the B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2. The CR8SBT requires 6% less surface area than the DB4S 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 Mackie CR8SBT weighs 11.52kg / 25.3lbs and the B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs. This makes the DB4S 126% heavier than the CR8SBT.
Here is a comparison of how CR8SBT and DB4S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
400 Hz
vs
350 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
368mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1473cm2
vs
1571cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
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.
Near-identical footprints. Mackie CR8SBT stands 23mm further into the room.
| General |
Mackie CR8SBT |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
| Brand |
Mackie |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
37-400 Hz |
10-350 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
368.3mm (14.5") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
322.3mm (12.7") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
457.2mm (18") |
434.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
11.52kg (25.3lbs) |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
A ported 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 | B | B&W DB4S goes deeper - 10Hz against 37Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | B&W DB4S has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 100W RMS, about 10dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | B&W DB4S 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 | Mackie CR8SBT is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W DB4S 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. |
| Warranty | B | B&W DB4S carries 2 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | Mackie CR8SBT costs less - $200 against $2,199, about 91% less. |
A Mackie CR8SBT B B&W DB4S
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: B&W DB4S measures better, Mackie CR8SBT costs about 91% 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, Mackie CR8SBT will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W DB4S is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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 $200 each, two Mackie CR8SBT cost about $400 against $2,199 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.