Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower on measured sound quality, the Klipsch RP-5000F II on price. The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower ranks #12 of 228 floorstanding speakers, rated 4.6/5, at $5,698. The Klipsch RP-5000F II ranks #126, rated 4.0/5, at $859.98, $4,838.02 cheaper.
What the Klipsch RP-5000F II does well: The most balanced sounding tower in its series, with precise imaging from its horn tweeter at a moderate price. The tradeoff: Bass extension is underwhelming for a floorstander (F3 at 55Hz, F10 at 41Hz) and needs a subwoofer.
The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.97 against 5.24 for the Klipsch RP-5000F II. Its bass reaches about 38.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 55Hz for the Klipsch RP-5000F II. The catch: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some smaller passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models.
Buy the Klipsch RP-5000F II if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower if sound quality matters more than the price.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
The most balanced sounding tower in its series, with precise imaging from its horn tweeter at a moderate price.
Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-5000F II | Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $859.98 per pair | $5,698 per pair |
| Ranked | #126 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #12 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 5.25” cerametallic woofers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6” SEAS Excel aluminum woofers |
| Weight | 38.6 lbs (17.5 kg) | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1900Hz | - |
| Power Handling | 100W continuous, 400W peak | 400W continuous, 600W peak |
| Dimensions | 36.1” x 8.1” x 14.8” (917 x 207 x 375 mm) | 43”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.24 | 6.97 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 | 8.42 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | ported |
| Warranty | - | 7 years parts and labor |
| Country | - | United States |
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