In this review, we will be comparing Monitor XT12 and Sub 6, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Polk Audio and Dynaudio. 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 Polk Monitor XT12 and Dynaudio Sub 6 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 Polk Monitor XT12and Dynaudio Sub 6 have a single woofer setup however the Polk Monitor XT12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Dynaudio Sub 6 features a 9.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz whereas Sub 6 has a frequency range of 16-230 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the Sub 6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor XT12's min frequency of 24Hz.
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 Polk Monitor XT12 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 Dynaudio Sub 6 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 Polk Monitor XT12's and Dynaudio Sub 6's external dimensions. Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm (16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Sub 6 has external dimensions of 334.0 x 477.0 x 312.0mm (13-1/8 x 18-3/4 x 12-1/4inch).
Dynaudio Sub 6 is 84mm shorter and 173mm less deeper than Polk Monitor XT12 but it is also 69mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk Monitor XT12 and Dynaudio Sub 6 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk Monitor XT12 and Dynaudio Sub 6 Size and External Dimensions
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 Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Sub 6 is approximately 1488.2cm2 / 230.7inch2. The Monitor XT12 requires 33% more surface area than the Sub 6 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 Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs and the Dynaudio Sub 6 weighs 20.55kg / 45.2lbs. This makes the Sub 6 16% heavier than the Monitor XT12.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor XT12 and Sub 6's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT12:
- Black powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online registration card
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Sub 6?
Here are the items that come with the Sub 6:
- Powered subwoofer
- 2 Grilles
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Hex-nuts
- 4 Protective discs
- Wrench
- Owners Manual
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Extension Card
- Warning note
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
9.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
2399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
230 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
334mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1488cm2
vs
1978cm2
|
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.
Polk Monitor XT12 needs about 33% more floor area. Polk Monitor XT12 stands 173mm further into the room. Polk Monitor XT12 is 84mm taller.
| General |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
Dynaudio Sub 6 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-160 Hz |
16-230 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
9.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
334.0mm (13.1") |
| Width |
408.0mm (16.1") |
477.0mm (18.8") |
| Depth |
485.0mm (19.1") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
20.55kg (45.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| 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 | Dynaudio Sub 6 goes deeper - 16Hz against 24Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | Dynaudio Sub 6 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 50W RMS, about 10dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Polk Monitor XT12 moves more air: 12" against 9.5" is 1.6x the cone area, not the 1.26x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Polk Monitor XT12 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Dynaudio Sub 6 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | Polk Monitor XT12 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Driver placement | depends | Polk Monitor XT12 fires front and Dynaudio Sub 6 fires side. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Dynaudio Sub 6 is about 40% 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 | Polk Monitor XT12 costs less - $399 against $2,399, about 83% less. |
A Polk Monitor XT12 B Dynaudio Sub 6
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Polk Monitor XT12 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Dynaudio Sub 6 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, Polk Monitor XT12 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.