Klipsch RP-500PM: Reference Premiere Becomes an $800 Powered Stereo System
The price on a pair of passive speakers is the beginning of a shopping list. There is still an amplifier to buy, perhaps a phono stage, and some way to get the television or computer involved. By the time everything is connected, the affordable speaker purchase can look rather different.
Klipsch’s RP-500PM puts more of that system into the speakers. Announced at CEDIA, it is the first powered monitor in the Reference Premiere series, priced at $799.99 for the system and due in North America in December. Klipsch’s announcement, reproduced by The Absolute Sound
That is a useful proposition for someone who wants a proper stereo setup without turning the furniture into an equipment rack.
A Familiar Family, With Amplification Included
The RP-500PM uses a 5.25-inch Cerametallic woofer and a new axial Tractrix horn made with BMC material. Klipsch says the flush-mounted horn improves off-axis response and the denser material reduces resonance. Amplification is built in, and a subwoofer output provides an expansion path. Klipsch’s CEDIA release
The off-axis behavior is what I would want to examine. A speaker used for television often has to accommodate more than one person. A convincing tonal balance across the sofa can be more valuable than an impressive demonstration from one precisely marked seat.
TV, Turntable, Computer
Connections include HDMI ARC, USB-C, optical, Bluetooth 5.3, RCA line/phono, and a 3.5mm auxiliary input. An IR remote is included. Klipsch’s product page also lists customization through the Klipsch Connect app. Announcement, product page
That is enough variety to make the RP-500PM relevant beyond a dedicated listening room. The same pair could handle an evening record, a computer during the day, and a movie later on. The convenience has value when it encourages people to use the better speakers they already paid for.
For vinyl, check the cartridge’s requirements against the phono input before assuming every turntable will be a direct match. For TV use, check the actual setup and remote behavior. Those are small details until somebody has to work around them every day.
Count the Complete System
I would compare the RP-500PM with an entire passive-speaker system at a similar total price, including the amplification and inputs the owner needs. That is the fair comparison.
A separate amplifier offers flexibility when it is time to change speakers or electronics. An integrated powered system buys simplicity and a defined package. Both approaches can make sense; the right balance depends on how someone expects to use and keep the equipment.
Klipsch has outlined an attractive $800 starting point. I would still want bass-extension, output, and listening results before calling it a bargain. For now, the RP-500PM belongs on the list for anyone trying to put together a capable everyday stereo.
