Short answer: the KRK S12.4. Both are rated 3.9/5 for sound quality (#28 and #45 of 212 subwoofers), and the KRK S12.4 costs $839 against $899 for the REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the KRK S12.4 does well: A 12-inch Kevlar woofer in a reinforced MDF cabinet with a front-firing port, driven by a 220W Class-D amplifier. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers.
What the REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII does well: High-output 12-inch CarbonGlas driver paired with a 500W RMS NextGen5 Class D amplifier in a compact sealed cabinet. The catch: Lacks high-level input connectivity and digital parametric EQ filters.
Buy the KRK S12.4. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $60 less than the REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: KRK S12.4 3.7 to 4.1; REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII 3.7 to 4.1). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KRK S12.4 | REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $839.00 | $899.00 |
| Ranked | #28 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated | #45 of 212 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) Estimated |
| Weight | 62.4 lbs (28.3 kg) | 43.2 lbs (19.6 kg) |
| Dimensions | 16.4”H x 23.9”W x 14.4”D (416 x 606 x 365 mm) | 16.3”H x 15.2”W x 17.2”D (413 x 387 x 438 mm) |
| Warranty | 3 | 3 |
| Enclosure | ported, front | sealed |
| Drivers | 12” Kevlar driver | 12” (300mm) CarbonGlas cone, inverted carbon fiber dust cap |
| Amplifier Power | 220W | 500W RMS (NextGen5 Class D) |
| Country | United States | United Kingdom |
| Frequency Response | - | 22Hz at -6dB (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for KRK S12.4:
- KRK S12.4 vs Rythmik LV12
- Rythmik L12 vs KRK S12.4
- KRK S12.4 vs KRK Systems 12S
- KRK S12.4 vs SVS PB-1000 PRO
- Rythmik L12 vs REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
KRK S12.4: $839.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the KRK Systems 12S (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5). See every KRK S Subwoofers generation.
Same family: the KRK S8.4 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.3/5) and the KRK S10.4 (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.6/5).
Pros: A 12-inch Kevlar woofer in a reinforced MDF cabinet with a front-firing port, driven by a 220W Class-D amplifier. A four-position selectable crossover matches it to existing studio monitors, and the included bypass footswitch mutes the sub and sends full-range audio to the monitors for mix checks.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared with ranked subwoofers. It is built as a studio monitor partner, so its controls suit a desk setup more than a home theater receiver.
Full KRK S12.4 review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2026 (9 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 220W |
| Country | United States |
| Dimensions | 16.4”H x 23.9”W x 14.4”D (416 x 606 x 365 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” Kevlar driver |
| Enclosure | ported, front |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 62.4 lbs (28.3 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII: $899.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the REL Acoustics HT/1003 MKII (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 3.7/5) and the REL Acoustics HT/1510 Predator II (larger subwoofer, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: High-output 12-inch CarbonGlas driver paired with a 500W RMS NextGen5 Class D amplifier in a compact sealed cabinet. Provides deep bass extension down to 22Hz (-6dB) and strong dynamic impact for dedicated cinema setups.
Cons: Lacks high-level input connectivity and digital parametric EQ filters. As a sealed design, infrasonic output below 20Hz trails similarly priced ported alternatives.
Full REL Acoustics HT/1205 MKII review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 500W RMS (NextGen5 Class D) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 15.2”W x 17.2”D (413 x 387 x 438 mm) |
| Drivers | 12” (300mm) CarbonGlas cone, inverted carbon fiber dust cap |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz at -6dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Warranty | 3 |
| Weight | 43.2 lbs (19.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons