Monoprice SW-12 vs SW-15

Short answer: the SW-15, and it isn’t close on value. $208.26 more buys 3.8 dB of CEA-2010-A average output, 4.5 dB more at 20 Hz, and a jump from #5 to #13 in a 137-subwoofer class.

The numbers. The SW-15 measures 119.0 dB average and 101.2 dB at 20 Hz. The SW-12 measures 115.2 dB and 96.7 dB. Both are bottom-ported. In practice the SW-15 is the better subwoofer in every way that a subwoofer is judged, and both are outstanding for what they cost. The SW-15 out-measures subwoofers at three times its price.

The real question is size, not money. The SW-15 is a 15” driver in a 30 kg (66.1 lbs) cabinet; the SW-12 is a 12” in 23 kg (50.7 lbs). Neither is small, but the SW-15 is genuinely large and needs to be planned for rather than tucked away.

Buy the SW-12 if: the room is small, the cabinet has to fit somewhere specific, or you’re in an apartment where the deepest output would only annoy neighbours. In a small room, room gain does much of the deep work anyway. See best subwoofers for small rooms.

Buy the SW-15 if the space exists. It is one of the best value subwoofers measured anywhere.

And consider buying two SW-12s instead of one SW-15. Two cost $460 against $374.99, and two subwoofers in different positions average out room modes across every seat, which is a larger real-world improvement than the output difference between these two. The full argument is in the subwoofer buyer’s guide.

Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Speaker Comparisons

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Monoprice SW-12:

• JTR Speakers Captivator 212PRO vs Monoprice SW-12
• MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X vs Monoprice SW-12
• HSU Research ULS-15 MK2 vs Monoprice SW-12
• Monoprice SW-12 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15
• Monoprice SW-12 vs SVS SB-3000

Prices on this page were last checked September 21, 2026 at 12:46 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.

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The Two Speakers In Full

Monoprice SW-12: $166.73 Amazon eBay

Pros: 12-inch ported with 400W RMS (600W peak) on a budget at just $167. Hits hard with clean tight transient response. Variable crossover and volume controls for setup flexibility. Speaker-level and line-level inputs for easy integration.

Cons: Entry-level build quality, ported enclosure room interaction, and lower 112.3 dB output capability.

Notes: Product # 41498

Full Monoprice SW-12 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power	400W RMS / 600W peak
CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz)	121.2 dB
Cabinet Color	black
Country	United States
Dimensions	14.9"H x 18.3"W x 19.1"D (378.5 x 464.8 x 485.1 mm)
Drivers	12" (305mm) driver
Enclosure	ported, bottom
Frequency Response	35-150Hz, -10dB
Measurement Source	Brent Butterworth
Output SPL at 16 Hz	90.6 dB
Output SPL at 20 Hz	102.7 dB
Output SPL at 25 Hz	111.1 dB
Output SPL at 31.5 Hz	115.2 dB
Output SPL at 40 Hz	119.0 dB
Output SPL at 50 Hz	119.7 dB
Output SPL at 63 Hz	122.9 dB
Output SPL at 80 Hz	123.0 dB
Warranty	1
Weight	50.7 lbs (23.0 kg)

• Links
  • Monoprice SW-12 Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs HSU Research ULS-15 MK2
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs JTR Speakers Captivator 212PRO
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs SVS SB-3000
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs Klipsch SPL-120
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs Rythmik F12
  • Monoprice SW-12 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS15SE
  • See all 19 comparisons

Monoprice SW-15: $374.99 Amazon eBay

Pros: 15-inch ported with 600W RMS (800W peak) delivers Large-room Bassaholic rating. Unrivaled mid-bass punch for $375. Strong output with clean control. Dual speaker-level inputs and 40-150Hz crossover for flexible hookup.

Cons: Budget-tier design, ported room gain dependency, 30 kg mid-size, and limited dynamic headroom.

Notes: Product # 41499

Full Monoprice SW-15 review and specifications →

Amplifier Power	600W RMS / 800W peak
CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz)	119.0 dB
Cabinet Color	black
Country	United States
Crossover Frequency	40-150Hz, 18dB/octave
Dimensions	18.1"H x 21"W x 22.7"D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm)
Drivers	15" (381mm) driver
Enclosure	ported, bottom
Frequency Response	30-150Hz (-10dB)
Inputs	Stereo line level and speaker level
Measurement Source	Audioholics
Output SPL at 15 Hz	90.0 dB
Output SPL at 20 Hz	101.2 dB
Output SPL at 25 Hz	106.3 dB
Output SPL at 31.5 Hz	111.2 dB
Output SPL at 40 Hz	116.0 dB
Output SPL at 50 Hz	120.2 dB
Output SPL at 63 Hz	120.5 dB
Output SPL at 80 Hz	119.5 dB
Phase Control	0° or 180°
Warranty	1
Weight	66.1 lbs (30.0 kg)

• Links
  • Monoprice SW-15 Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15SEICE-BASE
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs SVS SB-3000
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS15
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15-BASE
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Paradigm Defiance X12
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS15-BASE
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15
  • Monoprice SW-15 vs Klipsch SPL-120
  • See all 109 comparisons