Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M II Bookshelf Speaker - Ebony - Pair

The Compact Reference Premiere

The RP-500M II is the smaller of Klipsch's two Reference Premiere bookshelf speakers. A 1-inch titanium tweeter in a 90 by 90 degree Tractrix horn sits above a 5.25-inch Cerametallic woofer. The braced MDF cabinet is about 13.5 inches tall, and the speakers are sold as a pair.

The second generation gave the RP-500M a larger horn for a wider soundstage. The woofer was redesigned with aluminum shorting rings and a bigger voice coil. The rear-firing Tractrix port keeps port noise down, and the input panel moved to aluminum binding posts.

Why a Horn Changes the Sound

A horn-loaded tweeter is far more efficient than a bare dome, so the speaker plays loud on little power. The Linear Travel Suspension tweeter is vented behind the diaphragm to reduce standing waves. It is the same design Klipsch uses across the Reference lines.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

Klipsch quotes 50 Hz to 25 kHz within 3 dB, 92 dB sensitivity and an 8 ohm compatible load. Power handling is 75 watts continuous and 300 peak. Klipsch measures sensitivity in-room rather than anechoically. Erin's Audio Corner measured about 85 dB anechoic, still an easy drive.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 6.81 inches wide, 13.56 tall and 10.65 deep, and weighs 13.1 pounds. It has a single pair of aluminum binding posts. A magnetic grille and cork pads are included, and the finish is ebony or walnut vinyl with a satin-painted baffle.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Erin's Audio Corner reviewed and measured the RP-500M II on June 10, 2022, calling it "a marked improvement over the original" and preferring it "for the increased clarity and accuracy over the original version."

The placement note: turn the speakers about 30 degrees off axis and "the HF tilts downward a bit and is, in my opinion, much more enjoyable." The review also found it "better suited for moderate volumes at long distances."

Who Is This Bookshelf Speaker Best For?

• You want the Klipsch sound in a small room — the same horn and tweeter as the larger Reference Premiere models, in a cabinet that fits a desk or a compact shelf
• You are building a Klipsch home theater — the matching RP-504C II center and RP-502S II surrounds share the tweeter and horn, so the system stays in one voice
• Your amplifier is a receiver — an 8 ohm load and horn efficiency mean any of our AV receivers or integrated amplifiers will drive a pair
• You listen at moderate levels — Erin's Audio Corner found this the RP-500M II's comfort zone, and it is where the clarity gains over the original show
• You want to play loud or fill a big room — step up to the RP-600M II, which is the same recipe with a 6.5-inch woofer, more headroom and deeper bass

How Do They Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier to a single pair of binding posts on each cabinet, red to red and black to black. These are passive speakers, so there is nothing else to power or configure.

Put them on stands with the cork pads, a foot or more from the wall behind the rear port. Angle them away from the seat rather than toward it. Erin's Audio Corner found about 30 degrees off axis gave the most pleasant balance.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most RP-500M II owners shop next.

• Klipsch RP-504C II center channel — the matching center for a home theater front stage
• Subwoofers — for film, or for music below 50 Hz
• Speaker stands — 24 to 26 inches puts the horn at ear height
• Speaker cables — a sensible gauge for an 8 ohm load

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the RP-500M II sold as a pair?

Yes. The price is for two speakers, with two magnetic grilles and cork pads in the box.

How much amplifier do they need?

Very little. Klipsch rates them for 75 watts continuous and 300 peak. The horn-loaded tweeter makes them easy to drive, and a modest receiver will play them at full room volume.

Can they go on a bookshelf?

Yes, on the cork pads, with some space behind the rear port. They are 13.6 inches tall and 10.7 deep, so measure the shelf first.

Do I need a subwoofer?

For music at moderate levels, no. The RP-500M II reaches 50 Hz. For film, or if you want to play loud, a subwoofer takes the strain off the 5.25-inch woofer.

What changed from the original RP-500M?

A larger horn, a redesigned woofer with a bigger voice coil and shorting rings, and a new input panel. Erin's Audio Corner heard a clear gain in midrange detail over the first version of the speaker.

What finishes are available?

Ebony or walnut vinyl, each with a satin-painted, scratch-resistant baffle and a black magnetic grille.

See It in Action

Erin's Audio Corner measures and compares the RP-500M II:

Tharbamar reviews the RP-500M II:

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