B&W CT SW15

The largest CT SW needs room and support

CT SW15 places a 380 mm driver in a passive sealed enclosure.

The single Bowers & Wilkins CT SW15 subwoofer measures 550 × 550 × 260 mm, rising to 290 mm deep with the grille. It can occupy cinema cabinetry or stand on the floor, provided the support carries its 30 kg net weight without excessive vibration. Amplification is external: CDA-2HD is the specified partner.

Key features

• Cabinet 550 × 550 × 260 mm.
• 380 mm paper/Aramid Fibre driver; sealed cabinet.
• 1000 W power handling into 8 ohms; external CDA-2HD amplifier.
• Binding posts and Neutrik Speakon; magnetic grille; depth with grille 290 mm.

The largest radiating area

Its 380 mm paper and Aramid Fibre cone exceeds CT SW12's 300 mm and CT SW10's 250 mm units. Cabinet depth stays at 260 mm like the smaller models, but the 550 mm square front needs a different compartment. The lower -6 dB point reaches 16 Hz and +3 dB response begins at 20 Hz. A rigid diaphragm structure serves the lowest cinema effects.

Connections and layout

Power handling is 1000 W into 8 ohms. Binding posts and a Neutrik Speakon connector are provided at the rear, while the cloth grille attaches magnetically. Rubber feet and spikes suit cabinetry or floor placement. Plan room for CDA-2HD as well as the speaker cable to the subwoofer: this passive cabinet does not connect directly to a line-level output.

The sealed cabinet can sit within home-theatre furniture, but its 550 mm front and 30 kg weight demand more substantial support than the smaller CT SW models. Use the full 290 mm grille-fitted depth when planning a complete installation. A position near the front channels is a starting point; assess the low-frequency balance in the real room before fixing the cabinet location.