In this review, we will be comparing SB 5000 R Evolution and R-121SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS 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 SVS SB 5000 R Evolution and Klipsch R-121SW 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 SVS SB 5000 R Evolutionand Klipsch R-121SW have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB 5000 R Evolution's woofer is 15-inch whereas the Klipsch R-121SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB 5000 R Evolution has a frequency range of 17-280 Hz whereas R-121SW has a frequency range of 28-120 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the SB 5000 R Evolution can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-121SW's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
Klipsch R-121SW Port
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 SVS SB 5000 R Evolution's and Klipsch R-121SW's external dimensions. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has external dimensions of 465.1 x 452.4 x 495.3mm () whereas Klipsch R-121SW has external dimensions of 423.0 x 407.0 x 532.0mm (16-5/8inch x 16inch x 20-15/16inch).
Klipsch R-121SW is 45.4mm narrower and 42.1mm shorter than SVS SB 5000 R Evolution but it is also 36.7mm 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 SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is approximately 2240.7cm2 / 347.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-121SW is approximately 2165.2cm2 / 335.6inch2. The SB 5000 R Evolution requires 3% more surface area than the R-121SW 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 SVS SB 5000 R Evolution weighs 46.31kg / 101.9lbs and the Klipsch R-121SW weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs. This makes the SB 5000 R Evolution 189% heavier than the R-121SW.
Here is a comparison of how SB 5000 R Evolution and R-121SW'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 |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
280 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
423mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2165cm2
vs
2240cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
2000USD
|
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 R-121SW stands 37mm further into the room. SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is 42mm taller.
| General |
SVS SB 5000 R Evolution |
Klipsch Reference R-121SW |
| Brand |
SVS |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
17-280 Hz |
28-120 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
2000-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
5000-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.1mm (18.3") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
452.4mm (17.8") |
407.0mm (16") |
| Depth |
495.3mm (19.5") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Weight |
46.31kg (101.9lbs) |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
| 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 | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution goes deeper - 17Hz against 28Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution has the bigger amplifier - 2000W against 200W RMS, about 10dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution 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 | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; Klipsch R-121SW 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 | SVS SB 5000 R Evolution 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-121SW costs less - $599 against $2,000, about 70% less. |
A SVS SB 5000 R Evolution B Klipsch R-121SW
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: SVS SB 5000 R Evolution measures better, Klipsch R-121SW costs about 70% 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-121SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, SVS SB 5000 R Evolution 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 $599 each, two Klipsch R-121SW cost about $1,198 against $2,000 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.