In this review, we will be comparing S50 and R-610F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk S50 and Klipsch R-610F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk S50 | Klipsch R-610F |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.0" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 6.5" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-40k Hz | 45-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | up to 85 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.50kg / 31.9lbs | 16.36kg / 36lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37-7/16" x 10-5/16" x 11-1/16"
951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm | 37-1/16" x 9-3/8" x 14-1/2"
942.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk S50 and Klipsch R-610F 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 S50 |
Klipsch R-610F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 S50 and R-610F are 2-way speakers.
Polk S50Klipsch R-610F
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 S50 |
Klipsch R-610F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
S50 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the R-610F features a 1.0" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer.
Frequency Response
S50 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas R-610F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-610F's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
S50 and R-610F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S50 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R-610F's is at 94 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-610F a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S50, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
S50 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas R-610F has a max power handling value of 85 watts RMS, 65 watts less than the S50.
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
S50 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-610F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk S50's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch R-610F's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S50 has a bottom firing port whereas R-610F has a rear firing ports. Polk S50's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch R-610F with its rear-firing port.
Polk S50 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 S50's and Klipsch R-610F's external dimensions. Polk S50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm (37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch) whereas Klipsch R-610F has external dimensions of 942.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm (37-1/16 x 9-3/8 x 14-1/2inch).
Klipsch R-610F is 23mm narrower and 9mm shorter than Polk S50 but it is also 88mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk S50 and Klipsch R-610F in scale.
Comparison image of Polk S50 and Klipsch R-610F 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 S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-610F is approximately 881.9cm2 / 136.7inch2. The S50 requires 17% less surface area than the R-610F 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 S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs and the Klipsch R-610F weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the R-610F 13% heavier than the S50.
Here is a comparison of how S50 and R-610F'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 S50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S50:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Feet (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-610F?
Here are the items that come with the R-610F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Feet
- 4 Screws
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
- Loudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
85 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
736cm2
vs
881cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
498USD
vs
778USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
942mm
vs
951mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature S50 |
Klipsch Reference R-610F |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
up to 85 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
45-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
951.0mm (37.4") |
942.0mm (37.1") |
| Width |
262.0mm (10.3") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Meddite MDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
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 | A | Polk S50 digs deeper - 33Hz against 45Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-610F is more sensitive (94dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Polk S50 takes more power (150W vs 85W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Polk S50: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Polk S50 is cheaper - $498 against $778, about 36% less. |
A Polk S50 B Klipsch R-610F
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?
Polk S50 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Klipsch R-610F if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Polk S50 the better fit for a large room, and Klipsch R-610F for a small room.
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.