In this review, we will be comparing Stratton 10 and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KLH 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 KLH Stratton 10 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 KLH Stratton 10 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both KLH Stratton 10and Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the KLH Stratton 10's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Stratton 10 has a frequency range of 29-150 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Stratton 10 can go slightly deeper then 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
Cabinet Type
Both KLH Stratton 10 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.
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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 KLH Stratton 10's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. KLH Stratton 10 has external dimensions of 389.0 x 326.0 x 443.0mm ( 15-5/16inch x 12-13/16inch x 17-7/16inch ) 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 167mm wider, 181mm taller and 172mm deeper than KLH Stratton 10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Stratton 10 and Wharfedale SW-15 in scale.
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 KLH Stratton 10 is approximately 1444.2cm2 / 223.9inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The Stratton 10 requires 52% 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 KLH Stratton 10 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 117% heavier than the Stratton 10.
Here is a comparison of how Stratton 10 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 KLH Stratton 10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stratton 10:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cordGrilleManual
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
Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
389mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1444cm2 (326x443mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
General |
KLH Stratton 10 |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Brand |
KLH |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
400 watts |
Frequency Response |
29-150 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
10" |
15" |
Woofer Composition |
Paper/Kevlar/Fiberglass |
Paper |
Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
389.0mm (15.3") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
Width |
326.0mm (12.8") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
Depth |
443.0mm (17.4") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |