In this review, we will be comparing PC13-Ultra and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS 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 SVS PC13-Ultra 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 SVS PC13-Ultra 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 SVS PC13-Ultraand Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the SVS PC13-Ultra's woofer is 13.5-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PC13-Ultra has a frequency range of 15-200 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 15Hz, the PC13-Ultra 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 SVS PC13-Ultra 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
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 SVS PC13-Ultra's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. SVS PC13-Ultra has external dimensions of 1194.0 x 422.0 x 422.0mm ( 47 x 16-5/8 x 16-5/8inch) 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 ) .
SVS PC13-Ultra is 71mm narrower and 193mm less deeper than Wharfedale SW-15 but it is also 624mm 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 SVS PC13-Ultra is approximately 1780.8cm2 / 276.0inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The PC13-Ultra requires 41% 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 SVS PC13-Ultra weighs 40.80kg / 89.8lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the PC13-Ultra 29% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how PC13-Ultra and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
15 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1780cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
13.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
570mm
vs
1194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS PC13-Ultra |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
SVS |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
15-200 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
3600-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13.5" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiberglass composite |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1194.0mm (47") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
422.0mm (16.6") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
40.80kg (89.8lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |