In this review, we will be comparing RP-1400CSW and Abyss 8, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and MartinLogan. 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 MartinLogan Abyss 8 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 MartinLogan Abyss 8 have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch RP-1400CSW's woofer is 14-inch whereas the MartinLogan Abyss 8 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-1400CSW has a frequency range of 15-180 Hz whereas Abyss 8 has a frequency range of 23-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 15Hz, the RP-1400CSW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Abyss 8's min frequency of 23Hz.
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
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 MartinLogan Abyss 8'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 MartinLogan Abyss 8 has external dimensions of 342.9 x 357.2 x 395.3mm ().
Klipsch RP-1400CSW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64.4mm wider, 101.1mm taller and 26.3mm deeper than MartinLogan Abyss 8.
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-1400CSW needs about 26% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 26mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 101mm 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 MartinLogan Abyss 8 is approximately 1412.0cm2 / 218.9inch2. The RP-1400CSW requires 26% more surface area than the Abyss 8 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-1400CSW weighs 27.08kg / 59.6lbs and the MartinLogan Abyss 8 weighs 21.18kg / 46.6lbs. This makes the RP-1400CSW 28% heavier than the Abyss 8.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1400CSW and Abyss 8's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
14 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
15 Hz
vs
23 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
342mm
vs
444mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1412cm2
vs
1777cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
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-1400CSW needs about 26% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1400CSW stands 26mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 101mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400CSW |
MartinLogan Abyss 8 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
15-180 Hz |
23-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1000-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
14" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
444.0mm (17.5") |
342.9mm (13.5") |
| Width |
421.6mm (16.6") |
357.2mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
421.6mm (16.6") |
395.3mm (15.6") |
| Weight |
27.08kg (59.6lbs) |
21.18kg (46.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
|
| Finish |
MDF with Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Ebony |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years w/ registration |
A sealed subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 23Hz. 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 500W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch RP-1400CSW moves more air: 14" against 8" is 3.06x the cone area, not the 1.75x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| 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; MartinLogan Abyss 8 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. 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 | MartinLogan Abyss 8 is about 39% 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 $1,400, about 21% less. |
A Klipsch RP-1400CSW B MartinLogan Abyss 8
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take MartinLogan Abyss 8 if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, MartinLogan Abyss 8 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 - MartinLogan Abyss 8 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.