In this review, we will be comparing ES50 and RP-4000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES50 and Klipsch RP-4000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk ES50 and Klipsch RP-4000F 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 ES50 and Klipsch RP-4000F 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 ES50 and RP-4000F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES50 |
Klipsch RP-4000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
ES50 features a 1" Terylene High-Res Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the RP-4000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 4" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES50 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas RP-4000F has a frequency range of 37-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the RP-4000F can go slightly deeper then the ES50's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
ES50 and RP-4000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES50 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the RP-4000F's is at 95 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-4000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
ES50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-4000F has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the ES50.
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
Both ES50 and RP-4000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
ES50 has a bottom firing port whereas RP-4000F has a rear firing ports. Polk ES50's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-4000F with its rear-firing 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 ES50's and Klipsch RP-4000F's external dimensions. Polk ES50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 191.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 7-1/2 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Klipsch RP-4000F has external dimensions of 870.0 x 188.0 x 289.0mm ( 34-1/4 x 7-3/8 x 11-3/8inch) .
Klipsch RP-4000F is 3mm narrower and 81mm shorter than Polk ES50 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES50 and Klipsch RP-4000F in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES50 and Klipsch RP-4000F Size and External Dimensions
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 ES50 is approximately 536.7cm2 / 83.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-4000F is approximately 543.3cm2 / 84.2inch2. The ES50 requires 1% less surface area than the RP-4000F 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 ES50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-4000F weighs 13.18kg / 29lbs. This makes the ES50 10% heavier than the RP-4000F.
Here is a comparison of how ES50 and RP-4000F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk ES50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-4000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-4000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
536cm2 (191x281mm)
vs
543cm2 (188x289mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
870mm
vs
951mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES50 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-4000F |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
up to 75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
95 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
37-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
951.0mm (37.4") |
870.0mm (34.3") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
188.0mm (7.4") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
13.18kg (29lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |