In this review, we will be comparing Vestra W12 and R-101SW, 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 R-101SW 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 Vestra W12and Klipsch R-101SW have a single woofer setup however the Monitor Audio Vestra W12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Klipsch R-101SW features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Vestra W12 has a frequency range of 19-200 Hz whereas R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the Vestra W12 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-101SW's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 R-101SW's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has external dimensions of 384.2 x 371.5 x 442.9mm () whereas Klipsch R-101SW has external dimensions of 370.0 x 358.0 x 529.0mm (14-9/16inch x 14-1/16inch x 20-13/16inch).
Klipsch R-101SW is 13.5mm narrower and 14.2mm shorter than Monitor Audio Vestra W12 but it is also 86.1mm deeper.
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 R-101SW is approximately 1893.8cm2 / 293.5inch2. The Vestra W12 requires 13% less surface area than the R-101SW 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 R-101SW weighs 13.91kg / 30.6lbs. This makes the Vestra W12 31% heavier than the R-101SW.
Here is a comparison of how Vestra W12 and R-101SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
160 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1645cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
370mm
vs
384mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
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 R-101SW needs about 15% more floor area. Klipsch R-101SW stands 86mm further into the room. Monitor Audio Vestra W12 is 14mm taller.
| General |
Monitor Audio Vestra W12 |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
19-200 Hz |
29.5-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
371.5mm (14.6") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
442.9mm (17.4") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Weight |
18.28kg (40.2lbs) |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
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 | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 goes deeper - 19Hz against 30Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 150W RMS, about 5.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 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 | 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 R-101SW 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. |
| Warranty | A | Monitor Audio Vestra W12 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 R-101SW costs less - $499 against $1,199, about 58% less. |
A Monitor Audio Vestra W12 B Klipsch R-101SW
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 R-101SW costs about 58% 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-101SW 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. 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 $499 each, two Klipsch R-101SW cost about $998 against $1,199 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.