Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors – The First Active Speakers in the Klipsch Reference Premiere Series
Klipsch is bringing active loudspeakers to its Reference Premiere Series for the first time with the Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors. Integrated amplification and a broad selection of digital and analogue inputs allow the pair to handle music, television sound, gaming and vinyl without a separate amplifier. The North American launch is scheduled for December 2026, while European pricing and availability have yet to be announced.
- The Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors take the familiar horn-based architecture and copper-coloured Cerametallic woofer of the Reference Premiere Series into a considerably simpler system format. HDMI ARC, USB-C, optical S/PDIF, Bluetooth 5.3, line-level and phono inputs make the pair suitable for far more than desktop use. They can form the centre of a compact stereo system serving a television, computer, record player and mobile devices.
The Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors are not simply conventional compact speakers with an amplifier added as an afterthought. They represent a change in how Klipsch intends its Reference Premiere Series to be used: without an integrated amplifier or AV receiver, with fewer cables and with the flexibility to accommodate almost every source found in a modern living room.
Unveiled at CEDIA Expo 2026 in Denver, the new model is positioned for music listening as readily as for television sound, gaming, computer audio and vinyl. That broad remit is central to the concept. Rather than demanding a traditional chain of separate components, the RP-500PM pair brings amplification, source selection and loudspeakers together in one system.
Key Facts Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors
- First active stereo loudspeaker pair in the Klipsch Reference Premiere Series
- Two-way design with a new axial Tractrix horn
- 133 mm Cerametallic woofer in each loudspeaker
- Integrated amplifiers matched to the respective drivers
- HDMI ARC, USB-C and optical S/PDIF inputs
- Bluetooth 5.3
- RCA input with selectable line-level and phono operation
- 3.5 mm stereo aux input
- Dedicated subwoofer output
- Infrared remote control and Klipsch Connect App
- Compatible with the optional Klipsch KS-28 Stand
Reference Premiere without the Separate Amplifier
Reference Premiere has traditionally meant a passive Klipsch loudspeaker system partnered with electronics chosen by the owner. The RP-500PM changes that relationship. Its amplifiers are built into the loudspeaker pair and, according to Klipsch, matched to the individual drivers.
This makes the new model a self-contained stereo solution rather than merely another compact loudspeaker in the range. It reduces both the space required for electronics and the amount of cabling involved, while retaining the visual and acoustic design language associated with Reference Premiere.
The result is a system that can serve dedicated music listening, yet does not insist on being treated as a traditional HiFi installation. In a living room or home office, the same pair can move between television sound, computer audio, wireless playback and analogue sources without requiring an additional control centre.
A New Take on the Tractrix Horn
The high-frequency section uses a newly developed tweeter assembly built around what Klipsch describes as a high-density axial Tractrix horn. Revised BMC material is intended to suppress resonances, while the horn sits flush with the front baffle to reduce unwanted diffraction.
Klipsch also claims that the new construction improves dispersion away from the central listening position. A wider usable listening area would be particularly relevant here: a pair designed for television, gaming and everyday music should not restrict convincing reproduction to a narrowly defined seat.
Bass and midrange duties fall to a 133 mm, or 5.25-inch, Cerametallic woofer in each cabinet. Klipsch promises powerful bass with useful extension despite the compact enclosure. Owners who require greater low-frequency output can add a separate subwoofer via the dedicated output.
One Pair, Several Sources
The choice of connections reveals more about the RP-500PM than any single driver specification. HDMI ARC enables the speakers to connect directly to a television, allowing them to reproduce both TV sound and audio from devices such as a games console connected to the screen.
USB-C provides the corresponding route for computer audio, while an optical S/PDIF input accommodates further digital sources. Bluetooth 5.3 covers wireless playback from smartphones, tablets and compatible computers.
The analogue side is equally important. A 3.5 mm stereo aux input is joined by an RCA connection that can accept either a line-level component or a record player. Thanks to the integrated phono stage, a suitable turntable can be connected without adding a separate phono preamplifier.
This combination gives the Klipsch RP-500PM a particularly broad role. It can replace a compact television sound system, anchor a desktop setup or form a straightforward vinyl system, while still operating as a conventional stereo pair for music.
Direct Control or App Operation
Klipsch includes an infrared remote control for volume adjustment, playback control and input selection. The RP-500PM will also work with the Klipsch Connect App, although the company has not yet specified which model-specific adjustments and control options will be available within the application.
Visually, the powered model stays close to the established Reference Premiere identity. The black cabinet carries a wood-grain finish, while the copper-coloured Cerametallic woofer and matching trim provide the familiar contrast at the front. A removable cloth grille appears to float slightly ahead of the baffle. For free-standing placement, Klipsch offers the KS-28 Stand as an optional accessory.
The Most Important Advantages at a Glance
- A complete stereo system: Amplification, source selection and loudspeakers are combined in one compact solution.
- Straightforward television integration: HDMI ARC turns the RP-500PM into a stereo alternative to a soundbar.
- Digital and analogue flexibility: USB-C, optical S/PDIF, RCA and aux inputs cover a wide range of sources.
- A direct route into vinyl: The integrated phono stage can remove the need for a separate phono preamplifier.
- Wireless playback: Bluetooth 5.3 provides easy access for smartphones, tablets and compatible computers.
- Expandable bass performance: A dedicated output allows the system to be partnered with a subwoofer.
- Two control options: The supplied infrared remote is complemented by the Klipsch Connect App.
- Recognisable Reference Premiere design: The black cabinet and copper-coloured woofer retain the series’ established appearance.
Price & Availability
The Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors are scheduled to become available in North America in December 2026, priced at US$ 799,99 per pair. Klipsch has not yet announced a launch date or recommended retail price for Europe.
Getting to the Point
The Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors fill a conspicuous gap in the Reference Premiere Series. They open the range to listeners who want a proper stereo pair but have little interest in accommodating a separate amplifier or AV receiver.
What makes the concept particularly coherent is the selection of connections. A television, computer, mobile device and even a record player can all become part of the same compact system without an additional electronics hub. The RP-500PM is therefore best understood not merely as an active bookshelf loudspeaker, but as the foundation of a refreshingly direct stereo setup.
| Product | Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors |
|---|---|
| Price | US$ 799,99 |
Technical Specifications
| Product | Klipsch RP-500PM Powered Monitors |
|---|---|
| Product type | Active stereo loudspeaker pair |
| Acoustic design | Two-way system |
| High-frequency unit | High-density axial Tractrix horn, revised BMC material, flush-mounted |
| Bass/midrange driver | 1 × 133 mm Cerametallic woofer per loudspeaker |
| Amplification | Integrated and matched to the respective drivers |
| Digital inputs | 1 × HDMI ARC, 1 × USB-C, 1 × optical S/PDIF |
| Analogue inputs | RCA line/phono, 1 × 3,5 mm stereo aux |
| Wireless connection | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Output | Subwoofer output |
| Control | Infrared remote control, Klipsch Connect App |
| Finish | Black cabinet with wood-grain finish, removable cloth grille |
| Optional accessory | Klipsch KS-28 Stand |
| Dimensions | Not yet announced |
| Weight | Not yet announced |
| Brand | Klipsch |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Premium Audio Company LLC. |
| Distribution Austria | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| Distribution Germany | Premium Audio Company Germany GmbH |
| Distribution Switzerland | novis electronics AG |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
