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Bowers & Wilkins DB4S Powered subwoofer (Satin White)

Item # 749DB4SSW

This high-octane sub delivers exceptionally powerful, controlled bass from a modestly sized enclosure.

This high-octane sub delivers exceptionally powerful, controlled bass from a modestly sized enclosure.

5 questions - 11 answers

Item # 749DB4SSW

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$2,199.00

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About the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S

Kramer Crane

Brilliant bass from Bowers & Wilkins

Every now and then I'm tempted to buy a new subwoofer for my living room system, even though the last thing I need to do is bring home another new speaker. The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S has me thinking hard. So why does it have me intrigued?

Brilliant bass from Bowers & Wilkins

Every now and then I'm tempted to buy a new subwoofer for my living room system, even though the last thing I need to do is bring home another new speaker. The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S has me thinking hard. So why does it have me intrigued?

Well for starters, it carries the pedigree of Bowers & Wilkins' five decades of superb audio engineering. But beyond that, the DB4S packs a ridiculous amount of punch into a modestly sized enclosure. It's the kind of sub I would look forward to listening to every day. 

Bowers & Wilkins DB4S powered subwoofer

The DB4S pairs a 10" woofer with a 1,000 watt amp to fill your room with exceptionally deep and accurate bass (shown in gloss black).

A look at what's inside (hint: it's really nice)

The DB4S houses a 10" woofer driven by a 1,000 watt amp — all from a sub enclosure that measures a little more than a foot per side

The woofer uses the same highly acclaimed Aerofoil™ driver material found in Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Series Diamond speakers (world-class floor-standing speakers that sell for $30,000 a pair). 

This light, ultra-stiff driver resists bending and flexing far more than conventional cones for incredibly deep and accurate bass with music and movie soundtracks. 

Precise and powerful 

This sub can provide delicate low-frequency details, as well as tirelessly pound out deep bass at high output levels with next to no distortion. It can shake the house, certainly. But this sub's forté is creating lifelike bass with precision and control — all the way down to a staggeringly low 10 Hz.

This sub is an excellent complement to Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series models, including the 702 S2.  

Tailor the sound to your room

The DB4S is set up and controlled entirely from the Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers app. Using your tablet or smartphone's microphone, the app takes bass measurements to find acoustic irregularities and automatically applies correction.

The result? Smooth, well-balanced bass that's tailored to your specific room, furnishings, and audio system. A friendly heads-up: there are no sound controls on this sub — all adjustments are made via the app.

A rich history of audio excellence

Founded in England in the 1960s, Bowers & Wilkins is known worldwide for their innovative hi-fi speaker designs and their premium headphones. Crutchfield is proud to offer a diverse selection of products from this legendary audio brand.

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Product highlights:

  • frequency response: 10-350 Hz (-3dB)
  • 1,000 watt Class D Hypex amplifier
  • 10" front-firing Aerofoil™ woofer
  • full setup and control via the Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers app for Apple® and Android™
    • room optimization is done using your device's built-in mic
    • DSP (Digital Signal Processing) tailors performance to your room
    • volume, EQ, and other sound controls are all done via the app
    • there are no rear-panel controls on this subwoofer
  • acoustic suspension (sealed) cabinet design
  • line-level/LFE RCA and balanced (XLR) inputs
  • 3.5mm serial (RS-232) and 12-volt trigger inputs for custom automation setups
  • beautiful satin white finish
  • 14-1/4"W x 14-3/4"H x 17-1/16"D
  • weight: 57.3 lbs.
  • warranty: 2 years
  • MFR # FP39675

What's in the box:

  • Powered subwoofer
  • Grille
  • 6.5' AC power cord
  • 4 Decoupling feet
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spike feet
  • 4 Lock-nuts
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Quickstart Guide
  • Bowers & Wilkins brochure
  • Warranty Information
  • Cleaning cloth instructions

Customer reviews for Bowers & Wilkins DB4S

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More details on the Bowers & Wilkins DB4S

Stacey B.

Features & specs

Enclosure Sealed
Woofer Size (inches) 10
Woofer Composition Aerofoil
Firing Direction Front
Amplifier Output (watts) ---
Frequency Response 10-350 Hz
Connections
Preamp-Level Inputs Stereo RCA, XLR
Speaker-Level Inputs No
Speaker-Level Outputs No
Wireless No
Controls
Low-Pass Crossover Freq 25-150
High-Pass Crossover Freq None
Phase Switch Yes
App Control Apple iOS, Android
Remote No
Other Info
Height (inches) 14-3/4
Width (inches) 14-1/4
Depth (inches) 17-1/16
Weight 57.3 lbs
Speaker Parts Warranty 2 Years
Speaker Labor Warranty 2 Years
Amplifier Parts Warranty 2 Years
Amplifier Labor Warranty 2 Years

Product Research

Features

10" Aerofoil Woofer: The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S powered subwoofer houses a front-firing 10" Aerofoil woofer with rubber surround for deep accurate bass response. Solid, dramatic bass is delivered through the rigidity and lightness of the uniquely-shaped, variable thickness Aerofoil cone woofer because it can resist bending and flexing longer than conventional cones.

