In this review, we will be comparing WH S8E and Nero DueVoce DualX8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and OSD. 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 OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 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 WH-S8Eand OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 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 Nero DueVoce DualX8 has a frequency range of 17-165 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Nero DueVoce DualX8 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
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 WH-S8E's and OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8'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 OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 has external dimensions of 311.2 x 265.1 x 333.4mm ().
OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 is 2.9mm narrower and 18.8mm shorter than Wharfedale WH-S8E but it is also 6.4mm deeper.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Wharfedale WH-S8E is 19mm 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 WH-S8E is approximately 876.4cm2 / 135.8inch2 and base area of the OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The WH S8E requires 1% less surface area than the Nero DueVoce DualX8 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 OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 weighs 7.80kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the WH S8E 5% heavier than the Nero DueVoce DualX8.
Here is a comparison of how WH S8E and Nero DueVoce DualX8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
165 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
876cm2
vs
883cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
311mm
vs
330mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
399USD
|
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.
Near-identical footprints. Wharfedale WH-S8E is 19mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale WH-S8E |
OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
OSD |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
17-165 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
130-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.0mm (13") |
311.2mm (12.3") |
| Width |
268.0mm (10.6") |
265.1mm (10.4") |
| Depth |
327.0mm (12.9") |
333.4mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
7.80kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 goes deeper - 17Hz against 40Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 has the bigger amplifier - 130W against 70W RMS, about 2.7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (8" against 8"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Wharfedale WH-S8E is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Warranty | A | Wharfedale WH-S8E 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 | OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 costs less - $300 against $399, about 25% less. |
A Wharfedale WH-S8E B OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8
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?
OSD Nero DueVoce DualX8 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is.
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.