In this review, we will be comparing R-101SW 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 R-101SW and Focal Sub Air 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 R-101SWand Focal Sub Air have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch R-101SW's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Focal Sub Air features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz whereas Sub Air has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the R-101SW 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 R-101SW 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
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 R-101SW's and Focal Sub Air's external dimensions. Klipsch R-101SW has external dimensions of 370.0 x 358.0 x 529.0mm (14-9/16inch x 14-1/16inch x 20-13/16inch) 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 R-101SW is 4mm narrower and 40mm shorter than Focal Sub Air but it is also 367mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-101SW and Focal Sub Air in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-101SW 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 R-101SW is approximately 1893.8cm2 / 293.5inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub Air is approximately 586.4cm2 / 90.9inch2. The R-101SW requires 223% 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 R-101SW weighs 13.91kg / 30.6lbs and the Focal Sub Air weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the R-101SW 80% heavier than the Sub Air.
Here is a comparison of how R-101SW and Sub Air's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-101SW?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-101SW:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Focal Sub Air?
Here are the items that come with the Sub Air:
- Wireless powered subwoofer
- Wireless transmitter
- AC power adapter (attached 6-feet DC cord)
- AC power plug insert (2-prong)
- 8-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Brackets
- Four M4 x 10mm machine screws
- Four M4 x 17mm machine screws
- 4 Wood-screws
- 4 Wall-anchors
- User Manual
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
370mm
vs
410mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
586cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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 R-101SW needs about 223% more floor area. Klipsch R-101SW stands 367mm further into the room. Focal Sub Air is 40mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
Focal Sub Air |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
110 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29.5-160 Hz |
40-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
110-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Spun-Copper TCP |
Cellulose Pulp |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Width |
358.0mm (14.1") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
529.0mm (20.8") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
Different price classes - Focal Sub Air costs roughly 2.6x what Klipsch R-101SW does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Klipsch R-101SW goes deeper - 30Hz against 40Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 40Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Klipsch R-101SW has the bigger amplifier - 150W against 110W RMS, about 1.3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch R-101SW moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Focal Sub Air offers a wireless link. It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Focal Sub Air is about 66% 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. |
| Warranty | B | Focal Sub Air carries 3 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | Klipsch R-101SW costs less - $499 against $1,299, about 62% less. |
A Klipsch R-101SW B Focal Sub Air
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 R-101SW is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Focal Sub Air if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $499 each, two Klipsch R-101SW cost about $998 against $1,299 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Focal Sub Air 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.