In this review, we will be comparing RP-504C II and Lumina CI, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-504C II and Sonus Lumina Center I first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-504C II | Sonus Lumina Center I |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1.15" high definition DAD |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 4.75" paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 65-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.50kg / 36.3lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 6.6" x 20.6" x 8.4"
169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-504C II and Sonus Lumina Center I 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 |
Sonus Lumina Center I |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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-504C II and Lumina CI are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-504C IISonus Lumina Center I
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 |
Sonus Lumina Center I |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4.75-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 Lumina CI features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter and 2 x 4.75" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000 Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-504C II has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Lumina CI has a frequency range of 65-24k 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 Lumina CI'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-504C II is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Lumina CI which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Lumina CI can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-504C II sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Lumina CI's is rated at 87 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-504C II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina Center I, 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 Lumina CI has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 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
Lumina CI 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
Sonus Lumina Center I's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-504C II has a rear firing port whereas Lumina CI has a front firing ports. Sonus Lumina Center I's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-504C II with its rear-firing port.
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 Sonus Lumina Center I'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 Sonus Lumina Center I has external dimensions of 169.0 x 524.0 x 213.0mm (6.6 x 20.6 x 8.4inch).
Klipsch RP-504C II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 294mm wider, 8mm taller and 172mm deeper than Sonus Lumina Center I.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-504C II and Sonus Lumina Center I in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-504C II and Sonus Lumina Center I 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 Sonus Lumina Center I is approximately 1116.1cm2 / 173.0inch2. The RP-504C II requires 182% more surface area than the Lumina CI 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 Sonus Lumina Center I weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the RP-504C II 117% heavier than the Lumina CI.
Here is a comparison of how RP-504C II and Lumina CI'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 Sonus Lumina Center I?
Here are the items that come with the Lumina CI:
- 1 Center Channel Speaker
- 1 Manual
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Grilles
- 1 Fabric dust guards
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
169mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1116cm2
vs
3149cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C II |
Sonus faber Lumina Center I |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
65-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
high definition DAD |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1950 Hz |
2000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
169.0mm (6.7") |
| Width |
818.0mm (32.2") |
524.0mm (20.6") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Weight |
16.50kg (36.3lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
real multilayer wood |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black, Wenge, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-504C II digs deeper - 50Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-504C II is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch RP-504C II takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Sonus Lumina Center I is easier to place; Klipsch RP-504C II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus Lumina Center I: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-504C II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Sonus Lumina Center I is cheaper - $699 against $799, about 13% less. |
A Klipsch RP-504C II B Sonus Lumina Center I
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 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Sonus Lumina Center I is the one to take if it does not. 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 Sonus Lumina Center I much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-504C II the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Sonus Lumina Center I for near-field listening and a small room.
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.