Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Common Features and Brand Highlights
3. Design
4. Ideal Spaces and Uses
5. Audio Quality
6. Tech Specs and Features
7. Conclusion

Introduction

In the search for the ideal subwoofer to improve your home music setup, Audioengine's S6 and S8 models emerge as standout options. Renowned for their superior quality and performance, both the S6 and S8 offer unique features that cater to different audio preferences and environments. This comprehensive comparison will help you understand the differences and decide which subwoofer is right for your setup.

Common Features and Brand Highlights

Both the Audioengine S6 and S8 are built with exceptional sound quality, premium handcrafted real wood design, and versatility in placement. Some common features include:

• Handcrafted, Real Wood Cabinets: Both models are meticulously crafted with attention to detail, ensuring the best sound quality in a modern and durable finish that complements any setup.
• Airtight Enclosure: This design feature ensures precise and clear bass response by preventing air leaks that can cause unwanted resonances and vibrations. The enclosure controls woofer cone movement by maintaining an airtight seal, minimizing distortion, and enhancing sound quality.
• Music-Focused Performance: Both subwoofers are engineered for music lovers, delivering detailed and dynamic sound that enhances the overall listening experience.
• Wireless Upgrades Available: Both subwoofers offer wireless connectivity upgrades, providing flexibility in placement for optimal acoustics.
• Clarity at Higher Volumes: The detailed construction and advanced engineering of the S6 and S8 ensure consistent audio performance, even at higher volumes. This is due to their Class D amplifier and precision-tuned enclosure that minimize distortion and maintain sound integrity.
• Versatile Connectivity Options: Both models include multiple input options such as RCA and 3.5mm, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of audio sources and setups. This versatility allows seamless integration into various audio systems.

Design

Audioengine S6

Front-Firing Design: The S6 features a front-firing woofer that directs sound toward the listener, ensuring a more direct and immersive audio experience. This design is particularly beneficial in compact spaces where optimal placement options are limited. Front-firing subwoofers like the S6 are effective in smaller rooms because they reduce bass reflection issues, providing clearer and more accurate sound directly to the listener.

Airtight Enclosure: Encased in an airtight enclosure, the S6’s design minimizes distortion and ensures tight, controlled bass. The premium handcrafted, real wood cabinet adds a touch of style and durability, making it the perfect addition to any audio setup. The airtight design is crucial in maintaining the purity of the bass output, as it prevents the unwanted resonance that can muddy the sound.

Audioengine S8

Down-Firing Design: The S8’s down-firing woofer ensures powerful bass distribution throughout larger rooms. This design helps in evenly dispersing sound, providing a balanced and uniform audio experience. Down-firing subwoofers like the S8 are ideal for larger spaces because they use the floor to reflect and amplify the bass waves, filling the room with rich, deep sound.

Detailed Construction: The Audioengine S8 is available in Hi-Gloss Piano White and Satin Black finishes, ensuring it blends seamlessly into any setup. Its larger form factor and solid build are designed to deliver impactful bass, making it a focal point in any high-quality audio system. The sturdy construction not only looks great but also supports the powerful output of the subwoofer, ensuring it performs at its best, even at high volumes.

Ideal Spaces and Uses

Audioengine S6

The S6 is optimized for music listening, providing clear and precise bass that enhances every genre. The S6’s precise and controlled bass ensures that you can enjoy high-quality sound without disturbing your neighbors, making it an excellent choice for apartments and other shared living spaces. Whether you are an audiophile who loves every nuance of your music, a gamer needing clear, undistorted bass, the S6 is tailored to meet these needs without overwhelming the space.

Audioengine S8

The S8 is tailored for larger, floor-based setups and is ideal for standalone houses and non-shared living spaces where there is more room to fill. Its powerful, down-firing woofer is perfect for sounds where deep, impactful bass is desired. The S8 excels in delivering room-filling bass that enhances any genre, making it a great choice for more immersive audio experiences. If you have a dedicated media room or an open-plan living space, the S8’s ability to produce powerful, room-shaking bass will transform your listening experience.

Audio Quality

Audioengine S6

The Audioengine S6 excels in delivering tight, controlled bass with precision and clarity. Its sealed design ensures minimal distortion, making it ideal for critical listening scenarios. With a 210W Class D amplifier and a 6" long-throw woofer, the S6 offers a frequency response of 33 - 132 Hz ±1.5dB, providing a rich and full listening experience. The Class D amplifier is efficient and powerful, providing ample power for the woofer without generating excessive heat. This efficiency helps maintain high audio quality by minimizing power loss and ensuring that the woofer can deliver consistent, clean sound even at higher volumes.

