Short answer: the Magnepan LRS+. It ranks #149 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $1,300; the Klipsch Heresy IV ranks #184, rated 2.3/5, and costs $3,599.98, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The Klipsch Heresy IV is the more accurate option. Very high 94.5dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity in Erin’s anechoic measurement (well below Klipsch’s 99dB in-room claim, but still excellent) and strong short-term output from a 12-inch woofer plus horn-loaded midrange and tweeter. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 2.27 against 1.27 for the Magnepan LRS+. The catch: Erin measured a 77Hz F3 and response rolling away near 100Hz in-room, so a subwoofer is required for modern full-range reproduction.
The Magnepan LRS+ is the better-sounding option. Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Watch for: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output.
Buy the Magnepan LRS+. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Heresy IV and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Heresy IV | Magnepan LRS+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,599.98 per pair | $1300 per pair |
| Ranked | #184 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #149 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 94.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | Approximately 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 1.75” horn-loaded midrange; 12” woofer | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections |
| Dimensions | 24.8”H x 15.6”W x 13.3”D | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | open baffle |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.27 | 1.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.02 | 4.32 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Heresy IV: $3,599.98 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Klipsch Forte IV (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, rated 4/5), the Klipsch Cornwall IV (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 2.8/5), the Klipsch La Scala AL6 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 2.8/5) and the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3/5).
Pros: Very high 94.5dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity in Erin’s anechoic measurement (well below Klipsch’s 99dB in-room claim, but still excellent) and strong short-term output from a 12-inch woofer plus horn-loaded midrange and tweeter. The compact, furniture-grade Heritage cabinet is easier to place than most high-efficiency designs, and dynamics at moderate levels can sound lively. A stable four-ohm-capable amplifier can produce substantial SPL with relatively little voltage. Measured bass extension of 77Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 94.5dB.
Cons: Erin measured a 77Hz F3 and response rolling away near 100Hz in-room, so a subwoofer is required for modern full-range reproduction. The impedance dips to about 4 ohms, reducing the practical amplifier advantage implied by its sensitivity. Pronounced directivity mismatch at the driver transitions, impedance/response resonances and elevated distortion spikes around the crossover remain audible concerns that EQ cannot fully solve. At 102dB Erin measured roughly 1.5dB midband compression; at 96dB distortion rises around crossover. Performance is difficult to justify at the price, and Erin explicitly did not recommend it.
Full Klipsch Heresy IV review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 24.8”H x 15.6”W x 13.3”D |
| Drivers | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 1.75” horn-loaded midrange; 12” woofer |
| Impedance | Approximately 4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 94.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.02 |
| Weight | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Magnepan LRS+: $1300 per pair Magnepan eBay
Pros: Thin, two-way planar-magnetic open-baffle/dipole panel design (about 48” tall, just 1” deep). Delivers a uniquely dramatic and enveloping soundstage with genuinely three-dimensional depth effects that work across all music genres, not just classical or orchestral material as commonly assumed. Extremely tight, locked-in center-phantom imaging when set up correctly. Open-baffle design avoids the “boxy” enclosure coloration of conventional cabinet speakers. Multitone distortion is remarkably consistent from low to high frequency, a characteristic the reviewer hasn’t observed in conventional cone-and-dome speakers. Compression at high output stays modest (about 0.5-1dB) through the midrange and treble, giving roughly 20-26dB of usable dynamic range in that region. At its price, a strong contender for a dedicated secondary listening room, even if not a main-system replacement. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.1dB.
Cons: Extremely current-hungry and power-hungry: even a pair of 600W Macintosh monoblock amplifiers only averaged about 90dB output. A robust, high-power amplifier is essentially mandatory, and budget amps won’t cut it. Bass rolls off very quickly (F3 74Hz, F10 67Hz, described as falling off “like a rock”), making a subwoofer an absolute requirement for any low-end content. A roughly 3dB dip in the mid-bass (100-300Hz) region thins out vocal body and fullness compared to a conventional bookshelf speaker. A resonance/bump around 400Hz adds a mild boxy quality, though it responds well to about 2dB of EQ correction. Extraordinarily fussy about exact positioning: both seating height (must align with the acoustic reference point between the panel’s lower tie-down points) and horizontal aiming are unusually critical; moving just a couple of inches can cause treble content above roughly 500-600Hz to nearly vanish. Distinct off-axis cancellation zones exist directly to the sides of the panel, where very little sound is audible at all. Fails badly under extreme dynamic-transient testing in the bass, and the reviewer blew fuses pushing the speaker during testing: not built for high-volume or highly dynamic playback. A genuinely different category from conventional hi-fi speakers, requiring more setup patience and experimentation than a typical monopole design.
Full Magnepan LRS+ review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 48”H x 13.5”W x 1”D (1219.2 x 342.9 x 25.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Full-range planar magnetic dipole panel (48” tall x 13.5” wide); quasi-ribbon design, two-way with separate mid/bass and tweeter ribbon sections |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.32 |
| Weight | 30 lbs (13.6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Magnepan LRS+ vs Infinity Reference 253
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- Magnepan LRS+ vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Magnepan LRS+ vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Magnepan LRS+ vs Polk T50
- Magnepan LRS+ vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- Magnepan LRS+ vs Sony SS-CS3
- Magnepan LRS+ vs JBL Studio 590
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