In this review, we will be comparing RP-1200SW and Sub Air, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and Focal. 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 Klipsch RP-1200SW and Focal Sub Air first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Klipsch RP-1200SW and Focal Sub Air compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Klipsch RP-1200SWand Focal Sub Air have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1200SW's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Focal Sub Air features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz whereas Sub Air has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sub Air's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Both Klipsch RP-1200SW and Focal Sub Air have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch RP-1200SW's and Focal Sub Air's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-1200SW has external dimensions of 482.0 x 432.0 x 659.0mm ( 18-15/16inch x 17inch x 25-15/16inch ) whereas Focal Sub Air has external dimensions of 410.0 x 362.0 x 162.0mm ( 16-1/8 x 14-1/4 x 6-3/8inch) .
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 72mm taller and 497mm deeper than Focal Sub Air.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-1200SW and Focal Sub Air in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-1200SW and Focal Sub Air Size and External Dimensions
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 Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub Air is approximately 586.4cm2 / 90.9inch2. The RP-1200SW requires 385% more surface area than the Sub Air which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs and the Focal Sub Air weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 303% heavier than the Sub Air.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1200SW and Sub Air's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
138k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
410mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
586cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
Focal Sub Air |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
110 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16.5-138 Hz |
40-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
110-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
800-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Cellulose Pulp |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Width |
432.0mm (17") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
659.0mm (25.9") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
3 Years |