In this review, we will be comparing RP-1200SW and SB-3000, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and SVS. 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 SVS SB-3000 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.
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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 SVS SB-3000 have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1200SW's woofer is 12-inch whereas the SVS SB-3000 features a 13-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz whereas SB-3000 has a frequency range of 18-270 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go slightly deeper then the SB-3000's min frequency of 18Hz.
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 Klipsch RP-1200SW has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the SVS SB-3000 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. 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.
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 Klipsch RP-1200SW's and SVS SB-3000'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 SVS SB-3000 has external dimensions of 397.0 x 388.0 x 453.0mm (15-5/8 x 15-1/4 x 17-13/16inch).
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44mm wider, 85mm taller and 206mm deeper than SVS SB-3000.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-1200SW and SVS SB-3000 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-1200SW and SVS SB-3000 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 SVS SB-3000 is approximately 1757.6cm2 / 272.4inch2. The RP-1200SW requires 62% more surface area than the SB-3000 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 SVS SB-3000 weighs 24.77kg / 54.5lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 26% heavier than the SB-3000.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1200SW and SB-3000's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
13 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
270 Hz
vs
138 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
397mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1757cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
SVS SB-3000 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
400 watts |
800 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16.5-138 Hz |
18-270 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
400-watt RMS |
800-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
800-watt RMS |
2500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
13" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
397.0mm (15.6") |
| Width |
432.0mm (17") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Depth |
659.0mm (25.9") |
453.0mm (17.8") |
| Weight |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
24.77kg (54.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 (17Hz vs 18Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | SVS SB-3000 has the bigger amplifier - 800W against 400W 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 (12" against 13"). |
| Enclosure | depends | 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; SVS SB-3000 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. 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 | SVS SB-3000 is about 49% 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 | A | Klipsch RP-1200SW costs less - $999 against $1,100, about 9% less. |
A Klipsch RP-1200SW B SVS SB-3000
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: SVS SB-3000 measures better, Klipsch RP-1200SW costs about 9% 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-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB-3000 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - SVS SB-3000 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.