In this review, we will be comparing RP-504C II and R2c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-504C II and KEF R2c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-504C II | KEF R2c |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 74-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.50kg / 36.3lbs | 16.90kg / 37.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-15/16" x 32-3/16" x 15-1/8"
177.0 x 818.0 x 385.0mm | 6-15/16" x 21-11/16" x 12-7/16"
177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-504C II and KEF R2c 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-504C II |
KEF R2c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RP-504C II is a 2-way design whereas the R2c is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Klipsch RP-504C IIKEF R2c
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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-504C II |
KEF R2c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
RP-504C II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1950 Hz. On the other hand, the R2c features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-504C II has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas R2c has a frequency range of 74-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the RP-504C II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2c's min frequency of 74Hz.
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-504C II and R2c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-504C II sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the R2c's is at 87 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-504C II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2c, 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.
R2c can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-504C II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R2c.
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
R2c features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. RP-504C II has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-504C II's Binding post terminals
KEF R2c's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-504C II and R2c 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-504C II's and KEF R2c's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-504C II has external dimensions of 177.0 x 818.0 x 385.0mm (6-15/16 x 32-3/16 x 15-1/8inch) whereas KEF R2c has external dimensions of 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm (6-15/16 x 21-11/16 x 12-7/16inch).
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-504C II is approximately 3149.3cm2 / 488.1inch2 and base area of the KEF R2c is approximately 1741.2cm2 / 269.9inch2. The RP-504C II requires 81% more surface area than the R2c 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-504C II weighs 16.50kg / 36.3lbs and the KEF R2c weighs 16.90kg / 37.2lbs. This makes the R2c 2% heavier than the RP-504C II.
Here is a comparison of how RP-504C II and R2c'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-504C II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-504C II:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF R2c?
Here are the items that come with the R2c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
74 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1741cm2
vs
3149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C II |
KEF R2c |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
74-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1950 Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
818.0mm (32.2") |
551.0mm (21.7") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
16.50kg (36.3lbs) |
16.90kg (37.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF R2c costs roughly 1.6x what Klipsch RP-504C II 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-504C II digs deeper - 50Hz against 74Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KEF R2c takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF R2c is easier to place; Klipsch RP-504C II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R2c: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-504C II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is cheaper - $799 against $1,300, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-504C II B KEF R2c
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-504C II has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 74Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-504C II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF R2c 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.