Steve please do a collabo with Sean for Rp150 vs 500. How does the 500/600 compare in treble to the rp150??? Everyone seems to say that its quite a bit better. I thought the rp150 treble was not as refined compared to otehr speakers in the sub 1000 category.
@@chrisselner5005 Appreciate the collab encouragement. Cant answer those questions though as I'm not familiar with the speakers that you're referencing.
I completely agree with the collaboration idea. Get 3 or 4 of you together with different tastes and each can share and comment on how it the product does for each of you.
I purchased one pair. Your review is spot-on! The principal character is balanced, balanced, balanced. Bass is good, but a Subwoofer helps below 50 Hz. Really, truly satisfying. A raving good bookshelf design. There a-re better ones For Triple the Price (like my LS50), but noticed only in A/B comparison.
By far the best RP-600M review on-line. Thank you very much. I almost exclusivity only watch you and Steve at this point . Thank you and keep up the hard work.
Wait...I’m confused. You called them horn speakers. But I read that they’re not horn tweeters, Klipsch calls it a wave guide with a regular tweeter. What are they? Who’s right?
I tried them and I have bought the Elac Debut 6.2s instead. Where I live the Elacs are half the cost of the Klipsch and I thought they sounded better. The only problem with the Elacs is they are not very pretty.
Guttenberg just gave a thumbs up for those Jamo 803's too. Mainly cuz they're such a good deal for the price (and no, no one is saying they're in the same league as these RP600's you're reviewing cuz they're clearly not)
been loving mine that i got for $450. using them at my desk and work just fine as i have a large desk and sit 3-4ft away from them. really want some of the floor standing versions rp8000m.
@@ShortHandedNow i got lucky and got the order out when "Z Reviews" still had the video on patreon only. got the video a week early and soon as it came out price went back up to $550. maybe if you are close enough to the border you could pick a set up at a bestbuy and smuggle them back?
@@aflea8272 the company I ordered off Amazon offered me the piano black for the same price 449, but all my klipsch gear is in walnut so I told him it's either walnut or I'm going to cancel the order. Yea it's still 549, just checked Amazon now
Hi Sean, Do not usually do UA-cam comments ... after watching this video I had to do one. I really enjoyed the format and delivery of the review, the breakdown, concise on all the points, the characteristics covered, and the scope of the pros/cons. What I appreciated the most is the focus on the listener user preferences/experience and how these speakers may or may not appeal to certain audience. It is obvious that you have deep expertise in this field. I spent last night jumping from one ZF video to the next. May I make a suggestion? Not sure if you have done this already. Would you consider a review comparing a new speaker and an old vintage one in the same “class”? For example, I would be interested in how my 15+ year old B&W DM303 stand up today and how R&D have pushed audio quality forward. Thank you. H.
Hi Sean..good explanation bro.. how about rp 600m vs b&w 606.. which one is better sound quality in term of sound stage, image , balance , dynamic, punchy and naturally? I came in mindset before, these klipsch is more to HT.. for stereophile look like there is manipulation in sound for klipsch.. not sure why😔..
quite interesting speaker, not for me in my current nearfield listening room, i also like sealed cabinet for more clarity and better sound quality. if i just want to throw something together without a subwoofer in my living room these can be a interesting choice. if they just made a woofer the works in sealed box that would benefit sound quality, as woofer are specialized for either ported or sealed, you could make one that works in both but then they are not perfect for either.
