In this review, we will be comparing Defiance V8 and Defiance S10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Paradigm. 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 Paradigm Defiance V8 and Paradigm Defiance S10 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 Paradigm Defiance V8and Paradigm Defiance S10 have a single woofer setup however the Paradigm Defiance V8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Paradigm Defiance S10 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Defiance V8 has a frequency range of 34-200 Hz whereas Defiance S10 has a frequency range of 25-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Defiance S10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Defiance V8's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 Paradigm Defiance V8's and Paradigm Defiance S10's external dimensions. Paradigm Defiance V8 has external dimensions of 361.0 x 326.0 x 399.0mm (14-3/16inch x 12-13/16inch x 15-11/16inch) whereas Paradigm Defiance S10 has external dimensions of 338.1 x 342.9 x 425.5mm ().
Paradigm Defiance V8 is 16.9mm narrower and 26.5mm less deeper than Paradigm Defiance S10 but it is also 22.9mm 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 Paradigm Defiance V8 is approximately 1300.7cm2 / 201.6inch2 and base area of the Paradigm Defiance S10 is approximately 1459.0cm2 / 226.1inch2. The Defiance V8 requires 11% less surface area than the Defiance S10 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 Paradigm Defiance V8 weighs 12.05kg / 26.5lbs and the Paradigm Defiance S10 weighs 15.74kg / 34.6lbs. This makes the Defiance S10 31% heavier than the Defiance V8.
Here is a comparison of how Defiance V8 and Defiance S10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Base Surface Area |
1300cm2
vs
1459cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
480USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
338mm
vs
361mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
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.
Paradigm Defiance S10 needs about 12% more floor area. Paradigm Defiance S10 stands 27mm further into the room. Paradigm Defiance V8 is 23mm taller.
| General |
Paradigm Defiance V8 |
Paradigm Defiance S10 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
34-200 Hz |
25-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
75-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-loaded polypropylene |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
361.0mm (14.2") |
338.1mm (13.3") |
| Width |
326.0mm (12.8") |
342.9mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
399.0mm (15.7") |
425.5mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
12.05kg (26.5lbs) |
15.74kg (34.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 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 | Paradigm Defiance S10 goes deeper - 25Hz against 34Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | Paradigm Defiance S10 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 75W RMS, about 8.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Paradigm Defiance S10 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 | Paradigm Defiance V8 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Paradigm Defiance S10 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. |
| Price | A | Paradigm Defiance V8 costs less - $480 against $1,200, about 60% less. |
A Paradigm Defiance V8 B Paradigm Defiance S10
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: Paradigm Defiance S10 measures better, Paradigm Defiance V8 costs about 60% 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, Paradigm Defiance V8 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Paradigm Defiance S10 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 $480 each, two Paradigm Defiance V8 cost about $960 against $1,200 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.