In this review, we will be comparing DWM and Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo, two Passive Subwoofer speakers from Magnepan and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Magnepan DWM and Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 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.Magnepan DWM and Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo have a totally different setup: the Magnepan DWM features x -inch drivers whereas the Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo features 1 x 13-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
DWM has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz whereas Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo has a frequency range of 22-500 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DWM's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo
Cabinet Type
The Magnepan DWM has a Dipole type cabinet. On the other hand the Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 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 Magnepan DWM's and Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo's external dimensions. Magnepan DWM has external dimensions of 489.0 x 571.5 x 31.8mm (19.25 x 22.5 x 1.25inch) whereas Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo has external dimensions of 634.0 x 483.0 x 622.0mm (24-15/16 x 19 x 24-1/2inch).
Magnepan DWM is 145mm shorter and 590.2mm less deeper than Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo but it is also 88.5mm wider.
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.
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo needs about 1553% more floor or shelf area. Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo is 590mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo is 145mm 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 Magnepan DWM is approximately 181.7cm2 / 28.2inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo is approximately 3004.3cm2 / 465.7inch2. The DWM requires 94% less surface area than the Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 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 Magnepan DWM weighs 8.62kg / 19lbs and the Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo weighs 72.00kg / 158.4lbs. This makes the Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 735% heavier than the DWM.
Here is a comparison of how DWM and Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo
 Height |
489mm
vs
634mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
181cm2
vs
3004cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1295USD
vs
20999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
13 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
500 Hz
vs
200 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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.
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo needs about 1553% more floor area. Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo stands 590mm further into the room. Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo is 145mm taller.
| General |
Magnepan DWM |
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo |
| Brand |
Magnepan |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Passive Subwoofer |
Passive Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
22-500 Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
13" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
W sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
489.0mm (19.3") |
634.0mm (25") |
| Width |
571.5mm (22.5") |
483.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
31.8mm (1.3") |
622.0mm (24.5") |
| Weight |
8.62kg (19lbs) |
72.00kg (158.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Dipole |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A dipole 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 | Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo goes deeper - 22Hz against 40Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Enclosure | depends | Magnepan DWM is dipole - a dipole cancels to the sides and excites room modes less, but needs far more power; Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Magnepan DWM is about 95% 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 | A | Magnepan DWM costs less - $1,295 against $20,999, about 94% less. |
A Magnepan DWM B Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo
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?
Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 16.2x the price. Magnepan DWM is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Magnepan DWM will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Focal Sub Utopia EM Colour Evo 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 $1,295 each, two Magnepan DWM cost about $2,590 against $20,999 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.