No, I haven't converted from M&K yet but it's a close call. B&W's new compact subwoofer, the ASW675, has all the musicality and slam of the M&K V125II in a cabinet 30% smaller and heaps better looking. Whereas M&K have reached the pinnacle of subwoofer performance via development of traditional speaker design and manufacture, B&W have progressed using new technologies such as the 10" kevlar/paper/aluminium cone and a 500 Watt (D-Class) amplifier.

    The box size is 340mm X 340mm X 411mm (D) and weighs in at a hefty 25.5kg's. It's supplied with spikes and rubber feet and comes with a black cloth grill. The -6dB point is said to be 17Hz whilst the "proper" -3dB point is 22Hz. As per the M&K equivalents, the B&W is a sealed box.

    There are very, very few subwoofers I can live with at home, my main problem is that I use a subwoofer for music and home theatre. If I'm aware of the subwoofer then it annoys the crap out of me and I have to turn it off, so it has to blend in with my main speakers (currently Paradigm's or Electrovoice Monitors) to the extent that it becomes part of the those speakers. Over the years I've sold most of the major brands, Velodyne, KEF, Wharfedale, JBL, Altec Lansing, M&K, Yamaha, Paradigm and lots more but I can count on the fingers of one hand the subwoofers I can happily leave on my home system. The B&W ASW675 joins that elite group.

    It's a solid little bugger (nearly did my back in getting it out of the box), hooked up to my Yamaha RX-V2300, Marantz DV-4300, Paradigm Studio 40's (mains) and Studio 20's (surrounds) with a KEF C100 centre I put on the ELO Zoom DVD Concert and turned up the wick. The initial sub bass synth. chord started the dogs howling from 3 kilometres away, not to mention the fact that I won't need laxatives for the next week or so. Things improved after I turned the gain down. This is a good subwoofer - no overrun on heavy bass notes and excellent roll off. Musically, once set up correctly, it got the Steve seal of approval (this is not given lightly and can't be bought - well it can, but no one's offered me enough money yet). The next test was the depth charge scene in U-571, this is a real test of LF delivery and the B&W gives out in spades. The fact that the next door neighbours rang us to see if everything was OK is a testament to that. One issue which raises it above all other contenders is that when I tried it in my office (6 x 3.5 metres) it sounded just as good whereas the M&K V125II and Jamo D6 which I was testing at the same time just weren't as controlled in the smaller space.

    Tough call this, if money was no object, I'd opt for the B&W over my M&K V125II on looks alone. In terms of performance there's bugger all in it although I'd guess the B&W is just a tad tighter on acoustic bass. Overall SPL's are around the same but I reckon there's a little more control with the B&W. The issue is, of course, pricing. The M&K retails for $2199 and the B&W ASW675 for $2499 and one would have to weigh up the benefits against the dollars. My wife say's she would happily pay the difference for the looks alone, when I see the money I'll swap!

    Prior to the release of the ASW675, M&K had the $2000 to $3000 subwoofer market all to itself, now it has a fight on it's hands. The B&W is highly musical, gives all the slam and whack necessary for good home theatre and, unlike a lot of subwoofers, is suitable for both small and large (my room is 5 X 10 metres) area's. Certainly one of the best subwoofers under $3000 currently available in Australia.