Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #13 of 145 subwoofers by sound quality at $374.99; the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D ranks #129 and costs $1699, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Monoprice SW-15 offers: 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. Watch for: Budget-tier design, ported room gain dependency, 30 kg mid-size, and limited dynamic headroom.
What the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D offers: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 85.4 dB at 20 Hz and 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 8” (203mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music. Watch for: 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. The 342.9H x 269.2W x 358.1D mm cabinet and 18.7 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
The Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 145 subwoofers; there are better options higher up.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $374.99 | $1699 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #129 of 145 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 | - |
| Drivers | 15" (381mm) driver | 2x 8" (203mm) driver |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 14, 2026 at 1:47 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-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
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15-BASE
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Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D: $1699 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 85.4 dB at 20 Hz and 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with 2x 8” (203mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: 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. The 342.9H x 269.2W x 358.1D mm cabinet and 18.7 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Notes: “Sphere” shape
Full Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) PV1D review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 108.0 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black, white |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 13.5"H x 10.6"W x 14.1"D (342.9 x 269.2 x 358.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 8" (203mm) driver |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 85.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 88.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 92.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 105.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 110.3 dB |
| Warranty | 2 |
| Weight | 41.2 lbs (18.7 kg) |
- Links
- 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