In this review, we will be comparing WH D8 and RP-1200SW, 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 WH-D8 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 Wharfedale WH-D8and Klipsch RP-1200SW have a single woofer setup however the Wharfedale WH-D8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the Klipsch RP-1200SW features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
WH D8 has a frequency range of 40-120 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 WH D8's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 WH-D8 has a Infinite Baffle type cabinet. On the other hand the Klipsch RP-1200SW have Bass Reflex type enclosure. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed 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 WH-D8's and Klipsch RP-1200SW's external dimensions. Wharfedale WH-D8 has external dimensions of 328.0 x 268.0 x 322.0mm (12-15/16 x 10-9/16 x 12-11/16inch) 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 164mm wider, 154mm taller and 337mm deeper than Wharfedale WH-D8.
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-1200SW needs about 230% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 337mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 154mm 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 WH-D8 is approximately 863.0cm2 / 133.8inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-1200SW is approximately 2846.9cm2 / 441.3inch2. The WH D8 requires 70% 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 Wharfedale WH-D8 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the Klipsch RP-1200SW weighs 31.18kg / 68.6lbs. This makes the RP-1200SW 316% heavier than the WH D8.
Here is a comparison of how WH D8 and RP-1200SW's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Height |
328mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
863cm2
vs
2846cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
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
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
138 Hz
vs
120 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 230% more floor area. Klipsch RP-1200SW stands 337mm further into the room. Klipsch RP-1200SW is 154mm taller.
| General |
Wharfedale WH-D8 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1200SW |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
70 watts |
400 watts |
| Frequency Response |
40-120 Hz |
16.5-138 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
400-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
150-watt RMS |
800-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper composite |
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
328.0mm (12.9") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Width |
268.0mm (10.6") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Depth |
322.0mm (12.7") |
659.0mm (25.9") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
31.18kg (68.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Infinite Baffle |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Ebony |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 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 40Hz. 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-1200SW has the bigger amplifier - 400W against 70W RMS, about 7.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| 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 | Wharfedale WH-D8 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 | Wharfedale WH-D8 is about 79% 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 | A | Wharfedale WH-D8 costs less - $449 against $1,100, about 59% less. |
A Wharfedale WH-D8 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, Wharfedale WH-D8 costs about 59% 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, Wharfedale WH-D8 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 $449 each, two Wharfedale WH-D8 cost about $898 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.