1000W Class D Amplifier w/ DSP: The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S employs a 1000W (Max) Class D Hypex amplifier with digital signal processing (DSP) for powerful, dynamic, controlled bass. The digital amplifier is energy efficient and runs cool even when its working hard to produce deep, high-volume bass. The amplifier's digital signal processing ensures precise bass for both music and movie soundtracks and outstanding performance in every circumstance.

Ultra-Rigid Low-Resonance Enclosure: The 10" Aerofoil woofer and built-in amplifier are housed in a compact, acoustic suspension (sealed ) enclosure that is ultra-rigid and low-resonant for tight, accurate bass performance without any unwanted distortion or coloration from vibration. A cloth grille is included that magnetically attaches to the front of the subwoofer enclosure. The subwoofer can be used with or without the grille fitted.

The Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers App: The Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers app (for Apple iOS 10.0+ and Android OS 5.0+) provides simple setup and control of the DB Series powered subwoofer from your Bluetooth connected Apple iOS or Android OS device. The app includes positioning and connecting guides, set-up and troubleshooting, as well as provides control over overall volume output and specific audio presets. The app's Room EQ system allows you to optimize the subwoofer's performance for your room using the microphone built into your phone.

  • Room Equalization & Calibration: The app's built-in automatic calibration and equalization system works in conjunction with the microphone in your Apple iOS or Android OS device to optimize the sound and bass output of the powered subwoofer to match the acoustic characteristics of your listening environment (room). *Due to microphone incompatibilities, Room EQ is not available with all Android mobile devices.
  • Volume Level & Input Gain: There is a Volume Level and Input Gain adjustment. The Input Gain (-5 to +5dB) enables optimum matching of different source output levels so that the subwoofer volume level matches that of the main speakers for all inputs. The Volume Level provides control of the subwoofer's overall volume output level relative to the other loudspeakers in your system.
  • Low Pass Filter: There are independent Low Pass Filter options for both the RCA and XLR inputs. For stereo installations the Low Pass Filter can be matched to either specific Bowers & Wilkins main speakers or to alternative manufacturer's main speaker specifications using a variable setting (25-150Hz with a 12 or 24dB slop). In a home theater setup with a mono (LFE) connection, the bass management functions of the AV receiver or processor should be employed and the subwoofer's Low Pass Filter deactivated.
  • Phase: Normally the phase will be set to 0°, but if the subwoofer is positioned at a distance significantly different from the other speakers, or the power amplifier driving the other speakers happens to invert the signal, the 90, 180, or 270° position may be preferable. Listen with the Phase set to multiple positions and choose the one that gives the fullest sound.
  • Movie & Music EQ: Equalization presets are designed to suit music and movie program material. You can choose between Flat, Music, Movie, or Custom. The Custom mode provides a 5-band (20, 28, 40, 56, 80Hz) equalizer for manual customization (-5 to +5dB) of the EQ curve.

Note: The DB Series powered subwoofer can only be set up and controlled through the Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers app via a Bluetooth connection. It is not possible to set up or control the powered sub without the app. There are no physical controls on the power subwoofer, itself.

Balanced & Unbalanced Inputs: The Bowers & Wilkins DB Series powered subwoofer provides balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) stereo inputs. The inputs can be connected simultaneously and configured independently for different system applications, so you can have the powered sub connected to your home theater speaker system and stereo speaker system. If your AV receiver or processor features an LFE output, you'll only need to connect the "Right" XLR or "Right" RCA input of the powered sub. Balanced XLR connections are inherently more resistant to interference and noise than unbalanced RCA connections.

Mounting Options: It is important to ensure the powered subwoofer stands firmly on the floor using either the included decoupling, rubber, or spike feet. The feet screw into the bottom of the powered sub and are adjustable to allow you to level the subwoofer on uneven floors. Use the decoupling or rubber feet on hardwood, laminate, tile, and vinyl flooring. Use the spike feet for carpeted flooring.

  • Dimensions with Decoupling Feet: 14.25" (w) x 15.25" (h) x 17.0625" (d)
  • Dimensions with Rubber Feet: 14.25" (w) x 14.75" (h) x 17.0625" (d)
  • Dimensions with Spike Feet: 14.25" (w) x 15.625" (h) x 17.0625" (d)

Note: The DB Series powered sub should always be used with the feet installed (either the decoupling, rubber, or spike option) for optimum performance and maximum stability.

