In this review, we will be comparing RP-5000F II and Q550, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-5000F II and KEF Q550 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-5000F II | KEF Q550 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-25k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 95 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.50kg / 38.5lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36-1/8" x 8-3/16" x 14-5/16"
918.0 x 208.0 x 364.0mm | 35-3/16" x 11-5/8" x 12-5/16"
894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-5000F II and KEF Q550 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-5000F II |
KEF Q550 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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-5000F II and Q550 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-5000F IIKEF Q550
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-5000F II |
KEF Q550 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
RP-5000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900 Hz. On the other hand, the Q550 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-5000F II has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the RP-5000F II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q550's min frequency of 58Hz.
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-5000F II and Q550 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-5000F II sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the Q550's is at 87 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q550, 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.
Q550 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas RP-5000F II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Q550.
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
RP-5000F II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q550 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-5000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-5000F II has a rear firing port whereas Q550 has a front firing ports. KEF Q550's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-5000F II 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-5000F II's and KEF Q550's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-5000F II has external dimensions of 918.0 x 208.0 x 364.0mm (36-1/8 x 8-3/16 x 14-5/16inch) whereas KEF Q550 has external dimensions of 894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm (35-3/16 x 11-5/8 x 12-5/16inch).
KEF Q550 is 24mm shorter and 51mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-5000F II but it is also 88mm wider.
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-5000F II is approximately 757.1cm2 / 117.4inch2 and base area of the KEF Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2. The RP-5000F II requires 18% less surface area than the Q550 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-5000F II weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the KEF Q550 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the RP-5000F II 20% heavier than the Q550.
Here is a comparison of how RP-5000F II and Q550'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-5000F II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-5000F II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (pre-installed)
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Rubber cap (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF Q550?
Here are the items that come with the Q550:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 2 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 6 Screws
- 6 Washers
- 4 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
757cm2
vs
926cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 5.25-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
894mm
vs
918mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F II |
KEF Q550 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
15-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1900 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
918.0mm (36.1") |
894.0mm (35.2") |
| Width |
208.0mm (8.2") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| 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: Klipsch RP-5000F II is the newer design, against a 2017 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-5000F II digs deeper - 35Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-5000F II is more sensitive (95dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q550 takes more power (130W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RP-5000F II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; KEF Q550: Atmos drivers. Klipsch RP-5000F II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-5000F II is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,400, about 14% less. |
A Klipsch RP-5000F II B KEF Q550
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 II is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KEF Q550 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-5000F II the better fit for a small room, and KEF Q550 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.