Audioengine S8

The Audioengine S8 offers deep, room-filling bass thanks to its ported design and 8" custom down-firing woofer. It delivers a frequency response of 27 - 180 Hz ±1.5dB, ensuring it can handle very low frequencies with ease. This makes the S8 perfect for sounds that require deep, impactful bass, providing a more dynamic and immersive sound experience. The ported design allows for greater efficiency in producing low frequencies, making the bass sound more natural and less strained.

Tech Specs and Features

Audioengine S6

• 210W Class D Amplifier & 6" Long Throw Woofer: Ensures powerful yet controlled bass output.
• Frequency Response: 33 - 132 Hz ±1.5dB: Reproduces low frequencies with high accuracy.
• Adjustable Crossover: 40 - 130Hz: Allows for fine-tuning to optimize integration with other speakers.
• Wireless Upgrade Available: Provides flexibility in placement for optimal sound quality.
• Phase Switch and Volume Control: Offers precise tuning for perfect integration into any audio setup.

Audioengine S8

• 8" Custom Down-Firing Woofer: Delivers deeper and more impactful bass.
• Frequency Response: 27 - 180 Hz ±1.5dB: Handles very low frequencies for a profound bass experience.
• 3.5MM AUX & RCA Audio Inputs: Ensures compatibility with a wide range of audio sources.
• Wireless Upgrade Available: Allows for flexible placement without compromising sound quality.
• Auto-Sleep Power Saving Mode: Reduces power consumption when not in use, making it an eco-friendly choice.

Conclusion

Choosing between the Audioengine S6 and S8 depends on your specific needs and listening environment. Here’s our definitive quick guide to help you decide which subwoofer is right for your situation:

For Urban Living Environments

If you live in an urban setting with shared walls or limited space, the Audioengine S6 is the perfect choice. Its compact size and front-firing design make it ideal for placing on desks, bookshelves, or other elevated locations. The S6 provides tight, controlled bass that won’t disturb your neighbors, making it perfect for apartments or smaller rooms. Its precision and clarity ensure that you enjoy high-quality sound without overwhelming your living space.

For Homes with No Shared Walls

For those living in houses with no shared walls and more space to fill, the Audioengine S8 is the perfect option. Its larger size and down-firing woofer are designed to deliver deep, impactful bass that can fill larger rooms. The S8 is ideal for home theaters, living rooms, or any setup where you can enjoy powerful bass without worrying about disturbing others. Its ability to produce room-filling bass makes it perfect for creating an immersive audio experience in spacious environments.

The S6 and S8 models focus on music, ensuring that every note and beat is reproduced with clarity and depth. Their superior bass performance enhances the music listening experience, providing an exceptional audio experience for music enthusiasts. Both models offer wireless options, providing the freedom to place your subwoofer in the acoustically optimal position, ensuring an audio experience that meets your highest expectations. By focusing on the specific features and benefits of each model, this comparison provides a clear, detailed view to help potential buyers make an informed decision.

Speaker Setup – How to break in new speakers.

So you just got your brand new Audioengine speakers and you’re ready to pull them out of the box and get them set up so you can start rocking out.

Straight out of the box, your speakers should sound great, but what if your speaker setup could sound better with time?

One thing that you can easily do to make that new speaker setup sound top-notch is a thing called “break-in” and it’s actually really simple.

So why would you want to break the speakers in?

The materials we use for our speakers are quite robust, so right after manufacturing they can be a bit stiff.

One way to help out with this stiffness is to break them in so that these materials, such as the rubber surrounds of the aramid fiber drivers, loosen up. As mentioned earlier, the speakers should sound great from your first listen, but after they move around a bit and loosen up you should notice smoother low end response and sweeter mids/highs.

From time to time, we get asked about how to break in new speakers.

The break-in period doesn’t really require anything special other than listening to music and over time your speakers will become more and more broken in.

For proper break in, we generally recommend around 40 to 50 hours of at least mid-level playback before doing any critical listening. Some our customers have mentioned that they play tones or white noise while they are away, such as while they’re at work, to help the process along, but we’d recommend just listening to them normally at a medium-level during the break in period.

Breaking in your new speaker setup is a simple and crucial thing to do to make your speakers sound better and open up their potential. Some things do get better with age!

Audioengine – Doesn’t Your Music Deserve It?

Frequently Asked Subwoofer Questions

Subwoofers are pivotal in enhancing the audio experience, providing the depth and richness that transform good sound systems into great ones.

