In this review, we will be comparing ES35 and RP-504C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES35 and Klipsch RP-504C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk ES35 | Klipsch RP-504C |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-40k Hz | 58-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.36kg / 14lbs | 15.45kg / 34lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-3/16" x 24-7/16" x 6-1/16"
107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm | 6-7/8" x 31-3/16" x 14-7/16"
175.0 x 793.0 x 367.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk ES35 and Klipsch RP-504C 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 ES35 |
Klipsch RP-504C |
| 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 ES35 and RP-504C are 2-way speakers.
Polk ES35Klipsch RP-504C
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 ES35 |
Klipsch RP-504C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer. On the other hand, the RP-504C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k Hz whereas RP-504C has a frequency range of 58-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the RP-504C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
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
ES35 and RP-504C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES35 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-504C's is at 97 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-504C a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES35, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 150 watts RMS, though ES35 is rated 20-150 watts and RP-504C up to 150 watts.
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
ES35 features Binding post type posts and RP-504C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Klipsch RP-504C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ES35 and RP-504C have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Polk ES35 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 ES35's and Klipsch RP-504C's external dimensions. Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm (4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) whereas Klipsch RP-504C has external dimensions of 175.0 x 793.0 x 367.0mm (6-7/8 x 31-3/16 x 14-7/16inch).
Klipsch RP-504C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 172mm wider, 68mm taller and 213mm deeper than Polk ES35.
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 ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-504C is approximately 2910.3cm2 / 451.1inch2. The ES35 requires 67% less surface area than the RP-504C 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 Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs and the Klipsch RP-504C weighs 15.45kg / 34lbs. This makes the RP-504C 143% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how ES35 and RP-504C'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 ES35?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES35:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Wall-mount template
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-504C?
Here are the items that come with the RP-504C:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Number of Woofers |
6
vs
4
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
175mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2
vs
2910cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
58 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-504C |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-40k Hz |
58-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
6 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
High-res dome |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
107.0mm (4.2") |
175.0mm (6.9") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
793.0mm (31.2") |
| Depth |
154.0mm (6.1") |
367.0mm (14.4") |
| Weight |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
15.45kg (34lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 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 | B | Klipsch RP-504C digs deeper - 58Hz against 66Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-504C is more sensitive (97dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Polk ES35 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-504C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-504C sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($399 vs $399 a pair). |
A Polk ES35 B Klipsch RP-504C
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?
Klipsch RP-504C has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-504C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Polk ES35 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.