Short answer: the Klipsch RP-500M II unless you need the lowest price. It ranks #18 of 88 bookshelf speakers at $389.99 with about a 5dB fill-in between 1-3kHz over the original RP-500M, though its 92-93dB sensitivity uses an in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement. The Neumi Silk 4 costs $199.99, but its measured 82.6dB sensitivity means it isn’t suited to large rooms, far-field listening or high volumes.
On the Klipsch RP-500M II side: 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.
The case for the Neumi Silk 4: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover. Set against that: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $190 saving on the Neumi Silk 4 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-500M II | Neumi Silk 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.99 per pair | $199.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #18 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #33 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 83Hz (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) | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 82.6dB (measured, 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 | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.35 | 3.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 | 6.21 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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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
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- 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
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Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. Distortion stays below 1% up to about 120Hz and below 3% above roughly 50-60Hz at 86dB. High-frequency compression is surprisingly good - better than some speakers costing 2-3x as much - and at 96dB/1m for a pair, output still reaches about 93dB at 3 meters, plenty loud for most listeners. F3 of 83Hz and F10 of 55Hz with in-room extension to about 70Hz. Takes very well to EQ correction, and the reviewer provides a specific fix (a notch around 650Hz, Q of about 6) that cleans up its main resonance. Measured bass extension of 83Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.6dB.
Cons: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume. A resonance around 650Hz (likely port- or cabinet-related) creates an audible 1-2dB midrange thickness/boxiness on certain tracks, tied to a probable baffle-step compensation shortfall - about 1dB more energy in the midrange from the factory would likely have resolved it. Multitone distortion becomes audible around the same 600Hz-1kHz region at 96dB. Horizontal radiation narrows to about ±50° with the waveguide, on the narrower side of what the reviewer prefers. A diffraction-related dip around 5kHz at 5° below the tweeter axis creates a small hole in the response if placed on a desk below ear level. Nominal impedance of about 6 ohms with a low sensitivity means it benefits from a subwoofer pairing (the reviewer suggests an 80Hz crossover) for a complete small-room or surround setup.
Full Neumi Silk 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.6dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.21 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons