In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Debut 2.0 SUB3030, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and ELAC. 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 SW-15 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 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 Wharfedale SW-15and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has a frequency range of 25-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Debut 2.0 SUB3030 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 Wharfedale SW-15 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 have Passive radiator type enclosure.
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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 SW-15's and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has external dimensions of 462.0 x 451.0 x 464.0mm (18-3/16 x 17-3/4 x 18-1/4inch).
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42mm wider, 108mm taller and 151mm deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 Size and External Dimensions
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 SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 is approximately 2092.6cm2 / 324.4inch2. The SW-15 requires 45% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 SUB3030 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 SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 weighs 22.80kg / 50.2lbs. This makes the SW-15 38% heavier than the Debut 2.0 SUB3030.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Debut 2.0 SUB3030'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 SW-15?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SW-15:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 SUB3030:
- Powered subwoofer
- 9-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
462mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2092cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
25-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Doped Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
462.0mm (18.2") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
451.0mm (17.8") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
464.0mm (18.3") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
22.80kg (50.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 goes deeper - 25Hz against 30Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 400W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Wharfedale SW-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 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; ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. 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 | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 is about 44% 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. |
| Warranty | A | Wharfedale SW-15 carries 3 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 costs less - $900 against $1,199, about 25% less. |
A Wharfedale SW-15 B ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030
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. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 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.