In this review, we will be comparing NS-SW050 and DB10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Yamaha and Fluance. 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 and Fluance DB10 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.Both Yamaha NS-SW050and Fluance DB10 have a single woofer setup however the Yamaha NS-SW050's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Fluance DB10 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
NS-SW050 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas DB10 has a frequency range of 38-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the NS-SW050 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DB10's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Yamaha NS-SW050 and Fluance DB10 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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.
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 Yamaha NS-SW050's and Fluance DB10's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-SW050 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 292.1 x 339.7mm (11.5 x 11.5 x 13.375inch) whereas Fluance DB10 has external dimensions of 406.0 x 302.0 x 399.0mm (16 x 11-7/8 x 15-11/16inch).
Fluance DB10 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9.9mm wider, 113.9mm taller and 59.3mm deeper than Yamaha NS-SW050.
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.
Fluance DB10 needs about 21% more floor or shelf area. Fluance DB10 is 59mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fluance DB10 is 114mm 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 is approximately 992.3cm2 / 153.8inch2 and base area of the Fluance DB10 is approximately 1205.0cm2 / 186.8inch2. The NS-SW050 requires 18% less surface area than the DB10 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 weighs 8.48kg / 18.7lbs and the Fluance DB10 weighs 11.20kg / 24.6lbs. This makes the DB10 32% heavier than the NS-SW050.
Here is a comparison of how NS-SW050 and DB10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
292mm
vs
406mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
992cm2
vs
1205cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
220USD
|
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.
Fluance DB10 needs about 21% more floor area. Fluance DB10 stands 59mm further into the room. Fluance DB10 is 114mm taller.
| General |
Yamaha NS-SW050 |
Fluance DB10 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Fluance |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
45 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
38-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
45-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
120-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
40 Hz - 180 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
292.1mm (11.5") |
406.0mm (16") |
| Width |
292.1mm (11.5") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Depth |
339.7mm (13.4") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Weight |
8.48kg (18.7lbs) |
11.20kg (24.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 goes deeper - 28Hz against 38Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 38Hz. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (50W vs 45W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Fluance DB10 moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Yamaha NS-SW050 is about 41% 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 | B | Fluance DB10 costs less - $200 against $220, about 9% less. |
A Yamaha NS-SW050 B Fluance DB10
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Yamaha NS-SW050 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.