In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Dynamo 1100X, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and MartinLogan. 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 MartinLogan 1100X 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 MartinLogan 1100X have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the MartinLogan 1100X features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Dynamo 1100X has a frequency range of 22-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the Dynamo 1100X 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 MartinLogan 1100X 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.
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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 MartinLogan 1100X'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 MartinLogan 1100X has external dimensions of 435.0 x 381.0 x 410.0mm (17-1/8 x 15 x 16-1/8inch).
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 112mm wider, 135mm taller and 205mm deeper than MartinLogan 1100X.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and MartinLogan 1100X in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and MartinLogan 1100X 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 MartinLogan 1100X is approximately 1562.1cm2 / 242.1inch2. The SW-15 requires 94% more surface area than the Dynamo 1100X 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 MartinLogan 1100X weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs. This makes the SW-15 51% heavier than the Dynamo 1100X.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Dynamo 1100X'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 MartinLogan 1100X?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 1100X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
435mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1562cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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 94% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 205mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 135mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1100X |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
650 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
22-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
650-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front and bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
381.0mm (15") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Satin Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 | MartinLogan 1100X goes deeper - 22Hz against 30Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | MartinLogan 1100X has the bigger amplifier - 650W against 400W RMS, about 2.1dB 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; MartinLogan 1100X is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | MartinLogan 1100X takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only MartinLogan 1100X offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | Wharfedale SW-15 fires front and MartinLogan 1100X fires front/down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | MartinLogan 1100X is about 61% 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 | A | Wharfedale SW-15 costs less - $1,199 against $1,500, about 20% less. |
A Wharfedale SW-15 B MartinLogan 1100X
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: MartinLogan 1100X measures better, Wharfedale SW-15 costs about 20% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Wharfedale SW-15 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, MartinLogan 1100X is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, MartinLogan 1100X is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.