In this review, we will be comparing CW8 and SPL-100, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Monitor Audio 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 Monitor Audio CW8 and Klipsch SPL-100 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 Monitor Audio CW8and Klipsch SPL-100 have a single woofer setup however the Monitor Audio CW8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-100 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
CW8 has a frequency range of 35-135 Hz whereas SPL-100 has a frequency range of 27-125 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 CW8's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 SPL-100 have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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 Monitor Audio CW8's and Klipsch SPL-100's external dimensions. Monitor Audio CW8 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 262.0 x 326.0mm (10-3/4 x 10-5/16 x 12-13/16inch) whereas 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).
Klipsch SPL-100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 96mm wider, 144mm taller and 152mm deeper than Monitor Audio CW8.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 is approximately 854.1cm2 / 132.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2. The CW8 requires 50% less surface area than the SPL-100 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 Monitor Audio CW8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the Klipsch SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs. This makes the SPL-100 76% heavier than the CW8.
Here is a comparison of how CW8 and SPL-100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio CW8?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CW8:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 10-feet Mono-minijack cable
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Klipsch SPL-100?
Here are the items that come with the SPL-100:
- Powered sub
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 High Frequency Response |
135 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
274mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
854cm2
vs
1711cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
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 SPL-100 needs about 100% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-100 stands 152mm further into the room. Klipsch SPL-100 is 144mm taller.
| General |
Monitor Audio CW8 |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
350 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-135 Hz |
27-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
450-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
262.0mm (10.3") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | B | Klipsch SPL-100 goes deeper - 27Hz against 35Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 35Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Monitor Audio CW8 has the bigger amplifier - 350W against 200W RMS, about 2.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | 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 | depends | Monitor Audio CW8 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch SPL-100 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. |
| 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 | Monitor Audio CW8 is about 67% 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 | Monitor Audio CW8 carries 5 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 SPL-100 costs less - $399 against $450, about 11% less. |
A Monitor Audio CW8 B Klipsch SPL-100
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. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch SPL-100 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Monitor Audio CW8 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Monitor Audio CW8 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.