In this review, we will be comparing Foundry F12 and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from PS Audio 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 PS Audio Foundry F12 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.Both PS Audio Foundry F12and Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the PS Audio Foundry F12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Foundry F12 has a frequency range of 20-500 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Foundry F12 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
Cabinet Type
The PS Audio Foundry F12 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
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 PS Audio Foundry F12's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. PS Audio Foundry F12 has external dimensions of 425.0 x 375.0 x 444.0mm (16-3/4 x 14-3/4 x 17-1/2inch) 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 118mm wider, 145mm taller and 171mm deeper than PS Audio Foundry F12.
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 PS Audio Foundry F12 is approximately 1665.0cm2 / 258.1inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The Foundry F12 requires 45% 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 PS Audio Foundry F12 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the Foundry F12 11% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how Foundry F12 and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
500k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
RCA
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
425mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1665cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PS Audio Foundry F12 |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
PS Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-500 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
425.0mm (16.7") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
375.0mm (14.8") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
444.0mm (17.5") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |