In this review, we will be comparing MiniVee X and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Velodyne 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 Velodyne MiniVee X 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.Both Velodyne MiniVee Xand Wharfedale SW-15 have a single woofer setup however the Velodyne MiniVee X's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-15 features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
MiniVee X has a frequency range of 32-180 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the SW-15 can go slightly deeper then the MiniVee X's min frequency of 32Hz.
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 Velodyne MiniVee X's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Velodyne MiniVee X has external dimensions of 300 x 290 x 290 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 203mm wider, 270mm taller and 325mm deeper than Velodyne MiniVee X.
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 261% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale SW-15 is 325mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale SW-15 is 270mm 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 Velodyne MiniVee X is approximately 841.0cm2 / 130.4inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The MiniVee X requires 72% 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 Velodyne MiniVee X weighs 15.00kg / 33lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 110% heavier than the MiniVee X.
Here is a comparison of how MiniVee X and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
180 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
8" passive radiator, force-cancelling
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| App-Based Control |
Auto EQ SUB (iOS, Android)
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
300mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
841cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 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 261% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 325mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 270mm taller.
| General |
Velodyne MiniVee X |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Velodyne |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
32-180 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
800-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
300.0mm (11.8") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
290.0mm (11.4") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
290.0mm (11.4") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
15.00kg (33lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
High-gloss black, high-gloss white, or transparent acrylic |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
High-gloss black, high-gloss white, transparent acrylic (limited edition) |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
5V/1A, powers the Wi-Connect II receiver only |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (32Hz vs 30Hz). |
| 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 8" is 3.52x the cone area, not the 1.88x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Velodyne MiniVee X is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Wharfedale SW-15 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | Velodyne MiniVee X takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Velodyne MiniVee X is about 85% 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 Velodyne MiniVee X 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Wharfedale SW-15 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Velodyne MiniVee X is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, Velodyne MiniVee X is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.