In this review, we will be comparing SLIM BASS 8 and Monitor XT12, 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 Slim Bass 8 and Polk Monitor XT12 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 Slim Bass 8and Polk Monitor XT12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale Slim Bass 8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Polk Monitor XT12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SLIM BASS 8 has a frequency range of 35-120 Hz whereas Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Monitor XT12 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SLIM BASS 8'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 Slim Bass 8 and Polk Monitor XT12 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.
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 Slim Bass 8's and Polk Monitor XT12's external dimensions. Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 has external dimensions of 189.0 x 601.0 x 305.0mm (7-7/16 x 23-11/16 x 12inch) whereas Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm (16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch).
Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 is 229mm shorter and 180mm less deeper than Polk Monitor XT12 but it is also 193mm 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.
Near-identical footprints. Polk Monitor XT12 is 180mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Polk Monitor XT12 is 229mm 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 Slim Bass 8 is approximately 1833.1cm2 / 284.1inch2 and base area of the Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2. The SLIM BASS 8 requires 7% less surface area than the Monitor XT12 which gives it a small advantage 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 Slim Bass 8 weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs. This makes the Monitor XT12 61% heavier than the SLIM BASS 8.
Here is a comparison of how SLIM BASS 8 and Monitor XT12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
189mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1833cm2
vs
1978cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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.
Near-identical footprints. Polk Monitor XT12 stands 180mm further into the room. Polk Monitor XT12 is 229mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-120 Hz |
24-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
400-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
189.0mm (7.4") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
601.0mm (23.7") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | Polk Monitor XT12 goes deeper - 24Hz against 35Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | A | Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 50W RMS, about 6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Polk Monitor XT12 moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 is about 58% 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 | A | Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 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 | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 B Polk Monitor XT12
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Wharfedale Slim Bass 8 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.