Polk Signature vs. Klipsch Reference Premiere

Polk signature and Klipsch reference premiere are the epitomy of Surround sound setup monitoring thought to be industry standard. After comparing Polk signature vs. Klipsch reference premiere, there is no doubt that Klipsch is the best reference speaker for the budget and sound quality. 

While Polk signature is not that far behind the Klipsch reference premiere speakers, it is Klipsch reference that stands out in comparison to Polk signature’s performance and price points.

According to Klipsch, the Low-end frequencies you get from Klipsch premiere reference speakers is what makes it an outstanding reference peaker with the capability to balance out emanating turbulence common with Polk signature speakers, giving the Klipsch speaker an edge over Polk signature speakers for delivering deeper sounding bass while also maintaining and a consistence listening experience at a much wider frequency response than Polk signature is able to. 

Simply put, if you are getting the Klipsch premier reference speakers, you will notice the smooth baffle design Klipsch delivers on the Reference Premiere layout, compared to what you are likely to get from Polk signature refefence speakers.

 Apart from Polk signature and Klipsch premier, there are so many speakers on the market today. Nonetheless, with know-how, you are going to go through the specifications of these speakers, to find the best speaker for your needs and applications.

Alittle A Bout Polk Audio’s Signature Series Speakers

Polk signature series is a productline of Polk Audio, a company that has really changed the game- by producing speakers that are of a high quality in both their material and the sound that they produce.

They are one of the most revered brands that has specialized in manufacturing of the signature series speakers like:

1. Polk Audio S20 Signature Series Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater.
2. Polk Audio Signature Series S10 Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater, Surround Sound
3. Polk Signature Series S55 Floor Standing Speaker – American HiFi Surround Sound for TV and Music
4. Polk Signature Series S15 Bookshelf Speakers for Home Theater, Surround Sound.
5. Polk Audio Signature Series S35 Center Channel Speaker With 6 Drivers for better Surround Sound system setup.
6. Polk Signature Series S60 Floor Standing Speaker.
7. Polk Audio Signature Series S30 Center Channel Speaker.
8. Polk Audio Monitor 60 Series II Floorstanding Speaker

That being said, Polk audio makes speakers that are perfect for just about any usage.

Truly, there is no productline from Polk other than the Polk audio signature series of speakers that have stood out the most.

Alittle ABout Klipsch Reference Premiere Series Speakers.

Klipsch Reference premiere is one of the series speakers in the productline of Klipsch, a brand that has been around longer than we can even remember. They have been renowned for producing speakers that have a great dynamic and a well-balanced bass output.

Since the production of the Klipsch reference premiere series, which were a series of speakers released sequentially, these speakers have increased in terms of popularity around the world. The series included speakers like:

1. Klipsch RP-280F Reference Premiere Floorstanding Speaker with Dual 8 inch Cerametallic Cone Woofers
2. Klipsch RP-400M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers
3. Klipsch RP-600M Bookshelf Speakers
4. Klipsch RP-150M Bookshelf Speaker 
5. Klipsch RP-500SA Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Speakers
6. Klipsch RP-402S Reference Premiere Surround Speakers
7. Klipsch RP-8000F Floorstanding Speaker 
8. Klipsch RP-500SA Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Speakers
9. Klipsch RP-504C Center Channel Speaker
10. Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System

This post is about comparing between the Polk Audio Signature S15, which is one of the speakers from the series, and the Klipsch RP-400M, from the Klipsch reference premiere series.

We will talk about their various specifications and key features, giving you a side by side comparison. Ultimately, you will be able to select the one that will suite you the most.

Overview

This Comparison guide between Polk Signature and Klipsch Reference Premiere speaker is for speakers designed to be Bookshelf speakers. Make no mistake, there are many from the series productline.

Generally, the bookshelf speakers are those that are designed to sit on your table. Also, since they are usually light in weight, they can be placed on your TV stand, hence making your living room to look stunning.

Another thing that you might be interested in is the color. You can find the Polk Audio signature model in only two colors, which are Black Walnut and Brown Walnut.

On the other hand, the Klipsch reference premiere comes in three distinct colors, which are Ebony, Walnut and my favorite, Piano Black.

Basic Information

Brand: Polk Signature S15

Brand: Klipsch RP-400M

Key Features

Power Requirements

The power specifications play a big role in the quality of the sound that the speakers will produce. Generally, if a speaker requires more power, then it has a very powerful drive, which translates to a greater sound quality.

In this case, the Polk signature has a power that ranges from 20 watts all the way to 100 watts, while the Klipsch reference premiere has a stable power of 50 watts. 

This means that the Polk Audio needs more power and hence has a better sound output than the Klipsch model.

High Resolution Audio

As of this feature, you will surely fall in love with these models. The Polk Audio model is equipped with a Dynamic Balance Mica-reinforced polypropylene woofer (that is about 5.25 inches wide) cone which delivers some deep and smooth bass response.

To ensure that the woofer is long lasting, it is surrounded by a sturdy coating. The Polk audio model also includes a dynamic balanced Terylene dome tweeter which is metalized for durability.

The tweeter delivers some amazing highs, mids and lows at a very balanced frequency that allows you to distinguish music instruments as you listen to them. 

Besides music, these speakers are also excellent for movies. They give out a life-like sound that can change your entire movie experience.

The Klipsch reference premiere model, however, is equipped with a Cerametallic woofer (that is about 4 inches wide) which is, as you may have guessed metallically coated for your amazing bass responses and has a Tractrix Horn tweeter for your mids and highs.

The tweeter in this model can be swiveled for precise aiming and the most effective high frequency output.

Frequency Response

As we said before, the Polk Audio Signature S15 delivers some well-balanced frequency responses.

As such, it is perfect for just about anything- be it music, movies, the Polk audio speakers have it all. Generally, they have a frequency range of 50 to 40 Hertz.

On the other hand, the Klipsch reference speakers have a frequency output that ranges from 52 to 25 Hertz, making it ideal for whatever you have prepared for them.

Impedance

The impedance is another important feature that we turn our attention to. If you aren’t familiar with what impedance means, it is simply defined the electrical resistance provided by the speaker to the power signal that is sent by your amplifier. This is measured in ohms.

In this case both the Polk Audio signature and the Klipsch reference premiere models have an electrical resistance of 8 ohms, which is quite equal.

Sensitivity

While these speakers may have the same impedance of 8 ohms, they come with different sensitivity levels.

The Polk Audio has a sensitivity level of 88 dB while the RP-400 falls at a higher sensitivity of 93 dB. In terms of the sensitivity, the RP-400 takes the cake, and definitely gives out a better response than the Polk Signature.

Drivers

Since we have already looked at the woofer and tweeter sizes as well as the types, here I want to give you the material side of them.

The Polk audio’s woofer is surrounded by a Butyl rubber material, which is very nice and is quite durable. On the other hand, the rubber that surrounds the Klipsch is a little softer than the Butyl one in the Polk Signature.

The tweeter in both of these models is not aimable in any direction. As of the crossover frequency, the Klipsch has a frequency of 1500 while the Polk has a higher CO frequency of 2500.

Let’s look at the comparison on the physical specifications of these two models.

Physical Specifications

With a height of 12 Inches, the Polk Signature stands slightly taller than the RP-400 which has a height of 11.73 inches.

Besides the height, the Klipsch comes at a slightly lesser width, depth as well as weight. Basically the Klipsch is smaller than the Polk Signature, making the Klipsch best suited for smaller spaces like your desk. Pretty much like the Klipsch Promedia, this model is stylish and elegant to look at.

They have the same type of enclosure, which is the Bass reflex- A very unique enclosure if I do say so myself. Also, they have the same mounting bracket type. Sadly, these speakers are not moisture resistant, hence you have to protect them from rooms in your house that are prone to moisture.

Connections

As of the connections, the Polk Audio signature s15 has a Gold Plated connection type (which is a pair of binding posts) while the Klipsch model comes with a single binding post type.

Unfortunately, both of these speakers do not have Biamp inputs.

What about the Warranty?

For most people (including myself), the warranty period greatly plays a role in our choice of the product. The Warranty gives us a chance to take the product back to the manufacturer if it has faults or doesn’t perform as it is expected.

However, the warranty claims are much easily done when you reside close to the company or when a branch of the company is in your country. If you are far away, it may be difficult because you are dealing shipping costs and the like.

The Warranty that you are given upon purchasing these speakers is a similar period of 5 years. Let me clarify. You get a labor warranty of 5 years and a Parts warranty of 5 years- if this isn’t a great deal, I don’t know what is.