TL;DR Klipsch put amplifiers inside a Reference Premiere bookshelf for the first time. The RP-500PM is a two-way powered pair with the new axial Tractrix horn, a 5.25 in Cerametallic woofer, HDMI ARC, USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 and a phono input. 799 EUR per pair at Soundium, listed as forthcoming for December 2026. Amplifier power has not been published yet.
Introduction
Reference Premiere has been Klipsch's passive workhorse line for years. You bought the speakers, then you bought something to drive them. The RP-500PM is the first time Klipsch has skipped that second purchase inside the series, and it lands in the company's 80th year.
The cabinet looks like the rest of the line, black wood grain with the copper woofer and the matching trim ring, but the back panel is where the change is. Hifi Pig described it as "the first powered monitor in its Reference Premiere Series", with built-in amplification removing the need for an external receiver.
What's genuinely new acoustically is the tweeter. It's a high density axial Tractrix horn with an upgraded BMC material, and it sits flush with the baffle rather than proud of it. Klipsch's argument is a wider usable sweet spot off axis, which matters a lot more on a shelf under a TV than it does on a pair of stands in a treated room.
Key Features & Benefits
- An amplifier per driver. Each amp is matched to the driver it feeds, so there's no receiver, no speaker cable run and no gain matching.
- New axial Tractrix horn. Flush mounted, higher density BMC, aimed at a wider off axis window.
- 5.25 in Cerametallic woofer. The stiff ceramic coated cone is the reason Klipsch bookshelves stay tight rather than woolly.
- Built-in phono stage. A turntable goes straight in. No separate preamp in the chain.
- HDMI ARC. One cable to the TV, and the TV remote takes the volume.
- Subwoofer output. The upgrade path is designed in, not bolted on later.
- Klipsch Connect app plus an IR remote. Volume, play, pause and input switching without the phone if you'd rather not.
Real-World Reactions
This one hasn't been reviewed yet, it was shown at CEDIA Expo 2026 and ships later. What the trade press has said so far:
- CEPRO called it "an out-of-the-box stereo system", and put the emphasis on the expansion options rather than the box itself.
- ecoustics was blunt about the gaps: "Klipsch has not yet provided amplifier output, frequency response, dimensions, weight, maximum USB resolution or supported Bluetooth codecs."
That second line is worth sitting with. At 799 EUR you're being asked to take the amplifier on trust until Klipsch publishes numbers, which is unusual for a brand that normally leads with sensitivity figures.
Gallery
Who It's For
People who want the horn without the rack. If your listening happens in a living room where a turntable, a TV and a phone all need to reach the same pair of speakers, this is a two box solution instead of a five box one. It also makes sense on a desk, where a receiver was never going to fit anyway.
Who should look elsewhere: anyone who already owns an amplifier they like. The passive R series and the rest of the Reference Premiere line will get you the same horn for less money if the electronics are redundant. And if you want a second finish, this model launches in Ebony only.
Quick Specs
- Configuration: two-way powered monitors, sold per pair
- Tweeter: high density axial Tractrix horn (BMC), flush mounted
- Woofer: 5.25 in (133 mm) Cerametallic
- Inputs: HDMI ARC, USB-C, optical, RCA line, phono, 3.5 mm aux, Bluetooth 5.3
- Output: subwoofer out
- Control: IR remote and Klipsch Connect app
- Finish: Ebony, textured wood grain, floating cloth grille
- Stands: Klipsch KS-28 compatible
- Not yet published: amplifier power, frequency response, dimensions, weight, Bluetooth codecs, USB resolution
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Reference Premiere horn and Cerametallic woofer with no amplifier to buy
- ✅ Input list covers TV, turntable, laptop and phone in one box
- ✅ Subwoofer output keeps the low end upgradeable
- ⚠️ A 5.25 in woofer in a bookshelf cabinet, so real depth wants that sub output
- ⚠️ Klipsch hasn't published amplifier power, frequency response or weight
- ⚠️ Ebony only, where the passive RP models also come in walnut
Where to Buy
- 799 EUR per pair at Soundium
- Listed as forthcoming, expected December 2026
- Free shipping across the Baltics and the EU on orders over 100 EUR
- 3 year warranty and 14 day returns
Final Thoughts
Powered speakers usually ask you to trade something away for the convenience, and it's normally the driver. The RP-500PM doesn't do that. It's the Reference Premiere cabinet with the electronics moved inside, and the new flush horn is a real acoustic change rather than a badge. The open question is what's driving it, and Klipsch will have to answer that before December.
Still Unsure?
Tell us what the speakers have to plug into and how big the room is, and we'll tell you whether the RP-500PM is the right pair or whether a passive set plus an amp gets you further. Browse the rest of what's landing on forthcoming.
Soundium