As part of the Audioengine lineup, the S6 and S8 subwoofers offer distinct advantages and features tailored to various listening environments. Here, we address some frequently asked questions about these two subwoofers to help you make an informed decision.

#1 What Makes the Audioengine S6 and S8 Different?

The Audioengine S6 and S8 are designed to cater to different needs and preferences:

• Audioengine S6: Compact and front-firing, the S6 is ideal for desktop setups and apartment living. Its design directs sound towards the listener, minimizing disruption to neighbors and fitting seamlessly into smaller spaces. This subwoofer is perfect for enhancing desktop audio without taking up much room.

• Audioengine S8: Larger and down-firing, the S8 excels in providing powerful, deep bass suitable for home theaters and larger rooms. Its design ensures that sound resonates throughout the room, making it a versatile choice for both music and movie enthusiasts.

# 2 Why Do I Need a Subwoofer?

Even with high-quality speakers, adding a subwoofer like the S6 or S8 can dramatically enhance your audio experience. Subwoofers handle the lower frequencies that regular speakers struggle with, adding depth and clarity to your music and movies.

For example, the Audioengine A2+ Home Music System delivers excellent mid and high range sounds but pairing it with a subwoofer like the S6 or S8 brings out the full spectrum of bass frequencies, making your listening experience richer and more immersive.

# 3 Are All Subwoofers Created Equal?

When it comes to subwoofers, quality is paramount. Lower quality subwoofers, included with some desktop audio systems, can significantly detract from the overall listening experience.

Here’s why investing in a high-quality subwoofer like the Audioengine S6 or S8 can make all the difference.

• Precision and Clarity: High-quality subwoofers like the Audioengine S6 and S8 deliver tight, controlled bass that enhances both music and movie soundtracks. They provide clear, defined bass that complements mid and high frequencies.
• Robust Build Quality: The S6 and S8 are built from durable materials that minimize unwanted vibrations and resonance. This ensures improved sound quality and a longer lifespan compared to cheaper subwoofers.
• Wide Frequency Range: Both the S6 and S8 reproduce a broad range of low frequencies, providing depth and impact across various types of audio content. Lower quality subwoofers often struggle with this, resulting in a lack of depth.
• Sufficient Power: The S6 and S8 produce ample volume and dynamic range without distortion. Lower quality subwoofers are often underpowered, leading to distortion at higher volumes.

#4 How Should I Place My Subwoofer for Optimal Sound?

Placement Tips for the S6:

• Desk Setup: Place the S6 on your desk or a dedicated stand to keep the bass directed towards your ears. This front-firing design ensures the sound reaches you directly without spreading through floors or walls.
• Room Positioning: Position the S6 near your primary listening area but avoid corners and walls to prevent muddy sound.

Placement Tips for the S8:

• Larger Spaces: The S8 can be placed on the floor in larger rooms to fill the space with deep bass. Its down-firing design allows sound waves to resonate off the floor, enhancing the overall audio experience.
• Subwoofer Crawl Technique: For the best placement, use the subwoofer crawl method. Place the S8 in your usual listening spot, play bass-heavy music, and move around the room to find where the bass sounds best. This spot is where you should place your subwoofer for optimal performance.

#5 Should I Choose a Sealed or Ported Subwoofer?

• Sealed Subwoofers: The S6, with its sealed design, offers tighter and more precise bass. This makes it ideal for genres like jazz or acoustic music, where detail and clarity are paramount.
• Ported Subwoofers: The S8 features a ported design that produces deeper and more impactful bass, suitable for energetic genres like rock and EDM. It’s perfect for larger spaces where you want the bass to be felt as well as heard.

#6 What is an Adjustable Crossover and Why is it Important?

An adjustable crossover allows you to control which frequencies are sent to your subwoofer and which are sent to your speakers. This ensures that the subwoofer handles only the low-end frequencies, allowing your speakers to deliver clearer highs and mids. Both the S6 and S8 feature adjustable crossovers, enabling you to fine-tune your audio setup for the best performance.

#7 How Do I Connect My Subwoofer to My System?

Both the S6 and S8 can be connected to your home music system through various methods:

• Wired Connection: Provides a stable and continuous sound quality. It’s ideal for setups where the subwoofer will remain in a fixed position.
• Wireless Connection: Using adapters like Audioengine’s W3, you can convert a wired subwoofer into a wireless unit, offering more flexibility in placement and reducing cable clutter.

#8 Are Front-Firing Subwoofers Better for Desktop Setups?

