In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer and R-121SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Aperion and Klipsch. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer and Klipsch R-121SW first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwooferand Klipsch R-121SW have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 19-195 Hz whereas R-121SW has a frequency range of 28-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-121SW's min frequency of 28Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
Both Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer and Klipsch R-121SW have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Klipsch R-121SW Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer's and Klipsch R-121SW's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 469.9 x 401.3 x 439.9mm (18.5 x 15.8 x 17.32inch) whereas Klipsch R-121SW has external dimensions of 423.0 x 407.0 x 532.0mm (16-5/8inch x 16inch x 20-15/16inch).
Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer is 5.7mm narrower and 92.1mm less deeper than Klipsch R-121SW but it is also 46.9mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch R-121SW needs about 23% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch R-121SW is 92mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer is 47mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 1765.3cm2 / 273.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-121SW is approximately 2165.2cm2 / 335.6inch2. The Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer requires 18% less surface area than the R-121SW which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer weighs 24.49kg / 53.9lbs and the Klipsch R-121SW weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs. This makes the Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer 53% heavier than the R-121SW.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer and R-121SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer
 Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
195 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1765cm2
vs
2165cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
423mm
vs
469mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Klipsch R-121SW needs about 23% more floor area. Klipsch R-121SW stands 92mm further into the room. Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer is 47mm taller.
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer |
Klipsch Reference R-121SW |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
200 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
19-195 Hz |
28-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
469.9mm (18.5") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
401.3mm (15.8") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Depth |
439.9mm (17.3") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
24.49kg (53.9lbs) |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer goes deeper - 19Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer has the bigger amplifier - 250W against 200W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 12"). |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-121SW costs less - $599 against $799, about 25% less. |
A Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer B Klipsch R-121SW
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Aperion Daedalus DS12 Class D 12" Powered Subwoofer measures better, Klipsch R-121SW costs about 25% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.