Short answer: the ELAC SUB1010, if you are buying new. The Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D measures as well as it (#129 vs #26 of 48 subwoofers, 3.3/5 vs 3.3/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ELAC SUB1010 is still sold new at $550.
Buy the ELAC SUB1010 if you want one new; the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D | ELAC SUB1010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1699 Discontinued | $550 |
| Ranked | #129 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #26 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | sealed | ported, rear |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 85.4 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 88.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 92.1 dB | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 105.1 dB | 102.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.7 dB | 107.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 110.3 dB | 110.8 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) | 108.1 dB |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 10.6"W x 14.1"D (342.9 x 269.2 x 358.1 mm) | 14.8"H x 12.2"W x 12.2"D (376.2 x 309.4 x 309.4 mm) |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) | 21.8 lbs (9.9 kg) |
| Warranty | 2 | 3/1 |
| Cabinet Color | black, white | black |
| Country | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 2x 8" (203mm) driver | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA (line, LFE), speaker-level | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| RCA Input | Yes | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | - | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 109.5 dB |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D: $1699 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 85.4 dB at 20 Hz and 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 8” (203mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority. The 342.9H x 269.2W x 358.1D mm cabinet and 18.7 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Notes: “Sphere” shape
Full Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
| Cabinet Color | black, white |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 10.6"W x 14.1"D (342.9 x 269.2 x 358.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 8" (203mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA (line, LFE), speaker-level |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 85.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 88.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 92.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 105.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 110.3 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Warranty | 2 |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
ELAC SUB1010: $550 eBay
Pros: A compact 10-inch ported subwoofer with useful measured output through the upper-bass range: 102.7dB at 40Hz and 110.8dB at 63Hz. Its small cabinet makes it an approachable option for a modest room or a first 2.1 setup, where careful placement can add satisfying weight without taking much floor space.
Cons: Deep-bass output is limited compared with larger subwoofers, with 96.5dB measured at 31.5Hz, so it is not the right choice for demanding home-theater effects or a large room. Ported-room placement can also become boomy; experiment with position and crossover rather than expecting a plug-and-play upgrade.
Full ELAC SUB1010 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.1 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | Germany |
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 12.2"W x 12.2"D (376.2 x 309.4 x 309.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 96.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 102.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 107.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 110.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 109.5 dB |
| Warranty | 3/1 |
| Weight | 21.8 lbs (9.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by ErinsAudioCorner; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
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