Short answer: the Moondrop M4P MTM for midrange clarity, the Klipsch RP-500M II for easier placement at a lower price. The M4P MTM ranks #12 of 88 bookshelf speakers at $920 and crosses a 1-inch aluminum-magnesium dome to dual 4-inch carbon-cone woofers at 1.8kHz, but vertical placement is very fussy within about ±20° of the tweeter axis. The RP-500M II costs $389.99 and adds about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz, though its 92-93dB sensitivity is an in-room rating.
What the Klipsch RP-500M II gets right: Major mid-range clarity improvement over the original RP-500M: about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz in the estimated in-room response. The tradeoff: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement.
On the Moondrop M4P MTM side: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. The catch: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Moondrop M4P MTM when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-500M II | Moondrop M4P MTM | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.99 per pair | $920 per pair |
| Ranked | #18 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #12 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 69Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1530Hz | 1800Hz |
| Dimensions | 13.6"H x 6.8"W x 10.6"D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1" LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.35 | 4.14 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 | 6.69 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 75W rated / 150W max |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Moondrop M4P MTM compares with other leading options:
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan vs Moondrop M4P MTM
- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Moondrop M4P MTM
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch RP-500M II: $389.99 per pair 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. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
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 |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 |
| 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
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Moondrop M4P MTM: $920 per pair Shenzhenaudio eBay
Pros: MTM (mid-tweeter-mid) two-way layout with dual 4” carbon-cone woofers flanking a 1” aluminum-magnesium dome tweeter, crossed over at 1.8kHz. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±60° through the midrange and still around ±50° near the tweeter, giving an expansive, enveloping soundstage on well-recorded stereo material. Noticeable mid-bass “thump” around 100-160Hz that adds a sense of punch and kick-drum impact, more pronounced than the reviewer’s Audiofirst Fidelia reference. Rolled-off, laid-back treble (roughly 1-2dB below linear) rather than the 2-5dB high-frequency boost common on speakers marketed as “detailed” - a plus for listeners who find brighter speakers fatiguing. Tonal balance stays consistent whether pointed straight on or toed out about 30°, so side-to-side seating position doesn’t change the sound much. At $920/pair in a compact monitor cabinet (13-14 lbs), reasonably priced for the format. Measured bass extension of 69Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Vertical placement is very fussy: staying within about ±20° of the tweeter axis is essential, because the two woofers cancel each other through the crossover region (classic MTM lobing) - sit above or below that window and the upper midrange loses clarity and detail. SPL-limited: noticeable compression showed up both subjectively (thinner-sounding transients at 80-85dB/10 feet) and in measurements, with roughly 1.5dB of dynamic-range loss and about 3dB of added distortion under instantaneous compression testing. Harmonic distortion jumps substantially at 96dB versus 86dB (mostly second-order, so less audible than it looks on paper), and multitone distortion rides right at the reviewer’s 3% threshold at full output. Low impedance (3.7-ohm minimum, 1.7-ohm minimum EPDR) means a Class AB amp may run hot over longer sessions; a Class D amp is recommended for better thermal headroom. Designed primarily for nearfield use (about 1 meter); farfield listening is more of a gamble since dynamic range drops off noticeably at distance. Slight sibilance and a mild upper-midrange dip give a touch of a recessed, warm character alongside the bass emphasis. Bass reaches only about 50-60Hz in-room, and not with much volume before running into the SPL limits noted above.
Full Moondrop M4P MTM review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 69Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1800Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15"H x 6.1"W x 7.3"D (380 x 155 x 185 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 4" (87mm) carbon cone woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum/magnesium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 75W rated / 150W max |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.14 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.69 |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Titan
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs Radiant Acoustics Clarity 4.2
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs KEF Q150
- Moondrop M4P MTM vs JBL Studio 530
- See all 10 comparisons