14" Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400SW 500W RMS / 1000W Peak Subwoofer

supermanrob

Dec 8, 2025 9:31 PM

13K Comments

Joined Jul 2010

supermanrobDec 8, 2025 9:31 PM

13K Comments

Edited for clarification.

2

supermanrob

Dec 8, 2025 9:37 PM

13K Comments

Joined Jul 2010

supermanrobDec 8, 2025 9:37 PM

13K Comments

Quote from Zorbat1446

:

It defeats half the purpose of getting a sub: relieving your speakers and receiver of the burden of carrying the much more power-intensive, driver-stressing low frequencies. There is a reason that nobody else (Hsu, Rythmik, RSL, PSA, SVS, etc) engages in this idiocy.

Well he does have a point.
Having very capable speakers that can handle lower frequency bass is actually good/preferred.

The integration of the higher bass frequencies happens constantly, whereas low frequency is sporadic & often very short in duration.

That's why higher end RCs(ie Dirac,Trinnov,Room Perfect) ideally ask for reference speakers in all positions.

If you chose to believe in the pitch to let your sub(s) handle all the bass frequencies, is your choice.

2

supermanrob

Dec 8, 2025 9:58 PM

13K Comments

Joined Jul 2010

supermanrobDec 8, 2025 9:58 PM

13K Comments

Quote from JonathanJ7608

:

This klipsch will go louder and lower than the 12" RSL. Physics does not lie, and at at better price. In a properly set up setting you wont hear "articulation" differences between both, don't drink the kool-aid...

Speak of Kool-Aid.
Thee biggest confirmation bias there is are measurements!

If they had much relevance on how something would sound/perform, no one would come in here and ask for a comparison or audition anything!

It's basically just a way for people that have zero experience with the product to claim to know how good or bad something will sound for others!

3

sqa4life

Dec 8, 2025 11:38 PM

2.6K Comments

Joined Apr 2013

sqa4lifeDec 8, 2025 11:38 PM

2.6K Comments

I've been running two of the "Klipsch R-120SWi" subs that I bought from Costco a few months ago. They produce more than enough bass for my liking, but they're taking up spaces. Will one of this be a better replacement?

EagerKite8431

Dec 9, 2025 12:42 AM

9 Comments

Joined Mar 2025

EagerKite8431Dec 9, 2025 12:42 AM

9 Comments

Quote from Zorbat1446

:

REL is the Bose of subs. They are the ONLY sub manufacturer I know of that wants you to run your speakers full-range alongside their subs (i.e. "Large" in your receiver settings) purportedly for "better integration" but that imo is just a sorry excuse for their subs being miserably underpowered and underperforming despite the deliberately inflated-to-impress pricetags. (Deliberately inflated prices plus cute-and-petite form factor is THE signature of all "lifestyle" products' marketing-driven design.)

When you set speakers to large you get access to the full frequency range of the speaker. When you set the speakers to small the AVR/processor begins to cut them off at whatever frequency the crossover is set to in the AVR/processor, and you are basically assuming that is the correct crossover point for not only those speakers but also the subwoofer. It might be or it might not be but there is zero way to tell that by just setting a number in the AVR/processor and setting the speakers to small. And that goes for any subwoofer on the planet, not just Rels. If you don't like Rel products more power to you but your comment makes no sense.

1

EagerKite8431

Dec 9, 2025 12:48 AM

9 Comments

Joined Mar 2025

EagerKite8431Dec 9, 2025 12:48 AM

9 Comments

Quote from fireballs

:

Definitely stay away from REL. They give only a 3 year warranty because their subs are low quality and they know they dont last. One of mine developed a hum even when there is no signal. Of course I was out of warranty (just thought they would be 5 years, my mistake) but contacted to see if they can give me any help. I was hoping for a replacement amp for around cost but tgey wanted $400 plus shipping. Considering I got free shipping on the original purchase it would have cost as much for the replacement amp as the new sub cost me.

They had zero desire to help me. They give a shorter warranty so they dont have to cover the problems they create by cutting corners and they turn that into a profit maker by trying to overcharge for replacement parts. I will never buy REL again and would definitely not recommend them.

Just to add another experience, I had an amp failure on a Rel 1205 (mk.1) with about 3 months left in the warranty period. I contacted them and explained the problem, they quickly sent me sent a replacement amp at zero cost to me, and now the sub works as expected. I also have 3 other Rels that are now outside of their warranties that have had no issues.

1

EagerKite8431

Dec 9, 2025 1:04 AM

9 Comments

Joined Mar 2025

EagerKite8431Dec 9, 2025 1:04 AM

9 Comments

Quote from vteckiller

:

Thanks for the input, everyone. I guess what I'm really asking is: which of those subs would be the best all‑around option? I love watching movies, but I also spend a couple of hours listening to music. The setup is in my living room, so it's not a dedicated home theater.

Please don't take this the wrong way but you are asking a question that is basically impossible to answer. Not only are the two subs you are asking about essentially very different products (SQ sub vs. SPL sub) but you haven't even said if you prefer sealed or ported or given any indication on the bass experience you are interested in. If you don't know that's ok - we all have to start somewhere and learn along the way. But you probably won't get the response you are looking for without additional details about your situation and preferences.

