In this review, we will be comparing AMBEO Sub and RP-1200SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sennheiser 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 Sennheiser AMBEO Sub 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 Sennheiser AMBEO Suband Klipsch RP-1200SW have a single woofer setup however the Sennheiser AMBEO Sub's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch RP-1200SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
AMBEO Sub has a frequency range of 27-80 Hz whereas RP-1200SW has a frequency range of 16.5-138 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the RP-1200SW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AMBEO Sub'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
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 Sennheiser AMBEO Sub's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. Sennheiser AMBEO Sub has external dimensions of 366.7 x 269.9 x 269.9mm () 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).
Klipsch RP-1200SW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 162.1mm wider, 115.3mm taller and 389.1mm deeper than Sennheiser AMBEO Sub.
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 Sennheiser AMBEO Sub is approximately 728.5cm2 / 112.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The AMBEO Sub requires 74% less surface area than the RP-1200SW 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 Sennheiser AMBEO Sub weighs 8.16kg / 18lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 282% heavier than the AMBEO Sub.
Here is a comparison of how AMBEO Sub and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
366mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
728cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
138 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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 RP-1200SW needs about 291% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 389mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 115mm taller.
| General |
Sennheiser AMBEO Sub |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
Sennheiser |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
27-80 Hz |
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
366.7mm (14.4") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
269.9mm (10.6") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
269.9mm (10.6") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
8.16kg (18lbs) |
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 |
2 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 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 27Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (350W vs 400W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch RP-1200SW moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Sennheiser AMBEO Sub 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Sennheiser AMBEO Sub is about 81% 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 RP-1200SW 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 | A | Sennheiser AMBEO Sub costs less - $500 against $1,100, about 55% less. |
A Sennheiser AMBEO Sub 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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RP-1200SW measures better, Sennheiser AMBEO Sub costs about 55% 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 RP-1200SW will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Sennheiser AMBEO Sub 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 $500 each, two Sennheiser AMBEO Sub cost about $1,000 against $1,100 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.