In this review, we will be comparing R-34C and A135C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-34C and JBL Stage A135C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-34C | JBL Stage A135C |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix horn | 1" dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG | 6 x 3" polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 82-21k Hz | 75-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.91kg / 13lbs | 7.46kg / 16.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-1/4"
126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm | 4-1/8" x 29-3/8" x 7-5/16"
105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-34C and JBL Stage A135C 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-34C |
JBL Stage A135C |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 R-34C and A135C are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-34CJBL Stage A135C
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-34C |
JBL Stage A135C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
R-34C features a 1" aluminum Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG Woofer. On the other hand, the A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
R-34C has a frequency range of 82-21k Hz whereas A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 75Hz, the A135C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-34C's min frequency of 82Hz.
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-34C is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A135C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R-34C sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the A135C's is rated at 90 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-34C a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A135C, 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.
A135C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas R-34C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the A135C.
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-34C features 5-way post type posts and A135C has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-34C'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 R-34C's and JBL Stage A135C's external dimensions. Klipsch R-34C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm (4-15/16 x 26-1/16 x 6-1/4inch) whereas JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm (4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch).
Klipsch R-34C is 85mm narrower and 27mm less deeper than JBL Stage A135C but it is also 21mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-34C and JBL Stage A135C in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-34C and JBL Stage A135C 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-34C is approximately 1052.6cm2 / 163.2inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2. The R-34C requires 24% less surface area than the A135C 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-34C weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the JBL Stage A135C weighs 7.46kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the A135C 26% heavier than the R-34C.
Here is a comparison of how R-34C and A135C'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-34C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-34C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A135C?
Here are the items that come with the A135C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
3.5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1052cm2
vs
1389cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
4
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
75 Hz
vs
82 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
105mm
vs
126mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-34C |
JBL Stage A135C |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
82-21k Hz |
75-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
3.5" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
copper spun IMG |
polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
126.0mm (5") |
105.0mm (4.1") |
| Width |
662.0mm (26.1") |
747.0mm (29.4") |
| Depth |
159.0mm (6.3") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
7.46kg (16.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
textured wood grain viny |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch R-34C costs roughly 1.7x what JBL Stage A135C 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 | B | JBL Stage A135C digs deeper - 75Hz against 82Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch R-34C is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch R-34C is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL Stage A135C takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. JBL Stage A135C sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A135C is cheaper - $300 against $499, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch R-34C B JBL Stage A135C
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 82Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-34C the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL Stage A135C for a mid-size room and a large 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.