In this review, we will be comparing SW-15 and SW-12, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Wharfedale. 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 Wharfedale SW-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 Wharfedale SW-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 Wharfedale SW-12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale SW-15's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Wharfedale SW-12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas SW-12 has a frequency range of 35-120 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 SW-12'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
Both Wharfedale SW-15 and Wharfedale SW-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.
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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 Wharfedale SW-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 Wharfedale SW-12 has external dimensions of 480.0 x 402.0 x 512.0mm ( 18-7/8inch x 15-13/16inch x 20-1/8inch ) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 91mm wider, 90mm taller and 103mm deeper than Wharfedale SW-12.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale SW-15 and Wharfedale SW-12 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale SW-15 and Wharfedale SW-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 Wharfedale SW-12 is approximately 2058.2cm2 / 319.0inch2. The SW-15 requires 47% more surface area than the SW-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 Wharfedale SW-12 weighs 21.54kg / 47.4lbs. This makes the SW-15 47% heavier than the SW-12.
Here is a comparison of how SW-15 and SW-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 Wharfedale SW-12?
Here are the items that come with the SW-12:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cordUser-feets Manual
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
480mm
vs
570mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2058cm2
vs
3032cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
Wharfedale SW-12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
35-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
570.0mm (22.4") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
493.0mm (19.4") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
615.0mm (24.2") |
512.0mm (20.2") |
| Weight |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
21.54kg (47.4lbs) |
| 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 |