In this review, we will be comparing RP-5000F II and S50, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-5000F II and Polk S50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Klipsch RP-5000F II and Polk S50 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch RP-5000F II and Polk S50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both RP-5000F II and S50 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Klipsch RP-5000F II |
Polk S50 |
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 S50 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-5000F II has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas S50 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S50 can go slightly deeper then the RP-5000F II's min frequency of 35Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
RP-5000F II and S50 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 S50's is at 89 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S50, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
RP-5000F II can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-5000F II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the S50.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both RP-5000F II and S50 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-5000F II has a rear firing port whereas S50 has a bottom firing ports. Polk S50's bottom-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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Polk S50'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 Polk S50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
Klipsch RP-5000F II is 54mm narrower and 33mm shorter than Polk S50 but it is also 83mm deeper.
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 Polk S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2. The RP-5000F II requires 3% more surface area than the S50 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 RP-5000F II weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Polk S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs. This makes the RP-5000F II 21% heavier than the S50.
Here is a comparison of how RP-5000F II and S50'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 loudspeakerStabilizer feet (pre-installed)Grille2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Rubber cap (pre-installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk S50?
Here are the items that come with the S50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
918mm
vs
951mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
736cm2 (262x281mm)
vs
757cm2 (208x364mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F II |
Polk Audio Signature S50 |
Brand |
Klipsch |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
95 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl 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 |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
918.0mm (36.1") |
951.0mm (37.4") |
Width |
208.0mm (8.2") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
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 |