Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #13 of 145 subwoofers by sound quality at $374.99; the Emotiva S12 ranks #91 and costs $449, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 Emotiva S12 offers: Rear-ported, 300W class-D amplifier. 12” high-excursion driver with 25-150Hz response. Great value at $399 with more output than close competitors. Easy to use multiple subs together. Watch for: No detailed measurement caveats are currently recorded.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Emotiva S12 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | Emotiva S12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $374.99 | $449 |
| Ranked | #13 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #91 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | passive radiator |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | 86.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 95.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 101.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 106.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 108.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 112.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 112.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | 112.1 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 111.4 dB |
| Dimensions | 18.1"H x 21"W x 22.7"D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 17.4"H x 15.7"W x 16.9"D (441.2 x 400.0 x 428.5 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 5 |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 25-150Hz |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 300W 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Monoprice SW-15 vs PSB Speakers SubSeries 450
- Monoprice SW-12 vs Monoprice SW-15
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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 Paradigm Defiance X12
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Emotiva S12: $449 eBay
Pros: Rear-ported, 300W class-D amplifier. 12” high-excursion driver with 25-150Hz response. Great value at $399 with more output than close competitors. Easy to use multiple subs together.
Full Emotiva S12 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 300W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.4 dB |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 17.4"H x 15.7"W x 16.9"D (441.2 x 400.0 x 428.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 25-150Hz |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 86.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 95.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 101.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 106.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 112.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.1 dB |
| Warranty | 5 |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 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