In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 800X and SuperCube 4000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from MartinLogan and Definitive Technology. 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 800X and DT SuperCube 4000 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 800Xand DT SuperCube 4000 have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 800X's woofer is 10-inch whereas the DT SuperCube 4000 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 800X has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz whereas SuperCube 4000 has a frequency range of 16-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SuperCube 4000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dynamo 800X'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
The MartinLogan 800X has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the DT SuperCube 4000 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed 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 800X's and DT SuperCube 4000's external dimensions. MartinLogan 800X has external dimensions of 351.0 x 318.0 x 350.0mm (13-13/16 x 12-1/2 x 13-3/4inch) whereas DT SuperCube 4000 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 281.0 x 318.0mm (11-7/8 x 11-1/16 x 12-1/2inch).
MartinLogan 800X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 49mm taller and 32mm deeper than DT SuperCube 4000.
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 800X is approximately 1113.0cm2 / 172.5inch2 and base area of the DT SuperCube 4000 is approximately 893.6cm2 / 138.5inch2. The Dynamo 800X requires 25% more surface area than the SuperCube 4000 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 800X weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs and the DT SuperCube 4000 weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs. This makes the Dynamo 800X 20% heavier than the SuperCube 4000.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 800X and SuperCube 4000'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 800X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 800X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of DT SuperCube 4000?
Here are the items that come with the SuperCube 4000:
- 8-inch Powered subwoofer
- 7-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (CR2025 battery installed)
- 4 Threaded rubber-feet
- 4 Spike feet (hex-nut attached)
- Owners Manual
- SC4000 Booklet
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
302mm
vs
351mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
893cm2
vs
1113cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
900USD
|
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 800X needs about 25% more floor area. MartinLogan 800X stands 32mm further into the room. MartinLogan 800X is 49mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 800X |
Definitive Technology SuperCube 4000 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-200 Hz |
16-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-150 Hz and 40-150 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front and bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
351.0mm (13.8") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
318.0mm (12.5") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | DT SuperCube 4000 goes deeper - 16Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | DT SuperCube 4000 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 300W RMS, about 6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | MartinLogan 800X 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 | MartinLogan 800X is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; DT SuperCube 4000 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only MartinLogan 800X offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | MartinLogan 800X fires front/down and DT SuperCube 4000 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 | DT SuperCube 4000 is about 31% 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 | B | DT SuperCube 4000 costs less - $799 against $900, about 11% less. |
A MartinLogan 800X B DT SuperCube 4000
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?
DT SuperCube 4000 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, DT SuperCube 4000 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, MartinLogan 800X is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - DT SuperCube 4000 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.