In this review, we will be comparing CR8SBT and C 912, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Mackie and Jamo. 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 Jamo C 912 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 Jamo C 912 have a single woofer setup however the Mackie CR8SBT's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Jamo C 912 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
CR8SBT has a frequency range of 37-400 Hz whereas C 912 has a frequency range of 29-125 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the C 912 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 Jamo C 912's external dimensions. Mackie CR8SBT has external dimensions of 368.3 x 322.3 x 457.2mm () whereas Jamo C 912 has external dimensions of 461.0 x 358.0 x 507.0mm (18-1/8 x 14-1/16 x 19-15/16inch).
Jamo C 912 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35.7mm wider, 92.7mm taller and 49.8mm deeper than Mackie CR8SBT.
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.
Jamo C 912 needs about 23% more floor or shelf area. Jamo C 912 is 50mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Jamo C 912 is 93mm 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 Mackie CR8SBT is approximately 1473.6cm2 / 228.4inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 912 is approximately 1815.1cm2 / 281.3inch2. The CR8SBT requires 19% less surface area than the C 912 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 Jamo C 912 weighs 18.98kg / 41.8lbs. This makes the C 912 65% heavier than the CR8SBT.
Here is a comparison of how CR8SBT and C 912's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
400 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
368mm
vs
461mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1473cm2
vs
1815cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
229USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
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.
Jamo C 912 needs about 23% more floor area. Jamo C 912 stands 50mm further into the room. Jamo C 912 is 93mm taller.
| General |
Mackie CR8SBT |
Jamo C 912 |
| Brand |
Mackie |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
37-400 Hz |
29-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
368.3mm (14.5") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Width |
322.3mm (12.7") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
457.2mm (18") |
507.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
11.52kg (25.3lbs) |
18.98kg (41.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | Jamo C 912 goes deeper - 29Hz against 37Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 37Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | Jamo C 912 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 100W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Jamo C 912 moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Mackie CR8SBT is about 35% 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 | Jamo C 912 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 $229, about 13% less. |
A Mackie CR8SBT B Jamo C 912
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?
Jamo C 912 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. Mackie CR8SBT is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Mackie CR8SBT 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.