Short answer: the Klipsch RP-5000F II for better sound quality, the Polk T50 for the lower price. The Klipsch RP-5000F II ranks #38 of 56 floorstanding speakers at $1199.98. The Polk T50 ranks #45 at $249, $950.98 cheaper.
What the Klipsch RP-5000F II offers: The most tonally coherent of the RP II floorstander line, with a mild baffle-step dip and treble tilt but no additional coloration issues beyond that. Watch for: Bass extension is underwhelming for a floorstander - F3 at 55Hz, F10 at 41Hz - and needs a subwoofer.
On the Polk T50 side: Pretty deep bass for the price. Set against that: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up.
Buy the Klipsch RP-5000F II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Polk T50 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Polk T50. It ranks near the bottom of the 56 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-5000F II | Polk T50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199.98 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #38 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #45 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 5.25" cerametallic woofers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Weight | 38.6 lbs / 17.5 kg | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 1900Hz | - |
| Output Power | 100W continuous, 400W peak | - |
| Dimensions | 36.1" x 8.1" x 14.8" (917 x 207 x 375 mm) | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Infinity Reference 253
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Sony SS-CS3
- Klipsch RP-6000F II vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- KEF Q11 Meta vs Polk T50
- Dynaudio Emit 30 vs Polk T50
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch RP-5000F II: $1199.98 Amazon
Pros: The most tonally coherent of the RP II floorstander line, with a mild baffle-step dip and treble tilt but no additional coloration issues beyond that. Precise imaging thanks to the controlled horn/waveguide directivity.
Cons: Bass extension is underwhelming for a floorstander - F3 at 55Hz, F10 at 41Hz - and needs a subwoofer. Narrow horizontal dispersion (~50-60 degrees) trades soundstage width for imaging precision. A mild high-frequency tilt and a slight lack of detail around 1-1.5kHz.
Full Klipsch RP-5000F II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1900Hz |
| Dimensions | 36.1" x 8.1" x 14.8" (917 x 207 x 375 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 5.25" cerametallic woofers |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | 100W continuous, 400W peak |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 38.6 lbs / 17.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Monolith THX-365T
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Dynaudio Emit 30
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Klipsch Forte IV
- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- See all 14 comparisons
Polk T50: $249.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the price. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled outside a narrow spike around 250Hz. The reviewer notes performance is “not too bad for a budget speaker” once the two main tonal issues are addressed with EQ.
Cons: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up. Just okay vertical off axis. Impedance and phase show several resonances between 200Hz-1kHz, with a minimum impedance of 4.2 ohms. Distortion rises substantially at 96dB SPL/1m across the midrange, with repeated peaks between 100Hz-2kHz.
Full Polk T50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 9.3"W x 12.5"D (1026.2 x 235.0 x 317.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 86.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons