In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and HDI-1200P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and JBL. 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 JBL HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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 JBL HDI-1200P have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the JBL HDI-1200P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas HDI-1200P has a frequency range of 28-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the HDI-1200P can go slightly deeper then 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 Wharfedale SW-15 and JBL HDI-1200P 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.
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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 JBL HDI-1200P'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 JBL HDI-1200P has external dimensions of 480.0 x 412.0 x 493.0mm ( 18-7/8 x 16-3/16 x 19-3/8inch) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81mm wider, 90mm taller and 122mm deeper than JBL HDI-1200P.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and JBL HDI-1200P in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and JBL HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P is approximately 2031.2cm2 / 314.8inch2. The SW-15 requires 49% more surface area than the HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P weighs 32.18kg / 70.8lbs. This makes the HDI-1200P 2% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and HDI-1200P'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 JBL HDI-1200P?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-1200P:
Powered SubwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord16.5-feet Mono-RCA/Mono-Minijack cable4 SpikesOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2310USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
480mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2031cm2 (412x493mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
JBL HDI-1200P |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
28-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Poly-plas |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
412.0mm (16.2") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
32.18kg (70.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |