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 Starke Sound SW15 ranks #31 (rated 3.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The Monoprice SW-15 is the ported value sub. Its 15-inch driver on 600W gives strong output and punchy mid-bass for a large room, and it has speaker-level inputs and an adjustable 40 to 150Hz crossover. It is a budget design that relies on room gain, and at 66.1 lbs (30 kg) it is heavy.
The Starke Sound SW15 is a discontinued sealed 15-inch built for depth. It plays down to about 14Hz with a flat response from 10 to 50Hz and no subsonic filter, so it is fast and tight without bloat. Its 450W amplifier gives it less output than the SW-15, and it is only available used.
Buy the Monoprice SW-15. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Starke Sound SW15 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Subwoofers rankings.
A big 15 inch subwoofer with powerful, punchy bass at a budget price, great for movies in a large room.
A sealed 15 inch subwoofer with tight, controlled bass that digs very deep, now discontinued but a solid used find.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Monoprice SW-15 | Starke Sound SW15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $1,075 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #31 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, bottom | sealed |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.0 dB | 90.8 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 101.2 dB | 98.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 106.3 dB | 104.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 111.2 dB | 110.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 116.0 dB | 114.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 120.2 dB | 118.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 120.5 dB | 119.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 119.5 dB | 117.2 dB |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 119.0 dB | 117.3 dB |
| Dimensions | 18.1”H x 21”W x 22.7”D (459.7 x 533.4 x 576.6 mm) | 17.3”H x 16.5”W x 18.9”D (439.4 x 419.1 x 480.1 mm) |
| Weight | 66.1 lbs (30.0 kg) | 54.9 lbs (24.9 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Audioholics |
| Frequency Response | 30-150Hz (-10dB) | 14-240Hz, ±3dB |
| Amplifier Power | 600W RMS / 800W peak | 450W RMS / 900W peak |
| Crossover Frequency | 40-150Hz, 18dB/octave | 50-200Hz adjustable |
| Phase Control | 0° or 180° | 0°-180° adjustable |
| Inputs | Stereo line level and speaker level | 1 XLR (balanced), 3 RCA (unbalanced) |
| Drivers | 15” (381mm) driver | 15” (381mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 12.5 Hz | - | 86.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | - | 115.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | - | 113.8 dB |
| Features | - | Sealed subwoofer, outputs: XLR |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
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