Yes, front-firing subwoofers like the S6 are specifically designed for desktop setups. They direct sound towards the listener, making them ideal for close-proximity listening environments like a home office or gaming station. This design ensures that you experience the full impact of the bass without disturbing adjacent rooms or neighbors.

Conclusion

Choosing the right subwoofer depends on your specific needs and listening environment. The Audioengine S6 is perfect for compact spaces and desktop setups, offering precise bass in a neighbor-friendly package. The S8, on the other hand, excels in larger rooms and home theater setups, delivering powerful and resonant bass that can transform your listening experience.

Whether you’re enhancing a home music system or creating a full home theater, understanding the features and benefits of the S6 and S8 will help you make the right choice. Both subwoofers embody Audioengine’s commitment to quality and superior sound, ensuring that every note and beat is delivered with clarity and depth. Upgrade your audio experience today with the S6 or S8 and discover the difference a high-quality subwoofer can make.

15mm thick MDF cabinet, 6" custom front-firing woofer

Dimensions (HWD)
10" (25.2 cm) x 8.7" (22.2 cm) x 10" (25.3 cm)

Weight
15.4 lb (6.98 kg)

Total Shipping Weight
18.2 lb (8.26 kg)

Shipping Box Dimensions (LWH)
13" (33 cm) x 13" (33 cm) x 14" (35.6 cm)

Outputs
N/A

Input Voltages
100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz auto-switching

SNR
Greater than 100 dB (typical A-weighted)

THD+N
Less than0.2% at all power settings

Crosstalk
N/A

Nominal Impedance
N/A

Input Impedance
10K ohms unbalanced

Crossover Frequency
40Hz - 130Hz

Protection
Output current limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection

Power Consumption
N/A

Frequency Response
33Hz - 132Hz ±1.5dB

Frequency Response w/ Bass Reduction Switch selected
N/A

Analog Input Impedance
N/A

Nominal Impedance
N/A

Input Impedance
10K ohms unbalanced

Type
Powered Subwoofer, sealed enclosure

Amplifier Type
Class D

Rated Power Output: 140W RMS (measured in compliance with 16 C.F.R. § 432.3)
Total Peak Power Output: 210W (AES)

Drivers
6" long throw front-firing woofer

Inputs
3.5 mm stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R

Outputs
N/A

Input Voltages
100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz auto-switching

SNR
Greater than 100 dB (typical A-weighted)

THD+N
Less than0.2% at all power settings

Crosstalk
N/A

Frequency Response
33Hz - 132Hz ±1.5dB

Frequency Response w/ Bass Reduction Switch selected
N/A

Analog Input Impedance
N/A

Nominal Impedance
N/A

Input Impedance
10K ohms unbalanced

Crossover Frequency
40Hz - 130Hz

Protection
Output current limiting, thermal over-temperature, power on/off transient protection

Power Consumption
N/A

Standby Consumption
<1W

Phase
0 / 180 degrees

Recommended Amplifier Power
N/A

Battery Life
N/A

Battery Charge Time
N/A

1. Turn Off and Unplug:

• Make sure your system is turned off and unplugged.

2. Dust the Surfaces:

• Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe away dust.
• For hard-to-reach places, use a soft brush or a can of compressed air.

3. Wipe Down the Exterior:

• We do not recommend using any solvents
• If cleaning off stains or build-up is necessary, we recommend doing so with a very small amount of mild cleaning solution applied only to the affected area, followed by quickly wiping the area dry completely. 
• Any scoured pads or objects like a 'magic eraser' too easily run the risk of removing sealers and top coats of the painted finish that can leave a clearly visible change in the uniformity of the paint/finish

4. Clean the Speaker Grills:

• The speaker grills can be gently cleaned with a vacuum, preferably using a soft bush attachment.
• A lint roller can also be used.

5. Clean Buttons and Knobs:

• A dry cloth is recommend for cleaning any knobs, buttons or other surfaces
• Be careful not to let water get into any gaps.

6. Clean Ports and Connections:

• Use compressed air to blow out dust from ports and connections.

7. Let Everything Dry:

• Make sure everything is completely dry before plugging back in and turning on.

8. Regular Cleaning:

• Dust your system regularly to keep it in good shape.

By following these steps, you can keep your Audioengine system clean and working well.

Audioengine operates two websites, audioengine.com and audioengineeu.com. If you go to any other site but these, they are not an Audioengine site. For Canada, Mexico and most of Europe and the UK, we only sell through Amazon. There are also a host of authorized retailers and sites across the US, and they can be found here. For international sales, we have distributors that operate independently, and they can be found here. 

