In this review, we will be comparing Vestra W12 and Vestra W10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Monitor Audio. 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 Vestra W12 and Monitor Audio Vestra W10 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 Monitor Audio Vestra W12and Monitor Audio Vestra W10 have a single woofer setup however the Monitor Audio Vestra W12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Monitor Audio Vestra W10 features a 10.0-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Vestra W12 and Vestra W10 has exactly the same frequency range of 19-200 Hz.
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
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 Monitor Audio Vestra W12's and Monitor Audio Vestra W10's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has external dimensions of 384.2 x 371.5 x 442.9mm () whereas Monitor Audio Vestra W10 has external dimensions of 342.9 x 330.2 x 403.2mm ().
Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 41.3mm wider, 41.3mm taller and 39.7mm deeper than Monitor Audio Vestra W10.
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 Vestra W12 is approximately 1645.4cm2 / 255.0inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Vestra W10 is approximately 1331.4cm2 / 206.4inch2. The Vestra W12 requires 24% more surface area than the Vestra W10 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 Monitor Audio Vestra W12 weighs 18.28kg / 40.2lbs and the Monitor Audio Vestra W10 weighs 13.29kg / 29.2lbs. This makes the Vestra W12 38% heavier than the Vestra W10.
Here is a comparison of how Vestra W12 and Vestra W10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10.0 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
342mm
vs
384mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1331cm2
vs
1645cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
979USD
vs
1199USD
|
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.
Monitor Audio Vestra W12 needs about 24% more floor area. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 stands 40mm further into the room. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is 41mm taller.
| General |
Monitor Audio Vestra W12 |
Monitor Audio Vestra W10 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
19-200 Hz |
19-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
342.9mm (13.5") |
| Width |
371.5mm (14.6") |
330.2mm (13") |
| Depth |
442.9mm (17.4") |
403.2mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
18.28kg (40.2lbs) |
13.29kg (29.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Monitor Audio's Vestra range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (19Hz vs 19Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 250W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 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 | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Monitor Audio Vestra W10 is about 28% 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 | Monitor Audio Vestra W10 costs less - $979 against $1,199, about 18% less. |
A Monitor Audio Vestra W12 B Monitor Audio Vestra W10
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: Monitor Audio Vestra W12 measures better, Monitor Audio Vestra W10 costs about 18% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.