In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" 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 DS15 Class D 15" 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.Both Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwooferand Klipsch R-121SW have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch R-121SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-195 Hz whereas R-121SW has a frequency range of 28-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
Both Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's and Klipsch R-121SW's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 569.0 x 469.9 x 551.2mm (22.4 x 18.5 x 21.7inch) 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62.9mm wider, 146mm taller and 19.2mm deeper than Klipsch R-121SW.
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.
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer needs about 20% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 19mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 146mm 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 2590.1cm2 / 401.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-121SW is approximately 2165.2cm2 / 335.6inch2. The Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer requires 20% more surface area than the R-121SW which gives it a small disadvantage 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer weighs 35.38kg / 77.8lbs and the Klipsch R-121SW weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs. This makes the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 121% heavier than the R-121SW.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
195 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
423mm
vs
569mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2165cm2
vs
2590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1199USD
|
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.
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer needs about 20% more floor area. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer stands 19mm further into the room. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 146mm taller.
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer |
Klipsch Reference R-121SW |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
550 watts |
200 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
18-195 Hz |
28-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
550-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
569.0mm (22.4") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
469.9mm (18.5") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Depth |
551.2mm (21.7") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
35.38kg (77.8lbs) |
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 |
Different price classes - Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer costs roughly 2x what Klipsch R-121SW does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer goes deeper - 18Hz 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has the bigger amplifier - 550W against 200W RMS, about 4.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer moves more air: 15" against 12" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch R-121SW is about 38% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-121SW costs less - $599 against $1,199, about 50% less. |
A Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" 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 DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer measures better, Klipsch R-121SW costs about 50% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $599 each, two Klipsch R-121SW cost about $1,198 against $1,199 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Klipsch R-121SW is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.