Placement Options: The Bowers & Wilkins DB Series powered subwoofer is more versatile than most powered subs in terms of positioning thanks to its Room EQ optimization system through the Bowers & Wilkins DB Subwoofers app on your Bluetooth connected Apple iOS or Android OS device. Once you have positioned the subwoofer, its performance can then be optimized using Room EQ in the mobile app to compensate for less than ideal positioning.

  • DB4S models should be oriented with the woofer facing forward toward the listening area.
  • Best results will be obtained if the DB Series subwoofer is placed between the left and right speakers or in the vicinity of one of them.
  • Placing a subwoofer to the side, but still to the front of the listeners is an acceptable compromise if domestic considerations dictate. However, the subwoofer should not be located behind the listening position.
  • If two subwoofers are to be used it is best to position one near the left speaker and one near the right speaker.
  • Like all speakers, the proximity of room boundaries affects the sound of a subwoofer. Bass volume increases as more boundaries come into proximity. The more boost gained from the room, the lower the volume can be set and the less hard the subwoofer has to work.

Auto On/Off: The Bowers & Wilkins DB4S powered subwoofer will automatically turn on when it senses an audio signal and automatically go into standby mode when there is no audio signal for more than 20 minutes.

Control Connections: The B&W DB Series powered subwoofer is outfitted with custom control connections that include two 12V trigger inputs (3.5mm) and a RS-232 port (9-pin D connector). The Trigger 1 input enables wired remote control of the subwoofer's power on/off from a component with a 12V trigger output. The Trigger 2 input enables wired remote control of subwoofer input selection from a component with a 12V trigger output. The R-232 port enables the powered subwoofer to be incorporated in a remote control home automation system.

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Customer Q&A

5 questions already asked

Q
Can the DB$S be used without the ap? Can it be used out of the box.
butch  Jul 10, 2021
4 answers
A
Alas, not really - this is the only drawback of this nice sub. The app is the ONLY way to set up the parameters of the speaker - including input (XLR/phono), EQ settings, low pass cutoff, level, and speaker profile. The sub will of course function out of the box (as long as the default input setting matches your setup, if not you won't get any sound), but it is highly unlikely that the default EQ/level parameters will suit you. If that presents an issue, you'll have to find another model - it would have been nice if b&w put some simple physical controls on the unit at least for input and level settings. It's otherwise a very nice sub.
fred  Jul 11, 2021
A
No you can't. You need the app to be able to calibrate the subwoofer.
ivan  Jul 11, 2021
A
Yes but you will want to use the app to fine tune the sub. The app has some in depth tuning to make the sound that much better.
joseph  Jul 11, 2021
A
Yes. I used the App once to set the levels and haven't used it since.
jack  Jul 10, 2021
Q
Would you pair one of these with two B&W 702S2s?
keith  Feb 11, 2021
4 answers
A
Yes, I would. I have an older generation 700 Series rosenut set: 704 fronts, HTM7 center, and 705 rears. My ASW 750 sub's amplifier died and I just bought the DBS4 to replace it. It sounds great.
david n  Feb 14, 2021
A
I personally don't have these speakers but I have heard them so I would definitely recommend pairing them up together. I prefer to have my speakers match both colors and brand. I love my B&W subwoofer!
bobby  Feb 11, 2021
A
That's exactly what I paired it with, and it works out very nicely - the power levels are well balanced. I'm using the XLR inputs with a full preamp feed. Takes a bit of fiddling with the app to get the level profile right - I found the built in setting for 702s2 pairing was a bit subdued for my taste, but you can use custom levels.
fred  Feb 11, 2021
A
I paired the DB4S with my B&W 702S2's and was immediately happy I did it. The lower range sound was an excellent compliment to them. I really liked my 702's but had felt they were a little "tinny". The sub completely fixed that. I liked the DB4S so much I bought a second sub and now I'm super happy!
madison  Feb 11, 2021
Q
I have an older set of 600 series speakers (front, side, rear), and I was using an ASW 675, which recently appears to have taken an extended nap, and cannot be repaired. Loved it though. Is the DB4S a suitable replacement? better power, and i'm sure better clarity. I need to fill a room that's that's probably 15 x 25', with a 20' ceiling. Thanks in advance.
grady  Apr 27, 2023
1 answer
A
Thank you for your question, Grady. This subwoofer is a phenomenal replacement for your B & W ASW675. The DB4S offers an onboard DSP as well the Bowers and Wilkins Subwoofer App that has great features in the Room EQ system. I recommend giving one of our Advisors a call at 1-800-324-9695 They'll be able to go over all the wonderful features of this subwoofer with you.
andrea  Apr 27, 2023 (Staff)
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Satin White
$3,499.00
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The Bowers & Wilkins DB3D offers these features:
  • dual 8" opposed, side-firing Aerofoil™ woofers for more evenly distributed bass in your room
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