In this review, we will be comparing TZero MKIII and SPL-100, 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 TZero MKIII 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 REL TZero MKIIIand Klipsch SPL-100 have a single woofer setup however the REL TZero MKIII's woofer is 6.5-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-100 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
TZero MKIII has a frequency range of 37-120 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 TZero MKIII's min frequency of 37Hz.
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 TZero MKIII's and Klipsch SPL-100's external dimensions. REL TZero MKIII has external dimensions of 242.9 x 217.5 x 295.3mm () 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 140.5mm wider, 175.1mm taller and 182.7mm deeper than REL TZero MKIII.
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 TZero MKIII is approximately 642.3cm2 / 99.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-100 is approximately 1711.2cm2 / 265.2inch2. The TZero MKIII requires 62% 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 REL TZero MKIII weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Klipsch SPL-100 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs. This makes the SPL-100 147% heavier than the TZero MKIII.
Here is a comparison of how TZero MKIII and SPL-100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
242mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2
vs
1711cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
125 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
599USD
|
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 SPL-100 needs about 166% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-100 stands 183mm further into the room. Klipsch SPL-100 is 175mm taller.
| General |
REL TZero MKIII |
Klipsch SPL-100 |
| Brand |
REL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
37-120 Hz |
27-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
450-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
242.9mm (9.6") |
418.0mm (16.5") |
| Width |
217.5mm (8.6") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
295.3mm (11.6") |
478.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 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 | B | Klipsch SPL-100 goes deeper - 27Hz against 37Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 37Hz. |
| Amplifier power | B | Klipsch SPL-100 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 100W RMS, about 3dB 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 6.5" is 2.37x the cone area, not the 1.54x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | REL TZero MKIII is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch SPL-100 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 | REL TZero MKIII is about 78% 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 | A | REL TZero MKIII carries 3 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 SPL-100 costs less - $399 against $599, about 33% less. |
A REL TZero MKIII 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 REL TZero MKIII if one of the "depends" rows describes your room. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Klipsch SPL-100 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, REL TZero MKIII is usually the easier one to make sound right. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - REL TZero MKIII 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.