In this review, we will be comparing Reference R 40M and Reference R 50M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Klipsch
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Reference R 40M and Klipsch Reference R 50M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch Reference R 40M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4" Woofer
- 71-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Weight:kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11-3/4" x 5-13/16" x 8-7/16"
Klipsch Reference R 50M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Woofer
- 58-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Weight:kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 13-15/16" x 7-1/16" x 9-1/8"
Reference R 40M and Reference R 50M are members of Klipsch's Reference (R) series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Reference (R) Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Reference R 40M and Klipsch Reference R 50M compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Reference R 40M and Reference R 50M are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch Reference R 40M |
Klipsch Reference R 50M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Reference R 40M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woofer . On the other hand, the Reference R 50M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer .
Frequency Response
Reference R 40M has a frequency range of 71-21k Hz whereas Reference R 50M has a frequency range of 58-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the Reference R 50M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference R 40M's min frequency of 71Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference R 40M and Reference R 50M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference R 40M sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Reference R 50M's is at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch Reference R 50M a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch Reference R 40M, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference R 40M features Binding post type posts and Reference R 50M has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Reference R 40M's and Klipsch Reference R 50M's external dimensions. Klipsch Reference R 40M has external dimensions of ( ) whereas Klipsch Reference R 50M has external dimensions of ( ) .
In this case, we can see that Klipsch Reference R 40M and Klipsch Reference R 50M have the exact same height, width and thickness.