In this review, we will be comparing RP-500C II and Monitor SE 2000C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-500C II and Paradigm SE 2000C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-500C II | Paradigm SE 2000C |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.5" mineral-filled polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-25k Hz | 65-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 15-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-15/16" x 19-7/16" x 10-9/16"
177.0 x 494.0 x 269.0mm | 7-1/8" x 19-3/4" x 11"
181.0 x 502.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-500C II and Paradigm SE 2000C 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-500C II |
Paradigm SE 2000C |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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-500C II and Monitor SE 2000C are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-500C IIParadigm SE 2000C
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-500C II |
Paradigm SE 2000C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
RP-500C II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. On the other hand, the Monitor SE 2000C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-500C II has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Monitor SE 2000C has a frequency range of 65-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the RP-500C II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor SE 2000C's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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-500C II and Monitor SE 2000C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-500C II sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Monitor SE 2000C's is at 93 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-500C II a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm SE 2000C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though RP-500C II is rated up to 100 watts and Monitor SE 2000C 15-100 watts.
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-500C II features Binding post type posts and Monitor SE 2000C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 2000C's Binding post terminals
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-500C II's and Paradigm SE 2000C's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-500C II has external dimensions of 177.0 x 494.0 x 269.0mm (6-15/16 x 19-7/16 x 10-9/16inch) whereas Paradigm SE 2000C has external dimensions of 181.0 x 502.0 x 280.0mm (7-1/8 x 19-3/4 x 11inch).
Paradigm SE 2000C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 4mm taller and 11mm deeper than Klipsch RP-500C II.
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-500C II is approximately 1328.9cm2 / 206.0inch2 and base area of the Paradigm SE 2000C is approximately 1405.6cm2 / 217.9inch2. The RP-500C II requires 5% less surface area than the Monitor SE 2000C 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-500C II weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Paradigm SE 2000C weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Monitor SE 2000C 5% heavier than the RP-500C II.
Here is a comparison of how RP-500C II and Monitor SE 2000C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-500C II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-500C II:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tilt rod (attached nut)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Paradigm SE 2000C?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor SE 2000C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
177mm
vs
181mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1328cm2
vs
1405cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
250USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500C II |
Paradigm Monitor SE 2000C |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
15-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
65-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
mineral-filled polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
494.0mm (19.4") |
502.0mm (19.8") |
| Depth |
269.0mm (10.6") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch RP-500C II costs roughly 2x what Paradigm SE 2000C does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-500C II digs deeper - 60Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-500C II is more sensitive (96dB vs 93dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-500C II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Paradigm SE 2000C is cheaper - $250 against $499, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-500C II B Paradigm SE 2000C
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-500C II measures better, Paradigm SE 2000C costs about about 100% 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 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm SE 2000C much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-500C II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.