In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 1100X and R-100SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from MartinLogan and 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 MartinLogan 1100X and Klipsch R-100SW 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 MartinLogan 1100Xand Klipsch R-100SW have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 1100X's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Klipsch R-100SW features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 1100X has a frequency range of 22-200 Hz whereas R-100SW has a frequency range of 32-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the Dynamo 1100X can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-100SW'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 MartinLogan 1100X has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the Klipsch R-100SW have Bass reflex type enclosure.
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 MartinLogan 1100X's and Klipsch R-100SW's external dimensions. MartinLogan 1100X has external dimensions of 435.0 x 381.0 x 410.0mm (17-1/8 x 15 x 16-1/8inch) whereas Klipsch R-100SW has external dimensions of 372.0 x 320.0 x 459.0mm (14-5/8 x 12-9/16 x 18-1/16inch).
Klipsch R-100SW is 61mm narrower and 63mm shorter than MartinLogan 1100X but it is also 49mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 1100X and Klipsch R-100SW in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 1100X and Klipsch R-100SW 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 MartinLogan 1100X is approximately 1562.1cm2 / 242.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-100SW is approximately 1468.8cm2 / 227.7inch2. The Dynamo 1100X requires 6% more surface area than the R-100SW 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 MartinLogan 1100X weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs and the Klipsch R-100SW weighs 10.91kg / 24lbs. This makes the Dynamo 1100X 92% heavier than the R-100SW.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 1100X and R-100SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 1100X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 1100X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-100SW?
Here are the items that come with the R-100SW:
- Powered sub
- Grille (installed)
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Height |
372mm
vs
435mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1468cm2
vs
1562cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
275USD
vs
1500USD
|
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.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch R-100SW stands 49mm further into the room. MartinLogan 1100X is 63mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1100X |
Klipsch R-100SW |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
650 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
22-200 Hz |
32-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
650-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front and bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
435.0mm (17.1") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
381.0mm (15") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
410.0mm (16.1") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
10.91kg (24lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
2 Years |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported 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 | A | MartinLogan 1100X goes deeper - 22Hz against 32Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | A | MartinLogan 1100X has the bigger amplifier - 650W against 150W RMS, about 6.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | MartinLogan 1100X moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | MartinLogan 1100X is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch R-100SW is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | MartinLogan 1100X takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only MartinLogan 1100X 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | MartinLogan 1100X fires front/down and Klipsch R-100SW fires front. 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-100SW is about 20% 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 | A | MartinLogan 1100X 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 | Klipsch R-100SW costs less - $275 against $1,500, about 82% less. |
A MartinLogan 1100X B Klipsch R-100SW
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: MartinLogan 1100X measures better, Klipsch R-100SW costs about 82% 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-100SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, MartinLogan 1100X is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, MartinLogan 1100X is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.