Short answer: the Starke Sound SW15. It ranks #13 of 137 subwoofers at $1075; the JBL HDI-1200P ranks #14 and costs $2310, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL HDI-1200P gets right: Dual-ported 1000W 12-inch high-excursion cone.
On the Starke Sound SW15 side: Sealed 15-inch with 450W RMS delivers tight controlled deep bass down to 14Hz.
One note: the Starke Sound SW15 is discontinued, but it still ranks #13 of 137 subwoofers, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL HDI-1200P if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Starke Sound SW15 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL HDI-1200P | Starke Sound SW15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,310 | $1,075 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 137 in Medium Powered Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #13 of 137 in Medium Powered Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | sealed |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 93.2 dB | 104.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.5 dB | 110.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB | 114.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.1 dB | 118.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.0 dB | 119.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.9 dB | 117.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 115.4 dB | 115.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 117.2 dB | 113.8 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.2 dB | 117.3 dB |
| Dimensions | 16.95"H x 16.3"W x 17.77"D (430.5 x 414.0 x 451.4 mm) | 17.3"H x 16.5"W x 18.9"D (439.4 x 419.1 x 480.1 mm) |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs / 32.1 kg | 54.9 lbs / 24.9 kg |
| Warranty | 5 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black, wood | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Audioholics |
| Frequency Response | 28-150Hz (-6dB) | 14-240Hz, ±3dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 1000W RMS | 450W RMS / 900W peak |
| Crossover | 50-150Hz, 24dB/octave | 50-200Hz adjustable |
| Input Connections | RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) | 1 XLR (balanced), 3 RCA (unbalanced) |
| Features | Single-band parametric EQ | Sealed subwoofer, outputs: XLR |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver | 15" (381mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 86.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | - | 90.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | - | 98.0 dB |
| Phase Control | - | 0°-180° adjustable |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL HDI-1200P: $2,310
Pros: Dual-ported 1000W 12-inch high-excursion cone. Symmetric Field motor design controls stray magnetic flux for refined response. Plays very clean with super low distortion (<1% THD) down to tuning frequency. Dual down-firing ports extend low-end with 28-150Hz frequency response. Adjustable crossover (50-150Hz) and phase control for seamless integration. Compact ~17-inch cube with automotive-gloss or furniture-grade finishes.
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.2 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, wood |
| Country | United States |
| Crossover | 50-150Hz, 24dB/octave |
| Dimensions | 16.95"H x 16.3"W x 17.77"D (430.5 x 414.0 x 451.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom |
| Features | Single-band parametric EQ |
| Frequency Response | 28-150Hz (-6dB) |
| Input Connections | RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 93.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 119.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 114.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 115.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 117.2 dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 1000W RMS |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs / 32.1 kg |
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Starke Sound SW15: $1,075 Discontinued
Pros: Sealed 15-inch with 450W RMS delivers tight controlled deep bass down to 14Hz. Excellent +/-1.5dB response curve from 10Hz-50Hz. Infrasonic capable with no high-pass filter cutoff. Fast accurate response without distortion or bloat.
Cons: Discontinued.
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.3 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Crossover | 50-200Hz adjustable |
| Dimensions | 17.3"H x 16.5"W x 18.9"D (439.4 x 419.1 x 480.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 15" (381mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Features | Sealed subwoofer, outputs: XLR |
| Frequency Response | 14-240Hz, ±3dB |
| Input Connections | 1 XLR (balanced), 3 RCA (unbalanced) |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | 86.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 98.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 104.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 110.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 114.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 118.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 117.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 115.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 113.8 dB |
| Phase Control | 0°-180° adjustable |
| Power Output (Watts) | 450W RMS / 900W peak |
| Weight | 54.9 lbs / 24.9 kg |
- Buy Used
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.