In this review, we will be comparing QX-12SUB MKII and DB4S, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Mission and Bowers Wilkins. 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 QX-12SUB MKII and B&W DB4S 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 QX-12SUB MKIIand B&W DB4S have a single woofer setup however the Mission QX-12SUB MKII's woofer is 12-inch whereas the B&W DB4S features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
QX-12SUB MKII has a frequency range of 35-120 Hz whereas DB4S has a frequency range of 10-350 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB4S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the QX-12SUB MKII's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 QX-12SUB 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 B&W DB4S 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 QX-12SUB MKII's and B&W DB4S's external dimensions. Mission QX-12SUB MKII has external dimensions of 478.0 x 400.0 x 465.0mm (18-13/16 x 15-3/4 x 18-5/16inch) whereas B&W DB4S has external dimensions of 375.0 x 362.0 x 434.0mm (14-3/4 x 14-1/4 x 17-1/16inch).
Mission QX-12SUB MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 103mm taller and 31mm deeper than B&W DB4S.
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 QX-12SUB MKII needs about 18% more floor or shelf area. Mission QX-12SUB MKII is 31mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Mission QX-12SUB MKII is 103mm 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 QX-12SUB MKII is approximately 1860.0cm2 / 288.3inch2 and base area of the B&W DB4S is approximately 1571.1cm2 / 243.5inch2. The QX-12SUB MKII requires 18% more surface area than the DB4S 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 QX-12SUB MKII weighs 23.00kg / 50.6lbs and the B&W DB4S weighs 26.05kg / 57.3lbs. This makes the DB4S 13% heavier than the QX-12SUB MKII.
Here is a comparison of how QX-12SUB MKII and DB4S's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
350 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
375mm
vs
478mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1571cm2
vs
1860cm2
|
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 QX-12SUB MKII needs about 18% more floor area. Mission QX-12SUB MKII stands 31mm further into the room. Mission QX-12SUB MKII is 103mm taller.
| General |
Mission QX-12SUB MKII |
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S |
| Brand |
Mission |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-120 Hz |
10-350 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
450-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
30 - 150 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
478.0mm (18.8") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Width |
400.0mm (15.7") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
465.0mm (18.3") |
434.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
23.00kg (50.6lbs) |
26.05kg (57.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| 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 | B&W DB4S goes deeper - 10Hz against 35Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | B&W DB4S has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 300W RMS, about 5.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Mission QX-12SUB MKII moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Mission QX-12SUB MKII is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W DB4S 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 | B&W DB4S is about 34% 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 QX-12SUB MKII costs less - $699 against $2,199, about 68% less. |
A Mission QX-12SUB MKII B B&W DB4S
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?
B&W DB4S is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 3.1x the price. Mission QX-12SUB MKII is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Mission QX-12SUB MKII will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W DB4S 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 $699 each, two Mission QX-12SUB MKII cost about $1,398 against $2,199 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.