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.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the MartinLogan 400 and Klipsch R-100SW compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 subwoofer6.5-feet AC power cordUser-feets Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-100SW?
Here are the items that come with the R-100SW:
Powered subGrille (installed)6.5-feet AC power cordUser ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1315cm2 (339x388mm)
vs
1468cm2 (320x459mm)
|
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) |
| 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 |