In this review, we will be comparing HDI-4500 and R2c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from JBL and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL HDI-4500 and KEF R2c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL HDI-4500 and KEF R2c 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL HDI-4500 and KEF R2c compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HDI-4500 is a 2-way design whereas the R2c is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
JBL HDI-4500 |
KEF R2c |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer . On the other hand, the R2c features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas R2c has a frequency range of 74-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HDI-4500 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2c's min frequency of 74Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
HDI-4500 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R2c which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-4500 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HDI-4500 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R2c's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-4500 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2c, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
HDI-4500 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R2c has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the HDI-4500.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R2c features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. HDI-4500 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HDI-4500 and R2c have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL HDI-4500's and KEF R2c's external dimensions. JBL HDI-4500 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 33-1/8 x 12-3/16inch) whereas KEF R2c has external dimensions of 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm ( 6-15/16 x 21-11/16 x 12-7/16inch) .
KEF R2c is 291mm narrower and 20mm shorter than JBL HDI-4500 but it is also 6mm deeper.
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 JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2 and base area of the KEF R2c is approximately 1741.2cm2 / 269.9inch2. The HDI-4500 requires 50% more surface area than the R2c which gives it a small disadvantage 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 JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs and the KEF R2c weighs 16.90kg / 37.2lbs. This makes the HDI-4500 19% heavier than the R2c.
Here is a comparison of how HDI-4500 and R2c'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 JBL HDI-4500?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-4500:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R2c?
Here are the items that come with the R2c:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille4 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser ManualWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
74 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
177mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1741cm2 (551x316mm)
vs
2610cm2 (842x310mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
1925USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
JBL HDI-4500 |
KEF R2c |
Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
20-250 watts |
15-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
74-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
5" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
177.0mm (7") |
Width |
842.0mm (33.1") |
551.0mm (21.7") |
Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
Weight |
20.15kg (44.3lbs) |
16.90kg (37.2lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |