In this review, we will be comparing NS-SW050 and SUB8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Yamaha and Kanto. 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 Kanto SUB8 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.Yamaha NS-SW050and Kanto SUB8 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 8" drivers.
Frequency Response
NS-SW050 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas SUB8 has a frequency range of 35-175 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 SUB8's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Yamaha NS-SW050 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 Kanto SUB8 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 Yamaha NS-SW050's and Kanto SUB8'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 Kanto SUB8 has external dimensions of 301.0 x 281.0 x 329.0mm (11-13/16 x 11-1/16 x 12-15/16inch).
Kanto SUB8 is 11.1mm narrower and 10.7mm less deeper than Yamaha NS-SW050 but it is also 8.9mm 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 Kanto SUB8 is approximately 924.5cm2 / 143.3inch2. The NS-SW050 requires 7% more surface area than the SUB8 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 Yamaha NS-SW050 weighs 8.48kg / 18.7lbs and the Kanto SUB8 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the NS-SW050 8% heavier than the SUB8.
Here is a comparison of how NS-SW050 and SUB8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
175 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
292mm
vs
301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
220USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Base Surface Area |
924cm2
vs
992cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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.
| General |
Yamaha NS-SW050 |
Kanto SUB8 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
125 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
35-175 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
125-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
292.1mm (11.5") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
292.1mm (11.5") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Depth |
339.7mm (13.4") |
329.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
8.48kg (18.7lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
A ported 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 | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 goes deeper - 28Hz against 35Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 35Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | Kanto SUB8 has the bigger amplifier - 125W against 50W RMS, about 4dB 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 | Yamaha NS-SW050 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Kanto SUB8 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. |
| Price | A | Yamaha NS-SW050 costs less - $220 against $300, about 27% less. |
A Yamaha NS-SW050 B Kanto SUB8
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. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Yamaha NS-SW050 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Kanto SUB8 is usually the easier one to make sound right.
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.