In this review, we will be comparing RP-504C II and Performa3 C205, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-504C II and Revel Performa3 C205 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-504C II | Revel Performa3 C205 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.25" aluminum cone with cast frames |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 80Hz- 20kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 50-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.50kg / 36.3lbs | 11.86kg / 26.1lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8-1/8" x 21-1/16" x 11-9/16"
207.0 x 535.0 x 294.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-504C II and Revel Performa3 C205 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 |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
| 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 Performa3 C205 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-504C IIRevel Performa3 C205
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 |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
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 Performa3 C205 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-504C II has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Performa3 C205 has a frequency range of 80Hz- 20kHz. 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 Performa3 C205's min frequency of 80Hz.
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 Performa3 C205 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 Performa3 C205's is at 89 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-504C II a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa3 C205, 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 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Performa3 C205 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the RP-504C II.
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 Performa3 C205 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-504C II's Binding post terminals
Revel Performa3 C205'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-504C II's and Revel Performa3 C205'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 Revel Performa3 C205 has external dimensions of 207.0 x 535.0 x 294.0mm (8-1/8 x 21-1/16 x 11-9/16inch).
Revel Performa3 C205 is 283mm narrower and 91mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-504C II but it is also 30mm taller.
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 Revel Performa3 C205 is approximately 1572.9cm2 / 243.8inch2. The RP-504C II requires 100% more surface area than the Performa3 C205 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 Revel Performa3 C205 weighs 11.86kg / 26.1lbs. This makes the RP-504C II 39% heavier than the Performa3 C205.
Here is a comparison of how RP-504C II and Performa3 C205'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 Revel Performa3 C205?
Here are the items that come with the Performa3 C205:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Short feet
- 2 Long feet
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
177mm
vs
207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Base Surface Area |
1572cm2
vs
3149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C II |
Revel Performa3 C205 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
50-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
80Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1950 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
818.0mm (32.2") |
535.0mm (21.1") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
16.50kg (36.3lbs) |
11.86kg (26.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Gloss 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 |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-504C II is the newer design, against a 2013 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-504C II digs deeper - 50Hz against 80Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is more sensitive (96dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch RP-504C II takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Revel Performa3 C205 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-504C II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is cheaper - $799 against $1,100, about 27% less. |
A Klipsch RP-504C II B Revel Performa3 C205
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Revel Performa3 C205 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 80Hz 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, Revel Performa3 C205 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.