B&W ASW2000, Floor-Shaking Subwoofer Action

The Bowers & Wilkins ASW2000 is a classic example of B&W’s ability to combine elegant industrial design with quietly formidable low-frequency performance. With its clean lines, compact footprint, and refined finish options, it presents as a tasteful, understated component—yet beneath the surface lies a subwoofer engineered with the same seriousness found throughout the company’s premium loudspeaker lines. The cabinet’s thick, heavily braced panels create an inert enclosure that suppresses unwanted resonances, allowing the driver and amplifier to work with exceptional control and composure.

At the core of the ASW2000 is a robust 12-inch long-throw driver, purpose-built by B&W to deliver deep, articulate bass without drifting into muddiness or distortion. Its stiff, lightweight cone and high-power motor structure maintain linear excursion even during demanding passages, giving the subwoofer a sense of effortless weight and dynamic authority. Powering the system is a substantial built-in 200 watt amplifier—high-current, stable, and conservatively rated—designed to supply clean energy reserves that keep the driver tightly controlled. The result is bass that feels grounded and textured, capable of reaching well into the lower octaves while preserving the nuance and pacing required for both music and film.

Operationally, the ASW2000 offers the flexibility needed for seamless system integration. Variable crossover control, phase adjustment, and a wide input sensitivity range allow the listener to dial in the subwoofer for smooth blending with mains of various sizes and voicings. Its sealed-box alignment provides fast transient response and room-friendly behavior, avoiding the excessive bloom or overhang that ported designs can sometimes introduce. In practice, it delivers a firm, articulate low-end foundation—adding scale to orchestral recordings, depth to dialogue-rich cinema tracks, and punch to contemporary music—without ever drawing unwanted attention to itself.

$899 (plus applicable shipping and/or sales tax)