In this review, we will be comparing LX-10SUB MKII and KUBE 8b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Mission 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 Mission LX-10SUB MKII and KEF KUBE 8b 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 Mission LX-10SUB MKIIand KEF KUBE 8b have a single woofer setup however the Mission LX-10SUB MKII's woofer is 10-inch whereas the KEF KUBE 8b features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
LX-10SUB MKII has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz whereas KUBE 8b has a frequency range of 34-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the KUBE 8b can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LX-10SUB MKII'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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The Mission LX-10SUB MKII has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the KEF KUBE 8b 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 Mission LX-10SUB MKII's and KEF KUBE 8b's external dimensions. Mission LX-10SUB MKII has external dimensions of 447.0 x 312.0 x 407.0mm (17-5/8 x 12-5/16 x 16inch) whereas KEF KUBE 8b has external dimensions of 294.0 x 296.0 x 339.0mm (11-9/16 x 11-5/8 x 13-5/16inch).
Mission LX-10SUB MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 153mm taller and 68mm deeper than KEF KUBE 8b.
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.
Mission LX-10SUB MKII needs about 27% more floor or shelf area. Mission LX-10SUB MKII is 68mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Mission LX-10SUB MKII is 153mm 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 Mission LX-10SUB MKII is approximately 1269.8cm2 / 196.8inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 8b is approximately 1003.4cm2 / 155.5inch2. The LX-10SUB MKII requires 27% more surface area than the KUBE 8b 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 Mission LX-10SUB MKII weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the KEF KUBE 8b weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs. This makes the LX-10SUB MKII 41% heavier than the KUBE 8b.
Here is a comparison of how LX-10SUB MKII and KUBE 8b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
294mm
vs
447mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1003cm2
vs
1269cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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.
Mission LX-10SUB MKII needs about 27% more floor area. Mission LX-10SUB MKII stands 68mm further into the room. Mission LX-10SUB MKII is 153mm taller.
| General |
Mission LX-10SUB MKII |
KEF KUBE 8b |
| Brand |
Mission |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
34-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
350-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
30 - 150Hz |
40-140 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
447.0mm (17.6") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
407.0mm (16") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 | KEF KUBE 8b goes deeper - 34Hz against 40Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 40Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KUBE 8b has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 200W RMS, about 1.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Mission LX-10SUB MKII 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 | Mission LX-10SUB MKII is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; KEF KUBE 8b 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 | KEF KUBE 8b is about 48% 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 | Mission LX-10SUB MKII costs less - $499 against $600, about 17% less. |
A Mission LX-10SUB MKII B KEF KUBE 8b
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: KEF KUBE 8b measures better, Mission LX-10SUB MKII costs about 17% 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, Mission LX-10SUB MKII will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KUBE 8b is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KUBE 8b 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.