In this review, we will be comparing Gravis I and ASW610, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sonus Faber 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 Sonus faber Gravis I and B&W ASW610 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Sonus faber Gravis I and B&W ASW610 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Sonus faber Gravis Iand B&W ASW610 have a single woofer setup however the Sonus faber Gravis I's woofer is 8-inch whereas the B&W ASW610 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Gravis I has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas ASW610 has a frequency range of 27-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the ASW610 can go slightly deeper then the Gravis I's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
Both Sonus faber Gravis I and B&W ASW610 have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sonus faber Gravis I's and B&W ASW610's external dimensions. Sonus faber Gravis I has external dimensions of 337.0 x 286.0 x 340.0mm ( 13-1/4inch x 11-1/4inch x 13-3/8inch ) 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) .
Sonus faber Gravis I is 26mm narrower and 54mm less deeper than B&W ASW610 but it is also 16mm 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 Sonus faber Gravis I is approximately 972.4cm2 / 150.7inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW610 is approximately 1229.3cm2 / 190.5inch2. The Gravis I requires 21% less surface area than the ASW610 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 Sonus faber Gravis I weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the B&W ASW610 weighs 12.55kg / 27.6lbs. This makes the Gravis I 16% heavier than the ASW610.
Here is a comparison of how Gravis I and ASW610's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Gravis I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gravis I:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord33-feet Speakon cableOwners ManualEnvironmental Information
What's in the Box of B&W ASW610?
Here are the items that come with the ASW610:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cord4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nutsManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Base Surface Area |
972cm2
vs
1229cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
140k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
337mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Gravis I |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
27-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated Paper |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
12.55kg (27.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Matte White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
2 Years |