Klipsch Synergy Sub-12

Manufacturer: Klipsch Group, Inc. Part number: SUB-12

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$422.99 - $499.99 at 4 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Klipsch Synergy Sub-12, the company's most affordable 12-inch subwoofer, sounds great on music and movies.

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*Total price for the Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

Klipsch Synergy Sub-12

price range: $422.99 - $499.99

Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
Edited by: David Rudden
Reviewed on: 04/21/2006
Released on: 04/25/2005

The good: The Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 is a full-size subwoofer that offers a down-firing 12-inch woofer, a 300-watt amplifier, and connectivity options that cover all bases.

The bad: A real wood veneer would look nicer.

The bottom line: The Klipsch Synergy Sub-12, the company's most affordable 12-inch subwoofer, sounds great on music and movies.

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When it comes to subwoofers, size still matters. While smaller 6- or 8-inch subs can produce credible bass, once you experience what a well-designed 12-inch model can deliver, you won't want to settle for less. Most big subs come with hefty price tags, but Klipsch's mighty Synergy Sub-12 retails for just $499.

There's no denying that the Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 is big; its black vinyl dimensions measure up at 18 inches high, 15 wide, and almost 20 deep, and it tips the scales at 40 pounds. As heavy as it is, the medium-density-fiberboard box felt rather hollow and resonant when we rapped our knuckles against the cabinet. The woofer is a 12-inch, down-firing unit that's matched with a digital amplifier that delivers 300 watts of continuous power and as much as 650 watts of dynamic power. The Sub-12's adjustable feet can be used to eliminate cabinet rocking motions when the sub is positioned on hardwood or tiled floors.

In addition to a large venting port, the back panel includes the Sub-12's ample connectivity options: stereo RCA line-level inputs and stereo speaker-level inputs and outputs. The subwoofer's crossover is continuously adjustable from 40Hz to 120Hz. The LED on the front baffle of the subwoofer glows red when the amp is in standby mode and blue when the amp is turned on.

We listened to the Sub-12 first with a set of five Klipsch Quintet III satellite speakers. The blend wasn't perfect, but while watching the House of Flying Daggers DVD, the big, pounding drums were reproduced with exceptional clarity and definition. Switching to music, the Quintet III/Sub-12 combo delivered a refined sound on Tony Bennett's lush Sings Ellington CD, and the spread of the orchestral backing wasn't inhibited by the speakers' stature. On our Barry White CDs, the Quintet III subtracted more than a few pounds from his weighty presence, but we regained some heft by turning up the Sub-12's volume. We finished our listening test of the Quintet III/Sub-12 with the Led Zeppelin II CD. Switching back and forth between stereo and Dolby Pro Logic II surround, the sound was equally enjoyable.

After packing up the Quintet III speakers, we paired the Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 with our much larger reference Dynaudio Contour speakers. Once again, the Sub-12's low-down authority--especially the superdeep, room-quaking frequencies--won us over. Compact 8- or 10-inch subs simply can't plumb the depths the way a mighty 12-inch sub can. One downside to 12-inchers is that they can sometimes soften definition compared to that of smaller subs, but the Sub-12 was surprisingly taut. Stand-up bass instruments sound quite detailed and pitch accurate. The Sub-12 provides notable oomph over its smaller 10-inch sibling, the Sub-10, while also meshing better with speaker systems. As with the Aperion Intimus S-10 and the Infinity CSW-10, the Sub-12 is a pleasure to the ears, even if it's not a treat to the eyes.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 12

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9 stars

Impressive Clarity, Power to Spare...

by SteelerPete on April 24, 2006

Pros: Very powerful. BIG sound without being boomy

Cons: Large, but on par with other 12's

Summary: This sub rumbles! I was worried about one sub being enough because I have a fairly large room and I matched this sub up to some large Klipsch floorstanding speakers. ...

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Summary: This sub rumbles! I was worried about one sub being enough because I have a fairly large room and I matched this sub up to some large Klipsch floorstanding speakers. I was and am completely impressed at how this sub is able to rock the foundation of my house! One is most definitely enough for a medium to large room. It has a huge low frequency response, making explosions and rumbles in movies envelop the entire room. It does this without sounding too boomy or too mushy though. The clarity is extremely impressive for a sub of this size. The box is BIG but fairly nondescript. It matches nicely both in aesthetics and sound to the Klipsch Synergy line of speakers though. Overall, very, very impressive...

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4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Plenty of power with great low bass performance

by 800a4 on January 22, 2006

Pros: Balances well with music and home theater

Cons: Kind of large but comparable to others in the 12 inch range

Summary: This is an excellent subwoofer for the money and I'm really pleased with the performance. Klipsch has teamed a good combination of quality materials with generous power to create ...

