In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and HTS 12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and Polk 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 Polk HTS 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 Polk HTS 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 Polk HTS 12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Polk HTS 12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas HTS 12 has a frequency range of 28-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the HTS 12 can go slightly deeper then 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
Both Wharfedale SW-15 and Polk HTS 12 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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.
Polk HTS 12 Port
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 Polk HTS 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 Polk HTS 12 has external dimensions of 478.0 x 437.0 x 510.0mm ( 18-13/16 x 17-3/16 x 20-1/16inch) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 56mm wider, 92mm taller and 105mm deeper than Polk HTS 12.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and Polk HTS 12 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and Polk HTS 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 Polk HTS 12 is approximately 2228.7cm2 / 345.4inch2. The SW-15 requires 36% more surface area than the HTS 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 Polk HTS 12 weighs 22.68kg / 49.9lbs. This makes the SW-15 39% heavier than the HTS 12.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and HTS 12'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 Polk HTS 12?
Here are the items that come with the HTS 12:
Powered subwooferGrille8-feet AC power cordOwners ManualOnline Product Registration sheet
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
478mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2228cm2 (437x510mm)
vs
3032cm2 (493x615mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
549USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Polk Audio HTS 12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
28-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
400-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 |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
437.0mm (17.2") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
22.68kg (49.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |