In this review, we will be comparing Alpha S8 and SPL-100, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from PSB 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 PSB Alpha S8 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 PSB Alpha S8and Klipsch SPL-100 have a single woofer setup however the PSB Alpha S8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-100 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Alpha S8 has a frequency range of 35-150 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 Alpha S8'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
Both PSB Alpha S8 and Klipsch SPL-100 have Bass Reflex type cabinets. 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 PSB Alpha S8's and Klipsch SPL-100's external dimensions. PSB Alpha S8 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 293.0 x 413.0mm (12-1/2 x 11-1/2 x 16-1/4inch) 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 65mm wider, 100mm taller and 65mm deeper than PSB Alpha S8.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha S8 and Klipsch SPL-100 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha S8 and Klipsch SPL-100 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 PSB Alpha S8 is approximately 1210.1cm2 / 187.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2. The Alpha S8 requires 29% 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 PSB Alpha S8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the Klipsch SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs. This makes the SPL-100 76% heavier than the Alpha S8.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha S8 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 PSB Alpha S8?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha S8:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 5-feet AC power cord
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
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 |
150 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
318mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1210cm2
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
549USD
|
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 41% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-100 stands 65mm further into the room. Klipsch SPL-100 is 100mm taller.
| General |
PSB Alpha S8 |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-150 Hz |
27-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
450-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
293.0mm (11.5") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
413.0mm (16.3") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| 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 | B | Klipsch SPL-100 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 150W RMS, about 1.2dB 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 | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| 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 | PSB Alpha S8 is about 46% 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 | B | Klipsch SPL-100 carries 2 years on parts against 1 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 $549, about 27% less. |
A PSB Alpha S8 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?
Klipsch SPL-100 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take PSB Alpha S8 if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - PSB Alpha S8 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.