In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Aperion and Wharfedale. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and Wharfedale SW-15 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwooferand Wharfedale SW-15 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 15" drivers.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-195 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SW-15's min frequency of 30Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
Both Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and Wharfedale SW-15 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 569.0 x 469.9 x 551.2mm (22.4 x 18.5 x 21.7inch) whereas Wharfedale SW-15 has external dimensions of 570.0 x 493.0 x 615.0mm (22-7/16inch x 19-3/8inch x 24-3/16inch).
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 23.1mm wider, 1mm taller and 63.8mm deeper than Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 2590.1cm2 / 401.5inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer requires 15% less surface area than the SW-15 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer weighs 35.38kg / 77.8lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 12% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
 Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
195k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
569mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2590cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
550 watts |
400 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
18-195 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
550-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
569.0mm (22.4") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
469.9mm (18.5") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
551.2mm (21.7") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
35.38kg (77.8lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |