In this review, we will be comparing KC92 and RP-1400SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from KEF 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 KEF KC92 and Klipsch RP-1400SW 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.KEF KC92 and Klipsch RP-1400SW have a totally different setup: the KEF KC92 features 2 x 9-inch drivers whereas the RP-1400SW features 1 x 14-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
KC92 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz whereas RP-1400SW has a frequency range of 16-141 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC92 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-1400SW's min frequency of 16Hz.
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
Cabinet Type
The KEF KC92 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 RP-1400SW 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 KEF KC92's and Klipsch RP-1400SW's external dimensions. KEF KC92 has external dimensions of 352.5 x 330 x 360.5 mm (13.88 x 13.00 x 14.19 in) whereas Klipsch RP-1400SW has external dimensions of 542.0 x 508.0 x 653.0mm (21-5/16inch x 20inch x 25-11/16inch).
Klipsch RP-1400SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 178mm wider, 190mm taller and 292mm deeper than KEF KC92.
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 KEF KC92 is approximately 1191.3cm2 / 184.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1400SW is approximately 3317.2cm2 / 514.2inch2. The KC92 requires 64% less surface area than the RP-1400SW 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 KEF KC92 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the Klipsch RP-1400SW weighs 38.05kg / 83.7lbs. This makes the RP-1400SW 90% heavier than the KC92.
Here is a comparison of how KC92 and RP-1400SW'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 |
11 Hz
vs
16 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
141 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
352mm
vs
542mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1191cm2
vs
3317cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
14 inches
vs
9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1550USD
vs
1999USD
|
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-1400SW needs about 178% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1400SW stands 292mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1400SW is 190mm taller.
| General |
KEF KC92 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400SW |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
11-200 Hz |
16-141 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
9" |
14" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
40-140 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
352.0mm (13.9") |
542.0mm (21.3") |
| Width |
330.0mm (13") |
508.0mm (20") |
| Depth |
361.0mm (14.2") |
653.0mm (25.7") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
38.05kg (83.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Ebony |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
5 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 | KEF KC92 goes deeper - 11Hz against 16Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | KEF KC92 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 500W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch RP-1400SW moves more air: 14" against 2 x 9" is 1.21x the cone area, not the 1.1x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | KEF KC92 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch RP-1400SW 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | KEF KC92 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC92 is about 77% 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. |
| Warranty | B | Klipsch RP-1400SW carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-1400SW costs less - $1,550 against $1,999, about 22% less. |
A KEF KC92 B Klipsch RP-1400SW
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: KEF KC92 measures better, Klipsch RP-1400SW costs about 22% 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 RP-1400SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KC92 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, KEF KC92 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.