What happens if I buy from an authorized site claiming to be Audioengine? Unfortunately, there is not much we can do. We are taking all the action we can to make sure those sites don't get indexed, but we recommend you work with the provider of the card you used to make payment to get your money back.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Terminal:
   • You can find Terminal in your Applications folder under Utilities, or you can use Spotlight by pressing Cmd + Space and typing "Terminal".
2. Execute the Command:
   • In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

bash

Copy code

sudo pkill bluetoothd

3. Enter Your Password:
   • After pressing Enter, you will be prompted to enter your password. Type your Mac's administrator password and press Enter.
   • Note that when you type your password, it won't be displayed on the screen (not even as asterisks). Just type it and press Enter.

By following these steps, you should be able to reset your Bluetooth service on your Mac, which can help resolve connectivity issues with your Audioengine devices or any other Bluetooth peripherals.

The S6 is dimensions are 10"H x 8.7"W x 10"D

We take great pride in our products, and go through great lengths to ensure consistency and quality. For that reason, this item was randomly selected for an additional step of Quality Assurance.

You can do this using powered speakers like our A2+s, HD3s, HD4s, A5+s, and HD6s.  For this, you'll connect the W3 sender to the RCA output on the left speaker, using a 3.5mm stereo-mini to RCA "Y" cable.  Then connect the W3 Receiver to the input on your S8.  You can either use a 3.5mm stereo-mini to stereo-mini cable for this, or another 3.5mm stereo-mini to RCA "Y" cable; either will work fine.  Both W3 units will need to be powered from a USB port.  You can use USB AC power adapters, or if the powered speaker you're using is our A5+ Classic model, you can use the USB port on it's rear panel for the W3 sender. The same would apply to the S8 subwoofer if you have our current 'Gen II' model that has a USB port on the rear panel.

No, there are no firmware updates or special drivers needed unless you own our A1-MR multi-room speakers or our B-Fi multi-room wireless streaming device.

If a firmware update is released for the A1-MR or the B-Fi, you will be notified of the update the next time you open the Audioengine Control App.  If an update is needed, simply click "update" on the DEVICES page next to the product that needs to have the firmware update applied.  The app will handle the rest of the process from there!

Standard plug-n-play drivers that are provided by your computer's OS are utilized when using the USB input on our A2+, HD3, and HD4 speaker models.

And all of our Bluetooth speakers/products are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most smartphones, tablets, and computers. For computers that don't include Bluetooth support out of the box, you can simply add a USB Bluetooth adapter.

Yes!  You'd just need a wireless adapter like our W3 Wireless Adapter.

Most Audioengine powered speakers have variable RCA outputs for use with a subwoofer like the S6 (the exceptions being the B2 and the 512). This means that the output of the speakers and the RCA output will go up and down together. So once you dial in the volume of your S6, you should be able to adjust the volume from the speakers, or your source device. Either way the subwoofer and speakers should stay in balance as the volume is raised and lowered.

The S6's crossover is a variable low-pass filter, and will not adjust the audio for the RCA output connection. This is a full range line level output.

The S6’s crossover is a variable low-pass filter. This means it variably adjusts how high the S6 will play. Unless the subwoofer is pretty far away, you can usually leave the phase switch set to 0°.  When setting up a new S6, I like to start with the crossover all the way counter clockwise and, with some music I'm familiar with playing, first get the volume "about" right.  After that try making very small adjustments clockwise on the crossover, evaluating each small change from where you'll be listening from most often.  Once it starts sounding like you can localize where the sub is coming from, back it off until you can't again.  You may also need to lower the volume a touch after the crossover is dialed in, or perhaps even while you're dialing it in, depending on the acoustics of the room you're in, and your own preference on how present you'd like the sub to sound.

Audioengine powered speakers have fixed passive crossovers designed specifically for them; this simply means that they are designed to play the frequency range they produce, so it's not necessary to alter this when adding a subwoofer.  Adding a subwoofer, such as the S6, will pick up where the speakers leave off, extending the low end response.

Yes! You would just need an amp, like our N22, to supply power to the P4 speakers and connect to the S6.

The USB port can provide around 500mA, which is standard for high powered USB 2.0 devices; these are perfect for using a W3 or B1 for instance.

However, when trying to charge a iPad or iPhone for example, they require around 1000mA to charge with the screen on (the iPad's included USB charger actually provides around 2100mA to speed up charging with the screen on).  If your device is at a higher battery level it should work fine to plug it in to the USB power port to maintain the battery while listening to music (with the screen on it will always show "not charging").  If the battery is low though, we'd recommend plugging it into the charger that came with it.