In this review, we will be comparing RP-4000F and RTi A5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-4000F and Polk RTi A5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-4000F | Polk RTi A5 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Cerametallic | 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-25k Hz | 40-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 95 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 75 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.18kg / 29lbs | 18.18kg / 40lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 39-5/8" x 10-9/16" x 15-7/8"
1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-4000F and Polk RTi A5 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 |
Polk RTi A5 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
**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 RTi A5 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-4000FPolk RTi A5
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 |
Polk RTi A5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 RTi A5 features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-4000F has a frequency range of 37-25k Hz whereas RTi A5 has a frequency range of 40-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the RP-4000F can go slightly deeper then the RTi A5's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 RTi A5 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 RTi A5's is at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-4000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk RTi A5, 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.
RTi A5 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas RP-4000F has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the RTi A5.
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 RTi A5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-4000F has a rear firing port whereas RTi A5 has a front firing ports. Polk RTi A5's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-4000F with its rear-firing 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 RP-4000F's and Polk RTi A5'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 Polk RTi A5 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 269.0 x 404.0mm (39-5/8 x 10-9/16 x 15-7/8inch).
Polk RTi A5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81mm wider, 137mm taller and 115mm deeper than Klipsch RP-4000F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-4000F and Polk RTi A5 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-4000F and Polk RTi A5 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 Polk RTi A5 is approximately 1086.8cm2 / 168.5inch2. The RP-4000F requires 50% less surface area than the RTi A5 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 Polk RTi A5 weighs 18.18kg / 40lbs. This makes the RTi A5 38% heavier than the RP-4000F.
Here is a comparison of how RP-4000F and RTi A5'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 Polk RTi A5?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A5:
- Cherry floor-standing speaker
- Detachable black cloth grille
- 4 Screw-on spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
870mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
543cm2
vs
1086cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-4000F |
Polk Audio RTi A5 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 75 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-25k Hz |
40-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Polymer composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
870.0mm (34.3") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
| Width |
188.0mm (7.4") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
289.0mm (11.4") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
13.18kg (29lbs) |
18.18kg (40lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Real wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Cherry |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-4000F is the newer design, against a 2008 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Klipsch RP-4000F digs deeper - 37Hz against 40Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Klipsch RP-4000F is more sensitive (95dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
B |
Polk RTi A5 takes more power (250W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Klipsch RP-4000F is easier to place; Polk RTi A5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Klipsch RP-4000F: bi-amping; Polk RTi A5: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-4000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Klipsch RP-4000F is cheaper - $698 against $798, about 13% less. |
A Klipsch RP-4000F
B Polk RTi A5
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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-4000F 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 RP-4000F the better fit for a small room and a mid-size room, and Polk RTi A5 for a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Polk RTi A5 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.