In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" 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 DS8 Class D 8" 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.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwooferand Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 24-195 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" 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 DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
Both Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" 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 DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 330.2 x 279.4 x 309.9mm (13 x 11 x 12.2inch) 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 213.6mm wider, 239.8mm taller and 305.1mm deeper than Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale SW-15 needs about 250% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale SW-15 is 305mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale SW-15 is 240mm taller.
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 DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 865.9cm2 / 134.2inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer requires 71% 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 DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer weighs 12.25kg / 27lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 158% heavier than the Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" 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 DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
 Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
195 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
330mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
865cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Wharfedale SW-15 needs about 250% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 305mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 240mm taller.
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
400 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
24-195 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
850-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.2mm (13") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
279.4mm (11") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
309.9mm (12.2") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
12.25kg (27lbs) |
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 |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer goes deeper - 24Hz against 30Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | Wharfedale SW-15 has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 250W RMS, about 2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Wharfedale SW-15 moves more air: 15" against 8" is 3.52x the cone area, not the 1.88x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is about 83% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | A | Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer costs less - $499 against $1,199, about 58% less. |
A Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer B Wharfedale SW-15
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Wharfedale SW-15 is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 140% more. Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $499 each, two Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer cost about $998 against $1,199 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.