In this review, we will be comparing WH S8E and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale 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 Wharfedale WH-S8E and B&W ASW608 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Wharfedale WH-S8E and B&W ASW608 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.Wharfedale WH-S8Eand B&W ASW608 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
WH S8E has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the ASW608 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the WH S8E's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 WH-S8E has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the B&W ASW608 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
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 Wharfedale WH-S8E's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. Wharfedale WH-S8E has external dimensions of 330.0 x 268.0 x 327.0mm ( 13 x 10-9/16 x 12-7/8inch) whereas B&W ASW608 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 261.0 x 350.0mm ( 10-11/16 x 10-1/4 x 13-3/4inch) .
B&W ASW608 is 7mm narrower and 58mm shorter than Wharfedale WH-S8E but it is also 23mm deeper.
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 WH-S8E is approximately 876.4cm2 / 135.8inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The WH S8E requires 4% less surface area than the ASW608 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 Wharfedale WH-S8E weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the ASW608 8% heavier than the WH S8E.
Here is a comparison of how WH S8E and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
140k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
876cm2
vs
913cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
272mm
vs
330mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Wharfedale WH-S8E |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
70 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
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 |
330.0mm (13") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
268.0mm (10.6") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
327.0mm (12.9") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |