In this review, we will be comparing Gravis I and Gravis III, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Sonus faber. 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 Sonus faber Gravis III 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 Sonus faber Gravis III 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 Sonus faber Gravis III have a single woofer setup however the Sonus faber Gravis I's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Sonus faber Gravis III features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Gravis I has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Gravis III has a frequency range of 25-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Gravis III can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 Sonus faber Gravis III 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 Sonus faber Gravis III'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 Sonus faber Gravis III has external dimensions of 415.0 x 400.0 x 495.0mm ( 16-5/16 x 15-3/4 x 19-1/2inch) .
Sonus faber Gravis III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 114mm wider, 78mm taller and 155mm deeper than Sonus faber Gravis I.
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 Sonus faber Gravis III is approximately 1980.0cm2 / 306.9inch2. The Gravis I requires 51% less surface area than the Gravis III 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 Sonus faber Gravis III weighs 26.70kg / 58.7lbs. This makes the Gravis III 84% heavier than the Gravis I.
Here is a comparison of how Gravis I and Gravis III's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
337mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
972cm2
vs
1980cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Sonus faber Gravis I |
Sonus faber Gravis III |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
600 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
25-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
600-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
900-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated Paper |
Honeycomb sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
Continuously adjustable |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
400.0mm (15.7") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
495.0mm (19.5") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
26.70kg (58.7lbs) |
| 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 |
|
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
|