In this review, we will be comparing CW8 and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Monitor Audio 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 Monitor Audio CW8 and B&W ASW608 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio CW8 and B&W ASW608 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Monitor Audio CW8and B&W ASW608 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
CW8 has a frequency range of 35-135 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the ASW608 can go slightly deeper then the CW8'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
Both Monitor Audio CW8 and B&W ASW608 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Monitor Audio CW8's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. Monitor Audio CW8 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 262.0 x 326.0mm ( 10-3/4 x 10-5/16 x 12-13/16inch) whereas B&W ASW608 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 261.0 x 350.0mm ( 10-11/16 x 10-1/4 x 13-3/4inch) .
B&W ASW608 is 1mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Monitor Audio CW8 but it is also 24mm deeper.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 is approximately 854.1cm2 / 132.4inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The CW8 requires 7% less surface area than the ASW608 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 Monitor Audio CW8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the CW8 8% heavier than the ASW608.
Here is a comparison of how CW8 and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CW8?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CW8:
Powered subwooferGrille (pre-installed)4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)6-feet AC power cord10-feet Mono-minijack cableOwners ManualWarranty CardSafety Instructions
What's in the Box of B&W ASW608?
Here are the items that come with the ASW608:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cord4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nutsManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Base Surface Area |
854cm2
vs
913cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
140k Hz
vs
135k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
272mm
vs
274mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Monitor Audio CW8 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
350 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-135 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
262.0mm (10.3") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |