In this review, we will be comparing Vestra W12 and RP-1200SW, 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 Vestra W12 and Klipsch RP-1200SW 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.Monitor Audio Vestra W12and Klipsch RP-1200SW have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
Vestra W12 has a frequency range of 19-200 Hz whereas RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go slightly deeper then the Vestra W12's min frequency of 19Hz.
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
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 Vestra W12's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has external dimensions of 384.2 x 371.5 x 442.9mm () whereas Klipsch RP-1200SW has external dimensions of 482.0 x 432.0 x 659.0mm (18-15/16inch x 17inch x 25-15/16inch).
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60.5mm wider, 97.8mm taller and 216.1mm deeper than Monitor Audio Vestra W12.
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 Vestra W12 is approximately 1645.4cm2 / 255.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The Vestra W12 requires 42% less surface area than the RP-1200SW 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 Vestra W12 weighs 18.28kg / 40.2lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 71% heavier than the Vestra W12.
Here is a comparison of how Vestra W12 and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
138 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
384mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1645cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
19 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1199USD
|
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 RP-1200SW needs about 73% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 216mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 98mm taller.
| General |
Monitor Audio Vestra W12 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
19-200 Hz |
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
371.5mm (14.6") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
442.9mm (17.4") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
18.28kg (40.2lbs) |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Ebony |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 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 | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (19Hz vs 17Hz). |
| Amplifier power | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 400W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 12"). |
| Enclosure | depends | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch RP-1200SW 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is about 54% 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. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW costs less - $1,100 against $1,199, about 8% less. |
A Monitor Audio Vestra W12 B Klipsch RP-1200SW
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: Monitor Audio Vestra W12 measures better, Klipsch RP-1200SW costs about 8% 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 RP-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Monitor Audio Vestra W12 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.