In this review, we will be comparing NS-SW100 and SA-CS9, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Yamaha and Sony. 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-SW100 and Sony SA-CS9 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-SW100and Sony SA-CS9 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 10" drivers.
Frequency Response
NS-SW100 has a frequency range of 25-180 Hz whereas SA-CS9 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the NS-SW100 can go slightly deeper then the SA-CS9's min frequency of 28Hz.
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-SW100 and Sony SA-CS9 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-SW100's and Sony SA-CS9's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-SW100 has external dimensions of 352.4 x 352.4 x 409.6mm (13.875 x 13.875 x 16.125inch) whereas Sony SA-CS9 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 295.0 x 400.0mm (11.6 x 13.6 x 15.7 inch).
Yamaha NS-SW100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 57.4mm wider, 7.4mm taller and 9.6mm deeper than Sony SA-CS9.
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-SW100 is approximately 1443.4cm2 / 223.7inch2 and base area of the Sony SA-CS9 is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The NS-SW100 requires 22% more surface area than the SA-CS9 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-SW100 weighs 12.02kg / 26.4lbs and the Sony SA-CS9 weighs 11.50kg / 25.3lbs. This makes the NS-SW100 5% heavier than the SA-CS9.
Here is a comparison of how NS-SW100 and SA-CS9's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
345mm
vs
352mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2
vs
1443cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
248USD
vs
270USD
|
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.
Yamaha NS-SW100 needs about 22% more floor area.
| General |
Yamaha NS-SW100 |
Sony SA-CS9 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
115 watts |
| Frequency Response |
25-180 Hz |
28-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
115-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
foamed-mica cellular reinforced |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
352.4mm (13.9") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
352.4mm (13.9") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
409.6mm (16.1") |
400.0mm (15.7") |
| Weight |
12.02kg (26.4lbs) |
11.50kg (25.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
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-SW100 goes deeper - 25Hz against 28Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 28Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | Sony SA-CS9 has the bigger amplifier - 115W against 50W RMS, about 3.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Sony SA-CS9 is about 20% 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 | Sony SA-CS9 costs less - $248 against $270, about 8% less. |
A Yamaha NS-SW100 B Sony SA-CS9
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.
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.