Subwoofers — B&W (Bowers & Wilkins) ASW610XP

The ASW610XP is a subwoofer in the ASW line from Bowers & Wilkins, sold at USD 2,000 and listed in the same May 2013 owner's manual as the ASW608 and ASW610. The XP version keeps the 10-inch driver size of the ASW610 but uses a larger cabinet, a stronger amplifier and a revised cone, and it comes in matte finishes.

Key specs that matter

A 500 W Class D amplifier drives a 250 mm long-throw unit whose cone mixes paper pulp, Aramid fibre and resin. With EQ set to A, the response extends to 25 Hz at ±3 dB and 18 Hz at -6 dB, and the low-pass works between 40 and 140 Hz. Power consumption is 98 W in operation and 1 W in standby. The cabinet measures 325 x 325 x 348 mm (HxWxD), or 337 mm tall on feet, 353 mm on spikes and 375 mm deep with the grille. It weighs 18.65 kg and is offered in Matte Black or Matte White.

Engineering and use context

The sealed enclosure has no port. Its amplifier gives two and a half times the power of the ASW610, the cabinet is 15 mm larger in height and width, and the ±3 dB limit sits 2 Hz lower. It costs USD 1,300 more than the ASW608, and it is not among the two ASW models listed for the 600 Series S3. The connection panel follows the rest of the range, with RCA line inputs, speaker-level binding posts and a 12 V trigger on a 3.5 mm socket, and separate volume controls for the line and speaker inputs. On the line input, the crossover can be switched out, handing bass management to a processor. Bass extension switches between A, B and C settings, EQ offers A and B alignments, phase switches between 0 and 180 degrees, and the power mode can be On, Auto or Standby. Auto puts the sub to sleep after about 5 minutes of silence, and Standby waits for a trigger signal. It is supplied with spikes, rubber feet and a grille that can be taken off.

Pairing

The ASW610XP suits larger 600 Series systems, such as a pair of 603 S3 floorstanders with an HTM6 S3 centre in a home cinema, where its power reserve handles film soundtracks. AV receivers connect to the line input with the filter bypassed, and stereo amplifiers use the speaker-level input. A receiver with a trigger output can bring the ASW610XP out of Standby. Its -6 dB point is the lowest of the three ASW models, against 20 Hz for the ASW610 and 23 Hz for the ASW608.

Alternatives

The Bowers & Wilkins ASW610 has an equally sized driver in a smaller 12.5 kg cabinet with a 200 W amplifier and a 27 Hz ±3 dB limit.