In this review, we will be comparing No.36 and DB3D, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from REL 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 REL No.36 and B&W DB3D 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.REL No.36 and B&W DB3D have a totally different setup: the REL No.36 features 1 x 15-inch drivers whereas the DB3D features 2 x 8-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
No.36 has a frequency range of 15 Hz (-6dB, in room) whereas DB3D has a frequency range of 10-350Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the DB3D can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the No.36's min frequency of 15Hz.
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 REL No.36 has a Sealed type cabinet. On the other hand the B&W DB3D 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 REL No.36's and B&W DB3D's external dimensions. REL No.36 has external dimensions of 541.0 x 743.0 x 816.0mm (21-5/16 x 29-1/4 x 32-1/8inch) whereas B&W DB3D has external dimensions of 368.3 x 341.3 x 347.7mm ().
REL No.36 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 401.7mm wider, 172.7mm taller and 468.3mm deeper than B&W DB3D.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
REL No.36 needs about 411% more floor or shelf area. REL No.36 is 468mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. REL No.36 is 173mm 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 REL No.36 is approximately 6062.9cm2 / 939.7inch2 and base area of the B&W DB3D is approximately 1186.7cm2 / 183.9inch2. The No.36 requires 411% more surface area than the DB3D 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 No.36 weighs 91.80kg / 202lbs and the B&W DB3D weighs 25.05kg / 55.1lbs. This makes the No.36 266% heavier than the DB3D.
Here is a comparison of how No.36 and DB3D's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of REL No.36?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of No.36:
- Subwoofer
- Grille
- 6 ft AC power cord
- 32 ft Neutrik Speakon cable
- User manual and warranty information
- Reference remote
- 2 AAA batteries
- Line Array mounting hardware
What's in the Box of B&W DB3D?
Here are the items that come with the DB3D:
- Powered subwoofer
- 2 Grilles
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Decoupling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Lock-nuts
- Cleaning cloth
- Quickstart Guide
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
- Cleaning cloth instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
15 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
350 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
368mm
vs
541mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1186cm2
vs
6062cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3499USD
vs
12000USD
|
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 No.36 needs about 411% more floor area. REL No.36 stands 468mm further into the room. REL No.36 is 173mm taller.
| General |
REL No.36 |
Bowers & Wilkins DB3D |
| Brand |
REL |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
15 Hz (-6dB, in room) |
10-350Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon fibre |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
541.0mm (21.3") |
368.3mm (14.5") |
| Width |
743.0mm (29.3") |
341.3mm (13.4") |
| Depth |
816.0mm (32.1") |
347.7mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
91.80kg (202lbs) |
25.05kg (55.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Piano Black Lacquer, 12 coats |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | B&W DB3D goes deeper - 10Hz against 15Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (1000W vs 1000W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | REL No.36 moves more air: 15" against 2 x 8" is 1.76x the cone area, not the 1.33x 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 | B&W DB3D is about 87% 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 | B&W DB3D costs less - $3,499 against $12,000, about 71% less. |
A REL No.36 B B&W DB3D
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. 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 $3,499 each, two B&W DB3D cost about $6,998 against $12,000 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - B&W DB3D 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.