Subwoofers — KIN BY TOTEM KIN Sub 8

The KIN Sub 8 is the 8-inch model of the pair of KIN powered subwoofers, from the sub-brand Totem Acoustic of Canada launched in 2014 to reach a wider audience with affordable products. Ten years on, KIN covers Bluetooth and passive speakers, soundbars, subwoofers and an amplifier with a DAC, and the Sub 8 page went live on the KIN site in April 2024. The price is CAD 799, and it comes in satin black or satin white.

Key specs that matter

The Sub 8 is built around an 8-inch driver whose cone is made of coated, high-tensile spun fibreglass strands bonded to a cellulose core, held by a butyl rubber surround. The voice coil is enamel-resin-coated copper wire wound on a vented aluminium former. A 200 W Class D amplifier drives it, and Totem quotes a frequency response of 29 Hz to 200 Hz. The low-pass filter is variable from 40 Hz to 120 Hz with a 24 dB per octave slope, phase turns from 0 to 180 degrees, and volume is variable. Power modes are Auto and On. Height is 285 mm, width 265 mm and depth 292 mm, the weight is 7.43 kg, and the box contains a magnetic grille, a power cord and self-adhesive feet.

Engineering and use context

The enclosure vents through a slot-shaped port, a layout Totem says raises efficiency and extends low-frequency output while keeping the footprint small. The magnet system uses an oversized ferrite assembly with a vented structure, intended to keep the driver cool so that output stays consistent. Totem states that the amplifier was designed in tandem with the driver. The small size is aimed at placement under a desk, beside a sofa or in other tight spots, and the range is pitched at music, films and games alike. The current model differs from the first-generation KIN Sub, which used a sealed chassis, a 150 W amplifier and a carbon fibre cone, weighed 10.8 kg, offered speaker-level connections and set its low-pass point between 50 Hz and 200 Hz, with a compression circuit to prevent amplifier clipping.

Pairing

Connection is at line level only, through the stereo RCA input or the LFE input from an amplifier or AV receiver, and the specification lists no speaker-level terminals. Wireless use is not built in, and the optional KIN LINK transmitter is listed as compatible with the KIN Sub 10 and the Totem Tribe Solution Sub rather than with the Sub 8.

Alternatives

The KIN Sub 10 moves up to a 10-inch driver and can be paired wirelessly through the optional KIN LINK transmitter while keeping wired inputs.