Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs KEF Reference 8b

Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D. It ranks #44 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $5,800; the KEF Reference 8b ranks #157, rated 3.4/5, and costs $8,999.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.

The Bowers & Wilkins DB2D is the better-sounding option. Dual-opposed 10-inch Aerofoil drive units identical to those in the flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers, driven by 1,000 watts of Class D amplification. Watch for: Substantial price point for a dual 10-inch system.

What the KEF Reference 8b does well: Flagship Reference series subwoofer featuring dual opposing 9-inch drivers in a force-cancelling sealed enclosure, eliminating mechanical cabinet vibration. Watch for: Flagship $8,999.99 price tag is aimed strictly at reference luxury installations, and the 77.2 lbs (35 kg) piano-gloss cabinet requires delicate handling.

Buy the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KEF Reference 8b and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.

Worth knowing: the KEF Reference 8b has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.2 to 3.6, so treat this verdict as provisional.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Speaker Comparisons

How Bowers & Wilkins DB2D compares with other leading options:

• Paradigm XR11 vs Bowers & Wilkins DB2D
• Perlisten R210s vs Bowers & Wilkins DB2D
• Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs Sigberg Audio 10D
• REL Acoustics S/850 vs KEF Reference 8b
• REL Acoustics S/550 vs KEF Reference 8b

Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 DB2D: $5,800.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay

Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (smaller subwoofer, rated 3.7/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D (larger subwoofer, rated 4.1/5).

Pros: Dual-opposed 10-inch Aerofoil drive units identical to those in the flagship 800 Series Diamond speakers, driven by 1,000 watts of Class D amplification. Completely inertia-balanced cabinet delivers clean, highly musical low end with app-based parametric EQ and digital room correction.

Cons: Substantial price point for a dual 10-inch system. Maximum SPL drops below 25Hz compared to larger 12-inch or 15-inch subwoofers.

Full Bowers & Wilkins DB2D review and specifications →

Released	2017 (9 years ago)
Amplifier Power	1000W RMS
CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz)	115.7 dB
Cabinet Color	gloss black, satin white, rosenut
Country	United Kingdom
Dimensions	16.9”H x 14.8”W x 14.2”D (430.0 x 377.0 x 360.0 mm)
Drivers	2x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil drivers
Enclosure	sealed
Inputs	XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced)
Measurement Source	Audioholics
Output SPL at 15 Hz	91.2 dB
Output SPL at 20 Hz	98.5 dB
Output SPL at 25 Hz	103.8 dB
Output SPL at 31.5 Hz	108.6 dB
Output SPL at 40 Hz	113.2 dB
Output SPL at 50 Hz	115.5 dB
Output SPL at 63 Hz	116.8 dB
Output SPL at 80 Hz	117.4 dB
Output SPL at 100 Hz	117.8 dB
Output SPL at 125 Hz	118.0 dB
RCA Input	Yes
Warranty	5
Weight	76.1 lbs (34.5 kg)
XLR Input	Yes

• Links
  • Official Bowers & Wilkins DB2D Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Stereophile: Bowers & Wilkins DB Series Subwoofers
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs Sigberg Audio 10D
  • Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs Perlisten R210s
  • Bowers & Wilkins DB2D vs Paradigm XR11

KEF Reference 8b: $8,999.99 Estimated KEF eBay

Pros: Flagship Reference series subwoofer featuring dual opposing 9-inch drivers in a force-cancelling sealed enclosure, eliminating mechanical cabinet vibration. Driven by twin 500W Class-D amplifiers (1,000W total) with extensive DSP boundary compensation and balanced XLR plus RCA inputs, extending clean bass down to 24Hz (±3dB).

Cons: Flagship $8,999.99 price tag is aimed strictly at reference luxury installations, and the 35 kg piano-gloss cabinet requires delicate handling.

Full KEF Reference 8b review and specifications →

Amplifier Power	1000W
Cabinet Color	Piano Black High Gloss
Country	United Kingdom
Dimensions	15.7”H x 14.4”W x 16.9”D (398 x 365 x 429 mm)
Drivers	dual 9” drivers
Enclosure	sealed
Frequency Response	24Hz - 140Hz (±3dB) (manufacturer specified)
Maximum SPL	110 dB
Warranty	5/2
Weight	77.2 lbs (35.0 kg)
XLR Input	Yes

• Links
  • Official KEF Reference 8b Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • KEF Reference 8b vs REL Acoustics S/550
  • KEF Reference 8b vs REL Acoustics S/850