In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and CW8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and Monitor Audio . 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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Monitor Audio CW8 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas CW8 has a frequency range of 35-135 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the SW-15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the CW8's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8'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 Monitor Audio CW8 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 262.0 x 326.0mm ( 10-3/4 x 10-5/16 x 12-13/16inch) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 231mm wider, 296mm taller and 289mm deeper than Monitor Audio CW8.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 is approximately 854.1cm2 / 132.4inch2. The SW-15 requires 255% more surface area than the CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs. This makes the SW-15 231% heavier than the CW8.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and CW8'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 Monitor Audio CW8?
Here are the items that come with the CW8:
Powered subwooferGrille (pre-installed)4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)6-feet AC power cord10-feet Mono-minijack cableOwners ManualWarranty CardSafety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
135k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
274mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
854cm2 (262x326mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Monitor Audio CW8 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
350 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
35-135 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
350-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |