In this review, we will be comparing Nova 12 and KC92, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 and KEF KC92 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.Wharfedale Nova 12 and KEF KC92 have a totally different setup: the Wharfedale Nova 12 features 1 x 12-inch drivers whereas the KC92 features 2 x 9-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Nova 12 has a frequency range of 28 Hz (-6dB) whereas KC92 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC92 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Nova 12's min frequency of 28Hz.
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 Wharfedale Nova 12 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the KEF KC92 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 Wharfedale Nova 12's and KEF KC92's external dimensions. Wharfedale Nova 12 has external dimensions of 443.0 x 435.0 x 487.0mm (17.44inch x 17.13inch x 19.17inch) whereas KEF KC92 has external dimensions of 352.5 x 330 x 360.5 mm (13.88 x 13.00 x 14.19 in).
Wharfedale Nova 12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 105mm wider, 91mm taller and 126mm deeper than KEF KC92.
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.
Wharfedale Nova 12 needs about 78% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Nova 12 is 126mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Nova 12 is 91mm 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 is approximately 2118.5cm2 / 328.4inch2 and base area of the KEF KC92 is approximately 1191.3cm2 / 184.7inch2. The Nova 12 requires 78% more surface area than the KC92 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 Wharfedale Nova 12 weighs 29.30kg / 64.5lbs and the KEF KC92 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the Nova 12 47% heavier than the KC92.
Here is a comparison of how Nova 12 and KC92's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Nova 12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Nova 12:
- Subwoofer
- Power cord
- Manual
- Rubber feet pads
What's in the Box of KEF KC92?
Here are the items that come with the KC92:
- KC92 subwoofer
- Power cord
- Euroblock speaker level connector
- User manual and warranty information
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
1 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Price per pair* |
1599USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
352mm
vs
443mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1191cm2
vs
2118cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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.
Wharfedale Nova 12 needs about 78% more floor area. Wharfedale Nova 12 stands 126mm further into the room. Wharfedale Nova 12 is 91mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale Nova 12 |
KEF KC92 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
280 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28 Hz (-6dB) |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
280-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
770-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
9" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40-140 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
443.0mm (17.4") |
352.0mm (13.9") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17.1") |
330.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
487.0mm (19.2") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
29.30kg (64.5lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Matte Black |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
A passive radiator 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 | B | KEF KC92 goes deeper - 11Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KC92 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 280W RMS, about 5.5dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 2 x 9"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Wharfedale Nova 12 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; KEF KC92 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. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (onboard DSP). |
| Wireless option | depends | Only KEF KC92 offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC92 is about 55% 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 | A | Wharfedale Nova 12 costs less - $1,599 against $1,999, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale Nova 12 B KEF KC92
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: KEF KC92 measures better, Wharfedale Nova 12 costs about 20% 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, Wharfedale Nova 12 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KC92 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC92 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.