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Total E-Klipsch of the bass
A smaller sub from Klipsch.
By Max Christoffersen
December 2000
Klipsch KSW-10 250mm (10") powered subwoofer. $1149
Talk subwoofers to any home theatre fan and chances are you think of big cones, big boxes, big amps and a big bottom end.
Not
any more.
While it's true that a good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un (read David Tua here...) things have changed in subwoofer design over the years and it's common now to see subs designed a little more 'conservatively. Smaller 10" (and even 8") drivers are doing bass duties and sub-boxes are more aesthetic in their appearance.
The bottom line is these boxes have got to live in the real world and not everyone has the space or the need for an 18" powerhouse. And if they can disappear just a little into the background, chances are they might be more accepted by certain members of the household.
But this little Klipsch looked like a prop from Honey I Shrunk the Subwoofer. 'Cute' would be the word. Measuring a diminutive 39x34x34cm this little sub was going to be working hard to shake the room to the same extent as the Velodyne 15" that had been reluctantly returned to the importer the day before.
The Klipsch is a traditional design incorporating a 225 (dynamic peak) watt Class A/B MOSFET amplifier; bass reflex with tuned port and single down firing cone. No digital amps or push-pull designs here. The most sophisticated part of the design is the phase control and 'auto-on' which is a nifty feature meaning it will turn off after 15 minutes of no signal and turn on once one is sent to it. I like it!
So little box, big sound? Well bass is not necessarily about loudness. It is about seamless integration with the main satellites and providing a subtle extension to the bass provided by your main speakers. Sometime subs are just too damn loud they can be a major distraction.
Sometimes, they are actually at their best working away subtlety with relatively low volume levels.
I've always enjoyed a sub best when I'm not sure that it's on - until you turn it off and the music or soundtrack seems to collapse into a less engaging feel.
So here was a small Klipsch sub (from the US company that made it's name out of BIG horns) ready to sit in the corner where others had tried and failed before it.
The build was pristine featuring a vinyl covered cabinet with bass reflex
design with tuned port. And with a low end spec of 29 Hz, that's not bad
for a little sub. The 10" fibre composite cone looked great (I prefer
the Klipsch's rubber surround given our climate and the relatively short
life of some foam surrounds) and the Klipsch logo with red or green LED
on the front told me it was go or not.
The bass input connections were unusual in that there was no provision for a traditional satellite feed from the speaker 'input terminals.' The speaker leads go in okay but there was no feed to take them out, so to use speakers leads you will need to use two leads: one to your speakers and to the sub. The line level input is stock RCA.
Feed the Klipsch a bass line level signal from my Yamaha A-1 and we were in business. I was expecting a reduced output and somewhat tame approach and to be fair that is what this little box produced.
It was still good enough to rattle some walls in a 'look I can do it too' kind of style. It was working well with a very warm and subtle lift to the bottom end with the volume at about 1 o'clock. I was smiling. This little box was doing well and I was urging it on to do the best it could.
Out came some bass weighty material (Windham Hill Sampler 1988, The Blue Nile, Miles Davis You're Under Arrest (track 8), Chris Issak San Fransico Days and The Matrix, Metallica One and Species and T2 DVDs) and the genuine strengthening of the bass signal was evident on all signals. Not overpowering but just enough to suggest that "something was-a-happening down there."
Subwoofer placement in a corner as always was crucial but for a small sub there was genuine sense of weight at my listening position of 10 feet away. The Klipsch produces a great feeling of extension without drawing too much attention to its work rate. I could forget about it and just enjoy the soundtrack or music, great stuff.
I was always a little nervous about overdriving the smallest subwoofer cone I have ever tried but within its performance envelope it's a great performer. Drive it too hard and you will find the cone can be driven to over excursion, so be careful with the introduction to Toy Story 2! I think this Klipsch may well suit those who want the extra depth but not the extra loudness that so often accompanies sub enthusiasts joy for their new toy.
As one of three Klipsch subs in the KSW range this little sub should make its big brothers proud. And as Klipsch was the number one subwoofer line in the US in 1998 you have to say they are doing something right!
The only thing I would say to Klipsch is make it bigger and if that's your style take your pick of 12 or 15" drivers and of course bigger boxes in the same Klipsch range.
But if you want a small box for your place, try the Klipsch if bass on a budget is your bag!
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