In this review, we will be comparing RP-1400CSW and Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and Aperion. 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-1400CSW and Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 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 Klipsch RP-1400CSWand Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1400CSW's woofer is 14-inch whereas the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1400CSW has a frequency range of 15-180 Hz whereas Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 18-195 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 15Hz, the RP-1400CSW can go slightly deeper then the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer'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
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
The Klipsch RP-1400CSW 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 Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 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 Klipsch RP-1400CSW's and Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-1400CSW has external dimensions of 444.0 x 421.6 x 421.6mm (17.48inch x 16.6inch x 16.6inch) whereas Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 569.0 x 469.9 x 551.2mm (22.4 x 18.5 x 21.7inch).
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 48.3mm wider, 125mm taller and 129.6mm deeper than Klipsch RP-1400CSW.
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.
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer needs about 46% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 130mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 125mm 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 Klipsch RP-1400CSW is approximately 1777.5cm2 / 275.5inch2 and base area of the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 2590.1cm2 / 401.5inch2. The RP-1400CSW requires 31% less surface area than the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 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 Klipsch RP-1400CSW weighs 27.08kg / 59.6lbs and the Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer weighs 35.38kg / 77.8lbs. This makes the Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 31% heavier than the RP-1400CSW.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1400CSW and Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
 Low Frequency Response |
15 Hz
vs
18 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
444mm
vs
569mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1777cm2
vs
2590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
14 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
195 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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.
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer needs about 46% more floor area. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer stands 130mm further into the room. Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer is 125mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400CSW |
Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Aperion |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
550 watts |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
15-180 Hz |
18-195 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
550-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
14" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
444.0mm (17.5") |
569.0mm (22.4") |
| Width |
421.6mm (16.6") |
469.9mm (18.5") |
| Depth |
421.6mm (16.6") |
551.2mm (21.7") |
| Weight |
27.08kg (59.6lbs) |
35.38kg (77.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
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 | Klipsch RP-1400CSW goes deeper - 15Hz against 18Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (500W vs 550W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (14" against 15"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Klipsch RP-1400CSW is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Klipsch RP-1400CSW is about 46% 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-1400CSW costs less - $1,100 against $1,199, about 8% less. |
A Klipsch RP-1400CSW B Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer
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-1400CSW 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, Aperion Daedalus DS15 Class D 15" Powered Subwoofer will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Klipsch RP-1400CSW is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Klipsch RP-1400CSW 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.