In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and SUB3070, 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 SUB3070 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Wharfedale SW-15 and ELAC SUB3070 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 Wharfedale SW-15and ELAC SUB3070 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the ELAC SUB3070 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas SUB3070 has a frequency range of 18-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the SUB3070 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 SUB3070 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported 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 Wharfedale SW-15's and ELAC SUB3070'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 SUB3070 has external dimensions of 435.0 x 520.0 x 477.0mm ( 17-1/8 x 20-7/16 x 18-3/4inch) .
ELAC SUB3070 is 135mm shorter and 138mm less deeper than Wharfedale SW-15 but it is also 27mm wider.
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 SUB3070 is approximately 2480.4cm2 / 384.5inch2. The SW-15 requires 22% more surface area than the SUB3070 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 SUB3070 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs. This makes the SUB3070 11% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and SUB3070'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 subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cordUser-feets Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC SUB3070?
Here are the items that come with the SUB3070:
Powered subwooferAC power cord2 Steel bottom plates4 Spikes4 Locking-knobs4 Protective discsOperating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
180k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
435mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2480cm2 (520x477mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
ELAC SUB3070 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
18-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
520.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
477.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |