In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Dynamo 400, 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 400 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 400 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the MartinLogan 400 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Dynamo 400 has a frequency range of 30-200 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
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 400 have Bass reflex 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 MartinLogan 400'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 400 has external dimensions of 385.0 x 339.0 x 388.0mm (15-1/8 x 13-5/16 x 15-1/4inch).
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 154mm wider, 185mm taller and 227mm deeper than MartinLogan 400.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and MartinLogan 400 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and MartinLogan 400 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 400 is approximately 1315.3cm2 / 203.9inch2. The SW-15 requires 131% more surface area than the Dynamo 400 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 400 weighs 12.95kg / 28.5lbs. This makes the SW-15 144% heavier than the Dynamo 400.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Dynamo 400'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 400?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 400:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
385mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1315cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
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 131% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 227mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 185mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
MartinLogan Dynamo 400 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
75 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
30-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
75-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
385.0mm (15.2") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
12.95kg (28.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| 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 |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| 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 75W RMS, about 7.3dB 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 8" is 3.52x the cone area, not the 1.88x 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | MartinLogan 400 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | Wharfedale SW-15 fires front and MartinLogan 400 fires 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 400 is about 71% 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 | B | MartinLogan 400 costs less - $500 against $1,199, about 58% less. |
A Wharfedale SW-15 B MartinLogan 400
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?
Wharfedale SW-15 is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 140% more. MartinLogan 400 is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, MartinLogan 400 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $500 each, two MartinLogan 400 cost about $1,000 against $1,199 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.