Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #14 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $499.99. The BIC America V1220 ranks #66, rated 3.8/5, at $269.57, $230.42 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the Monoprice SW-15 does well: A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room. Watch for: Budget-tier design, ported room gain dependency, 66.1 lbs (30 kg) mid-size, and limited dynamic headroom.
What the BIC America V1220 does well: A budget ported 12 inch subwoofer with big output and deep bass for the money. The catch: The cabinet is large at 470 by 432 by 356mm and weighs 41 lbs (18.6 kg), so it needs real floor space.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $230.42 you would save on the BIC America V1220 does not close the gap.
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 budget ported 12 inch subwoofer with big output and deep bass for the money.
Prices on this page were last checked October 29, 2026 at 4:42 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | BIC America V1220 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $269.57 |
| Ranked | #14 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #66 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | ported, side |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 94.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 101.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 107.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 109.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 116.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 117.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | 118.7 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 115.4 dB |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 21”W x 22.7”D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 18.5”H x 17”W x 14”D (469.9 x 431.8 x 355.6 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 41 lbs (18.6 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 7/2 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 23-180Hz |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 200W RMS |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-150Hz, 18dB/octave | - |
| Phase Control | 0° or 180° | - |
| Inputs | Stereo line level and speaker level | - |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 12” (305mm) driver |
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