Short answer: the Klipsch R-41M. It ranks #61 of 63 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $149; the PMC twenty.21 ranks #62 and costs $2000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the PMC twenty.21 offers: 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. The tradeoff: 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.
The case for the Klipsch R-41M: Binding posts are unusually nice for the price point, and impedance is well controlled in the bass, easing the load on the amplifier. The catch: 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.
Buy the Klipsch R-41M. It ranks higher for sound quality than the PMC twenty.21 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 63 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| PMC twenty.21 | Klipsch R-41M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000 discontinued, superseded by twenty5.21 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #62 of 63 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #61 of 63 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 |
| Power Handling | - | 50W RMS / 200W peak |
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The Two Speakers In Full
PMC twenty.21: $2,000 discontinued, superseded by twenty5.21
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.
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 $2,000, Amir suspects the tuning was done “by ear” rather than with measurements.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 11 lbs / 5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | transmission line, 1.72m effective length |
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Klipsch R-41M: $149.00 Amazon
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.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 7 lbs / 3.18 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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