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Summary: This is an excellent subwoofer for the money and I'm really pleased with the performance. Klipsch has teamed a good combination of quality materials with generous power to create a winner with the sub-12. The salesman informed me at the time of purchase to try it and if I wasn't pleased to bring it back for a full refund. He didn't expect to see me return it and he sure called that one right. I highly recommend you give it a listen before you make your decision on a new sub.

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4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Great Value for the price

by browninggold on April 16, 2007

Pros: will rock the house

Cons: none I can think of

Summary: Purchased this over a year ago, no regrets. Originally brought home a JBL 10" did'nt have enough "ooomph" so went back to Best Buy to trade up to the ...

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Summary: Purchased this over a year ago, no regrets. Originally brought home a JBL 10" did'nt have enough "ooomph" so went back to Best Buy to trade up to the JBL 12" but did not have one in stock. Manager said try this Klipsch 12" and knocked $100.00 off the price-(Best Buy is excellent to do business with) and am glad he recommended this product.

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Top Notch!

by dunnwurkin on July 27, 2007

Pros: Very tight, hard hitting and great lows for a 12. No distortion.

Cons: Can't use it as a plant stand like my last sub.

Summary: Compared to my last sub (15" unported MTX)... it annihilates it. Still incredibly deep but a tightness I never had with the former. It shakes the walls without distortion unlike ...

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Summary: Compared to my last sub (15" unported MTX)... it annihilates it. Still incredibly deep but a tightness I never had with the former. It shakes the walls without distortion unlike the much higher priced MTX I had. Very pleased!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

I had no idea what I was looking for in a sub, but I found it!!

by jammer8732 on June 20, 2007

Pros: Bass will knock your socks off!!!

Cons: Its pretty large, but well worth the space

Summary: I reviewed several subwoofers and took many recommendations and went with a 12" vs. a 10" Klipsch sub. My kid ran downstairs after I first turned it on, to find ...

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Summary: I reviewed several subwoofers and took many recommendations and went with a 12" vs. a 10" Klipsch sub. My kid ran downstairs after I first turned it on, to find out what knocked his trophy on the floor. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. You'll never see movies the same again.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Very powerful, crisp sound, lots of BASS

by on September 18, 2006

Pros: Crisp, LOUD, earth shattering BASS

Cons: Could look better

Summary: Ok, I will start off with the good. Where to start... How about with lots of BASS. This thing is has lots of boom and rumbling that is can dish ...

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Summary: Ok, I will start off with the good. Where to start... How about with lots of BASS. This thing is has lots of boom and rumbling that is can dish out. I have knocked a couple pictures off their nails with this thing. With a 300-watt amplifier its not overly that hard, but the amplifier can accept many inputs and can be "trimmed" for the crossover frequencies, 40Hz-160Hz. It can accept RCA and speaker wire from a receiver, and has a nice large breather hole in the back.

Now, to the darker sides of things. Its not the easiest on the eyes. While not bad looking there are better looking subs, but with its awesome sound its kinda hard to go with a different sub for the price. The blue light on the front can be a little bright in dark movies and dark rooms.

Over all, its not a bad sub at all. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to pound the house and feel it when something blows up!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Nothing Better at this Price and Size

by slappie on April 28, 2006

Pros: Clear and Powerful at all frequencies

Cons: Auto turn off takes awhile

Summary: I love the down firing with rear port sound of this sub. I have it paired with the rest of the synergy F2 set and it sounds awesome in my ...

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Summary: I love the down firing with rear port sound of this sub. I have it paired with the rest of the synergy F2 set and it sounds awesome in my open style great room. Be careful as most music is not designed for a sub this powerful and turning it up too loud can easily rattle things off of shelves! Movies with explosions have knocked pictures and candles over through the wall in another room!

All switches are extreamly high quality as well as the crossover and gain adjust knobs. Nice solid feel to all components. The enclosure is extreamly sturdy and therefore is kinda heavy. It has an auto off setting which takes awhile to actually turn off. Not that it matters really.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Sounds Great

by kinggorman on January 30, 2007

Pros: Powerful, clear, defined

Cons: Can be a little punchy

Summary: As far as I'm concerned, this sub is the best in it's price class. I demo'd many subs in my apt till I settled on this one. ...

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Summary: As far as I'm concerned, this sub is the best in it's price class. I demo'd many subs in my apt till I settled on this one. Could not be happier.

