In this review, we will be comparing R-30C and RP-500C II, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-30C and Klipsch RP-500C II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-30C | Klipsch RP-500C II |
|---|
| 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 3.5" spun-copper TCP | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 78-21k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.08kg / 11.2lbs | 8.20kg / 18lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-13/16"
126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm | 6-15/16" x 19-7/16" x 10-9/16"
177.0 x 494.0 x 269.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-30C and Klipsch RP-500C II 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 R-30C |
Klipsch RP-500C II |
| 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.
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Drivers
Both R-30C and RP-500C II are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-30CKlipsch RP-500C II
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 R-30C |
Klipsch RP-500C II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
R-30C features a 1" LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) titanium diaphragm Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1650 Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
R-30C has a frequency range of 78-21k Hz whereas RP-500C II has a frequency range of 60-25k 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 R-30C's min frequency of 78Hz.
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
R-30C and RP-500C II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 96 dB.
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.
R-30C and RP-500C II have the same power range of up to 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
R-30C features Binding post type posts and RP-500C II has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-30C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R-30C and RP-500C II 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 R-30C's and Klipsch RP-500C II's external dimensions. Klipsch R-30C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm (4-15/16inch x 26-1/16inch x 6-13/16inch) whereas 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).
Klipsch R-30C is 51mm shorter and 95mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-500C II but it is also 168mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-30C and Klipsch RP-500C II in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-30C and Klipsch RP-500C II 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 R-30C is approximately 1151.9cm2 / 178.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-500C II is approximately 1328.9cm2 / 206.0inch2. The R-30C requires 13% less surface area than the RP-500C II 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 R-30C weighs 5.08kg / 11.2lbs and the Klipsch RP-500C II weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs. This makes the RP-500C II 61% heavier than the R-30C.
Here is a comparison of how R-30C and RP-500C II'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 R-30C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-30C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-500C II?
Here are the items that come with the RP-500C II:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tilt rod (attached nut)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
126mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1151cm2
vs
1328cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-30C |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500C II |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
78-21k Hz |
60-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
spun-copper TCP |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1650 Hz |
1630 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
126.0mm (5") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
662.0mm (26.1") |
494.0mm (19.4") |
| Depth |
174.0mm (6.9") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
5.08kg (11.2lbs) |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Textured Wood Grain Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White,Mocha |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-500C II is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch RP-500C II digs deeper - 60Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (96dB vs 96dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-30C is easier to place; Klipsch RP-500C II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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 | evenly matched | Much the same money ($499 vs $499 a pair). |
A Klipsch R-30C B Klipsch RP-500C II
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-500C 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 78Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-500C II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch R-30C 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.