In this review, we will be comparing R-121SW 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-121SW 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-121SWand Focal Sub Air have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch R-121SW's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Focal Sub Air features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
R-121SW has a frequency range of 28-120 Hz whereas Sub Air has a frequency range of 40-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the R-121SW 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-121SW 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.
Klipsch R-121SW Port
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-121SW's and Focal Sub Air's external dimensions. Klipsch R-121SW has external dimensions of 423.0 x 407.0 x 532.0mm (16-5/8inch x 16inch x 20-15/16inch) 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-121SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 13mm taller and 370mm deeper than Focal Sub Air.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-121SW and Focal Sub Air in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-121SW 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-121SW is approximately 2165.2cm2 / 335.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub Air is approximately 586.4cm2 / 90.9inch2. The R-121SW requires 269% 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-121SW weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the Focal Sub Air weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the R-121SW 107% heavier than the Sub Air.
Here is a comparison of how R-121SW 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-121SW?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-121SW:
- 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 |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
410mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
586cm2
vs
2165cm2
|
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-121SW needs about 269% more floor area. Klipsch R-121SW stands 370mm further into the room. Klipsch R-121SW is 13mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-121SW |
Focal Sub Air |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
110 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-120 Hz |
40-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
110-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
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 |
423.0mm (16.7") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Width |
407.0mm (16") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
532.0mm (20.9") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
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 |
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 | A | Klipsch R-121SW goes deeper - 28Hz against 40Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 40Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Klipsch R-121SW has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 110W RMS, about 2.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch R-121SW moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x 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 74% 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-121SW costs less - $599 against $1,299, about 54% less. |
A Klipsch R-121SW 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-121SW 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 $599 each, two Klipsch R-121SW cost about $1,198 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.