Subwoofer of the Year under $5000

AV SOUND

It’s been a good awards for Bowers & Wilkins this year, with two Formation products, a pair of speakers, and now this subwoofer all gaining recognition. As noted in the soundbar category, the company has a remarkable ability to coax impressive levels and quality of bass from relatively small subwoofer enclosures, and here’s further proof. (And while we’ve grouped our subwoofer awards with ‘AV sound’ products, we should start by stating that subwoofers can be as effective in augmenting a stereo system as they can in supporting a home cinema.)

It seems odd at first that the $2799 DB4S should be the lowest-priced of the company’s DB series, yet not the smallest. Its 250mm driver is actually larger than in the next model up. But that’s because it uses just the one, while the other DB subs use ‘dual balanced’ drivers — this is also why the model number ends in an ‘S’, not a ‘D’ like the others.

The cone is B&W’s ‘Aerofoil’ light, ultrastiff material, while the power is delivered by a custom version of a 1000W Class-D amplifier from Hypex. Take a look around the back and you’ll find a pair of balanced inputs (via XLR), a pair of line-level RCA inputs, a 12V trigger input for remote switching operations, an RS-232 connector to facilitate the DB4S being used in remote-control home automation systems, and a power socket. But none of the usual volume control, frequency selector... all the controls you’d normally expect to find on a subwoofer. That’s because full control comes from an app, operated from your mobile phone, which also conveniently allows you to remain in your seat while tweaking settings. As well as ‘total control’ (over volume, crossover frequency, phase, high-pass filter slope and more), B&W’s app also allows you to use your phone’s microphone to help adjust the frequency response of the subwoofer to best suit both your listening room and your main speakers.

The result is rich, satisfying, full-bodied bass, no signs at all of overload even when played more loudly than would usually be warranted, all just smooth, controlled bass from the lowest audible frequencies up to where the main speakers take over the sonic responsibilities. Without any shadow of a doubt, the DB4S is yet another great design from the company.

More info: www.bowers-wilkins.com/au