The Klipsch R-51PM is the powered version of the reference series 5.25″ bookshelf speaker. They come in a pair and are packed with features that provide tons of value to their users. Furthermore, the R-51PM powered speakers are not expensive to begin with and are rather affordable especially when they are having special discounts. One of the more notable features which are related to our topic today will be the Subwoofer Output.
The Klipsch R-51PM may be bang for your buck but when it comes to sound quality, these powered speakers do have limited bass performance. Before we conclude this, we should learn more about the sound characteristics of the R-51PM before committing to integrating an active subwoofer into the mix.
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Sound Characteristics of Klipsch R-51PM Powered Speakers
Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers have built-in amplifiers to drive their tweeters and woofers, the total RMS power is 120 Watts (240W Peak). Pretty powerful for a pair of powered bookshelf speakers at this price range. Their frequency response is 68Hz-21kHz (+/-3dB) which is considered not bad for a speaker of their size. Even so, it already indicates that the Klipsch R-51PM speakers are unable to deliver really deep bass frequencies and will require an active subwoofer to supplement their low-end performance.
Whether you need a subwoofer to be part of your sound system will also depend on your usage. For instance, if you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music then you probably would need an active sub. A sealed cabinet subwoofer would be an ideal choice for music playthroughs. If you also use Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers to watch movies and play video games then a ported subwoofer would be a better choice. You will need a subwoofer powerful enough to reach deep down into the bass extension as action movies/games tend to have subterranean bass frequencies been produced during high-octane scenes/gameplays.
More Details on Klipsch R-51PM at Amazon
The Klipsch R-51PM is certainly unable to deliver prominent and authoritative subterranean low ends even if you place them nearer to walls and turn on the Dynamic Bass EQ. Still, the bass reproductions of the R-51PM are rather solid and the delivery is tight, as it never sounded boomy with the right speaker placements. The bass responses are detailed and clean which blend in nicely with the rest of the upper frequencies. Klipsch R-51PM speakers have a wide soundstage that belies their size and good stereo separation. Along with a high level of clarity, each musician is well-defined on stage. The treble can be a bit too lively at times but never sounds cringe.
Due to the Klipsch R-51PM compact size, they are ideal speakers for a desktop setup, not to mention, they also have digital connections which you can use to connect to your PC. For nearfield listening, you don’t really need a large subwoofer since you will be placing the sub near you. If you are using the Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers inside a mid-sized room and playing them at a distance then you will need a larger subwoofer with higher amplifier power output.
The Klipsch R-51PM has a clean and neutral sound quality leaning towards bright sounding. You might want to match them with a subwoofer that could deliver sub-bass cleanly. Before you start checking out the list of the best subwoofers to partner with your R-51PM speakers, you should start working out a budget. The amount you are willing to spend on an active sub will also help you in deciding which subwoofer choices to aim for. You will need to find out how big of a subwoofer you can get as well, especially if you have limited space. You will need quite a lot of room space to find the optimal position through the subwoofer crawl process.
Best Matching Subwoofers to partner with Klipsch R-51PM
Going with a sealed cabinet subwoofer such as SVS SB-1000 will be an excellent choice for yourself and your Klipsch R-51PM. This is a 12″ sealed sub which have received plenty of praise ever since its debut and due to the SB-1000’s high performance for the money, even now there are audiophiles who still want to get their hands on it. The SB-1000 may be an entry-level SVS sealed subwoofer, it is still capable of reaching down to 24Hz bass extension. Its agile and tight sub-bass delivery will fit well with the Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers.
More Information on SVS SB-1000 at Amazon
Klipsch R-120SW is probably the best subwoofers to match with your Klipsch R-51PM powered bookshelf speakers. Firstly, the R-120W is made by the same company and would have similar sound signatures, allowing the sub to blend in seamlessly with the sound reproduction of the R-51PM stand-mounters. The Klipsch R-120SW is a 12″ subwoofer with a rear-firing bass port, capable of delivering clean and tight low frequencies of down to 29Hz (+/-3dB). It is modestly priced and has a peak power output of 400W.
More Information on Klipsch R-120SW at Amazon
Don’t have deep pockets or just don’t want to spend too much on a powered subwoofer, the Polk Audio PSW10 will be an amazing choice for you to go for. This is an extremely highly rated ported subwoofer with an affordable price tag to boot. The very modest price point didn’t stop the PSW10 to deliver tight and deep bass frequencies which match well with the Klipsch R-51PM sound quality. The Polk Audio PSW10 is a ported sub with a 10″ bass driver powered by 100 Watts of dynamic power.
More Information on Polk Audio PSW10 at Amazon
If you still prefer to go with Klipsch subwoofers but need it to be more affordable than the R-120SW without compromising the bass performance, we suggest taking a look at the Klipsch R-12SW. This is another highly rated ported subwoofer with a 12″ driver and has an all-digital amplifier to output 400 Watts of dynamic power. Since this sub is designed by Klipsch, it should blend in nicely with your Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers. The frequency response of the Klipsch R-12SW is 29Hz-120Hz which is fine for a subwoofer at this price point.
More Information on Klipsch R-12SW at Amazon
The Yamaha NS-SW050 is an excellent choice for listeners who have limited space and a compact-sized subwoofer to partner up with their Klipsch R-51PM speakers. This is a ported subwoofer with an 8″ cone woofer and has dynamic power of up to 100 Watts. The bass port is located at the side of the cabinet and so you might want to position the Yamaha NS-SW050 in the corner of your room. It could still pack a punch and will be a suitable match with your Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers.
More Information on Yamaha NS-SW050 at Amazon
Listeners who have both space and budget should take a look at the SVS PB-1000 Pro. This is a very powerful ported subwoofer with a 12-Inch driver been powered by a Sledge STA-325D amplifier which could go up to 820+ Watts peak. The frequency response of the SVS PB-1000 Pro is really impressive and it is between 17Hz-260Hz (+/-3dB). This ported sub is definitely a worthy match for your Klipsch R-51PM active speakers and it could produce floor-shaking subterranean low frequencies, handling most bass demands been thrown at.
More Info on SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Sub at Amazon
To Sum It Up
You can select the subwoofers based on your requirements such as their price points, cabinet types, performance, etc., and from there, you should arrange an audition with the shortlisted active subs together with your own Klipsch R-51PM powered bookshelf speakers. Better yet, if you could audition these subwoofers at your own home, it would provide you with a more accurate test result. And so, if you like how the subwoofer sounds in your own room then most probably that is the active sub you would want.
