Short answer: the Polk Reserve R500. It ranks #28 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $699; the Klipsch RP-5000F II ranks #38 and costs $1199.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Polk Reserve R500 gets right: Dual 5.25” midwoofers paired with a ring radiator tweeter in a floorstanding tower design. The catch: A bump around 4-6kHz gives a “shouty,” mildly sibilant quality in the lower treble.
The case for the Klipsch RP-5000F II: The most tonally coherent of the RP II floorstander line, with a mild baffle-step dip and treble tilt but no additional coloration issues beyond that. The tradeoff: Bass extension is underwhelming for a floorstander - F3 at 55Hz, F10 at 41Hz - and needs a subwoofer.
Buy the Polk Reserve R500. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch RP-5000F II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Reserve R500 | Klipsch RP-5000F II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $1199.98 |
| Ranked | #28 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #38 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) | 36.1" x 8.1" x 14.8" (917 x 207 x 375 mm) |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Two 5.25" Turbine Cone woofer, 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter | 1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 5.25" cerametallic woofers |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each | 38.6 lbs / 17.5 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1900Hz |
| Output Power | - | 100W continuous, 400W peak |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Reserve R500: $699.00 Amazon
Pros: Dual 5.25” midwoofers paired with a ring radiator tweeter in a floorstanding tower design. Surprisingly neutral overall compared to Polk’s smaller bookshelf models - notably more even-handed than the brighter-sounding R200 the reviewer tested previously. Good linearity on-axis, within about -3/+2dB. Sensitivity close to 86dB, easily driven to adequate levels in a small-to-medium room with a 100W-capable amplifier. Takes very well to EQ - a single band of correction (about a 2dB cut around 4-5kHz) resolves the main tonal issue and transforms the sound. Dynamic range and compression performance is solidly “medium,” holding up fine through about 20dB of level increase before higher-frequency and bass output start to taper at extreme volumes.
Cons: A bump around 4-6kHz gives a “shouty,” mildly sibilant quality in the lower treble. Counterintuitively, toeing the speaker out to reduce brightness makes this worse rather than better, since the ring-radiator tweeter’s directivity narrows rapidly above about 6-7kHz - pointed on-axis retains enough top-end air to balance the bump, but toed away that air drops off and the shoutiness stands out more. Bass is adequate for its 5.25” woofers but lacks real weight below about 40-50Hz; a subwoofer is still needed for movies and bass-heavy music. A cabinet resonance around 160-170Hz subtracts from rather than adds boom to the mid-bass region. Vertical listening window is fairly narrow - sitting more than about 10-20° above or below the tweeter axis causes a suckout in the 2-5kHz range, reducing clarity and attack. Multitone distortion ramps up noticeably around 1kHz, and crossing over to a subwoofer at 80Hz doesn’t meaningfully reduce it - likely a surround-related effect rather than excursion-related. Without applying corrective EQ, the reviewer says the 4-6kHz brightness would make it harder to live with day to day.
Full Polk Reserve R500 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 5.25" Turbine Cone woofer, 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Links
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Klipsch RP-5000F II: $1199.98 Amazon
Pros: The most tonally coherent of the RP II floorstander line, with a mild baffle-step dip and treble tilt but no additional coloration issues beyond that. Precise imaging thanks to the controlled horn/waveguide directivity.
Cons: Bass extension is underwhelming for a floorstander - F3 at 55Hz, F10 at 41Hz - and needs a subwoofer. Narrow horizontal dispersion (~50-60 degrees) trades soundstage width for imaging precision. A mild high-frequency tilt and a slight lack of detail around 1-1.5kHz.
Full Klipsch RP-5000F II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1900Hz |
| Dimensions | 36.1" x 8.1" x 14.8" (917 x 207 x 375 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 5.25" cerametallic woofers |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | 100W continuous, 400W peak |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 38.6 lbs / 17.5 kg |
| 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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