Secrets Benchmark Product Review
 

Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer

Part V

December, 2006

Ed Mullen

 

The Benchmark Scores

 

Secrets Subwoofer Benchmark - Klipsch RT-12d

   
Evaluation Criteria Rating (1-5) Summary Comments
Part I: General Information/Features    
Packaging Solution 4.00 Package is protective of the subwoofer, and should withstand most rough handling during shipment.
Owner's Manual 4.50 Well written and comprehensive, with good diagrams and instructions on using the Room Compensation settings and all other controls.   
Size/Weight 4.00 This is a fairly large subwoofer, but the triangular shape tucks well into a corner.
Floor Interface Solution 4.50 Heavy duty rubber feet work well on any surface.  
Aesthetics 3.75 Decent looks with a unique cabinet shape.
Fit/Finish 4.50 There are no flaws anywhere in the finish.  The amp and woofer were well fitted and all screws were properly torqued and seated.    
Available Finishes 4.00 Black ash veneer or cherry veneer should match most decors.
Part I: Raw Score 4.18  
     
Part II: Amplifier Controls/Features    
Amplifier Class   BASH Digital Hybrid
Amplifier Power   800 watts continuous.
Front Panel Controls   Yes.
Remote Control   Yes.
Main Power Switch   Yes: 2 way rocker.
User Replacable Fuse   No.
Detachable Power Cord   Yes.
Auto-On 0.25 Yes: DCS Menu Option.
Low Level Inputs 0.25 Yes: Left/Right RCA jacks.
Low Level Outputs 0.25 Yes: Left/Right Unfiltered RCA jacks.
High Level Inputs 0.00 No.
High Level Outputs 0.00 No.
Low-Pass Filter  0.25 Yes: 40-120 Hz continuously variable, 18, 24, 36, 48 dB/octave slope choices.
Low-Pass Filter Defeat/Bypass  0.25 Yes: DCS Menu Option.
0/180 Phase Switch 0.00 No.
0-180 Variable Phase  0.50 Yes: DCS Menu Option.
Overdrive Protection 0.25 Yes: attack/sustain limiter, clipping, thermal.  
Boundary Gain Compensation Controls 0.75 Yes: Three EQ Mode settings - Flat, Punch, Depth.
Single Band PEQ 0.00 No.
Multi-band PEQ (external or on-board)  0.00 No.
PEQ with Auto EQ 1.50 Yes: DCS Menu Option.
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Chip 0.50 Yes.
Servo Feedback System 0.00 No.
Part II: Raw Score (this section is additive) 4.75  
     
Part III: Objective Testing    
Quasi-Anechoic Frequency Response 3.75 23-190 Hz +/- 5 dB in Flat EQ setting.
Deep Bass Output Compression 5.00 Exhibits virtually no deep bass compression at "maximum sweep level" as defined in the formula section.
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 14-80 Hz -  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 16-80 Hz -  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 18-80 Hz -  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 20-80 Hz 3.25  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 22-80 Hz 3.36  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 25-80 Hz 3.50  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 32-80 Hz 3.70  
CEA 2010 Distortion Output Limits 40-80 Hz 3.88  
Bandwidth Linearity 14-80 Hz -  
Bandwidth Linearity 16-80 Hz -  
Bandwidth Linearity 18-80 Hz  -  
Bandwidth Linearity 20-80 Hz  4.00  
Bandwidth Linearity 22-80 Hz 4.00  
Bandwidth Linearity 25-80 Hz  4.50  
Bandwidth Linearity 32-80 Hz  5.00  
Bandwidth Linearity 40-80 Hz  5.00  
Group Delay 1.00 GD exceeds 1 cycle at ~ 55 Hz and exceeds 1.5 cycles at ~ 22 Hz. 
System Ringing and Stored Energy Release 2.40 Spectral Decay chart shows 170 ms (-25 dB test floor) ringing centered at 22-23 Hz.
Part III: Raw Score 3.74  
     
Part IV: In-Room Evaluations    
In-Room Frequency Response 3.75 Digs to about 22 Hz in-room and then rolls off.
HT Performance 4.31  
Music Performance 3.35  
Part IV: Raw Score 3.80  
     
Parts I-IV Weighted Total Score 3.85 77%
     
Final Score: Total Score With Price Considered 3.85 77%

For details on how these numbers were calculated, see the Subwoofer Benchmark Formulae document located here.

Conclusions
 

I liked the triangular design of the RT-12d; it helps the subwoofer appear smaller, and it tucks into corners nicely. The front display panel controls are intuitive and convenient to use. Fit and finish is fine, the grilles are sturdy, and the floor interface design is effective and quiet on all surfaces.
 
The digital control interface has several useful features for dialing in the subwoofer, and the auto-EQ Room Correction routine is easy to use and consistently improved the in-room frequency response. The digital BASH amp is cool-running and efficient.
 
A flatter anechoic mid-bass frequency response and a less aggressive roll-off profile would have improved transient response and latency characteristics, but these issues are largely ameliorated under in-room use by the auto-EQ feature. Distortion-limited output is above average at the deepest test frequencies, and excellent over the mid-bass region. Output compression behavior is simply outstanding, with virtually no deep bass compression exhibited at the maximum sweep level.
 
HT performance in a mid-size room is very good; the RT-12d has a muscular character befitting its Klipsch heritage. When pushed past its safe output limits, the subwoofer always remains well behaved and does not bottom out or exhibit audible overload artifacts.
 
Music performance is good, with the RT-12d displaying adequate rhythm and pace, decent octave-to-octave balance, and acceptable pitch preservation at anything short of live jazz club playback levels.
 
Overall the Klipsch RT-12d offers solid value with rugged good looks, an advanced digital user-interface, an impressive auto-EQ system, and balanced performance on movies and music.


- Ed Mullen -

© Copyright 2006 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity

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