In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 400 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 400 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 400and Klipsch R-100SW have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 400's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch R-100SW features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 400 has a frequency range of 30-200 Hz whereas R-100SW has a frequency range of 32-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Dynamo 400 can go slightly deeper then 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
Both MartinLogan 400 and Klipsch R-100SW have Bass reflex type cabinets.
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 400's and Klipsch R-100SW's external dimensions. MartinLogan 400 has external dimensions of 385.0 x 339.0 x 388.0mm (15-1/8 x 13-5/16 x 15-1/4inch) 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 19mm narrower and 13mm shorter than MartinLogan 400 but it is also 71mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 400 and Klipsch R-100SW in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 400 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 400 is approximately 1315.3cm2 / 203.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-100SW is approximately 1468.8cm2 / 227.7inch2. The Dynamo 400 requires 10% less surface area than the R-100SW which gives it a small advantage 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 400 weighs 12.95kg / 28.5lbs and the Klipsch R-100SW weighs 10.91kg / 24lbs. This makes the Dynamo 400 19% heavier than the R-100SW.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 400 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 400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 400:
- Powered subwoofer
- 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
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1315cm2
vs
1468cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
372mm
vs
385mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
275USD
vs
500USD
|
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 R-100SW needs about 12% more floor area. Klipsch R-100SW stands 71mm further into the room. MartinLogan 400 is 13mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 400 |
Klipsch R-100SW |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
75 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-200 Hz |
32-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
75-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
385.0mm (15.2") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
339.0mm (13.3") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
12.95kg (28.5lbs) |
10.91kg (24lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
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 |
Different price classes - MartinLogan 400 costs roughly 1.8x what Klipsch R-100SW does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (30Hz vs 32Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | Klipsch R-100SW has the bigger amplifier - 150W against 75W RMS, about 3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch R-100SW 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. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | MartinLogan 400 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | MartinLogan 400 fires 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. |
| Warranty | A | MartinLogan 400 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 $500, about 45% less. |
A MartinLogan 400 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, MartinLogan 400 is the only one of these two you can connect at all. 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 $275 each, two Klipsch R-100SW cost about $550 against $500 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.