Although a high-quality, powerful speaker system is a necessary component of a quality sound system, the addition of a subwoofer is often necessary for a complete listening experience. Klipsch and Polk offer two different alternatives for this aspect of a sound system, and Hooke Audio will review them to find out which one stands head and shoulders above the rest. Klipsch Vs Polk Subwoofer: Which Is better?
Contents
A Quick History – Klipsch vs Polk
Klipsch: History Klipsch was founded in 1946 as an American loudspeaker manufacturer.
Klipsch has been a global brand since then. They are known for making high-quality sound systems such as loudspeakers and public address systems.
Klipsch speakers are known for their horns. Klipsch produces horn-loaded speakers to promote high efficiency and low distortion.
Polk History: Polk is the brand name for Polk Audio. This American loudspeaker manufacturer was founded in 1972. It is best known for its home, theater and car speakers and other audio devices like amplifiers and FM tuners.
As you can see, both companies are well-known and respected in the audio industry.
What Is More Respected?
Both Polk and Klipsch are very respected brands. Polks are generally considered to be budget speakers. Klipsch is the preferred choice for high-quality sound.
Polk has a high-end product, but it isn’t as popular as Klipsch. It’s historic for many reasons.
However, there are other reasons, such as that Polks are generally less efficient than Klipsch speakers.
Klipsch Vs Polk Subwoofer – Key Differences
Main Features
Both subwoofers come with removable cloth grills. Both companies make subwoofer boxes out of high-quality MDF that is covered in vinyl or wood. Both names make subwoofers that can handle a wide range of frequencies, such as 29Hz to 120Hz.
The majority of Klipsch subwoofers include an all-digital amplifier. This amplifier is well-known for its high accuracy and highly efficient amplification. Even compact subs can feel the room thanks to the powerful and detailed bass. Klipsch has something really cool called “Internal Flare Technology.”
It’s a special way that they make the speaker that makes the low sounds in music sound really good! This technology helps get rid of any weird sounds that might happen when the low sounds are made.
Klipsch models often have an Auto Power on feature. These controls allow you to adjust the volume, low pass crossover (40Hz-120Hz), and phase (0deg/180deg).
A speaker enclosure can be made from metal, wood, or plastic. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), is the ideal material for speakers to avoid resonance. Bookshelf speakers and floor-standing speakers are made from MDF, but Klipsch soundbars are made of wood. On-walls use ABS thermoplastic polymer and have wooden enclosures.
Polk subs feature an on-point driver geometry that provides bass with more depth. Innovative compression circuitry reduces distortion and makes low frequencies sound more prominent. They use downward-firing ports to produce deeper bass. A Klippel-optimized woofer is built into the models to give accurate bass performance and better linearity.
Polk’s Power Port technology is patented and allows for a more profound bass response. This technology helps the subwoofers make less noise than other subwoofers.
Almost all of this brand’s subwoofers have a special kind of amplifier called a “Class-D amplifier.” This makes them work really well and use less energy.
Polk Audio subwoofers have something called a “power port.” This helps make the bass sound really strong and clear!
This brand’s subs have a level controller, a low-pass filter (90Hz-120Hz), a 3-way power switch (On, Auto, and Standby), and a phase switch (0deg/180deg).
Polk Audio’s subs seem to have more options, while Klipsch’s are usually simpler. The Klipsch R-100SW has a digital amplifier, volume, low pass crossover, and phase control, among other things.
Polk Audio PSW505 comes with additional features. It features a Dynamic Bala technology volume control, low-pass filter, power switch, and phase toggle switch. Power Port technology, Class D amplifier, and Klippel optimized driver are also included.