2

cvr39

Dec 9, 2025 1:06 AM

14 Comments

Joined Oct 2014

cvr39Dec 9, 2025 1:06 AM

14 Comments

Can RP-1400SW gowith RP-1000SW as I bought RP-1000SW few months ago when it was on sale for $349?

scythemk

Dec 9, 2025 1:31 AM

42 Comments

Joined Apr 2011

scythemkDec 9, 2025 1:31 AM

42 Comments

Quote from JonathanJ7608

:

This klipsch will go louder and lower than the 12" RSL. Physics does not lie, and at at better price. In a properly set up setting you wont hear "articulation" differences between both, don't drink the kool-aid...

Thanks, need to get the sign-off from the lady since this will sit in the living room and is not exactly subtle haha.

1

supermanrob

Dec 9, 2025 2:30 AM

13K Comments

Joined Jul 2010

supermanrobDec 9, 2025 2:30 AM

13K Comments

Quote from sqa4life

:

I've been running two of the "Klipsch R-120SWi" subs that I bought from Costco a few months ago. They produce more than enough bass for my liking, but they're taking up spaces. Will one of this be a better replacement?

Depends what you're trying to "better"?If it's footprint, yes it should.

1

HankJ6854

Dec 9, 2025 2:49 AM

34 Comments

Joined Apr 2017

HankJ6854Dec 9, 2025 2:49 AM

34 Comments

I got an R-112SW in 2017 and the amp failed within a year. Klipsch honored the warranty and sent a new amp, which was easy to install. That one lasted about 4 years before failing and the sub was now out of warranty. A local shop had the Klipsch SPL-150 amp in stock, which fit and was a supposedly improved amp less prone to failure, so I purchased it and installed it. That amp failed after about 2 years, so I bought an SVS PC-2000 Pro because I was tired of having my sub die every few years. Hopefully Klipsch has indeed improved the amp design to make them more reliable, because it was annoying to have it fail repeatedly. The sub did sound great when it was working and this one is even more powerful so it's definitely great bang for your buck.

shinseiRomeo

Dec 9, 2025 2:59 AM

347 Comments

Joined Apr 2023

shinseiRomeoDec 9, 2025 2:59 AM

347 Comments

I'm in a 'pickle'. I'm still battling ups with a shipping fiasco though the RP1600 was delivered today. The box looks like I was in a war zone. The problem now is it was delivered to my office since I'm not home to sign. The packaging is so huge it cannot fit into either of my SUVs as the box is 31 inches high and my hatch opening is max 29 inches. Plus one human cannot move the thing.

I do keep going back and forth getting the RP1400 x2. With the shipping issues (a week late delivery from ups) I may ask to return this and just buy the 2x RP1400s. Is it truly worth it to do a 2x or even a 4x RP1000 setup or is one of these 16 inch monster subs all that is needed?

To give a perspective, this living room / theater area space isn't large, it's 13 feet left to right, 12 feet front to back, and 7 foot ceilings.

HankJ6854

Dec 9, 2025 3:04 AM

34 Comments

Joined Apr 2017

HankJ6854Dec 9, 2025 3:04 AM

34 Comments

Quote from sqa4life

:

I've been running two of the "Klipsch R-120SWi" subs that I bought from Costco a few months ago. They produce more than enough bass for my liking, but they're taking up spaces. Will one of this be a better replacement?

This will play much lower and louder by itself than your two R-120SWi subs combined. Footprint wise it is one bigger box vs 2 smaller boxes so that is up to you. It is 21.34x20.00x25.67in versus your current subs, which are 16.5x14x19.2in (HxWxD). So its 6in wider and deeper. Up to you if that works better in your space. I have an SVS PC-2000 Pro, which I like for its smaller footprint (16.6in diameter cylinder with a down firing woofer).

HankJ6854

Dec 9, 2025 3:09 AM

34 Comments

Joined Apr 2017

HankJ6854Dec 9, 2025 3:09 AM

34 Comments

Quote from shinseiRomeo

:

I'm in a 'pickle'. I'm still battling ups with a shipping fiasco though the RP1600 was delivered today. The box looks like I was in a war zone. The problem now is it was delivered to my office since I'm not home to sign. The packaging is so huge it cannot fit into either of my SUVs as the box is 31 inches high and my hatch opening is max 29 inches. Plus one human cannot move the thing.

I do keep going back and forth getting the RP1400 x2. With the shipping issues (a week late delivery from ups) I may ask to return this and just buy the 2x RP1400s. Is it truly worth it to do a 2x or even a 4x RP1000 setup or is one of these 16 inch monster subs all that is needed?

To give a perspective, this living room / theater area space isn't large, it's 13 feet left to right, 12 feet front to back, and 7 foot ceilings.

Generally multiple subs will provide more uniform output. The single RP-1600 or 2x RP-1400 should both provide more than enough output for your space (really one RP-1400 would be plenty imo). Two subs would probably be preferable over the single large sub to provide more uniform bass output throughout the room.
Audioholics has a write-up about subwoofer ratings for room size:
https://www.audioholics.com/louds...-room-size
With the claimed 124dB max SPL and output down to 16Hz the RP-1400 would qualify for their top room ratings, providing enough output for rooms over 5000ft^3 (your room is 1092 based on your measurements).

1

hengt

Dec 9, 2025 3:36 AM

49 Comments

Joined May 2019

hengtDec 9, 2025 3:36 AM

49 Comments

Just got one yesterday mine will be delivered tomorrow Smilie

14" Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-1400SW 500W RMS / 1000W Peak Subwoofer

$699

$1,550

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