In this review, we will be comparing RC-64 III and HDI-4500, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RC-64 III and JBL HDI-4500 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RC-64 III | JBL HDI-4500 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn | 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone | 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-24k Hz | 50-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.00kg / 55lbs | 20.15kg / 44.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm | 7-3/4" x 33-1/8" x 12-3/16"
197.0 x 842.0 x 310.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RC-64 III and JBL HDI-4500 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 RC-64 III |
JBL HDI-4500 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both RC-64 III and HDI-4500 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RC-64 IIIJBL HDI-4500
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 RC-64 III |
JBL HDI-4500 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-3/4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer. On the other hand, the HDI-4500 features a 1" horn-loaded high-frequency compression Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz whereas HDI-4500 has a frequency range of 50-30k 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 RC-64 III's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
RC-64 III is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-4500 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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. RC-64 III sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the HDI-4500's is rated at 90 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-4500, 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.
HDI-4500 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas RC-64 III has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the HDI-4500.
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
RC-64 III 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.
Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
JBL HDI-4500's 5-Way post terminals
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 RC-64 III's and JBL HDI-4500's external dimensions. Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm (8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch) whereas 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).
Klipsch RC-64 III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 67mm wider, 7mm taller and 78mm deeper than JBL HDI-4500.
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 Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-4500 is approximately 2610.2cm2 / 404.6inch2. The RC-64 III requires 35% more surface area than the HDI-4500 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 Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs and the JBL HDI-4500 weighs 20.15kg / 44.3lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 24% heavier than the HDI-4500.
Here is a comparison of how RC-64 III and HDI-4500'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 RC-64 III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RC-64 III:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of JBL HDI-4500?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-4500:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1829USD
vs
1925USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
197mm
vs
204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2610cm2
vs
3526cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
JBL HDI-4500 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-24k Hz |
50-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Advanced Aluminum Matrix cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1-3/4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
horn-loaded high-frequency compression |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
204.0mm (8") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
909.0mm (35.8") |
842.0mm (33.1") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
20.15kg (44.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
furniture grade veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: JBL HDI-4500 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL HDI-4500 digs deeper - 50Hz against 57Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL HDI-4500 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL HDI-4500 is easier to place; Klipsch RC-64 III is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RC-64 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,829 vs $1,925 a pair). |
A Klipsch RC-64 III B JBL HDI-4500
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Klipsch RC-64 III has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RC-64 III the better fit for a small room, and JBL HDI-4500 for a large room and a very large 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.