ALL-NEW Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofers – How Do They Compare to Previous Models?
ALL-NEW Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofers – How Do They Compare to Previous Models?
Subwoofers deliver thundering, heart-stopping, pulse-pounding bass to literally shake the floors. But, that thunder can come from a couple of different places, depending on what subwoofer you choose to pursue for your killer home theater system.
We’ll explain the difference between down-firing and front-firing subwoofers and help you decide which one is right for your space and budget.
What’s a Subwoofer and Why Do You Need One>
“The new Reference Premiere Subwoofers harness the laws of physics for deep, effortless, low distortion, high-output bass reproduction.”
What’s Changed?
Full technical details can be reviewed on the spec sheet – RP-1000SW, RP-1200SW, RP-1400SW, RP-1600SW – but we’ll lay out the big picture changes too. “You may think that everything under the sun has been done on subwoofers,” notes Industrial Design Senior Manager Tony Martin, “but this new line of Reference Premiere Subwoofers is chock-full of innovations.” They’re purpose built in every way: from the depth of the enclosure needed for deep tuning frequency of each model; to the aluminum coils that keep the moving mass down (thereby increasing sensitivity); to the size of the surround and the distance the cone travels for more excursion than anything we’ve made before.
New front-firing cerametallic woofers use less power to produce remarkably deep, clean bass while a front-firing slot port with flare technology minimizes port noise for crisp, tight lows. Using high efficiency Class D amplifiers ensures maximum output, detail, and low frequency power too. And we’ve always maintained that happiness is copper and black. The Reference Premiere Subwoofers continue that design aesthetic while meticulously incorporating new design features such as rounded corners, shock-absorbing feet, and woven cloth grille, complete with the class ultra-durable, scratch-resistant ebony finish seen in the RP II line.
“The overall output of these subwoofers is ground-shaking. The extra octave in low frequency extension is something that personally, has been unheard of for me before. And having this addition to music, movies, and games is out of this world.”
Pound-for-Pound Better Sound Than the Competition
We’ve spent nearly three years engineering the Reference Premiere Subwoofer line to perfection. Guided by the “higher efficiency, lower distortion” design principles of our legendary founder Paul W. Klipsch, the RP Subs produce clean, natural bass while using less effort. It’s the hallmark of the series, and we know you’ll have just as much listening to them as we had creating them.
“Just when you think we couldn’t have gone any bigger, or deeper, we did both. We didn’t go toe-to-toe with the competition—we stomped on their feet and said ‘we’re here, and we’re bigger and better in every way possible.’”
FOOTNOTE:
For the audiophiles, check out this helpful chart to see the massive improvements implemented since the SPL Series.
SPL-100 | RP-1000SW | |
Frequency Response | 27 - 125Hz | 19 - 131Hz +/- 3dB |
Maximum Acoustic Output | 114 dB | 118.5 dB |
Amplifier Power | 200 W RMS / 450 W Peak | 300W RMS / 600W Peak |
Woofer | 10" Long-Throw Cerametallic | 10" Ultra Long Throw Cerametallic |
Enclosure Type | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Slot Port | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Aerofoil Slot Port |
SPL-120 | RP-1200SW | |
Frequency Response | 24 - 125Hz | 16.5 - 138Hz +/- 3dB |
Maximum Acoustic Output | 118 dB | 121 dB |
Amplifier Power | 300W RMS / 600W Peak | 400W RMS / 800W Peak |
Woofer | 12" Long Throw Cerametallic | 12" Ultra Long Throw Cerametallic |
Enclosure Type | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Slot Port | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Aerofoil Slot Port |
SPL-150 | RP-1400SW | |
Frequency Response | 18 - 125Hz | 16 - 141Hz +/- 3dB |
Maximum Acoustic Output | 122 dB | 124 dB |
Amplifier Power | 400W / 800W | 500W RMS / 1000W Peak |
Woofer | 15" (38.1cm) long-throw copper spun cerametallic front-firing woofer | 14" Ultra Long Throw Cerametallic |
Enclosure Type | Bass Reflex | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Aerofoil Slot Port |
SPL-150 | RP-1600SW | |
Frequency Response | 18 - 125Hz | 14.5 - 175Hz +/- 3dB |
Maximum Acoustic Output | 122 dB | 125.5 dB |
Amplifier Power | 400W / 800W | 800W RMS / 1600W Peak |
Woofer | 15" (38.1cm) long-throw copper spun cerametallic front-firing woofer | 16" Ultra Long Throw Cerametallic |
Enclosure Type | Bass Reflex | Bass Reflex via Front-Firing Aerofoil Slot Port |