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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk R400 and KLH Story 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both R400 and Story are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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. 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.
R400 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Story has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 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
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
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 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 loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
What's in the Box of KLH Story?
Here are the items that come with the Story:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Foam ports4 Self-adhesive rubber feetManual
 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 (486x251mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
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 |
N/A" |
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 |