In this review, we will be comparing Kube 10 MIE and R-101SW, 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 Kube 10 MIE 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.KEF Kube 10 MIEand Klipsch R-101SW have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 10" drivers.
Frequency Response
Kube 10 MIE has a frequency range of 20-140 Hz whereas R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Kube 10 MIE can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-101SW's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 Kube 10 MIE 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 R-101SW 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 Kube 10 MIE's and Klipsch R-101SW's external dimensions. KEF Kube 10 MIE has external dimensions of 370 x 353 x 370 mm (14.6 x 13.9 x 14.6 in) 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).
KEF Kube 10 MIE is 5mm narrower and 159mm less deeper than KEF Kube 10 MIE but they have the same height of 370.0mm.
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 Kube 10 MIE is approximately 1306.1cm2 / 202.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-101SW is approximately 1893.8cm2 / 293.5inch2. The Kube 10 MIE requires 31% 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 KEF Kube 10 MIE weighs 15.40kg / 33.9lbs and the Klipsch R-101SW weighs 13.91kg / 30.6lbs. This makes the Kube 10 MIE 11% heavier than the R-101SW.
Here is a comparison of how Kube 10 MIE and R-101SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Kube 10 MIE?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kube 10 MIE:
- Kube 10 MIE subwoofer
- Power cord
- Euroblock speaker level connector
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-101SW?
Here are the items that come with the R-101SW:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1306cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
140 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
799USD
|
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 45% more floor area. Klipsch R-101SW stands 159mm further into the room.
| General |
KEF Kube 10 MIE |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-140 Hz |
29.5-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Spun-Copper TCP |
| 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 |
370.0mm (14.6") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
353.0mm (13.9") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Weight |
15.40kg (33.9lbs) |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
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 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 Kube 10 MIE goes deeper - 20Hz against 30Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | KEF Kube 10 MIE 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 | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | depends | KEF Kube 10 MIE is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | KEF Kube 10 MIE 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. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only KEF Kube 10 MIE offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF Kube 10 MIE is about 31% 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 $799, about 38% less. |
A KEF Kube 10 MIE 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?
The usual trade-off: KEF Kube 10 MIE measures better, Klipsch R-101SW costs about 38% 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 R-101SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF Kube 10 MIE is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, KEF Kube 10 MIE 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.