In this review, we will be comparing WH S8E 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 WH-S8E and Polk Monitor XT12 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 WH-S8E and Polk Monitor XT12 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 WH-S8Eand Polk Monitor XT12 have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale WH-S8E's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Polk Monitor XT12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
WH S8E has a frequency range of 40-200 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 WH S8E's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 WH-S8E 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
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 WH-S8E's and Polk Monitor XT12's external dimensions. Wharfedale WH-S8E has external dimensions of 330.0 x 268.0 x 327.0mm ( 13 x 10-9/16 x 12-7/8inch) 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 ) .
Polk Monitor XT12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 88mm taller and 158mm deeper than Wharfedale WH-S8E.
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 WH-S8E is approximately 876.4cm2 / 135.8inch2 and base area of the Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2. The WH S8E requires 56% 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 WH-S8E weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs. This makes the Monitor XT12 116% heavier than the WH S8E.
Here is a comparison of how WH S8E and Monitor XT12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
160k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
330mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
876cm2
vs
1978cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Wharfedale WH-S8E |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
70 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
40-200 Hz |
24-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-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 |
330.0mm (13") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
268.0mm (10.6") |
408.0mm (16.1") |
| Depth |
327.0mm (12.9") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
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 |