In this review, we will be comparing R400 and Story, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R400 and KLH Story first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk R400 | KLH Story |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone | 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-39K Hz | 48-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.91kg / 32.8lbs | 7.27kg / 16lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-13/16" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"
199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm | 7-1/8" x 19-1/8" x 9-7/8"
181.0 x 486.0 x 251.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk R400 and KLH Story 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 R400 |
KLH Story |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 R400 and Story are 2-way speakers.
Polk R400KLH Story
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk R400 |
KLH Story |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Story features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz whereas Story has a frequency range of 48-23k Hz.
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
R400 and Story have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R400 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Story's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KLH Story 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R400 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Story has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R400.
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
R400 features Binding post type posts and Story has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual Port
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 Polk R400's and KLH Story's external dimensions. 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) whereas KLH Story has external dimensions of 181.0 x 486.0 x 251.0mm (7-1/8 x 19-1/8 x 9-7/8inch).
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 132mm wider, 18mm taller and 121mm deeper than KLH Story.
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 Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2 and base area of the KLH Story is approximately 1219.9cm2 / 189.1inch2. The R400 requires 88% more surface area than the Story 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 Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs and the KLH Story weighs 7.27kg / 16lbs. This makes the R400 105% heavier than the Story.
Here is a comparison of how R400 and Story'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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
What's in the Box of KLH Story?
Here are the items that come with the Story:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam ports
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
181mm
vs
199mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1219cm2
vs
2299cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
480USD
vs
649USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
KLH Story |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-39K Hz |
48-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
199.0mm (7.8") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
618.0mm (24.3") |
486.0mm (19.1") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
251.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
7.27kg (16lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (48Hz vs 48Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Story is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk R400 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Story is easier to place; Polk R400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | KLH Story is cheaper - $480 against $649, about 26% less. |
A Polk R400 B KLH Story
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. In a large or open-plan room, Polk R400 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Story is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Story is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.