Klipsch RW-12d ($699)

What's in the Box? • Driver: 12 inches • Rated amplifier power: 350 watts continuous • Cabinet design: front firing, ported • Finish: black ash • Controls: level, EQ mode (Punch and Depth emphasis settings at 60 and 30 Hz, respectively, and Flat), variable low-pass crossover (40 to 120 Hz in 5-Hz increments), crossover bypass, variable phase (10-degree increments), power, auto-on/on. • Ins & outs: dual line-level inputs, dual speaker-level inputs • Warranty: 2 years

How Big Is It? • Dimensions (WxHxD): 14.5 x 19.3 x 21 inches • Cabinet volume: 3.4 cubic feet • Footprint: 2.1 square feet • Weight: 49 pounds

Setup At first glance, this sub looked like somebody had ripped off all its controls. The only one one the back is a power switch. Closer examination revealed a small cursor keypad and display on the top front of the cabinet. Unfortunately, it covers only the basic control set, and I found it a pain to use. On the upside, you can store three different global settings. This is convenient because, for example, you might want less bass for music and more for movies. There are no line- or speaker-level outputs, and I thought the sub's plastic grille cover looked kind of flimsy for a macho subwoofer. The low-pass crossover reaches up to about 95 Hz, so blending with satellites should not be a problem.

How Low Does It Go? • Bass limit (Flat setting): 20 Hz at 86 dB SPL (maximum 10% distortion)

How Big the Bang? • Average maximum output, 25 to 62 Hz (Flat setting): 108 dB SPL • Maximum output (Flat setting): 115 dB SPL at 50 Hz • Dollars per dB: $6.47