In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and Silver W-12, 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 Silver W-12 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 Silver W-12 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 Silver W-12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Monitor Audio Silver W-12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas Silver W-12 has a frequency range of 20-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Silver W-12 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
Monitor Audio Silver W-12
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver W-12
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 Silver W-12 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
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 Silver W-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 Monitor Audio Silver W-12 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 342.0 x 445.0mm ( 13-15/16 x 13-7/16 x 17-1/2inch) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 151mm wider, 215mm taller and 170mm deeper than Monitor Audio Silver W-12.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and Monitor Audio Silver W-12 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and Monitor Audio Silver W-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 Monitor Audio Silver W-12 is approximately 1521.9cm2 / 235.9inch2. The SW-15 requires 99% more surface area than the Silver W-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 Monitor Audio Silver W-12 weighs 20.14kg / 44.3lbs. This makes the SW-15 57% heavier than the Silver W-12.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and Silver W-12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver W-12
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 Silver W-12?
Here are the items that come with the Silver W-12:
Powered sub6-feet AC power cordGrilleAuto setup mic (w/ attached 19.5-feet cable)10.75-feet Mono minijack cable4 FeetOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
355mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1521cm2 (342x445mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Monitor Audio Silver W-12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
20-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| 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") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
20.14kg (44.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |