In this review, we will be comparing RC-64 III and L400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RC-64 III and Polk L400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RC-64 III | Polk L400 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-24k Hz | 55-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 87.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.00kg / 55lbs | 18.55kg / 40.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm | 9-5/8" x 26-1/16" x 13-1/2"
245.0 x 662.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RC-64 III and Polk L400 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 |
Polk L400 |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RC-64 III is a 2-way design whereas the L400 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.
Klipsch RC-64 IIIPolk L400
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
Polk L400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-3/4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 L400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woofer.
Frequency Response
RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz whereas L400 has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the L400 can go slightly deeper then 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 L400 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 L400 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RC-64 III sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the L400's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L400, 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.
L400 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RC-64 III has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the L400.
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. L400 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk L400's Binding post terminals
Polk L400 Port
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 Polk L400'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 Polk L400 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 662.0 x 343.0mm (9-5/8 x 26-1/16 x 13-1/2inch).
Polk L400 is 247mm narrower and 45mm less deeper than Klipsch RC-64 III but it is also 41mm taller.
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 Polk L400 is approximately 2270.7cm2 / 352.0inch2. The RC-64 III requires 55% more surface area than the L400 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 Polk L400 weighs 18.55kg / 40.8lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 35% heavier than the L400.
Here is a comparison of how RC-64 III and L400'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 Polk L400?
Here are the items that come with the L400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-wires
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
204mm
vs
245mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2270cm2
vs
3526cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1799USD
vs
1829USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
Polk Audio Legend L400 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
87.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-24k Hz |
55-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1-3/4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
204.0mm (8") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
909.0mm (35.8") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
18.55kg (40.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
furniture grade veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk L400 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (57Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 88dB), 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 | Polk L400 takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk L400 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 $1,799 a pair). |
A Klipsch RC-64 III B Polk L400
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. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RC-64 III the better fit for a small room, and Polk L400 for a large room and a very large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RC-64 III is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.