In this review, we will be comparing Nova 8 and RP-1400CSW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Wharfedale 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 Wharfedale Nova 8 and Klipsch RP-1400CSW 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 Wharfedale Nova 8and Klipsch RP-1400CSW have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale Nova 8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch RP-1400CSW features a 14-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Nova 8 has a frequency range of 33 Hz (-6dB) whereas RP-1400CSW has a frequency range of 15-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 15Hz, the RP-1400CSW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Nova 8's min frequency of 33Hz.
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
The Wharfedale Nova 8 has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs. On the other hand the Klipsch RP-1400CSW have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported 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 Wharfedale Nova 8's and Klipsch RP-1400CSW's external dimensions. Wharfedale Nova 8 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 320.0 x 361.0mm (13.7inch x 12.6inch x 14.21inch) whereas Klipsch RP-1400CSW has external dimensions of 444.0 x 421.6 x 421.6mm (17.48inch x 16.6inch x 16.6inch).
Klipsch RP-1400CSW is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 101.6mm wider, 96mm taller and 60.6mm deeper than Wharfedale Nova 8.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch RP-1400CSW needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 61mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 96mm taller.
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 Wharfedale Nova 8 is approximately 1155.2cm2 / 179.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1400CSW is approximately 1777.5cm2 / 275.5inch2. The Nova 8 requires 35% less surface area than the RP-1400CSW 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 Wharfedale Nova 8 weighs 16.30kg / 35.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-1400CSW weighs 27.08kg / 59.6lbs. This makes the RP-1400CSW 66% heavier than the Nova 8.
Here is a comparison of how Nova 8 and RP-1400CSW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Passive Radiator |
1 x 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
348mm
vs
444mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1155cm2
vs
1777cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
14 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
15 Hz
vs
33 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
180 Hz
vs
Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 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 RP-1400CSW needs about 54% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1400CSW stands 61mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1400CSW is 96mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale Nova 8 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400CSW |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
200 watts |
500 watts |
| Frequency Response |
33 Hz (-6dB) |
15-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
14" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
348.0mm (13.7") |
444.0mm (17.5") |
| Width |
320.0mm (12.6") |
421.6mm (16.6") |
| Depth |
361.0mm (14.2") |
421.6mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
16.30kg (35.9lbs) |
27.08kg (59.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
Matte Black |
MDF with Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Ebony |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| USB Port |
USB port for firmware updates |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A passive radiator subwoofer against a sealed 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-1400CSW goes deeper - 15Hz against 33Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | Klipsch RP-1400CSW has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 200W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch RP-1400CSW moves more air: 14" against 8" is 3.06x the cone area, not the 1.75x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | Wharfedale Nova 8 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet; Klipsch RP-1400CSW is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | Wharfedale Nova 8 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only Klipsch RP-1400CSW 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 | Wharfedale Nova 8 is about 49% 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. |
| Price | evenly matched | Priced within a few per cent of each other. |
A Wharfedale Nova 8 B Klipsch RP-1400CSW
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 RP-1400CSW has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, Wharfedale Nova 8 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Klipsch RP-1400CSW is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, Wharfedale Nova 8 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.