{"product_id":"bowers-wilkins-db4s-powered-subwoofer","title":"Bowers \u0026 Wilkins DB4S Powered Subwoofer","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"max-width: 720px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 32px 24px 48px 24px; background: #ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 0 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eNo Port, No Knobs, 1000 Watts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eWalk around the back of the Bowers \u0026amp; Wilkins DB4S and there is almost nothing there. Two XLR inputs, two RCA inputs, a 12V trigger and a power switch. No volume dial, no crossover knob, no phase switch. Everything is handled from your phone instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eInside is a single 250 mm Aerofoil cone driven by 1000 watts, in a sealed cabinet with no port. Bowers \u0026amp; Wilkins rates it from 10 Hz to 350 Hz. It measures 377 x 360 x 368 mm and weighs 26 kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eIt sits at the entry point of the DB range and is the odd one out. The DB1D, DB2D and DB3D use two drivers in a dual-balanced arrangement; the DB4S uses one, which is why its cabinet is larger than the DB3D and its price lower.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eAn 800 Series Cone and a Hypex Amplifier\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eBowers \u0026amp; Wilkins makes its own subwoofer cones. Aerofoil sandwiches a foam core between woven skins, but unlike the older Rohacell cones the core varies in thickness across the diameter. The profile resembles an aircraft wing, hence the name, and the same material appears in the flagship 800 Series Diamond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eDriving it is a custom 1000-watt Class-D module from Hypex, the Dutch Class-D specialist. In front of that sits a digital preamplifier with Dynamic EQ, which is what lets the app do real work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eTwo sets of feet come in the box, rubber for hard floors and spikes for carpet. Use them: they isolate the cabinet and provide the airflow the amplifier needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eWhat Reviewers Are Saying\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eThe DB4S was reviewed by \u003cem\u003eAustralian Hi-Fi\u003c\/em\u003e, republished by \u003cem\u003eWhat Hi-Fi?\u003c\/em\u003e on 28 March 2021, with full lab measurements. The conclusion: \"the B\u0026amp;W DB4S is yet another great subwoofer from this great British company.\" The reviewer heard no audible distortion at any sensible level and called the response smooth and even.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eThe lab results back that up: in-room response stayed inside a 5 dB window from 20 Hz to 200 Hz. The criticisms were about control, not sound. The review lists needing a phone and app as a drawback, and notes that automatic room calibration then worked on only a short list of Android handsets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eWho Is This Subwoofer Best For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; padding-left: 1.4em; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRooms where the sub has to look good\u003c\/strong\u003e — Piano gloss or Rosenut veneer, with a magnetic grille and no visible fixings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAwkward placements\u003c\/strong\u003e — Sealed and front-firing, so it can go back against a wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBowers \u0026amp; Wilkins owners\u003c\/strong\u003e — The app carries presets for most B\u0026amp;W speakers, speeding integration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSystems with two sources\u003c\/strong\u003e — Separate settings stored for the XLR and RCA inputs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot right if you want physical controls\u003c\/strong\u003e — There are none, and no app means no setup. If you would rather turn a knob, see our other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/subwoofers\/subwoofers\/\" style=\"color: #8a5a2b;\"\u003esubwoofers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eHow Does It Connect to Your System?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eRun a line-level cable from your receiver or preamplifier to the balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA inputs, and connect the 12V trigger if you want the sub to wake with the system. Then put it where it will live, fit the right feet, and open the app.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eFrom there you set volume, crossover between 25 and 150 Hz, slope at 12 or 24 dB per octave, and phase from 0 to 270 degrees. The app can use your phone’s microphone to measure the room, and a five-band equaliser lets you adjust the result. Position it first, then calibrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003ePairs Well With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eHere is what usually sits around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; padding-left: 1.4em; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBookshelf speakers\u003c\/strong\u003e — A standmount pair plus this is a genuinely full-range system. Browse our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/speakers\/bookshelf-speakers\/\" style=\"color: #8a5a2b;\"\u003ebookshelf speakers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFloorstanding speakers\u003c\/strong\u003e — Even towers give up the bottom octave. See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/speakers\/floorstanding-speakers\/\" style=\"color: #8a5a2b;\"\u003efloorstanding speakers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAV receivers\u003c\/strong\u003e — Bass management and a trigger output in one box. See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/receivers\/av-receivers\/\" style=\"color: #8a5a2b;\"\u003eAV receivers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterconnect cables\u003c\/strong\u003e — The run to the sub is often the longest in the system. Shop \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/%%GLOBAL_ShopPathSSL%%\/cables\/interconnect-cables\/\" style=\"color: #8a5a2b;\"\u003einterconnect cables\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.05em; margin: 0.9em 0 0.25em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eAre there any controls on the subwoofer itself?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eOnly a power and standby switch. Volume, crossover, slope, phase and EQ are set from the app over Bluetooth LE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.05em; margin: 0.9em 0 0.25em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eDo I need a smartphone to use it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eTo set it up, yes. Bowers \u0026amp; Wilkins supplies apps for iOS and Android. Settings are stored in the subwoofer, so you only need the phone to change something.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.05em; margin: 0.9em 0 0.25em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eWhat inputs does it have?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eTwo balanced XLR and two unbalanced RCA line-level inputs, plus a 12V trigger and RS-232. The RCA inputs are line level, not a phono stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.05em; margin: 0.9em 0 0.25em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eIs it sealed or ported?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eSealed, with a single front-firing driver, which is part of why it can sit close to a wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size: 1.05em; margin: 0.9em 0 0.25em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eCan I store different settings for different sources?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eYes. Connect a stereo amplifier to the XLR inputs and a receiver to the RCA inputs; each can have its own calibration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eWhy Audio Advisor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; padding-left: 1.4em; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40+ Years of Expertise\u003c\/strong\u003e — Since 1981, we’ve helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e60-Day Money-Back Guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it’s right for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReal Experts, Real Help\u003c\/strong\u003e — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFree Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlexible Payment Options\u003c\/strong\u003e — Financing available so you can start listening now.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size: 1.25em; margin: 1.4em 0 0.35em 0; font-weight: 600;\"\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 0.9em 0; line-height: 1.55;\"\u003eWant to learn more about subwoofer placement, crossover settings, or room\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Bowers and Wilkins","offers":[{"title":"New \/ Gloss Black","offer_id":47539964477613,"sku":"NEW-BWDB4S-GLSBLK","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"New \/ Rosenut","offer_id":47539964510381,"sku":"NEW-BWDB4S-RNT","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"New \/ Satin White","offer_id":47539964543149,"sku":"NEW-BWDB4S-SATWHT","price":2900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/3708\/1773\/files\/BWDB4S-BLACK_2.jpg?v=1790865581","url":"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/bowers-wilkins-db4s-powered-subwoofer","provider":"Audio Advisor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}