These subs, all 10-inch in size, come from the same price range. However, the Polk Audio PSW505 is the winner because it offers more features for the money.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Klipsch R-100SW 10" Subwoofer,... | 2,367 Reviews | $199.00 | View on Amazon |
| 2 |
| Klipsch R-120SW Subwoofer,... | 1,977 Reviews |
$599.00
$292.57 | View on Amazon |
| 3 |
| YAMAHA 8" 100W Powered... | 1,588 Reviews |
$179.95 | View on Amazon |
| 4 |
| Klipsch R-12SW Powerful Deep... | 4,912 Reviews | $219.99 | View on Amazon |
| 5 |
| Polk Audio PSW10 10" Powered... | 15,095 Reviews |
$249.25 | View on Amazon |
| 6 |
| Klipsch 12" 400 Watts Wireless... | 1,337 Reviews | $259.00 $229.99 | View on Amazon |
| 7 |
| PreSonus Eris Sub 8 Compact... | 21,732 Reviews |
| View on Amazon |
| 8 |
| Planet Audio P8AWK Low Profile... |
$79.95 | View on Amazon | |
| 9 |
| BESTISAN 100-Watt Powered... | 198 Reviews |
$105.99 | View on Amazon |
| 10 |
| BESTISAN 6.5’’ Subwoofer,... | 287 Reviews |
$89.99
$84.23 | View on Amazon |
Sensitivity
Klipsch subwoofers are really good at making sound, even better than Polk Audio subwoofers! When we compare two subwoofers from the same brand, we can see that they are good at picking up different sounds. The Klipsch R-12SW is rated at 116 dB for hearing, while the Polk Audio PSW505 is only rated at 85 dB.
Besides, Klipsch speakers also have a wider frequency range than Polk Speakers.
If sub-sensitivity is essential to you, you might also consider the Klipsch R-12SW. Click here for more information about this product.
Output power
Klipsch subwoofers that are 10 inches in size, like the Klipsch R100SW, can make 300 watts of sound. Polk Audio subwoofers that are 10 inches in size, like the Polk Audio HTS 10 or Polk Audio R-100SW, can usually make 200 watts of sound.
In this way, the Klipsch R-100SW will require less power to run a significant amount of energy.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
This part compares Polk audio vs Klipsch. It should be noted that the two are very similar. This is where Polk Audio has a slight advantage. The Polk Audio PSW108’s 89dB signal-to-noise ratio is slightly better than the Klipsch R-10SW’s 80dB.
This means that the Polk Audio PSW108 produces a much louder audio signal than the subwoofer noise.
Woofer Composition
The golden color of the woofer on a Klipsch subwoofer makes it easy for bass fans to spot. Most models have a front-firing, spun-copper-injection-molded woofer and a cast graphite diffuser. More expensive models include a cerametallic or woofer.
These woofers are incredibly lightweight but still very rigid. This results in accurate and deep bass and a tremendous low-frequency response.
The company that made this speaker says that you can put it wherever you want without affecting the sound quality. Klipsch woofers have a unique design that allows for distortion-free sound reproduction. Most woofers come with a rubber surround which provides reliable protection.
Polk Audio subwoofers are equipped with a frontfiring Dynamic Balofer made from cellulose and polymer. This sub can deliver sound with very low distortion.
The turbulence smoothing diffuser is also included on Polk woofers. This diffuser moves air from the sub to the area where the speakers are, which gets rid of distortion. The driver is surrounded by high-roll foam, which gives it better movement and sound.
The Polk woofers provide a more balanced, more pure bass. We can compare two subwoofers, the Klipsch 100SW and the Polk Audio PSW10, to see which one is better. The Klipsch 100SW has a “spun-copper IMG woofer” and the Polk Audio PSW10 has a “cellulose/polymer speaker woofer.”
Connectivity
Both brands offer line-level inputs, allowing compatibility with most receiver models. Klipsch’s larger models, designed for larger spaces, include a 2.4GHz wireless Hi-Fi transmitter. This must be connected to your subwoofer or receiver’s LFE output.
Except for those that come in a single kit with a soundbar, Polk subs don’t usually come with wireless connectivity. They typically have more ports. The Klipsch Reference 100SW only has two line-level inputs. The Polk Audio PSW10, on the other hand, has two speaker-level outputs, two line-level inputs, and two speaker-level inputs.
The Polk Audio PSW10 is a good choice if you are looking for a model with many connectors.
Read our full review: Polk Audio Psw10 Powered Subwoofer Review: Best Choice For You
Price
When we compare how much money we have to pay, remember that Klipsch is a more famous brand and their subwoofers can be more costly than Polk Audio. The difference between the two is approximately $100 and $200.
If you’re looking for a 10-inch subwoofer at a reasonable price, the Polk Audio PSW108 is a better choice than the Klipsch R100SW.
Conclusion
Klipsch and Polk both make relatively affordable quality subwoofers. However, each brand’s unique characteristics make each a better choice for different consumers. Hope that you can find it useful in this article if there is the right choice for you.
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
