Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #13 of 145 subwoofers by sound quality at $374.99; the KRK Systems 12S ranks #25 and costs $899, 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 KRK Systems 12S offers: 12-inch Kevlar ported with 240W RMS offers smooth response and solid deep extension. Little port noise with no cabinet rattle. Highly recommended professional studio subwoofer at fair price point. Watch for: No detailed measurement caveats are currently recorded.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KRK Systems 12S and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | KRK Systems 12S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $374.99 | $899 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #25 of 145 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 | - |
| Drivers | 15" (381mm) driver | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 113.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 110.6 dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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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
- Monoprice SW-15 vs Paradigm Defiance X12
- Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS15-BASE
- Monoprice SW-15 vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XV15
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KRK Systems 12S: $899 Discontinued eBay
Pros: 12-inch Kevlar ported with 240W RMS offers smooth response and solid deep extension. Little port noise with no cabinet rattle. Highly recommended professional studio subwoofer at fair price point.
Cons: Discontinued.
Full KRK Systems 12S review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 240W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 117.1 dB |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 18.1"H x 15.9"W x 22.6"D (460.0 x 404.9 x 575.1 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Frequency Response | 32-139Hz |
| Measurement Source | Data-bass |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 92.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 99.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 115.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 118.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 118.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 115.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 113.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 110.6 dB |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 66.6 lbs (30.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Data-bass; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons