In this review, we will be comparing R-3650-W II and 65 RT, two Passive In-wall speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-3650-W II and Polk Audio 65 RT first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-3650-W II | Polk Audio 65 RT |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-loaded dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" IMG | 6.5" Polymer Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-23kHz | 50-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 50 watts | 10-125 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.0625" x 7.9375" x 3.6875"
332.0 x 202.0 x 94.0mm | 12.7500" x 7.2500" x 3-1/2"
324.0 x 185.0 x 88.9mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-3650-W II and Polk Audio 65 RT 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* |
Klipsch R-3650-W II |
Polk Audio 65 RT |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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.
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Drivers
Both R-3650-W II and 65 RT are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-3650-W IIPolk Audio 65 RT
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-3650-W II |
Polk Audio 65 RT |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R-3650-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" IMG Woofer. On the other hand, the 65 RT features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polymer Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-3650-W II has a frequency range of 60-23kHz whereas 65 RT has a frequency range of 50-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the 65 RT can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-3650-W II's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall 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
R-3650-W II and 65 RT have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-3650-W II sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 65 RT's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-3650-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio 65 RT, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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.
65 RT can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas R-3650-W II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the 65 RT.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R-3650-W II features Spring post type posts and 65 RT has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Klipsch R-3650-W II's and Polk Audio 65 RT's external dimensions. Klipsch R-3650-W II has external dimensions of 332.0 x 202.0 x 94.0mm (13.0625-inch x 7.9375-inch x 3.6875-inch) whereas Polk Audio 65 RT has external dimensions of 324.0 x 185.0 x 88.9mm (12.7500-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch).
Klipsch R-3650-W II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 17mm wider, 8mm taller and 5.1mm deeper than Polk Audio 65 RT.
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-3650-W II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-3650-W II:
- In-wall speaker
- White metal mesh grille
- Cardboard template
- Owners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 65 RT?
Here are the items that come with the 65 RT:
- Rectangular in-wall speaker
- Foam rubber port plug
- White metal grille
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
- Sheer-Grille Painting instructions
- Online Registration Card
- Polk Audio product brochure