Subwoofers — Definitive Technology Descend DN8

The Descend DN8 is a self-powered sub by Definitive Technology, the smallest of the four Descend models, which were introduced on 13 July 2021. The maker describes its cabinet as a compact, roughly 30 cm form factor meant to be tucked away out of sight. It was listed at USD 599 and is offered in Midnight Black, with Glacier White as an option.

Key specs that matter

An 8 inch paper cone woofer is combined with two 8 inch passive radiators. Its Class D amplifier has ratings of 200 W continuous and 500 W peak. Definitive Technology quotes a response of 35 Hz to 200 Hz within 3 dB. The cabinet measures about 32.5 x 30.6 x 33.2 cm (height, width, depth), and the subwoofer weighs around 12 kg, or about 14.5 kg packed. Connections include stereo line level RCA, an LFE input and a speaker level input.

Engineering and use context

In the brand's 3XR scheme, internal air pressure from the driven cone moves both radiators, and the company says this multiplies the radiating surface by three against a vented enclosure of equal size. Since no port is used, port chuffing is avoided, and the enclosure is described as non-resonant. The rear panel carries a volume control, an adjustable low pass filter and a phase switch with 0 and 180 degree positions. A power toggle chooses between automatic on and off with signal detection and a DC control mode. Unlike the DN12 and DN15, the DN8 has no DSP presets, remote or display, which keeps operation to a few knobs. Drivers and cabinet are covered for 5 years and the electronics for 3 years.

Pairing

The speaker level input lets the DN8 work alongside a two-channel amplifier that has no dedicated sub out, while the LFE input serves AV receivers. Its footprint of about 0.1 square metres suits desks, media units and rooms up to about 20 m2, where it can extend small bookshelf speakers or satellites. The low pass control should be set close to the lower limit of the main speakers. Since the DN8 shares the amplifier of the DN10, the step between the two models is only in driver size, cabinet volume and the quoted low limit, which is 7 Hz higher on the DN8. Speaker level wiring is taken from the amplifier terminals, which also means the sub follows the volume setting of the amplifier.

Alternatives

The Descend DN10 is the next model up, keeping the same Class D amplifier but moving to a 10 inch woofer and two 10 inch radiators.