Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S. It ranks #49 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $2,499. The PSB SubSeries BP8 ranks #147, rated 3.6/5, at $2,099, $400 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S: Single forward-firing 10-inch Aerofoil drive unit powered by 1,000 watts of Class D Hypex amplification in a rigid sealed enclosure. The tradeoff: A single 10-inch sealed driver produces less deep bass headroom below 30Hz than larger ported models or dual-opposed designs like the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D and Bowers & Wilkins DB1D.
What the PSB SubSeries BP8 does well: A sealed subwoofer with two opposed 8” woven carbon fiber drivers and a 500W continuous nCore-based amplifier, rated 25 to 150Hz (±3dB) and 20Hz at -10dB from a 33cm cabinet. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured PSB Speakers SubSeries 250 and PSB Speakers SubSeries 450 (112.5 and 122.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands).
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $400 you would save on the PSB SubSeries BP8 does not close the gap.
About the ratings: the PSB SubSeries BP8’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.2 to 3.9, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins DB4S | PSB SubSeries BP8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499.00 each | $2,099.00 |
| Ranked | #49 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #147 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS | 500W continuous |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB | - |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut | - |
| Country | United Kingdom | Canada |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 14.2”W x 14.5”D (377.0 x 360.0 x 368.0 mm) | 14”H x 13”W x 13”D (355 x 330 x 330 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil driver | 2 x 8” woven carbon fiber drivers (opposed) |
| Enclosure | sealed | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) | - |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 88.4 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 94.1 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.4 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.2 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.5 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.6 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 110.0 dB | - |
| RCA Input | Yes | - |
| Warranty | 5 | 5/1 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26.0 kg) | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 25-150Hz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Bowers & Wilkins DB4S compares with other leading options:
- Bowers & Wilkins DB4S vs Sigberg Audio INKOGNITO 12
- Bowers & Wilkins DB4S vs ELAC Varro RS700
- PSB SubSeries BP8 vs Neumann KH 750 DSP
- ELAC PS350 vs PSB SubSeries BP8
- SVS SB-3000 vs Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer
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 DB4S: $2,499.00 each Bowers & Wilkins eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins DB3D (larger subwoofer, rated 3.7/5), the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D (larger subwoofer, ranked higher, rated 3.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins DB1D (larger subwoofer, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: Single forward-firing 10-inch Aerofoil drive unit powered by 1,000 watts of Class D Hypex amplification in a rigid sealed enclosure. Features Bowers & Wilkins’ digital preamplifier with automated mobile room EQ and parametric filters, delivering clean, musical low-frequency control with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs.
Cons: A single 10-inch sealed driver produces less deep bass headroom below 30Hz than larger ported models or dual-opposed designs like the Bowers & Wilkins DB2D and Bowers & Wilkins DB1D. High price point for a single 10-inch subwoofer.
Full Bowers & Wilkins DB4S review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 1000W RMS |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB |
| Cabinet Color | gloss black, satin white, rosenut |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 14.8”H x 14.2”W x 14.5”D (377.0 x 360.0 x 368.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 10” (254mm) Aerofoil driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Inputs | XLR (2, balanced), RCA (2, unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 88.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 94.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 107.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 111.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 113.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 111.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 110.0 dB |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26.0 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
PSB SubSeries BP8: $2,099.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the PSB SubSeries BP7 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.3/5) and the PSB SubSeries BP12 (larger subwoofer, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: A sealed subwoofer with two opposed 8” woven carbon fiber drivers and a 500W continuous nCore-based amplifier, rated 25 to 150Hz (±3dB) and 20Hz at -10dB from a 33cm cabinet.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured PSB Speakers SubSeries 250 and PSB Speakers SubSeries 450 (112.5 and 122.1dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands).
Full PSB SubSeries BP8 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 500W continuous |
| Country | Canada |
| Dimensions | 14”H x 13”W x 13”D (355 x 330 x 330 mm) |
| Drivers | 2 x 8” woven carbon fiber drivers (opposed) |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 25-150Hz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 5/1 |
| Weight | 42.1 lbs (19.1 kg) |
- Links
- 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