Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #14 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $499.99; the Arendal 1961 Subwoofer 1S ranks #55, rated 3.8/5, and costs $1,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Monoprice SW-15: A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room. The catch: Budget-tier design, ported room gain dependency, 66.1 lbs (30 kg) mid-size, and limited dynamic headroom.
Why pick the Arendal 1961 Subwoofer 1S: A sealed 12 inch subwoofer with clean punch, very deep extension and flexible controls for music and movies. The tradeoff: Peaks near 107dB in the 80 to 100Hz range and reaches only about 93dB (CEA-2010-A) at 16Hz, roughly 9dB less than the Arendal 1V.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Arendal 1961 Subwoofer 1S and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room.
A sealed 12 inch subwoofer with clean punch, very deep extension and flexible controls for music and movies.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | Arendal 1961 Subwoofer 1S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $1,000 |
| Ranked | #14 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #55 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | 93.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 102.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 102.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 107.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 111.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 115.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 117.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | 118.0 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 115.5 dB |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 21”W x 22.7”D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 16.3”H x 12.4”W x 16.3”D (414.8 x 315.0 x 414.8 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 44.1 lbs (20.0 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 10/5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white |
| Country | United States | Norway |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 19-200Hz, ±3dB |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 550W RMS |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-150Hz, 18dB/octave | - |
| Phase Control | 0° or 180° | - |
| Inputs | Stereo line level and speaker level | - |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 12.2” (310mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 117.6 dB |
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