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 KRK Systems 12S ranks #33 (rated 3.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The KRK Systems 12S’s replacement, the KRK S12.4, is rated 3.9/5 at $839.
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.
Why pick the KRK Systems 12S: A 12 inch studio subwoofer with smooth, deep bass, balanced inputs and little port noise, now discontinued. The tradeoff: Output falls steeply below 31.5Hz, to 99.1dB at 25Hz and 92.8dB at 20Hz, and it is rated only down to 32Hz, so the deepest film effects are limited.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It is rated higher for sound quality; the KRK Systems 12S is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room.
A 12 inch studio subwoofer with smooth, deep bass, balanced inputs and little port noise, now discontinued.
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 | KRK Systems 12S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $899 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #33 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 92.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 99.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 111.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 118.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 118.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | 115.8 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 117.1 dB |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 21”W x 22.7”D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 18.1”H x 15.9”W x 22.6”D (460.0 x 404.9 x 575.1 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 66.6 lbs (30.2 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 3 |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Data-bass |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 32-139Hz |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 240W RMS |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-150Hz, 18dB/octave | - |
| Phase Control | 0° or 180° | - |
| Inputs | Stereo line level and speaker level | XLR (stereo, balanced), TRS (stereo), RCA (stereo) |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 12” (305mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 113.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 110.6 dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| TRS Input | - | Yes |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
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