In this review, we will be comparing PULSE SUB and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Bluesound 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB 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.Bluesound PULSE SUB and Wharfedale SW-15 have a totally different setup: the Bluesound PULSE SUB features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers whereas the SW-15 features 1 x 15-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
PULSE SUB has a frequency range of whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the PULSE SUB 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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
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 Bluesound PULSE SUB's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Bluesound PULSE SUB has external dimensions of 330 x 292 x 315 mm () 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 201mm wider, 240mm taller and 300mm deeper than Bluesound PULSE SUB.
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 230% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale SW-15 is 300mm 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB is approximately 919.8cm2 / 142.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The PULSE SUB requires 70% 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 216% heavier than the PULSE SUB.
Here is a comparison of how PULSE SUB and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
BluOS Controller (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS)
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
330mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
919cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
120 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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 230% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 300mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 240mm taller.
| General |
Bluesound PULSE SUB |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Bluesound |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
|
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.0mm (13") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
292.0mm (11.5") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Matte satin paint |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, White/Tan |
n/a |
| Grille |
Removable magnetic |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
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 |
|---|
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (350W vs 400W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Wharfedale SW-15 moves more air: 15" against 2 x 6.5" is 2.66x the cone area, not the 1.63x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Bluesound PULSE SUB offers a wireless link. It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Bluesound PULSE SUB is about 82% 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 | B | Wharfedale SW-15 costs less - $1,199 against $1,299, about 8% less. |
A Bluesound PULSE SUB 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 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Bluesound PULSE SUB 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.