In this review, we will be comparing Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer and SPL-100, 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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer and Klipsch SPL-100 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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwooferand Klipsch SPL-100 have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-100 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-400 Hz whereas SPL-100 has a frequency range of 27-125 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SPL-100's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
The Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs. On the other hand the Klipsch SPL-100 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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.
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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer's and Klipsch SPL-100's external dimensions. Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer has external dimensions of 500.4 x 500.4 x 401.3mm (19.7 x 19.7 x 15.8inch) whereas Klipsch SPL-100 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 358.0 x 478.0mm (16-7/16 x 14-1/16 x 18-13/16inch).
Klipsch SPL-100 is 142.4mm narrower and 82.4mm shorter than Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer but it is also 76.7mm deeper.
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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer needs about 17% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch SPL-100 is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer is 82mm 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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer is approximately 2008.1cm2 / 311.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2. The Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer requires 17% more surface area than the SPL-100 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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer weighs 35.02kg / 77lbs and the Klipsch SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs. This makes the Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer 108% heavier than the SPL-100.
Here is a comparison of how Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer and SPL-100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
400 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
418mm
vs
500mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1711cm2
vs
2008cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1449USD
|
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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer needs about 17% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-100 stands 77mm further into the room. Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer is 82mm taller.
| General |
Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
18-400 Hz |
27-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
450-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
500.4mm (19.7") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
500.4mm (19.7") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
401.3mm (15.8") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
35.02kg (77lbs) |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer goes deeper - 18Hz against 27Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Driver area | A | Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer moves more air: 15" against 10" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch SPL-100 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch SPL-100 is about 29% 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 SPL-100 costs less - $399 against $1,449, about 72% less. |
A Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer B Klipsch SPL-100
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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer measures better, Klipsch SPL-100 costs about 72% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch SPL-100 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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 $399 each, two Klipsch SPL-100 cost about $798 against $1,449 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.