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9 stars

A home theater power house!

by gbone73 on June 30, 2006

Pros: Fantastic low end sound puts you in the middle of the movies.

Cons: A little bulky

Summary: All i have to say is i watched Russel Crowes Master and Commander and i have to say that it was the best movie experiance of my life.The cannons ...

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Summary: All i have to say is i watched Russel Crowes Master and Commander and i have to say that it was the best movie experiance of my life.The cannons being fired in the movie felt like they were in my house.IT WAS OUTSTANDING!!!!Its also has a very hansome design and look to it. I never have to go to the movies again LOLOL!!!! If your into home theater sound then buy this sub woofer klipsce 12 you wont regret it. gorgous sound!

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4 stars

Good Bass, but there are better options at this price.

by MrPorterhouse on May 25, 2006

Pros: Great Bass Output. Good Bass Extension

Cons: Bottoms out fairly easily. Audible port noise. Slightly Boomy

Summary: If you've heard this sub then you know it can pound. There is no doubt that the Klipsch Sub-12 can deliver plenty of bass output for medium to large ...

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Summary: If you've heard this sub then you know it can pound. There is no doubt that the Klipsch Sub-12 can deliver plenty of bass output for medium to large size room. Also, the Sub-12 can extend down impressively low, which is great for Home Theater because it allows you to experience movies with great LFE soundtracks in the manner in which the director intended.

So, what's the drawbacks? Well, not much for the average consumer, however, upon a critical evaluation, the overall sound is slightly boomy and when pushed hard the port noise becomes excessive and it bottoms out. Nearly all subs can bottom out, so that's not abnormal, but I felt the Sub-12 bottomed out a tad too easily for its price.

And, that brings me to the biggest drawback...price. $400-$500 marks a price where there are some serious contenders, especially from internet only companies. I won't mention any of those companies here, but for less than $500 you can get a subwoofer from several companies that will perform at a much higher level than the Sub-12, in terms of shear output, extension, and tonal character. If you don't have access to or aren't comfortable with online retailers, than the Klipsch Sub-12 is a very solid choice to compliment a home theater or home audio system. My rating of 4/10 does not relate to raw performance. On performance, I'd probably give a 6 or 7, but the price vs performance factor drags down my rating to a 4/10 because there are better options at this price.

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1 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 12

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Klipsch Group, Inc.
Part number: SUB-12
Description: The Synergy Series Sub-12 hurls out enough power and bass extension to shake the foundation. It uses high-quality materials and the most reliable components to create a rock-solid impact that makes your movies and music come alive. The Sub-12 gets its intensity from a 12-inch, down-firing driver coupled to a highly efficient BASH Class D amplifier that creates 300 watts of continuous power and 650 watts of dynamic power. Because of its ample enclosure size and large, rear-firing port with flared ends, the Sub-12 produces increased bass response with low distortion. The subwoofer's built-in, steep-slope (24dB/octave) low-pass crossover is continuously adjustable from 40 to 120Hz. A phase control facilitates acoustical integration of the subwoofer with the other speakers in the system. An "auto power" feature enables the subwoofer to turn itself on and off (standby) automatically, based on the presence or absence of an audio signal. A blue/red dual color LED display on the front of the subwoofer indicates whether the unit is on or in standby mode. In addition to its ability to play louder and go deeper than anything else in its class, the Sub-12 features a new industrial design that is refined and aggressive. Available in a black finish with titanium accents, this extraordinary subwoofer matches the entire Synergy Series lineup in both style and performance. Because it wraps technical superiority and eye-catching cosmetics into one affordable package, the Sub-12 perfectly anchors a home theater or two-channel system.

General
Product Type Subwoofer
Width 15 in
Depth 19.9 in
Height 18 in
Weight 40.1 lbs
Enclosure Color Black
Speaker System
Speaker Type Active
Nominal (RMS) Output Power 300 Watt
Max (RMS) Output Power 650 Watt
Response Bandwidth 24 - 120 Hz
Output Level (SPL) 117 dB
Crossover Frequency 40 - 120Hz
Output Features Bass Reflex
Audio Amplifier Integrated
Connectivity Technology Wired
Controls Subwoofer volume control, Subwoofer phase, Subwoofer cut frequency
Additional Features Auto power on/off
Speaker System Details
Speakers Included Subwoofer - 300 Watt - 24 - 120 Hz - Wired
Driver Details Subwoofer : 1 x Subwoofer driver - 12 in
Connections
Connector Type Speakers output, 1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ), Speakers input

Miscellaneous
AV Furniture None
Power
Power Device Power supply - Internal
Battery
Type None

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