In this review, we will be comparing MSX Sub 300 and R-101SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Cambridge Audio 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 and Klipsch R-101SW 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300and Klipsch R-101SW have a single woofer setup however the Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch R-101SW features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
MSX Sub 300 has a frequency range of 31-200 Hz whereas R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the R-101SW can go slightly deeper then the MSX Sub 300's min frequency of 31Hz.
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
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300
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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300's and Klipsch R-101SW's external dimensions. Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 has external dimensions of 312.7 x 266.7 x 311.2mm () whereas Klipsch R-101SW has external dimensions of 370.0 x 358.0 x 529.0mm (14-9/16inch x 14-1/16inch x 20-13/16inch).
Klipsch R-101SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 91.3mm wider, 57.3mm taller and 217.8mm deeper than Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300.
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-101SW needs about 128% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch R-101SW is 218mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch R-101SW is 57mm 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 is approximately 830.0cm2 / 128.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-101SW is approximately 1893.8cm2 / 293.5inch2. The MSX Sub 300 requires 56% less surface area than the R-101SW 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 Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs and the Klipsch R-101SW weighs 13.91kg / 30.6lbs. This makes the R-101SW 86% heavier than the MSX Sub 300.
Here is a comparison of how MSX Sub 300 and R-101SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
312mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
830cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
31 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
549USD
|
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-101SW needs about 128% more floor area. Klipsch R-101SW stands 218mm further into the room. Klipsch R-101SW is 57mm taller.
| General |
Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
| Brand |
Cambridge Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
31-200 Hz |
29.5-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
312.7mm (12.3") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
266.7mm (10.5") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
311.2mm (12.3") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Weight |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
A passive radiator 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (31Hz vs 30Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 has the bigger amplifier - 300W against 150W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch R-101SW moves more air: 10" against 8" 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 | depends | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; Klipsch R-101SW 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 | Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 is about 63% 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-101SW costs less - $499 against $549, about 9% less. |
A Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 B Klipsch R-101SW
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Cambridge Audio MSX Sub 300 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.