In this review, we will be comparing SPL-100 and SX-120, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Klipsch and Cambridge 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 SPL-100 and Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 SPL-100and Cambridge Audio SX-120 have a single woofer setup however the Klipsch SPL-100's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Cambridge Audio SX-120 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SPL-100 has a frequency range of 27-125 Hz whereas SX-120 has a frequency range of 34-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the SPL-100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SX-120's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 SPL-100 and Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 SPL-100's and Cambridge Audio SX-120's external dimensions. Klipsch SPL-100 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 358.0 x 478.0mm (16-7/16 x 14-1/16 x 18-13/16inch) whereas Cambridge Audio SX-120 has external dimensions of 296.0 x 297.0 x 350.0mm (11-5/8 x 11-11/16 x 13-3/4inch).
Klipsch SPL-100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61mm wider, 122mm taller and 128mm deeper than Cambridge Audio SX-120.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch SPL-100 and Cambridge Audio SX-120 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch SPL-100 and Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2 and base area of the Cambridge Audio SX-120 is approximately 1039.5cm2 / 161.1inch2. The SPL-100 requires 65% more surface area than the SX-120 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 SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs and the Cambridge Audio SX-120 weighs 7.73kg / 17lbs. This makes the SPL-100 118% heavier than the SX-120.
Here is a comparison of how SPL-100 and SX-120'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 SPL-100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SPL-100:
- Powered sub
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Cambridge Audio SX-120?
Here are the items that come with the SX-120:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- 4 Spiked feet
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
296mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1039cm2
vs
1711cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
319USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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 SPL-100 needs about 65% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-100 stands 128mm further into the room. Klipsch SPL-100 is 122mm taller.
| General |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
Cambridge Audio SX-120 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Cambridge Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
70 watts |
| Frequency Response |
27-125 Hz |
34-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
450-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Treated Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Width |
358.0mm (14.1") |
297.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
478.0mm (18.8") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
7.73kg (17lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Klipsch SPL-100 goes deeper - 27Hz against 34Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 34Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Klipsch SPL-100 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 70W RMS, about 4.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Klipsch SPL-100 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 Klipsch SPL-100 offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Cambridge Audio SX-120 is about 57% 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 | Cambridge Audio SX-120 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 | B | Cambridge Audio SX-120 costs less - $319 against $399, about 20% less. |
A Klipsch SPL-100 B Cambridge Audio SX-120
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 SPL-100 measures better, Cambridge Audio SX-120 costs about 20% 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 - Cambridge Audio SX-120 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.