In this review, we will be comparing RP-4000F and RP-5000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-4000F and Klipsch RP-5000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-4000F | Klipsch RP-5000F |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Cerametallic | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-25k Hz | 35-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 95 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 75 watts | up to 125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.18kg / 29lbs | 16.36kg / 36lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 36-3/16" x 8-1/8" x 14-5/16"
920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm |
|---|
RP-4000F and RP-5000F are members of Klipsch's Reference Premiere (RP) series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Reference Premiere (RP) Series
History
What size room are the Klipsch RP-4000F and Klipsch RP-5000F 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 |
Klipsch RP-5000F |
| 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.
Drivers
Both RP-4000F and RP-5000F are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-4000FKlipsch RP-5000F
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 |
Klipsch RP-5000F |
|
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 RP-5000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-4000F has a frequency range of 37-25k Hz whereas RP-5000F has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the RP-5000F can go slightly deeper then the RP-4000F's min frequency of 37Hz.
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 and RP-5000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-4000F sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the RP-5000F's is at 96 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch RP-4000F, 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.
RP-5000F can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas RP-4000F has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the RP-5000F.
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 RP-5000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-4000F and RP-5000F 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
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 Klipsch RP-5000F'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 Klipsch RP-5000F has external dimensions of 920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm (36-3/16 x 8-1/8 x 14-5/16inch).
Klipsch RP-5000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 50mm taller and 75mm deeper than Klipsch RP-4000F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-4000F and Klipsch RP-5000F in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-4000F and Klipsch RP-5000F 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 Klipsch RP-5000F is approximately 753.5cm2 / 116.8inch2. The RP-4000F requires 28% less surface area than the RP-5000F 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 Klipsch RP-5000F weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the RP-5000F 24% heavier than the RP-4000F.
Here is a comparison of how RP-4000F and RP-5000F'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 Klipsch RP-5000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-5000F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (installed)
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Height |
870mm
vs
920mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
543cm2
vs
753cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
1038USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
95 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-4000F |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 75 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-25k Hz |
35-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500 Hz |
1800 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
870.0mm (34.3") |
920.0mm (36.2") |
| Width |
188.0mm (7.4") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
289.0mm (11.4") |
364.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
13.18kg (29lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut, 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 |
Siblings in Klipsch's Reference Premiere (RP) series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (37Hz vs 35Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (95dB vs 96dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Klipsch RP-5000F takes more power (125W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-4000F is easier to place; Klipsch RP-5000F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-4000F: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-5000F: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-4000F is cheaper - $698 against $1,038, about 33% less. |
A Klipsch RP-4000F B Klipsch RP-5000F
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 RP-5000F is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 49% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch RP-4000F looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Klipsch RP-5000F appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-4000F the better fit for a small room, and Klipsch RP-5000F for a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-5000F has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch RP-4000F is the easier speaker to get right.
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.