In this review, we will be comparing HT 1003 MKII and KUBE 8b, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from REL and KEF. 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 REL HT 1003 MKII and KEF KUBE 8b 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 REL HT 1003 MKIIand KEF KUBE 8b have a single woofer setup however the REL HT 1003 MKII's woofer is 10-inch whereas the KEF KUBE 8b features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
HT 1003 MKII has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz whereas KUBE 8b has a frequency range of 34-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the HT 1003 MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the KUBE 8b'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 REL HT 1003 MKII's and KEF KUBE 8b's external dimensions. REL HT 1003 MKII has external dimensions of 341.3 x 365.1 x 435.0mm () whereas KEF KUBE 8b has external dimensions of 294.0 x 296.0 x 339.0mm (11-9/16 x 11-5/8 x 13-5/16inch).
REL HT 1003 MKII is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 69.1mm wider, 47.3mm taller and 96mm deeper than KEF KUBE 8b.
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 REL HT 1003 MKII is approximately 1588.2cm2 / 246.2inch2 and base area of the KEF KUBE 8b is approximately 1003.4cm2 / 155.5inch2. The HT 1003 MKII requires 58% more surface area than the KUBE 8b 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 REL HT 1003 MKII weighs 15.51kg / 34.1lbs and the KEF KUBE 8b weighs 11.36kg / 25lbs. This makes the HT 1003 MKII 37% heavier than the KUBE 8b.
Here is a comparison of how HT 1003 MKII and KUBE 8b's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
294mm
vs
341mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1003cm2
vs
1588cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
649USD
|
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.
REL HT 1003 MKII needs about 58% more floor area. REL HT 1003 MKII stands 96mm further into the room. REL HT 1003 MKII is 47mm taller.
| General |
REL HT 1003 MKII |
KEF KUBE 8b |
| Brand |
REL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
24-200 Hz |
34-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-140 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
341.3mm (13.4") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Width |
365.1mm (14.4") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
435.0mm (17.1") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
15.51kg (34.1lbs) |
11.36kg (25lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | REL HT 1003 MKII goes deeper - 24Hz against 34Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (300W vs 300W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | REL HT 1003 MKII 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 | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KUBE 8b is about 46% 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. |
| Warranty | A | REL HT 1003 MKII carries 3 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | KEF KUBE 8b costs less - $600 against $649, about 8% less. |
A REL HT 1003 MKII B KEF KUBE 8b
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?
REL HT 1003 MKII leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. KEF KUBE 8b is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KUBE 8b is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.