Klipsch SW-311 Subwoofer Review

[Audioholics]

The Klipsch SW-311 is a very small subwoofer with a rather impressive list of attributes and features. Utilizing a 500w amplifier powering a 10" active driver and dual 10" side firing passive radiator's along with Klipsch's proprietary ARC II auto room correction equalization and an LCD screen with push button DSP control panel, there is a lot to the SW-311. All of this is built into a svelte 13" x 13" x 14" box, making the SW-311 enclosure a jam packed power and technology workhorse. The little Klipsch also carries a surprising amount of output for its size with very little distortion even when pushed to its limits. Used within its limits, the Klipsch SW-311 will perform admirably in small to medium sized rooms, hence why it earned our "Medium Room" Bassaholic rating. This is a well designed and rock steady subwoofer with WAF that is about as good as it gets.

Read the full Klipsch SW-311 Subwoofer Review

 

[agarwalro]

This sub hot on the heels of the SVS review simply reminds me of...

SVSound - Animation

Not that it is a slouch, but at $1600 it leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[shadyJ]

It doesn't look bad for a sub of it's size and shouldn't be compared to something like the PB13. It should be compared to the correspondingly priced/sized subs from Velodyne, Sunfire, JL Audio, and so on. Not many people can fit a PB13 in their living space, we don't all live in large houses in the suburbs.

 

[robc1976]

This sub hot on the heels of the SVS review simply reminds me of...


Not that it is a slouch, but at $1600 it leaves a lot to be desired.

I have a entire 9.1 system klipsch reference sysytem but I must say there subs are terrible! I returned this sub the instant I heard it. You can get a A5-350 for 1/2 that price and it will make the 311 look like it is off. Only okay sub they made is the RSW-15.

 

[KEW]

Can you comment on the benefit realized from running ARC after Audyssey (and which version of Audyssey you used) for your listening test?

The weight and appearance suggest that the Klipsch SUB-310 may be essentially equivalent in cabinet and drivers to the 311 - except without ARC and 400W instead 500W. If this is the case, it begs the question of whether the ARC system is worth $500 to people who already have Audyssey.

I would say ARC could easily be worth $500 if there is no other EQ system in play - especially if location possibilities for the sub are limited, but does Audyssey leave us short such that ARC adds an audible improvement?

 

[gtpsuper24]

SVS Subhuman Subwoofer Animation - YouTube

 

[Ricci]

I would say ARC could easily be worth $500 if there is no other EQ system in play - especially if location possibilities for the sub are limited, but does Audyssey leave us short such that ARC adds an audible improvement?

ARC is one of the better built in auto-EQ systems that I have encountered thus far and I would agree with your assessment. If you already have EQing capabilities whether automatic in a reciever, or manual through an EQ unit with measurements, then ARC is not so important. However if you have neither of these, such as with many 2 channel systems, ARC could make a very large improvement in the response in that case.

 

[CSOCSO]

This is going to be an unpopular comment, but here it is anyway.
I have an SVS sb2000pro subwoofer. My space is super limited and can't really get anything that is bigger than an 18" cube.

I saw a couple of Klipsch c310asi subwoofers on amazon for $250 each, and I bought two because I really wanted to test them. All my other speakers are from Klipsch (RP series)
If I could, I would have gone with the rp subwoofers, but their depth is rather ridiculous. At over 2 ft.
I got these two tiny 10" subs. They are very similar to the sw11. They have two 10" passive radiators. Plenty of power for their size. Around 405 lbs or so, and in my testing they even perform similarly. My c310aswi starts falling off just below 30hz too.

Here comes the crazy part, and I know some of you will just shake your heads, but I prefer the two 10" klipsch subs over the svs that goes down to 15hz in my room.

I tested them to both of my brothers and they both agreed that the two klipsch subs sounds better. They are tighter and punchier. We all felt like we are not missing out on any bass at all. We tested the beginning of edge of tomorrow and the first beach scene, the race scene in ready player one and the staircase scene in Tomorrow's War.

We tested them back to back. The ONLY time I actually felt a difference is when we watched edge of tomorrow first scene and there was 1 single tone where I could tell the SVS was louder with that tone. It wasn't a day and night difference. It doesn't make me want to rip out the klipsch subs from the setup and place the svs back, because %90 of the time the two klipsch sounds better.
Ultimately I am still hunting for another used sb2000pro to test two together but I am extremely happy with the two 10" klipsch.
Oh btw I measured them and tested the 12" klipsch r120sw and r12swi and the 10" c310aswi outperformed both 12" r line subs. Actually those subs perform extremely similar to each other even tho 1 has 200w rms amp and the other one has a 115w rms.

Thats all. Cheers