Short answer: the Klipsch R-41M, though neither is a safe recommendation. The PMC twenty.21 got the harsher verdict: Amir called it “a failure in design,” with a highly problematic on-axis response and severe beamwidth compression from its lack of a tweeter waveguide. The R-41M’s impedance is well controlled in the bass and its binding posts are unusually nice, but a sharp peak around 1kHz and poor directivity undercut it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 92 bookshelf speakers, and the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini, ranked #2 at $900, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Buy the Klipsch R-41M, since the PMC twenty.21 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| PMC twenty.21 | Klipsch R-41M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000 per pair superseded by twenty5.21, Discontinued | $199.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #91 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #90 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5.5” (140mm) doped mid/bass driver with cast alloy chassis, 27mm PMC/SEAS SONOLEX soft dome tweeter (ferrofluid cooled) | 4” spun-copper IMG woofer, 1” Tractrix horn-loaded aluminum dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12.8”H x 6”W x 10.9”D (325 x 152 x 277 mm) (+6mm grille) | 11.3H x 5.75W x 7.9D in |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) each | 7 lbs (3.18 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (1W/1m, manufacturer specified) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz, +/-4.4dB (Manufacturer specified) | 68Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (per spec; measured lower) |
| Woofer Cabinet | transmission line, 1.72m effective length | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.05 | 3.04 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.80 | 6.03 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 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
PMC twenty.21: $2,000 per pair superseded by twenty5.21 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Transmission-line loaded design with a proprietary PMC/SEAS SONOLEX soft dome tweeter and doped mid/bass driver, reflecting PMC’s high-end British studio-monitor pedigree. Measured bass extension of 68.8Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Amir was blunt: “The PMC Twenty.21 is a failure in design,” asking, “Did different people design different parts of the speaker and never talked to each other?” On-axis response is highly problematic, and the lack of a tweeter waveguide causes severe beamwidth compression that makes the speaker highly room-sensitive. Dual bass peaks indicate improper port tuning, with the port bump at 100Hz compounding rather than compensating for existing woofer peaks. Distortion is elevated throughout, spiking further at 96dB SPL near 200Hz from port noise. Initial listening was “screechy bright” enough to trigger the reviewer’s tinnitus, with harsh, lispy vocals and tubby, unnatural bass; only heavy manual EQ made it acceptable. At $2000, Amir suspects the tuning was done “by ear” rather than with measurements. Discontinued.
Full PMC twenty.21 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8”H x 6”W x 10.9”D (325 x 152 x 277 mm) (+6mm grille) |
| Drivers | 5.5” (140mm) doped mid/bass driver with cast alloy chassis, 27mm PMC/SEAS SONOLEX soft dome tweeter (ferrofluid cooled) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz, +/-4.4dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (1W/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.05 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.80 |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | transmission line, 1.72m effective length |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Klipsch R-41M: $199.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Binding posts are unusually nice for the price point, and impedance is well controlled in the bass, easing the load on the amplifier. The horn-loaded tweeter can play loud without strain. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows a sharp, prominent peak around 1kHz that the reviewer compared to “Pinocchio’s nose,” plus poor directivity that makes the off-axis sound diverge sharply from on-axis. Sensitivity is only 85dB through most of the music-energy range despite Klipsch’s horn-loaded reputation for efficiency. In an A/B against a $118/pair Pioneer SP-BS22-LR, the R-41M had “no bass” and all mid-to-treble energy; the reviewer’s verdict was “please avoid the Klipsch R-41M unless you just want a speaker as an ornament.”
Full Klipsch R-41M review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3H x 5.75W x 7.9D in |
| Drivers | 4” spun-copper IMG woofer, 1” Tractrix horn-loaded aluminum dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 68Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (per spec; measured lower) |
| Power Handling | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.04 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.03 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 7 lbs (3.18 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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