In this review, we will be comparing S6 and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Audioengine 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 Audioengine S6 and Wharfedale SW-15 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Audioengine S6 and Wharfedale SW-15 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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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.Both Audioengine S6and Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the Audioengine S6's woofer is 6-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
S6 has a frequency range of 33-132 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the SW-15 can go slightly deeper then the S6's min frequency of 33Hz.
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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The Audioengine S6 has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs. On the other hand the Wharfedale SW-15 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Audioengine S6's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Audioengine S6 has external dimensions of 250.0 x 221.0 x 281.0mm ( 9-13/16inch x 8-11/16inch x 11-1/16inch ) 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 272mm wider, 320mm taller and 334mm deeper than Audioengine S6.
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 Audioengine S6 is approximately 621.0cm2 / 96.3inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The S6 requires 80% 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 Audioengine S6 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 351% heavier than the S6.
Here is a comparison of how S6 and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Audioengine S6?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S6:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord6.5-feet Stereo RCA cable6.5-feet Stereo minijack audio cableCloth subwoofer bagCloth cable bagQuick Start GuideAudioengine brochure
What's in the Box of Wharfedale SW-15?
Here are the items that come with the SW-15:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cordUser-feets Manual
 High Frequency Response |
132k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
250mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
621cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
33 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Audioengine S6 |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
140 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
33-132 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
140-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
250.0mm (9.8") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
221.0mm (8.7") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |