In this review, we will be comparing Performa4 B140 and ASW610, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Revel 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 Revel Performa4 B140 and B&W ASW610 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.Revel Performa4 B140and B&W ASW610 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 10" drivers.
Frequency Response
Performa4 B140 has a frequency range of 26-150 Hz whereas ASW610 has a frequency range of 27-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the Performa4 B140 can go slightly deeper then the ASW610's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 Revel Performa4 B140's and B&W ASW610's external dimensions. Revel Performa4 B140 has external dimensions of 376.2 x 430.2 x 438.2mm () whereas B&W ASW610 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 312.0 x 394.0mm (12-5/8 x 12-1/4 x 15-1/2inch).
Revel Performa4 B140 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 118.2mm wider, 55.2mm taller and 44.2mm deeper than B&W ASW610.
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.
Revel Performa4 B140 needs about 53% more floor or shelf area. Revel Performa4 B140 is 44mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Revel Performa4 B140 is 55mm 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 Revel Performa4 B140 is approximately 1885.1cm2 / 292.2inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610 is approximately 1229.3cm2 / 190.5inch2. The Performa4 B140 requires 53% more surface area than the ASW610 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 Revel Performa4 B140 weighs 27.81kg / 61.2lbs and the B&W ASW610 weighs 12.55kg / 27.6lbs. This makes the Performa4 B140 122% heavier than the ASW610.
Here is a comparison of how Performa4 B140 and ASW610's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
376mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1229cm2
vs
1885cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
3000USD
|
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.
Revel Performa4 B140 needs about 53% more floor area. Revel Performa4 B140 stands 44mm further into the room. Revel Performa4 B140 is 55mm taller.
| General |
Revel Performa4 B140 |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
26-150 Hz |
27-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
750-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
376.2mm (14.8") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
430.2mm (16.9") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Depth |
438.2mm (17.3") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
27.81kg (61.2lbs) |
12.55kg (27.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
2 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (26Hz vs 27Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Revel Performa4 B140 has the bigger amplifier - 750W against 200W RMS, about 5.7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Revel Performa4 B140 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; B&W ASW610 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | B&W ASW610 is about 44% 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 | Revel Performa4 B140 carries 5 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 | B&W ASW610 costs less - $899 against $3,000, about 70% less. |
A Revel Performa4 B140 B B&W ASW610
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: Revel Performa4 B140 measures better, B&W ASW610 costs about 70% 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, Revel Performa4 B140 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, B&W ASW610 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 $899 each, two B&W ASW610 cost about $1,798 against $3,000 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.