In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and R-34C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE107 Mark II and Klipsch R-34C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE107 Mark II | Klipsch R-34C |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.2" paper cone | 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55Hz - 26kHz | 82-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 175 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.60kg / 10.1lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.9" x 15" x 9.8"
175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-1/4"
126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Klipsch R-34C speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE107 Mark II |
Klipsch R-34C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both AE107 MII and R-34C are 2-way speakers.
AE107 Mark IIKlipsch R-34C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE107 Mark II |
Klipsch R-34C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
AE107 MII features a 1" fabric soft dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the R-34C features a 1" aluminum Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG Woofer.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas R-34C has a frequency range of 82-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the AE107 MII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-34C's min frequency of 82Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE107 MII is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-34C which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE107 MII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R-34C's is rated at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-34C a more sensitive speaker compared to AE107 Mark II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE107 MII can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas R-34C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the AE107 MII.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE107 Mark II's and Klipsch R-34C's external dimensions. AE107 Mark II has external dimensions of 175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm (6.9 x 15 x 9.8inch) whereas Klipsch R-34C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm (4-15/16 x 26-1/16 x 6-1/4inch).
Klipsch R-34C is 49mm shorter and 91mm less deeper than AE107 Mark II but it is also 282mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE107 Mark II is approximately 950.0cm2 / 147.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-34C is approximately 1052.6cm2 / 163.2inch2. The AE107 MII requires 10% less surface area than the R-34C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE107 Mark II weighs 4.60kg / 10.1lbs and the Klipsch R-34C weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the R-34C 28% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and R-34C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-34C?
Here are the items that come with the R-34C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.2 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
82 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
950cm2
vs
1052cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
126mm
vs
175mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Klipsch Reference R-34C |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
82-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
3.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
copper spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with waveguide |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
126.0mm (5") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
159.0mm (6.3") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
textured wood grain viny |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
AE107 Mark II digs deeper - 55Hz against 82Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch R-34C is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Klipsch R-34C is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
AE107 Mark II takes more power (175W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Klipsch R-34C is easier to place; AE107 Mark II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
A AE107 Mark II
B Klipsch R-34C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 82Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate AE107 Mark II the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-34C for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.