Argon Audio Malmö Sub 8 Active Subwoofer, Black (Each)

The Argon Audio Malmö Sub 8 is an active bass-reflex subwoofer with a 20 cm long-throw driver and its own Class D amplifier, giving compact speakers the foundation they're missing. In the black finish, it stays visually in the background and works exactly where bookshelf speakers physically give up: in the bottom octave.

Why the Malmö Sub 8?

100 watts continuous power, 200 watts at peak, and a driver with a large excursion – that's the sober arithmetic behind the result. The bass-reflex port sits at the base of the cabinet and radiates evenly into the room instead of blowing against the nearest wall. You set the crossover frequency between 40 and 120 Hz, level and phase directly on the amplifier section at the back.

What you get

An RCA cable from your amplifier's or AV receiver's subwoofer output, a power socket – setup requires little more than that. After that, the auto-on circuit takes over: signal present, subwoofer wakes; signal gone, standby at under half a watt. The black MDF cabinet with a fitted fabric cover stands next to the sideboard without anyone asking about it.

Who is the Malmö Sub 8 suited for – and who isn't it for?

Honestly: if you want to flood a large living space with cinema effects, you're better off with the Malmö Sub 10 and its 25 cm driver and 37 Hz lower cutoff. The Sub 8 is aimed at anyone who wants to give their bookshelf or wall speakers unobtrusive depth in small to medium rooms – without sacrificing half a square metre of floor space for it.

Our verdict

An honest subwoofer without a show: no wireless module, no display, no app – instead a cleanly built cabinet, three controls and a result you understand straight away. Which crossover frequency suits your speakers and where the sub should stand in the room, we're happy to work out directly with you: HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00 or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Technical data

• Type: Active subwoofer with built-in Class D amplifier
• Driver: 20 cm (8″) long-throw woofer
• Amplifier power: 100 W RMS / 200 W peak
• Frequency range: 42–180 Hz (−3 dB)
• Crossover frequency: adjustable 40–120 Hz
• Phase: switchable 0°/180°
• Cabinet principle: Bass reflex, downward-firing port
• Cabinet material: MDF
• Input: 1× RCA, line/LFE level
• High-level input: not available
• Output: not available (no pass-through output)
• Controls: level, crossover frequency, phase
• Auto standby: yes, auto-on with signal, under 0.5 W in standby
• Finish: Black
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 27 × 28.5 × 30 cm
• Weight: 9 kg
• Included: subwoofer, removable fabric front cover, power cable (RCA cable not included)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an additional amplifier for the Argon Audio Malmö Sub 8?

No. The Class D amplifier with 100 watts RMS already sits inside the cabinet. You connect the RCA input to your amplifier's or AV receiver's subwoofer output and plug in the power cable. A matching RCA cable isn't included and must be bought separately, whereas the power cable is included. You don't need any further components.

Where's the best place to put the Malmö Sub 8 in the room?

A good starting point is the front plane next to a main speaker, with a bit of clearance from the rear wall. Because the bass-reflex port fires downward, the Sub 8 also tolerates a spot on carpet. Corners boost the level but quickly lead to booming – better to experiment than to guess.

Can I run the Malmö Sub 8 with an amplifier that has no subwoofer output?

Only with a workaround. The Sub 8 has only an RCA input and no high-level connection for speaker cable. Without a subwoofer output or pre-out, you'd need an amplifier with a preamp output or a suitable intermediate solution. Tell us which amplifier you have and we'll check it quickly.

Why buy the Malmö Sub 8 from HD Zürisee?

Because a subwoofer stands or falls with its placement and setup: positioned wrong, it booms; integrated correctly, you no longer hear it as a separate unit at all. That's exactly where our years of experience help – with honest advice, our own technician, and support after the purchase too.

Goes well with

A subwoofer never works alone: matching bookshelf speakers for the main level, the right cable to connect it, or a browse through the Argon Audio world.