In this review, we will be comparing R18s and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Perlisten 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 Perlisten R18s 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.Perlisten R18s and Wharfedale SW-15 have a totally different setup: the Perlisten R18s features x -inch drivers whereas the SW-15 features 1 x 15-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
R18s has a frequency range of 20-288 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the R18s 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
Both Perlisten R18s 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 Perlisten R18s's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Perlisten R18s has external dimensions of () 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 493mm wider, 570mm taller and 615mm deeper than Perlisten R18s.
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 Perlisten R18s weighs 57.30kg / 126.1lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the R18s 82% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how R18s 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 |
288k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
0mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
0cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
5495USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Perlisten R18s |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Perlisten |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
20-288 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
mm (0") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
mm (0") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
mm (0") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
57.30kg (126.1lbs) |
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 |