In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Windsor 12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and KLH. 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 KLH Windsor 12 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 SW-15and KLH Windsor 12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the KLH Windsor 12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Windsor 12 has a frequency range of 30-160 Hz.
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 KLH Windsor 12 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.
New
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 KLH Windsor 12'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 KLH Windsor 12 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 401.0 x 521.0mm (17-7/8 x 15-3/4 x 20-1/2inch).
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 92mm wider, 115mm taller and 94mm deeper than KLH Windsor 12.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and KLH Windsor 12 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and KLH Windsor 12 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 KLH Windsor 12 is approximately 2089.2cm2 / 323.8inch2. The SW-15 requires 45% more surface area than the Windsor 12 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 KLH Windsor 12 weighs 20.19kg / 44.4lbs. This makes the SW-15 56% heavier than the Windsor 12.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Windsor 12'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 KLH Windsor 12?
Here are the items that come with the Windsor 12:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 9-feet AC power cord
- Manual
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
455mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2089cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1199USD
|
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 45% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 94mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 115mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
KLH Windsor 12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
30-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Composite |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
455.0mm (17.9") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
20.19kg (44.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (30Hz vs 30Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Wharfedale SW-15 has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 200W RMS, about 3dB 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 | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KLH Windsor 12 is about 45% 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 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | KLH Windsor 12 costs less - $800 against $1,199, about 33% less. |
A Wharfedale SW-15 B KLH Windsor 12
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale SW-15 measures better, KLH Windsor 12 costs about 33% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KLH Windsor 12 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.