In this review, we will be comparing Nova 15 and Monitor XT12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and Polk Audio. 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 Wharfedale Nova 15 and Polk Monitor XT12 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 Wharfedale Nova 15and Polk Monitor XT12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale Nova 15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Polk Monitor XT12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Nova 15 has a frequency range of 28 Hz (-6dB) whereas Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Monitor XT12 can go slightly deeper then the Nova 15's min frequency of 28Hz.
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 Wharfedale Nova 15 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the Polk Monitor XT12 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 Wharfedale Nova 15's and Polk Monitor XT12's external dimensions. Wharfedale Nova 15 has external dimensions of 549.0 x 540.0 x 607.0mm (21.61inch x 21.26inch x 23.9inch) whereas Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm (16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch).
Wharfedale Nova 15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 132mm wider, 131mm taller and 122mm deeper than Polk Monitor XT12.
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 Nova 15 needs about 66% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale Nova 15 is 122mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale Nova 15 is 131mm 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 Wharfedale Nova 15 is approximately 3277.8cm2 / 508.1inch2 and base area of the Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2. The Nova 15 requires 66% more surface area than the Monitor XT12 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Wharfedale Nova 15 weighs 47.80kg / 105.2lbs and the Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs. This makes the Nova 15 170% heavier than the Monitor XT12.
Here is a comparison of how Nova 15 and Monitor XT12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Nova 15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Nova 15:
- Subwoofer
- Power cord
- Manual
- Rubber feet pads
What's in the Box of Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT12:
- Black powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online registration card
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
1 x 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
418mm
vs
549mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1978cm2
vs
3277cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1999USD
|
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 Nova 15 needs about 66% more floor area. Wharfedale Nova 15 stands 122mm further into the room. Wharfedale Nova 15 is 131mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale Nova 15 |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
360 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28 Hz (-6dB) |
24-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
360-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
770-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
549.0mm (21.6") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
540.0mm (21.3") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
607.0mm (23.9") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
47.80kg (105.2lbs) |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Matte Black |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |
A passive radiator 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 | B | Polk Monitor XT12 goes deeper - 24Hz against 28Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 28Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Wharfedale Nova 15 has the bigger amplifier - 360W against 50W RMS, about 8.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Wharfedale Nova 15 moves more air: 15" against 12" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Wharfedale Nova 15 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; Polk Monitor XT12 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Polk Monitor XT12 is about 54% 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 | Polk Monitor XT12 costs less - $399 against $1,999, about 80% less. |
A Wharfedale Nova 15 B Polk Monitor XT12
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?
Wharfedale Nova 15 is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 5x the price. Polk Monitor XT12 is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $399 each, two Polk Monitor XT12 cost about $798 against $1,999 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Polk Monitor XT12 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.