Short answer: the Klipsch R-121SW, if you are buying new. The Onkyo SKW-204 ranks higher than it (#3 vs #95 of 145 subwoofers, 3.8/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Klipsch R-121SW is still sold new at $249.
What the Klipsch R-121SW gets right: 12-inch spun-copper driver with 200W RMS delivers controlled, musical bass with minimal distortion.
Buy the Klipsch R-121SW new; the Onkyo SKW-204 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch R-121SW | Onkyo SKW-204 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.00 | $299 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #95 of 145 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #3 of 48 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.7 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 96.0 dB | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 98.4 dB | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 102.3 dB | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.2 dB | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 112.4 dB | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.9 dB | 119.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.3 dB | 121.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 109.9 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 108.3 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB | 115.9 dB |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 16"W x 19.7"D (421.6 x 406.4 x 500.4 mm) | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Weight | 35.1 lbs (15.9 kg) | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| Warranty | 5/2 | - |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | United States | Japan |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics | Brent Butterworth |
| Amplifier Power | 200W RMS | - |
| Frequency Response | 28-120Hz | - |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Onkyo SKW-204:
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- SVS SB-1000 PRO vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000 vs Onkyo SKW-204
- SVS 3000 Micro vs Onkyo SKW-204
- Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II vs Onkyo SKW-204
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch R-121SW: $249.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 12-inch spun-copper driver with 200W RMS delivers controlled, musical bass with minimal distortion. Front-firing design maximizes placement flexibility. Excellent value with exceptional bang-for-buck.
Full Klipsch R-121SW review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 200W RMS |
|---|---|
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 111.2 dB |
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 16"W x 19.7"D (421.6 x 406.4 x 500.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 12" (305mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 28-120Hz |
| Measurement Source | Audioholics |
| Output SPL at 15 Hz | 90.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 96.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 98.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 102.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 112.4 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 112.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 111.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 109.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 108.3 dB |
| Warranty | 5/2 |
| Weight | 35.1 lbs (15.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Audioholics; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch R-121SW vs RSL (Rogersound Labs) Speedwoofer 10S MKII
- Klipsch R-121SW vs Monoprice Monolith M-10 V2
- Klipsch R-121SW vs Monoprice SSW-10
- Klipsch R-121SW vs Kef KC62
- Klipsch R-121SW vs SVS PB-1000 PRO
- Klipsch R-121SW vs SVS SB-2000
- Klipsch R-121SW vs JBL HDI-1200P
- Klipsch R-121SW vs Power Sound Audio (PSA) XS15SE
- See all 17 comparisons
Onkyo SKW-204: $299 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 77.3 dB at 20 Hz and 115.9 dB through 40-80 Hz. The ported, front enclosure with 10” (254mm) driver delivers substantial upper-bass output for movie effects and music.
Cons: Deep-bass output is more limited than the strong 40-80 Hz result suggests, so it is not the right choice when the lowest movie effects are the priority. The 472.9H x 274.6W x 428.5D mm cabinet and 11.8 kg mass still require deliberate placement and calibration. Discontinued.
Full Onkyo SKW-204 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 115.9 dB |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black |
| Country | Japan |
| Dimensions | 18.6"H x 10.8"W x 16.9"D (472.9 x 274.6 x 428.5 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 10" (254mm) driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 77.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 90.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 103.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 108.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 119.6 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 121.4 dB |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000 PRO
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Definitive Technology SuperCube 2000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS SB-1000
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs SVS 3000 Micro
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Velodyne Acoustics SPL-1200 Series II
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs Polk Audio PSW10
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs GoldenEar ForceField 3
- Onkyo SKW-204 vs MartinLogan Dynamo 700w
- See all 10 comparisons