Bowers & Wilkins DB4S: Subwoofer perfect for building a high-end home theater

The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S is the most compact subwoofer in the DB series, which is perfect for building a high-end home theater or stereo system in a small room. Despite its relatively modest dimensions, this “baby” is capable of providing...

Bowers & Wilkins DB4S
Bowers & Wilkins DB4S

The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S is the most compact subwoofer in the DB series, which is perfect for building a high-end home theater or stereo system in a small room. Despite its relatively modest dimensions, this “baby” is capable of providing confident, dense and deep bass.

The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S active subwoofer is made in a closed case and is equipped with a 10-inch speaker with an Aerofoil diffuser, as well as a class D amplifier with a power of 1000 W. The subwoofer is equipped with a digital preamplifier with a dynamic equalizer, is controlled via an application, and operates in the frequency range from 10 to 350 Hz. The subwoofer is available in the same finish options as all 700 S2 series speakers.

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To control the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S, a special mobile application is used. It has completely replaced all controls, and even the display on the B&W DB4S. Thus, in order to use the subwoofer, you need to install the DB Subwoofer Bluetooth application on your smartphone (for iOS or Android).

The application offers you to select an input (RCA or XLR), and a connection type (Stereo or LFE). You can also adjust the gain of the input signal, its equalization (flat, music, movie or user), control the stereo settings and the automatic switching on mode. There is even an automatic correction of sound parameters depending on the room, which uses the microphone built into the smartphone. In this case, the subwoofer generates a test signal, and the smartphone must be sequentially placed at seven points in the room.

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The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S features two RCA and XLR inputs, two 12-volt trigger jacks, and an RS232 port for external control. The kit includes spikes or vibration-damping supports for installing the subwoofer. The dimensions of the B&W DB4S are 360 ​​x 377 x 368 mm, and it weighs 26 kg. The B&W DB4S subwoofer is a perfect match for the 700 series speakers, as it uses similar lightweight and very rigid Aerofoil diffusers. Aerofoil cones have an uneven thickness, which provides increased strength in the most critical places. As a result, smooth piston movement of the membrane is guaranteed, which, according to the manufacturer, is able to resist bending and deformation much longer than the diaphragms of conventional speakers. The B&W DB4S subwoofer also perfectly matches other speakers, for example, with the CM series models.

Specifications Bowers & Wilkins DB4S

Number of speakers 1
Cabinet type/design closed
Diameter and type of woofer 10″ (250 mm) woofer with Aerofoil diffuser; diffuser material: carbon and other materials; Powerful magnetic system
Amplifier type Hypex, class D
Nominal output power of the amplifier 1000 W
Digital preamplifier with equalizer Dynamic EQ (dynamic equalizer) yes
Room EQ function for sound correction in accordance with the characteristics of the room yes
Setup, adjustment, calibration and control via Bluetooth using a proprietary application for iOS and Android devices yes
Control of sound mode presets using a proprietary application yes
Frequency range 8.5 Hz – 500 Hz (- 6 dB)
Frequency response 10 Hz – 350 Hz (- 3 dB, from the level at 100 Hz)
Signal-to-noise ratio 82 dB
Inputs unbalanced (2 RCA connectors), balanced (2 XLR connectors)
Other switching 2 trigger inputs (3.5 mm, 12 V), RS-232 interface
Input impedance 20 kOhm (XLR), 10 kOhm (RCA)
Removable grill on magnetic mounts yes
Rubber feet and spikes included yes
Power consumption 195 W, standby: 0.5 W
Dimensions (WxHxD) 360x377x368 mm
Weight 26 kg