In this review, we will be comparing RC85i and R-5650-W II, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio RC85i and Klipsch R-5650-W II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk Audio RC85i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 8" Polypropylene Woofer
- 50-20kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 8.6875" x 3.5000"( 324.0 x 221.0 x 89.0mm )
Klipsch R-5650-W II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer
- 52-23kHz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 50watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 331.0" x 8.0000" x 3.6875"( 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm )
What size room are the Polk Audio RC85i and Klipsch R-5650-W 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* |
Polk Audio RC85i |
Klipsch R-5650-W II |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk Audio RC85i and Klipsch R-5650-W II 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 RC85i and R-5650-W II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk Audio RC85i |
Klipsch R-5650-W II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RC85i features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-5650-W II features a 1" Horn-loaded dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
RC85i has a frequency range of 50-20kHz whereas R-5650-W II has a frequency range of 52-23kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the RC85i can go slightly deeper then the R-5650-W II's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall 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
RC85i and R-5650-W II have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RC85i sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R-5650-W II's is at 93 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-5650-W II a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio RC85i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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.
RC85i can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-5650-W II has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the RC85i.
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
RC85i features Spring post type posts and R-5650-W II has a Spring 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 Polk Audio RC85i's and Klipsch R-5650-W II's external dimensions. Polk Audio RC85i has external dimensions of 324.0 x 221.0 x 89.0mm ( 12.7500-inch x 8.6875-inch x 3.5000-inch) whereas Klipsch R-5650-W II has external dimensions of 331.0 x 204.0 x 94.0mm ( 13.0000-inch x 8.0000-inch x 3.6875-inch) .
Polk Audio RC85i is 7mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than Klipsch R-5650-W II but it is also 17mm wider.
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC85i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RC85i:
2 White in-wall speakers2 White grilles1 Cardboard Mounting TemplateOwners ManualOnline registration sheetProduct Registration Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-5650-W II?
Here are the items that come with the R-5650-W II:
In-wall speakerWhite metal mesh grilleCardboard templateOwners Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
Max Input Power 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Price per pair* 
Sensitivity 
High Frequency Response 
Base Surface Area