In this review, we will be comparing RP-1600CSW and KC62, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and KEF. 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-1600CSW and KEF KC62 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.Klipsch RP-1600CSW and KEF KC62 have a totally different setup: the Klipsch RP-1600CSW features 1 x 16-inch drivers whereas the KC62 features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
RP-1600CSW has a frequency range of 14.5-175 Hz whereas KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go slightly deeper then the RP-1600CSW's min frequency of 15Hz.
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-1600CSW and KEF KC62 have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. 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-1600CSW's and KEF KC62's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-1600CSW has external dimensions of 488.2 x 465.6 x 465.6mm (19.22inch x 18.33inch x 18.33inch) whereas KEF KC62 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 258.0 x 281.0mm (9-5/8inch x 10-1/8inch x 11-1/16inch).
Klipsch RP-1600CSW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 207.6mm wider, 243.2mm taller and 184.6mm deeper than KEF KC62.
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-1600CSW is approximately 2167.8cm2 / 336.0inch2 and base area of the KEF KC62 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2. The RP-1600CSW requires 199% more surface area than the KC62 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-1600CSW weighs 35.74kg / 78.6lbs and the KEF KC62 weighs 14.05kg / 30.9lbs. This makes the RP-1600CSW 154% heavier than the KC62.
Here is a comparison of how RP-1600CSW and KC62's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
16 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
15 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
175 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
245mm
vs
488mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
2167cm2
|
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-1600CSW needs about 199% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1600CSW stands 185mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1600CSW is 243mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1600CSW |
KEF KC62 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
800 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
14.5-175 Hz |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
800-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1600-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
488.2mm (19.2") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
465.6mm (18.3") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
465.6mm (18.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
35.74kg (78.6lbs) |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
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 |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | KEF KC62 goes deeper - 11Hz against 15Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KC62 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 800W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch RP-1600CSW moves more air: 16" against 2 x 6.5" is 3.03x the cone area, not the 1.74x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | KEF KC62 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | Klipsch RP-1600CSW fires front and KEF KC62 fires side. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC62 is about 83% 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 | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A Klipsch RP-1600CSW B KEF KC62
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?
KEF KC62 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, KEF KC62 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - KEF KC62 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.