In this review, we will be comparing PULSE SUB and RP-1200SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Bluesound 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB and Klipsch RP-1200SW 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.Bluesound PULSE SUB and Klipsch RP-1200SW have a totally different setup: the Bluesound PULSE SUB features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers whereas the RP-1200SW features 1 x 12-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
PULSE SUB has a frequency range of whereas RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the PULSE SUB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-1200SW's min frequency of 17Hz.
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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
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 Bluesound PULSE SUB's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. Bluesound PULSE SUB has external dimensions of 330 x 292 x 315 mm () whereas Klipsch RP-1200SW has external dimensions of 482.0 x 432.0 x 659.0mm (18-15/16inch x 17inch x 25-15/16inch).
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 140mm wider, 152mm taller and 344mm deeper than Bluesound PULSE SUB.
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 RP-1200SW needs about 210% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 344mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 152mm 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB is approximately 919.8cm2 / 142.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The PULSE SUB requires 68% less surface area than the RP-1200SW 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 Bluesound PULSE SUB weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 212% heavier than the PULSE SUB.
Here is a comparison of how PULSE SUB and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
17 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
BluOS Controller (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS)
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
330mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
919cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
138 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1299USD
|
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 RP-1200SW needs about 210% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 344mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 152mm taller.
| General |
Bluesound PULSE SUB |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
Bluesound |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
|
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.0mm (13") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
292.0mm (11.5") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Matte satin paint |
MDF with Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, White/Tan |
Ebony |
| Grille |
Removable magnetic |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (350W vs 400W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW moves more air: 12" against 2 x 6.5" is 1.7x the cone area, not the 1.31x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Bluesound PULSE SUB is about 78% 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 RP-1200SW costs less - $1,100 against $1,299, about 15% less. |
A Bluesound PULSE SUB B Klipsch RP-1200SW
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?
Klipsch RP-1200SW has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Bluesound PULSE SUB 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.