In this review, we will be comparing Premier 600C and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Paradigm and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 600C and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Paradigm 600C and Polk R400 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Paradigm 600C and Polk R400 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Premier 600C is a 3-way design whereas the R400 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Paradigm 600C |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Premier 600C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Premier 600C has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 600C's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Premier 600C and R400 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 600C sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the R400's is at 89 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Paradigm 600C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R400, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Premier 600C can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Premier 600C has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the R400.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 600C features Binding post type posts and R400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 600C's Binding post terminals
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual Port
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 Paradigm 600C's and Polk R400's external dimensions. Paradigm 600C has external dimensions of 208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm ( 8-3/16 x 35-11/16 x 13-11/16inch) whereas Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) .
Polk R400 is 289mm narrower and 9mm shorter than Paradigm 600C but it is also 24mm deeper.
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 Paradigm 600C is approximately 3156.4cm2 / 489.2inch2 and base area of the Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The Premier 600C requires 37% more surface area than the R400 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 Paradigm 600C weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the Premier 600C 31% heavier than the R400.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 600C and R400'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 Paradigm 600C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 600C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Registration CardCenter Channel Elevation Gauge
What's in the Box of Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
| Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
208mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
vs
3156cm2 (907x348mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 600C |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-180 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
208.0mm (8.2") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
907.0mm (35.7") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
348.0mm (13.7") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Black, Walnut |
| 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 |