In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 1600X and KUBE 10b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from MartinLogan and KEF. 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 MartinLogan 1600X and KEF KUBE 10b 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 MartinLogan 1600Xand KEF KUBE 10b have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 1600X's woofer is 15-inch whereas the KEF KUBE 10b features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 1600X has a frequency range of 20-200 Hz whereas KUBE 10b has a frequency range of 24-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Dynamo 1600X can go slightly deeper then the KUBE 10b's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 MartinLogan 1600X and KEF KUBE 10b 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 MartinLogan 1600X's and KEF KUBE 10b's external dimensions. MartinLogan 1600X has external dimensions of 510.0 x 456.0 x 470.0mm (20-1/16 x 17-15/16 x 18-1/2inch) whereas KEF KUBE 10b has external dimensions of 372.0 x 356.0 x 397.0mm (14-5/8 x 14 x 15-5/8inch).
MartinLogan 1600X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 138mm taller and 73mm deeper than KEF KUBE 10b.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 1600X and KEF KUBE 10b in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 1600X and KEF KUBE 10b 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 MartinLogan 1600X is approximately 2143.2cm2 / 332.2inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 10b is approximately 1413.3cm2 / 219.1inch2. The Dynamo 1600X requires 52% more surface area than the KUBE 10b 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 MartinLogan 1600X weighs 25.91kg / 57lbs and the KEF KUBE 10b weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs. This makes the Dynamo 1600X 48% heavier than the KUBE 10b.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 1600X and KUBE 10b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 1600X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 1600X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of KEF KUBE 10b?
Here are the items that come with the KUBE 10b:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Speaker-level input block
- User Manual
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
372mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1413cm2
vs
2143cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
750USD
vs
2000USD
|
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.
MartinLogan 1600X needs about 52% more floor area. MartinLogan 1600X stands 73mm further into the room. MartinLogan 1600X is 138mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X |
KEF KUBE 10b |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
900 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-200 Hz |
24-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
900-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-140 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
510.0mm (20.1") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
456.0mm (18") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
470.0mm (18.5") |
397.0mm (15.6") |
| Weight |
25.91kg (57lbs) |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
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 | A | MartinLogan 1600X goes deeper - 20Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | MartinLogan 1600X has the bigger amplifier - 900W against 300W RMS, about 4.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | MartinLogan 1600X moves more air: 15" against 10" 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 sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction). |
| Driver placement | depends | MartinLogan 1600X fires down and KEF KUBE 10b fires front. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KUBE 10b is about 52% 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 | MartinLogan 1600X carries 3 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 | B | KEF KUBE 10b costs less - $750 against $2,000, about 63% less. |
A MartinLogan 1600X B KEF KUBE 10b
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: MartinLogan 1600X measures better, KEF KUBE 10b costs about 63% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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 $750 each, two KEF KUBE 10b cost about $1,500 against $2,000 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KUBE 10b 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.