Bowers & Wilkins DB4S subwoofer

B&W’s latest DB Series subwoofer, the DB4S, is something of an enigma. Although the lowest-priced model in the series, it’s not the smallest. So does it have the smallest bass driver? Nope, its low-frequency driver is actually larger than the one in the model in the range that’s above it. So maybe it has a lower-powered amplifier? 

Again, nope. With a rated output of 1000-watts, the DB4S's amplifier has exactly the same rated power output as two other models in the range (though only half that of the range-topping DB1D, whose internal amplifier is rated at 2000-watts).

No, what the new DB4S does not have is the ‘dual balanced’ low-frequency driver configuration that’s an integral part of the design of B&W's DB1D, DB2D and DB3D models.