Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #14 of 212 subwoofers by sound quality (rated 4.1/5) at $499.99 and is still sold new; the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D ranks #185 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Monoprice SW-15 is the better-sounding pick. A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room. The tradeoff: Budget-tier design, ported room gain dependency, 66.1 lbs (30 kg) mid-size, and limited dynamic headroom.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D: A sealed subwoofer with two opposed 8 inch drivers and speaker level inputs, strongest in the upper bass. The catch: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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 subwoofer with two opposed 8 inch drivers and speaker level inputs, strongest in the upper bass.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $1,699 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #185 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 85.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 88.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 92.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 105.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 110.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 21”W x 22.7”D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 13.5”H x 10.6”W x 14.1”D (342.9 x 269.2 x 358.1 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 2 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black, white |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-150Hz, 18dB/octave | - |
| Phase Control | 0° or 180° | - |
| Inputs | Stereo line level and speaker level | XLR, RCA (line, LFE), speaker-level |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 2x 8” (203mm) driver |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
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