In this review, we will be comparing WH S8E and WH D8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Wharfedale. 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 Wharfedale WH-D8 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 Wharfedale WH-D8 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 Wharfedale WH-D8 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 WH D8 has a frequency range of 40-120 Hz.
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 Wharfedale WH-D8 have Infinite Baffle type enclosure.
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 Wharfedale WH-D8'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 Wharfedale WH-D8 has external dimensions of 328.0 x 268.0 x 322.0mm ( 12-15/16 x 10-9/16 x 12-11/16inch) .
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 Wharfedale WH-D8 is approximately 863.0cm2 / 133.8inch2. The WH S8E requires 2% more surface area than the WH D8 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 WH-S8E weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Wharfedale WH-D8 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the WH S8E 9% heavier than the WH D8.
Here is a comparison of how WH S8E and WH D8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
328mm
vs
330mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
863cm2
vs
876cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale WH-S8E |
Wharfedale WH-D8 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
70 watts |
70 watts |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
40-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Paper composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.0mm (13") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Width |
268.0mm (10.6") |
268.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
327.0mm (12.9") |
322.0mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Infinite Baffle |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |