In this review, we will be comparing HT 1510 Predator and RP-1200SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from REL 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 REL HT 1510 Predator 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.Both REL HT 1510 Predatorand Klipsch RP-1200SW have a single woofer setup however the REL HT 1510 Predator's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch RP-1200SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
HT 1510 Predator has a frequency range of 20-200 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 HT 1510 Predator's min frequency of 20Hz.
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 REL HT 1510 Predator's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. REL HT 1510 Predator has external dimensions of 458.8 x 542.9 x 544.5mm () 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).
REL HT 1510 Predator is 23.2mm shorter and 114.5mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-1200SW but it is also 110.9mm wider.
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 REL HT 1510 Predator is approximately 2956.1cm2 / 458.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The HT 1510 Predator requires 4% more surface area than the RP-1200SW which gives it a small disadvantage 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 REL HT 1510 Predator weighs 45.22kg / 99.5lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the HT 1510 Predator 45% heavier than the RP-1200SW.
Here is a comparison of how HT 1510 Predator and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
138 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
458mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
20 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
2846cm2
vs
2956cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1799USD
|
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.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 115mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 23mm taller.
| General |
REL HT 1510 Predator |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
REL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
20-200 Hz |
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1000-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
458.8mm (18.1") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
542.9mm (21.4") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
544.5mm (21.4") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
45.22kg (99.5lbs) |
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 |
3 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 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 | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW goes deeper - 17Hz against 20Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | REL HT 1510 Predator has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 400W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | REL HT 1510 Predator moves more air: 15" against 12" 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 | REL HT 1510 Predator 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. |
| Warranty | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW carries 5 years on parts against 3 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW costs less - $1,100 against $1,799, about 39% less. |
A REL HT 1510 Predator 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?
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 RP-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, REL HT 1510 Predator 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 $1,100 each, two Klipsch RP-1200SW cost about $2,200 against $1,799 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.