“Packs a mighty punch for such a compact sub”: Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub review

We get big bass tones from a sub that punches way above its size

  • £599
  • €599
  • $544
Reviews
Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub
(Image: © Future)

MusicRadar Verdict

Packs a mighty punch for such a compact sub. There’s a lot of smooth, low-end tone on tap for a relatively modest wedge of cash.

Pros

  • +

    Smooth bass that hits all the low spots without the high price tag.

  • +

    Compact footprint makes it ideal for smaller studios looking for a sub that still sounds huge.

  • +

    LFE mode for multichannel setups, plus RCA inputs for consumer devices.

Cons

  • -

    Crossover controls are a little basic but quite adequate.

  • -

    Bypass is very useful, but it’s sadly only selectable via an optional footswitch.

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Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub: What is it?

Investing in a sub that can properly reveal low frequencies, with little distortion and plenty of definition, can be ruinously expensive. The best units can be huge too, as when it comes to bass, bigger is better right? Acoustic engineering is, of course, a bit more complex than that. 

That explains how Kali Audio has managed to wring such exceptional bass tone from its WS-6.2 sub, an inexpensive, powered, compact unit with modest, horizontally-opposed 6.5” drivers. 

Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub

(Image credit: Future)

Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub: Performance and verdict

The little WS-6.2 really does perform surprisingly well for its size. First off, it has a frequency response (-10dB) of 27Hz to 200Hz and a frequency range (+/-3dB) of 31.5-180Hz, giving it more low end than similarly priced but considerably larger competitors, such as the Behringer B1500XP and ALTO Professional TS12S X. 

It really does perform surprisingly well for its size

Firing a variety of test tones from Logic Pro, we can confirm that the WS-6.2 is as smooth if not smoother at around the 30Hz mark than the Yamaha HS8s that usually sits beneath our desk. It also has ample oomph on tap, with continuous power rated at 400W and peak power 1000W. It takes up a little less space too at just 12.2” x 11”, welcome news for those of us who work in studios where room is tight.

To find out how the engineers at Kali Audio have managed to generate such a full-sounding tone from relatively small drivers in such a bijou enclosure, we turned to Kali Audio co-founder Nate Baglyos. Not surprisingly, the ample power output is a key component of the sound.

“Good bass is the result of strong power delivery to the appropriate transducer,” says Nate. “You could think of our duo of side-firing 6.5-inchers as being the same surface area as one 10-incher but the other important factor in power handling is excursion, which is how far the driver can move back and forth from its resting position. 

“High excursion drivers are an excellent way to drive heavy bass, with the caveat that you need a lot of power to drive them. If you compare the WS-6.2 to similarly sized subs, you’ll see that we’re using two or three times as much amplifier power or more.”

Nate goes on to tell us that his colleague and co-founder Charles Sprinkle, who designed this sub, is very proud that he has optimised every square centimetre of space in the cabinet, which explains its diminutive size. Apparently, had we taken it apart – believe me, we were tempted – we would have found the drivers stacked right against each other, giving just enough clearance for the front port tube to snake down and around, with the amplifier tucked neatly underneath.

Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub

(Image credit: Future)

Controls on the rear of the sub are relatively basic but cover most bases. As well as the expected two XLR/TRS combi input jacks, there are a pair of RCA jacks for consumer audio gear too. Output is handled by two male XLR jacks and there’s a socket for an optional bypass footswitch. Crossover can be set to 80Hz, switched off or there’s a dedicated LFE mode if you want to feed the sub a dedicated low frequency effects channel.

MusicRadar verdict: Packs a mighty punch for such a compact sub. There’s a lot of smooth, low-end tone on tap for a relatively modest wedge of cash.

Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub: Hands-on demos

Kali Audio

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Nicholas Matys | The Consultant 

Kali Audio WS-6.2 studio sub: Specifications

  • KEY FEATURES: Powered subwoofer with two 6.5 inch drivers Amp Class: D Continuous Power: 400W, Peak Power: 1000W, Driver Complement: 2 x 6.5-Inch High Excursion Woofers, Freq Response (-10 dB): 27-200Hz, Freq Range (+/-3 dB): 31.5-180Hz.
  • CONTACT: Kali Audio
Simon Fellows
Simon Fellows

When Simon's childhood classical guitar teacher boasted he 'enjoyed a challenge', the poor man had no idea how much he'd underestimated the scale of the task ahead. Despite Simon's lack of talent, the experience did spark a lifelong passion for music. His classical guitar was discarded for an electric, then a room full of electrics before Simon discovered the joys of keys. Against all odds, Simon somehow managed to blag a career as a fashion journalist, but he's now more suitably employed writing for MusicRadar and Guitar World. When not writing or playing, he can be found terrifying himself on his mountain bike.