In this review, we will be comparing RP-4000F and A170, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-4000F and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-4000F | JBL Stage A170 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Cerametallic | 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-25k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 95 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 75 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.18kg / 29lbs | 14.37kg / 31.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 34-1/4" x 7-3/8" x 11-3/8"
870.0 x 188.0 x 289.0mm | 38-7/16" x 10-1/2" x 13"
977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-4000F and JBL Stage A170 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 RP-4000F |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| 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.
**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 RP-4000F and A170 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-4000FJBL Stage A170
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 RP-4000F |
JBL Stage A170 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
RP-4000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 4" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500 Hz. On the other hand, the A170 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-4000F has a frequency range of 37-25k Hz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the RP-4000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A170's min frequency of 44Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
RP-4000F is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A170 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-4000F sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the A170's is rated at 89 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-4000F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A170, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
A170 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-4000F has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the A170.
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
Both RP-4000F and A170 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 RP-4000F's and JBL Stage A170's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-4000F has external dimensions of 870.0 x 188.0 x 289.0mm (34-1/4 x 7-3/8 x 11-3/8inch) whereas JBL Stage A170 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm (38-7/16 x 10-1/2 x 13inch).
JBL Stage A170 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 79mm wider, 107mm taller and 42mm deeper than Klipsch RP-4000F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-4000F and JBL Stage A170 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-4000F and JBL Stage A170 Size and External Dimensions
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 RP-4000F is approximately 543.3cm2 / 84.2inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A170 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The RP-4000F requires 39% less surface area than the A170 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 Klipsch RP-4000F weighs 13.18kg / 29lbs and the JBL Stage A170 weighs 14.37kg / 31.6lbs. This makes the A170 9% heavier than the RP-4000F.
Here is a comparison of how RP-4000F and A170's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-4000F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-4000F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (installed)
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?
Here are the items that come with the A170:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
870mm
vs
977mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
543cm2
vs
883cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
698USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-4000F |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 75 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-25k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
870.0mm (34.3") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
188.0mm (7.4") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
289.0mm (11.4") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
13.18kg (29lbs) |
14.37kg (31.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | Klipsch RP-4000F digs deeper - 37Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-4000F is more sensitive (95dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-4000F is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL Stage A170 takes more power (200W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-4000F is easier to place; JBL Stage A170 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-4000F: bi-amping; JBL Stage A170: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-4000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A170 is cheaper - $600 against $698, about 14% less. |
A Klipsch RP-4000F B JBL Stage A170
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RP-4000F measures better, JBL Stage A170 costs about about 16% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 44Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage A170 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-4000F the better fit for a small room, and JBL Stage A170 for a 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.