In this review, we will be comparing Foundry F12 and SPL-100, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from PS 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 PS Audio Foundry F12 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.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both PS Audio Foundry F12and Klipsch SPL-100 have a single woofer setup however the PS Audio Foundry F12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-100 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Foundry F12 has a frequency range of 20-500 Hz whereas SPL-100 has a frequency range of 27-125 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Foundry F12 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SPL-100's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 PS Audio Foundry F12 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 PS Audio Foundry F12's and Klipsch SPL-100's external dimensions. PS Audio Foundry F12 has external dimensions of 425.0 x 375.0 x 444.0mm (16-3/4 x 14-3/4 x 17-1/2inch) 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 17mm narrower and 7mm shorter than PS Audio Foundry F12 but it is also 34mm 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 PS Audio Foundry F12 is approximately 1665.0cm2 / 258.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2. The Foundry F12 requires 3% 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 PS Audio Foundry F12 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs and the Klipsch SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs. This makes the Foundry F12 108% heavier than the SPL-100.
Here is a comparison of how Foundry F12 and SPL-100'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 |
20 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
500k Hz
vs
125k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
RCA
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
1665cm2
vs
1711cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
418mm
vs
425mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
2749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PS Audio Foundry F12 |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
| Brand |
PS Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1000 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
20-500 Hz |
27-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
450-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
425.0mm (16.7") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
375.0mm (14.8") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
444.0mm (17.5") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |