In this review, we will be comparing Subsonic and SW-15, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wilson Audio and 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 Wilson Audio Subsonic and Wharfedale SW-15 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Wilson Audio Subsonic and Wharfedale SW-15 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Wilson Audio Subsonic and Wharfedale SW-15 have a totally different setup: the Wilson Audio Subsonic features 3 x 12-inch drivers whereas the SW-15 features 1 x 15-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Subsonic has a frequency range of 10-150 Hz whereas SW-15 has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 10Hz, the Subsonic 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
Both Wilson Audio Subsonic and Wharfedale SW-15 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 Wilson Audio Subsonic's and Wharfedale SW-15's external dimensions. Wilson Audio Subsonic has external dimensions of 1653.0 x 459.0 x 691.0mm ( 65-1/16 x 18-1/16 x 27-3/16inch) whereas 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 ) .
Wharfedale SW-15 is 1083mm shorter and 76mm less deeper than Wilson Audio Subsonic but it is also 34mm wider.
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 Wilson Audio Subsonic is approximately 3171.7cm2 / 491.6inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale SW-15 is approximately 3032.0cm2 / 470.0inch2. The Subsonic requires 5% more surface area than the SW-15 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 Wilson Audio Subsonic weighs 229.00kg / 503.8lbs and the Wharfedale SW-15 weighs 31.57kg / 69.5lbs. This makes the Subsonic 625% heavier than the SW-15.
Here is a comparison of how Subsonic and SW-15's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
10 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
570mm
vs
1653mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
3032cm2
vs
3171cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
47250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wilson Audio Subsonic |
Wharfedale SW-15 |
| Brand |
Wilson Audio |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
10-150 Hz |
30-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper pulp |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1653.0mm (65.1") |
570.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
459.0mm (18.1") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
691.0mm (27.2") |
615.0mm (24.2") |
| Weight |
229.00kg (503.8lbs) |
31.57kg (69.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |