In this review, we will be comparing S60 and RP-280F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-280F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk S60 | Klipsch RP-280F |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 26-40k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs | 28.41kg / 62.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44-1/2" x 11-3/4" x 15-3/4"
1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm | 43-1/16" x 10-9/16" x 17-3/8"
1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-280F 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 S60 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both S60 and RP-280F are 2-way speakers.
Polk S60Klipsch RP-280F
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 S60 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the RP-280F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz.
Frequency Response
S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz whereas RP-280F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-280F's min frequency of 32Hz.
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
S60 and RP-280F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S60 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-280F's is at 98 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-280F a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S60, 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.
S60 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RP-280F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the S60.
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
Both S60 and RP-280F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-280F's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S60 has a bottom firing port whereas RP-280F has a rear firing ports. Polk S60's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-280F with its rear-firing port.
Polk S60 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 S60's and Klipsch RP-280F's external dimensions. Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm (44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-280F has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm (43-1/16 x 10-9/16 x 17-3/8inch).
Klipsch RP-280F is 30mm narrower and 37mm shorter than Polk S60 but it is also 41mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-280F in scale.
Comparison image of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-280F 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 S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-280F is approximately 1189.0cm2 / 184.3inch2. The S60 requires 1% more surface area than the RP-280F 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 S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-280F weighs 28.41kg / 62.5lbs. This makes the RP-280F 20% heavier than the S60.
Here is a comparison of how S60 and RP-280F'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 S60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S60:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Feet (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-280F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker (Ebony)
- Speaker base
- Detachable magnetic grille
- Four 1-inch #6 Wood screws
- 4 Spike feet
- 6 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
898USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1094mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1189cm2
vs
1199cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
26-40k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
1094.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
401.0mm (15.8") |
442.0mm (17.4") |
| Weight |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
28.41kg (62.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Meddite MDF |
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 |
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 S60 digs deeper - 26Hz against 32Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch RP-280F is more sensitive (98dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Polk S60 takes more power (300W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Polk S60: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-280F: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-280F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Polk S60 is cheaper - $898 against $1,198, about 25% less. |
A Polk S60
B Klipsch RP-280F
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 S60 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 32Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Polk S60 the better fit for a very large room, and Klipsch RP-280F for a mid-size 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.