In this review, we will be comparing Kube 15 MIE and RP-1200SW, 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 15 MIE 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.Both KEF Kube 15 MIEand Klipsch RP-1200SW have a single woofer setup however the KEF Kube 15 MIE's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch RP-1200SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Kube 15 MIE has a frequency range of 20-140 Hz whereas RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go slightly deeper then the Kube 15 MIE's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 15 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 RP-1200SW 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 15 MIE's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. KEF Kube 15 MIE has external dimensions of 519 x 500 x 515 mm (20.4 x 19.7 x 20.3 in) 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 68mm narrower and 37mm shorter than KEF Kube 15 MIE but it is also 144mm deeper.
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 11% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 144mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Kube 15 MIE is 37mm 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 KEF Kube 15 MIE is approximately 2575.0cm2 / 399.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The Kube 15 MIE requires 10% 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 KEF Kube 15 MIE weighs 27.50kg / 60.5lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 13% heavier than the Kube 15 MIE.
Here is a comparison of how Kube 15 MIE and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
140 Hz
vs
138 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2575cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
482mm
vs
519mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1399USD
|
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 11% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 144mm further into the room. KEF Kube 15 MIE is 37mm taller.
| General |
KEF Kube 15 MIE |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
300 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-140 Hz |
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| 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 |
519.0mm (20.4") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
515.0mm (20.3") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
27.50kg (60.5lbs) |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
| 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 | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW goes deeper - 17Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 300W RMS, about 1.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | KEF Kube 15 MIE moves more air: 15" against 12" 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 | KEF Kube 15 MIE is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch RP-1200SW 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 15 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. |
| Warranty | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW 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-1200SW costs less - $1,100 against $1,399, about 21% less. |
A KEF Kube 15 MIE 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. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch RP-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF Kube 15 MIE is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, KEF Kube 15 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.