In this review, we will be comparing Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer and SPL-120, 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-120 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.
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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-120 have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-120 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-400 Hz whereas SPL-120 has a frequency range of 24-125 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-120's min frequency of 24Hz.
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-120 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-120'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-120 has external dimensions of 450.0 x 375.0 x 540.0mm (17-11/16 x 14-3/4 x 21-1/4inch).
Klipsch SPL-120 is 125.4mm narrower and 50.4mm shorter than Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer but it is also 138.7mm deeper.
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-120 is approximately 2025.0cm2 / 313.9inch2. The Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer requires 1% less surface area than the SPL-120 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 Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer weighs 35.02kg / 77lbs and the Klipsch SPL-120 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer 71% heavier than the SPL-120.
Here is a comparison of how Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer and SPL-120'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
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
24 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
400k Hz
vs
125k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2008cm2
vs
2025cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
450mm
vs
500mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1449USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Aperion Theatrus TS15 Passive 15" Subwoofer |
Klipsch SPL-120 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
n/a |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
18-400 Hz |
24-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
600-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| 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") |
450.0mm (17.7") |
| Width |
500.4mm (19.7") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Depth |
401.3mm (15.8") |
540.0mm (21.3") |
| Weight |
35.02kg (77lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |