In this review, we will be comparing Apex A40 and R-34C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Apex A40 and Klipsch R-34C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Apex A40 | Klipsch R-34C |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) | 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-35k Hz | 82-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.91kg / 15.2lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-1/2" x 24" x 4-3/4"
140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-1/4"
126.0 x 662.0 x 159.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Apex A40 and Klipsch R-34C 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* |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
Klipsch R-34C |
| 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 Apex A40 and R-34C are 2-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Apex A40Klipsch R-34C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
Klipsch R-34C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
Apex A40 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) Woofer. On the other hand, the R-34C features a 1" aluminum Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" copper spun IMG Woofer.
Frequency Response
Apex A40 has a frequency range of 50-35k Hz whereas R-34C has a frequency range of 82-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Apex A40 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
Apex A40 and R-34C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Apex A40 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R-34C's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-34C a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Apex A40, 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.
Apex A40 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas R-34C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Apex A40.
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
Apex A40 features Binding post type posts and R-34C has a Binding 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40's and Klipsch R-34C's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Apex A40 has external dimensions of 140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm (5-1/2 x 24 x 4-3/4inch) whereas 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).
Monitor Audio Apex A40 is 52mm narrower and 38mm less deeper than Klipsch R-34C but it is also 14mm 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 is approximately 738.1cm2 / 114.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-34C is approximately 1052.6cm2 / 163.2inch2. The Apex A40 requires 30% less surface area than the R-34C 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 weighs 6.91kg / 15.2lbs and the Klipsch R-34C weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the Apex A40 17% heavier than the R-34C.
Here is a comparison of how Apex A40 and R-34C'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 Monitor Audio Apex A40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Apex A40:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- Bracket (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Set Up Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Important Information
- Mounting Template
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-34C?
Here are the items that come with the R-34C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
82 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
738cm2
vs
1052cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
126mm
vs
140mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1125USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
Klipsch Reference R-34C |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-35k Hz |
82-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
3.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) |
copper spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
140.0mm (5.5") |
126.0mm (5") |
| Width |
610.0mm (24") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
121.0mm (4.8") |
159.0mm (6.3") |
| Weight |
6.91kg (15.2lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
textured wood grain viny |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Monitor Audio Apex A40 costs roughly 2.3x what Klipsch R-34C 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 | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 digs deeper - 50Hz against 82Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-34C is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is easier to place; Klipsch R-34C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch R-34C sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-34C is cheaper - $499 against $1,125, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Apex A40 B Klipsch R-34C
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?
Monitor Audio Apex A40 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 125% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch R-34C looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Monitor Audio Apex A40 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 82Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-34C much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Monitor Audio Apex A40 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-34C 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.