In this review, we will be comparing R-101SW and R-8SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by Klipsch. 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 Klipsch R-8SW 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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 Klipsch R-8SW have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch R-101SW's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Klipsch R-8SW features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz whereas R-8SW has a frequency range of 38-120 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 R-8SW's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Klipsch R-8SW 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 Klipsch R-8SW'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 Klipsch R-8SW has external dimensions of 335.0 x 299.0 x 345.0mm (13-3/16 x 11-3/4 x 13-9/16inch).
Klipsch R-101SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 59mm wider, 35mm taller and 184mm deeper than Klipsch R-8SW.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-101SW and Klipsch R-8SW in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-101SW and Klipsch R-8SW 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 Klipsch R-8SW is approximately 1031.6cm2 / 159.9inch2. The R-101SW requires 84% more surface area than the R-8SW 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 Klipsch R-8SW weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs. This makes the R-101SW 104% heavier than the R-8SW.
Here is a comparison of how R-101SW and R-8SW'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 Klipsch R-8SW?
Here are the items that come with the R-8SW:
- Powered sub
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Sheet
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
335mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1031cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
Klipsch Reference R-8SW |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29.5-160 Hz |
38-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Spun-Copper TCP |
Copper IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
358.0mm (14.1") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
529.0mm (20.8") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Weight |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
Siblings in Klipsch's Reference (R) Subwoofer range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Klipsch R-101SW goes deeper - 30Hz against 38Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 38Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Klipsch R-101SW has the bigger amplifier - 150W against 50W RMS, about 4.8dB 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | Klipsch R-101SW fires front and Klipsch R-8SW fires down. 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 | Klipsch R-8SW is about 51% 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 | B | Klipsch R-8SW costs less - $349 against $499, about 30% less. |
A Klipsch R-101SW B Klipsch R-8SW
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: Klipsch R-101SW measures better, Klipsch R-8SW costs about 30% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Klipsch R-8SW 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.