In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and SB16-Ultra, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale and SVS. 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 SVS SB16-Ultra 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 SVS SB16-Ultra have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the SVS SB16-Ultra features a 16-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SB16-Ultra 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
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 SVS SB16-Ultra 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
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 SVS SB16-Ultra'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 SVS SB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 508.0 x 496.0 x 512.0mm (20 x 19-1/2 x 20-1/8inch).
SVS SB16-Ultra is 62mm shorter and 103mm less deeper than Wharfedale SW-15 but it is also 3mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Wharfedale SW-15 needs about 19% more floor or shelf area. Wharfedale SW-15 is 103mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wharfedale SW-15 is 62mm taller.
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 SVS SB16-Ultra is approximately 2539.5cm2 / 393.6inch2. The SW-15 requires 19% more surface area than the SB16-Ultra 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 SVS SB16-Ultra weighs 55.45kg / 122lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 76% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and SB16-Ultra'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 SVS SB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that come with the SB16-Ultra:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- Owners Manual
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
15 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
508mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2539cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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 19% more floor area. Wharfedale SW-15 stands 103mm further into the room. Wharfedale SW-15 is 62mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
1500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
16-460 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
1500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
850-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
16" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
508.0mm (20") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
496.0mm (19.5") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
512.0mm (20.2") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
| 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 |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | SVS SB16-Ultra goes deeper - 16Hz against 30Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS SB16-Ultra has the bigger amplifier - 1500W against 400W RMS, about 5.7dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (15" against 16"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Wharfedale SW-15 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; SVS SB16-Ultra is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | SVS SB16-Ultra is about 25% 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. |
| Warranty | B | SVS SB16-Ultra carries 5 years on parts against 3 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale SW-15 costs less - $1,199 against $2,300, about 48% less. |
A Wharfedale SW-15 B SVS SB16-Ultra
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?
The usual trade-off: SVS SB16-Ultra measures better, Wharfedale SW-15 costs about 48% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Wharfedale SW-15 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB16-Ultra is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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 $1,199 each, two Wharfedale SW-15 cost about $2,398 against $2,300 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.