In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Radius 390, 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 Radius 390 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 Radius 390 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 Radius 390 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Monitor Audio Radius 390 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 and Radius 390 has exactly the same frequency range of 30-120 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 Monitor Audio Radius 390 have Passive Radiator type enclosure. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs.
New
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 Radius 390'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 Radius 390 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 331.0 x 385.0mm ( 13-11/16 x 13 x 15-1/8inch) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 162mm wider, 222mm taller and 230mm deeper than Monitor Audio Radius 390.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and Monitor Audio Radius 390 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and Monitor Audio Radius 390 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 Monitor Audio Radius 390 is approximately 1274.4cm2 / 197.5inch2. The SW-15 requires 138% more surface area than the Radius 390 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 Radius 390 weighs 13.77kg / 30.3lbs. This makes the SW-15 129% heavier than the Radius 390.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Radius 390'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 Radius 390?
Here are the items that come with the Radius 390:
Powered sub6-feet AC power cord10.75-feet Mono minijack cableOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
348mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1274cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1150USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Monitor Audio Radius 390 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
220 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
220-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
385.0mm (15.2") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
13.77kg (30.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |