Overview

The Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500C II is the "sweet spot" center channel for home theatre enthusiasts who want high-end performance in a manageable footprint. Designed to anchor your soundstage with incredible clarity, it features dual 5.25" Cerametallic copper-spun woofers and a redesigned 90° x 90° hybrid Tractrix horn. The "MKII" updates introduce a 70% larger voice coil for superior control and a vented tweeter design that keeps high-frequency details smooth and lifelike. Whether you're watching a quiet drama or a massive blockbuster, the RP-500C II ensures that every whisper and explosion is delivered with surgical precision.

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

In many Ontario homes, the challenge isn't finding a great speaker—it's finding one that actually fits inside a standard media console. The RP-500C II is our favorite solution for this because it offers the same high-end driver technology as the massive RP-504C II but in a lower-profile cabinet. We find it pairs perfectly with the RP-600M II bookshelves or the RP-6000F II towers. It provides that essential "vocal weight" that makes movie dialogue sound like it's coming from a real person rather than a small box. For the best experience, we recommend pulling it as far forward as possible on your shelf to prevent the sound from reflecting off the surface of your furniture.

Best for the Klipsch RP-500C II: give the rear-firing port at least two to four inches of "breathing room" from the back of your cabinet or wall. Because this is a ported design, the air needs space to move to produce clean, punchy bass. If you must tuck it deep into a shelf, you might find the dialogue sounds a bit "boomy"; pulling it forward just a few inches will immediately tighten up the mid-range and make voices sound more natural.

More Details

Why It Wins

• Matched Driver Quality: Uses the same 5.25" Cerametallic woofers found in the larger RP-504C II, ensuring your theater has a consistent tonal signature.
• Silicone Composite Horn: The enlarged horn mouth features a soft silicone face that eliminates the harsh "ring" found in some older metal horns, making it easier to listen to for hours.
• Superior Sensitivity: At 94dB, it is incredibly efficient, allowing it to produce massive sound even when driven by a standard mid-range AV receiver.

What Makes It Different

The RP-500C II utilizes a sophisticated 2.5-way crossover system. This means that while both woofers work together to provide deep bass, they are "tapered" differently in the midrange to prevent the sound from becoming muddy at different seating angles. This design choice specifically helps maintain clear dialogue even if you aren't sitting in the exact center of the couch. Additionally, the new aluminum binding posts and audiophile-grade internal wiring ensure that the high-frequency details remain crisp and distortion-free, which is critical for understanding dialogue in complex movie scenes.

Technical Highlights

• 1" Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter: Reduces internal pressure waves to keep the high-end response smooth and detailed.
• Rear-Firing Tractrix Port: Specifically shaped to move air quickly and quietly, providing extra bass "oomph" without the huffing sound of standard ports.
• MDF Internal Bracing: A heavily reinforced cabinet minimizes vibrations, ensuring the speaker doesn't "rattle" during intense action sequences.
• Magnetic Grilles: Easy to remove for a high-tech look or keep on for a discrete, professional appearance.

Buyers Guide

Who This Is For

• The Space-Conscious Theater Builder: Those who want flagship Reference Premiere sound but have a height restriction on their media console.
• The Dialogue Focused: Listeners stepping up from a soundbar who want a center channel that can clearly separate voices from background music and effects.
• Reference Premiere Owners: The ideal companion for anyone already using RP-500M II or RP-6000F II speakers.

Ideal Use Case

• Standard Living Rooms: Fits beautifully on top of or inside most entertainment units while providing enough output to fill the room.
• 3.1 or 5.1 Surround Systems: Acts as the primary anchor for the front soundstage, keeping on-screen action locked to the picture.
• Multi-Purpose Media Rooms: Excels at both high-fidelity music vocals and cinematic surround sound.

What To Pair It With

• Klipsch RP-6000F II Floorstanding Speakers: For a powerful, tonally matched front three-channel setup.
• Any Modern AV Receiver (50W+): Efficient enough to run on almost any quality receiver from Denon, Marantz, or Yamaha.
• Klipsch RP-1000SW Subwoofer: Adding a dedicated sub allows the RP-500C II to focus entirely on its exceptional vocal clarity.

Alternative Options

The RP-500C II is our most popular mid-sized center channel. If you have a larger room and want even more authority and power handling, the quad-woofer RP-504C II is the flagship choice. If your console is exceptionally shallow and you need a sealed cabinet that can be pushed right against a wall, the RP-404C II is a specialized, space-saving alternative. For those looking for an entry-level introduction to the Klipsch ecosystem, the R-30C offers a more affordable way to improve your dialogue clarity.