Short answer: the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks #13 of 145 subwoofers by sound quality at $374.99; the REL Acoustics R-528 ranks #69 and costs $1999, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
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 REL Acoustics R-528 offers: 12-inch carbon-fiber passive radiator with 500W RMS Class D amp reaches 21Hz. Fast impulse response best in REL series. Breathtaking bass reach and low distortion in compact package. Speed and detail-oriented musicality. Premium fit and finish. Watch for: No detailed measurement caveats are currently recorded.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It ranks higher for sound quality than the REL Acoustics R-528 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | REL Acoustics R-528 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $374.99 | $1999 |
| Ranked | #13 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #69 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | passive radiator |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 92.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 106.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 111.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 112.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 114.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 112.8 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) | 17.5"H x 15.5"W x 17.2"D (444.5 x 393.7 x 436.9 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 58 lbs (26.3 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | 3 |
| Cabinet Color | black | - |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 21Hz-6dB |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 500W 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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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) XS15-BASE
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REL Acoustics R-528: $1999 eBay
Pros: 12-inch carbon-fiber passive radiator with 500W RMS Class D amp reaches 21Hz. Fast impulse response best in REL series. Breathtaking bass reach and low distortion in compact package. Speed and detail-oriented musicality. Premium fit and finish.
Full REL Acoustics R-528 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 500W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 112.8 dB (avg of 3/4 bands) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 17.5"H x 15.5"W x 17.2"D (444.5 x 393.7 x 436.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 21Hz-6dB |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 92.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 106.5 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 111.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 112.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 114.6 dB |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 58 lbs (26.3 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