In this review, we will be comparing R-101SW and CW10, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and Monitor Audio. 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 Monitor Audio CW10 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 R-101SWand Monitor Audio CW10 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 10" drivers.
Frequency Response
R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz whereas CW10 has a frequency range of 32-135 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the R-101SW can go slightly deeper then the CW10's min frequency of 32Hz.
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
The Klipsch R-101SW has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Monitor Audio CW10 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. 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 R-101SW's and Monitor Audio CW10'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 Monitor Audio CW10 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 307.0 x 375.0mm (12-1/2 x 12-1/16 x 14-3/4inch).
Klipsch R-101SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51mm wider, 52mm taller and 154mm deeper than Monitor Audio CW10.
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 Monitor Audio CW10 is approximately 1151.3cm2 / 178.5inch2. The R-101SW requires 64% more surface area than the CW10 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 Monitor Audio CW10 weighs 12.61kg / 27.7lbs. This makes the R-101SW 10% heavier than the CW10.
Here is a comparison of how R-101SW and CW10'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 Monitor Audio CW10?
Here are the items that come with the CW10:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 10-feet Mono-minijack cable
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Safety Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
135 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1325USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
318mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1151cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
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 R-101SW needs about 65% more floor area. Klipsch R-101SW stands 154mm further into the room. Klipsch R-101SW is 52mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
Monitor Audio CW10 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29.5-160 Hz |
32-135 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Spun-Copper TCP |
C-CAM |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
358.0mm (14.1") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Depth |
529.0mm (20.8") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Weight |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
12.61kg (27.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
5 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (30Hz vs 32Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | Monitor Audio CW10 has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 150W RMS, about 4.3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (10" against 10"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Klipsch R-101SW is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; Monitor Audio CW10 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. 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 | Monitor Audio CW10 is about 48% 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 | Monitor Audio CW10 carries 5 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 $1,325, about 62% less. |
A Klipsch R-101SW B Monitor Audio CW10
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: Monitor Audio CW10 measures better, Klipsch R-101SW costs about 62% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch R-101SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Monitor Audio CW10 is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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 $1,325 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.