In this review, we will be comparing RP-504C II and RP-450C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-504C II and Klipsch RP-450C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-504C II | Klipsch RP-450C |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 58-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.50kg / 36.3lbs | 16.23kg / 35.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 6-13/16" x 31-1/8" x 14-9/16"
174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-504C II and Klipsch RP-450C 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 |
Klipsch RP-450C |
| 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.
Drivers
Both RP-504C II and RP-450C are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-504C IIKlipsch RP-450C
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-504C II |
Klipsch RP-450C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
4 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 RP-450C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-504C II has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas RP-450C has a frequency range of 58-25k 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 RP-450C'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 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 RP-450C 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 RP-450C's is at 97 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-450C a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch RP-504C II, 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.
RP-504C II and RP-450C have the same power range of up to 150 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-504C II features Binding post type posts and RP-450C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-504C II's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-450C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-504C II and RP-450C 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 Klipsch RP-450C'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 Klipsch RP-450C has external dimensions of 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm (6-13/16 x 31-1/8 x 14-9/16inch).
Klipsch RP-504C II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 3mm taller and 15mm deeper than Klipsch RP-450C.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-504C II and Klipsch RP-450C in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-504C II and Klipsch RP-450C 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-504C II is approximately 3149.3cm2 / 488.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-450C is approximately 2926.7cm2 / 453.6inch2. The RP-504C II requires 8% more surface area than the RP-450C 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 Klipsch RP-450C weighs 16.23kg / 35.7lbs. This makes the RP-504C II 2% heavier than the RP-450C.
Here is a comparison of how RP-504C II and RP-450C'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 Klipsch RP-450C?
Here are the items that come with the RP-450C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Detachable magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
96 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
174mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2926cm2
vs
3149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
650USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C II |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-450C |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker (Ebony) |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
58-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1950 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Width |
818.0mm (32.2") |
791.0mm (31.1") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
16.50kg (36.3lbs) |
16.23kg (35.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
polymer veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut, 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 |
Both are Klipsch, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-504C II digs deeper - 50Hz against 58Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (96dB vs 97dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-450C sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-450C is cheaper - $650 against $799, about 19% less. |
A Klipsch RP-504C II B Klipsch RP-450C
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-504C II measures better, Klipsch RP-450C costs about about 23% 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 58Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch RP-450C much easier to justify.
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.