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Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series - With power and precision

Klipsch is now presenting four new models in the form of the Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series. These are solutions with 10, 12, 14 or 16 inch woofers that are intended to function as powerful, precise playing partners in the home cinema.

Story Highlights
  • The new models from Klipsch in the Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series are designed to deliver power and precision at an affordable price.

The new Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series is presented in the form of the Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW models, and with them the phalanx of subwoofers from Klipsch, which are designed to be the ideal partners for the loudspeaker systems of the Klipsch Reference Premiere Series. The US manufacturer refers to these as particularly powerful systems that nevertheless offer outstanding precision and are also available at a very attractive price.

In addition, the manufacturer states that despite the somewhat generous dimensions of the models with 10, 12, 14 or 16 inch woofers, they are solutions that can be described as living room-friendly. Nothing should stand in the way of home cinema even in the living room.

Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW

Even though the new subwoofers from Klipsch are primarily designed for the loudspeaker systems of the Klipsch Reference Premiere Series, and will probably be used in home cinema in most cases, they are still intended to be a flexible solution, as the manufacturer emphasises. They are not only used for home cinema, but also for classic hi-fi applications, and since the Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW are offered as four models, the right solution should be available for every requirement.

Modern Features for Power and Precision

As already mentioned, the new subwoofers are supposed to be models that are characterised by power and precision. According to the manufacturer, the developers used state-of-the-art features, especially regarding the drivers.

The subwoofers are equipped with a front-firing Klipsch Cerametallic woofer with a copper-coloured twisted cone for an optimum combination of maximum rigidity and good internal damping. An ultra-long excursion drive unit, described by the manufacturer as an ultra-long excursion drive unit, in combination with the aforementioned diaphragm construction, is supposed to guarantee a particularly powerful reproduction with enormous low bass and minimal distortion.

As an example, Klipsch states that even the 12-inch woofer model offers a linear excursion of a remarkable 36 mm, and the diaphragm of the top model of the series with 16 inches even has a stroke of up to 44 mm.

As if that were not enough, in order to actually move as much air as possible for superior imaging in the low-frequency range, the Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW models are all designed as bass reflex systems.

The developers rely on a specially developed geometry of the bass reflex tube, a new aerofoil slot port design, which on the one hand prevents turbulence and POrt noise, and on the other hand is supposed to contribute significantly to the promised precise performance. It should also be mentioned that even the smallest model in the new range is said to offer reproduction down to a lower cut-off frequency of 19 Hz.

In this case, a particularly flexible placement in the room is already ensured by the fact that the bass reflex system just described is led out to the front. This even makes it possible to place the subwoofers close to the wall.

Flexible in use

As already mentioned several times, flexibility is said to have been at the top of the Klipsch developers’ list of requirements, and the electronics of the model series are presented accordingly. An analogue crossover and preamplifier are used, while the power amplifier is designed in Class D for highest efficiency.

The output power should be optimally adapted to the respective chassis, whereby the 10-inch is driven with 300 watts continuous power (RMS), the 12-inch with 400 watts, the 14-inch with 500 watts, and in the top model with a 16-inch chassis there is an output stage with a proud 800 watts. According to the manufacturer, the short-term power output is twice as high in each case.

With switchable phase and infinitely variable control of crossover frequency and level, each subwoofer in Klipsch’s new model series can be optimally adapted to the individual configuration.

First of all, there are RCA inputs for stereo or mono signals and, via the so-called WA-2 port, any Klipsch subwoofer can be supplied with signals wirelessly using the corresponding expansion module. This is also possible in parallel to cable operation without switching, so that, for example, stereo and home cinema systems can be supplied in parallel.

As living-room friendly as possible

Of course, subwoofers of this calibre are always comparatively clunky systems, but every effort has been made to make the new models as living-room friendly as possible, for example with a vinyl finish that looks like real ebony. This covers the entire cabinet, which has rounded corners. Rubber feet for decoupling and a woven fabric grille are further features of the Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW subwoofers, which are finished in black only.

Prices and availability

The Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW will be available from April 2023. The recommended retail price for the Klipsch RP-1000 SW is € 999,-, for the Klipsch RP-1200 SW € 1.199,-, for the Klipsch RP-1400 SW € 1.499,- and for the Klipsch RP-1600 SW € 1.999,-.

Getting to the point

The new subwoofers Klipsch RP-1000 SW, Klipsch RP-1200 SW, Klipsch RP-1400 SW and Klipsch RP-1600 SW are models of the Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series, which, as the name suggests, are designed by the US specialist Klipsch primarily for combination with speaker systems of the Klipsch Reference Premiere Series. The name also reveals that these are subwoofers with 10, 12, 14 and 16 inch woofers, which are supposed to achieve plenty of pressure with the corresponding low bass by means of a Class D amplifier, but can always come up with a precise performance to be recommended for hi-fi as well as home cinema.

PRODUCTKLIPSCH REFERENCE PREMIERE SUBWOOFER SERIES
PriceKlipsch RP-1000 SW € 999,-
Klipsch RP-1200 SW € 1.199,-
Klipsch RP-1400 SW € 1.499,-
Klipsch RP-1600 SW € 1.999,-
BRANDKLIPSCH
ManufacturerKlipsch
Distribution AustriaAudio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Distribution GermanyOsiris Audio AG
Distribution Switzerlandnovis electronics AG
More about this manufacturer at HiFi Blog
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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