Short answer: the Audio First Fidelia. It ranks #1 of 87 bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the Klipsch RP-500M II ranks #18.
What the Klipsch RP-500M II offers: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. More neutral and linear overall than its sibling RP-600M II, which carries about 2-3dB more high-frequency energy and a touch more bass but less overall balance. Very precise soundstage imaging and instrument placement. Distortion through the midrange is cleaner than the previous generation. Watch for: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies. Horizontal dispersion of about ±40-50° is narrower and more directive than the reviewer’s preference for a wider, more enveloping soundstage. Toeing the speaker out to widen the soundstage or soften on-axis brightness comes at some cost to imaging precision. Slightly less clean in the tweeter region than the midrange, likely tied to crossover placement, though not considered a dealbreaker. Low-frequency output is limited - measured around 95dB at 4 meters for the pair before the woofers started to unload, so a subwoofer is recommended for anyone wanting real bass rather than stepping up to a larger model.
What the Audio First Fidelia offers: Kit speaker offering exceptional value and tonal accuracy; chosen by reviewer as reference standard for future speaker tonality comparisons despite 1,250 USD price point. Achieves bass extension to 53 Hz (F3) and 38 Hz (F10) from compact cabinet. Direct-from-manufacturer availability eliminates retailer markup. Watch for: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power. Only available direct from UK manufacturer with associated shipping costs and lead times. Trade-off between compact driver configuration and maximum dynamic output.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Audio First Fidelia if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-500M II | Audio First Fidelia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.99 | £950 for the flatpack kit (assembly required) |
| Ranked | #18 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #1 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz | 1560Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 11.7"D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn | 5" ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1" ceramic-aluminum tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Emotiva B1+ vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- KEF Q150 vs Emotiva B1+
- Emotiva B1+ vs Sony SS-CS5 M2
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Zaph Audio ZA5.2 TM
- JBL Studio 530 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 AM 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch RP-500M II: $389.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response, giving a noticeably more resolved, detailed midrange. More neutral and linear overall than its sibling RP-600M II, which carries about 2-3dB more high-frequency energy and a touch more bass but less overall balance. Very precise soundstage imaging and instrument placement. Distortion through the midrange is cleaner than the previous generation.
Cons: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies. Horizontal dispersion of about ±40-50° is narrower and more directive than the reviewer’s preference for a wider, more enveloping soundstage. Toeing the speaker out to widen the soundstage or soften on-axis brightness comes at some cost to imaging precision. Slightly less clean in the tweeter region than the midrange, likely tied to crossover placement, though not considered a dealbreaker. Low-frequency output is limited - measured around 95dB at 4 meters for the pair before the woofers started to unload, so a subwoofer is recommended for anyone wanting real bass rather than stepping up to a larger model.
Full Klipsch RP-500M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Revel M105
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs KEF Q150
- Klipsch RP-500M II vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- See all 38 comparisons
Audio First Fidelia: £950 for the flatpack kit (assembly required) Audio First Designs eBay
Pros: Kit speaker offering exceptional value and tonal accuracy; chosen by reviewer as reference standard for future speaker tonality comparisons despite 1,250 USD price point. Achieves bass extension to 53 Hz (F3) and 38 Hz (F10) from compact cabinet. Direct-from-manufacturer availability eliminates retailer markup.
Cons: Kit assembly required; lower sensitivity (~83-85 dB vs. typical 85 dB average) demands adequate amplifier power. Only available direct from UK manufacturer with associated shipping costs and lead times. Trade-off between compact driver configuration and maximum dynamic output.
Full Audio First Fidelia review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1560Hz |
| Dimensions | 11.8"H x 7.1"W x 11.7"D (300 x 180 x 297.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" ceramic-aluminum cone woofer, 1" ceramic-aluminum tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84dB |
| Weight | 15 lbs / 6.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: The #1 Reason audiophiles Are Raving About Fidelia’s Sound Quality More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Audio First Fidelia Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audio First Fidelia vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Audio First Fidelia vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Audio First Fidelia vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Audio First Fidelia vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Audio First Fidelia vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Audio First Fidelia vs KEF Q150
- Audio First Fidelia vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- Audio First Fidelia vs JBL Stage A130