I went with the RP-500m because they were for a tiny room, but this review could apply just as well to mine. Having said that, I shopped and listened to a LOT of different options... some went way above this price point. LS50. Elac Debut and Ubi. LS305’s. To me, none of them produced the same clarity. I found myself REALLY looking for a reason to NOT get them because (1) I’m not crazy about the copper drivers and (2) klipsch has that sort of mass produced perception. Everyone has klipsch. Zero regrets on my purchase. I did hook them up to an old 8” KLH sub, but the experience is unreal. Movies. Games. Music. Klipsch hit a home run with their reference premier line.
vwr32jeep Klipsch speakers(their quality ones, and Klipsch is not deceptive about their many levels of quality, reflected in advertising AND cost) are really quite interesting. They are, seemingly, designed to be “unlocked”, and once they are, wow. For the cost, they are rock solid, bordering and occasionally crossing over into amazing and nuanced. They are speakers designed, engineered, constructed by folks that get what speakers genuinely are, and extension of the purchasers character and passion. Just my opinion lol!
vwr32jeep Klipsch speakers(their quality ones, and Klipsch is not deceptive about their many levels of quality, reflected in advertising AND cost) are really quite interesting. They are, seemingly, designed to be “unlocked”, and once they are, wow. For the cost, they are rock solid, bordering and occasionally crossing over into amazing and nuanced. They are speakers designed, engineered, constructed by folks that get what speakers genuinely are, and extension of the purchasers character and passion. Just my opinion lol!
whatfreedom7 It’s at 10:45 or so. He said “I wouldn’t call it sibilant”. He says the treble is “forward but not harsh”. In all fairness, I’m using the RP-500m, but it’s the same horn horn tweeter. To be honest, when I’m listening to music I really do forget about the speaker. I have yet to wish the highs were different at all. They just sound good and I turn it up. I do leave the grills on because I don’t care for the copper color, but these are pointed directly at me. I even have the treble set above neutral on the receiver. I’m using a Yamaha RX-A870, so it’s kinda low end.
Had the RP 150M which led to some vintage Forte I with a Godzilla integrated, I could hear the groans of audiophiles everywhere. Then Steve started his horn phase. Don't know about the RP 600Ms with a SET, but the Fortes love it, they aren't loud using 3 watts, but man do they sound right. Anything acoustic is just phenomenal.
How can something esthetically so "unappealing" create this engaging sound??? Far from perfect but F. H. what a delight to turn them on! Low volume or medium...or higher. Highs are just right, medium range ok but not exceptional, bass sweet and fairly precise. Paired to Pro Ject S2 Stream Box, Pro Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Dac (Austria), Creek Destiny 2 Amp (UK) and a touch of Rel T1 sub to bring this cosy warmth at low volumes. Quite unique. Just got them to give them a try but... Might smile like Steve... They look cheap and ugly "piece of furniture"... Compare to Sonus Faber o even Quads... But damn, they are addictive. Sean thanks for your always entertaining and personal reviews. Kind Regards from Madrid, Spain.
This price point for bookshelf speakers is really heating up, so this is a great time to get into bookshelf speakers! Andrew Jones got things started a few years ago, first with his Pioneer speakers and then with his ELAC offerings. But Klipsch has answered the challenge. In my opinion, these RPs topple ELAC from its price point dominance, and are now the new kings. BTW, if anyone is interested in these speakers but doesn't want to pay $550, consider buying a pair of the prior generation RP-160s, which are marked down now. For some reason the 160s flew under the audiophile radar, but they sound just as good as the 600s, with only minor cosmetic differences. As an owner of a pair, I can attest that everything Zero Fidelity says here about the 600s is also true of the 160s. I matched mine with a slightly warmish vintage amp, and the combination is exceedingly magical. I got mine refurbished for around $300/pair, and I consider them an even better deal than my now unused ELAC Debut B6s, which as another commenter notes, can be a little too rolled off on the top end.
Have the RP 150's. Amazing little speakers. Mine sit atop a pair of upgraded Quartets and not only do they keep pace with the quartets, but they sound more "true" at volume. Did I mention that they are amazing little speakers?
these speakers are a little to big for my present needs. I've had the earlier models of the 4 inch version and I always liked them. At this point, the RP 500M would be better for me. Do you think all the sizes share the characteristics of this model. I know that's a tough call to make...what do you think? Thanks for a very good review and great points made.
They "toned down" the horn(s) years ago. And if you think they are too "bright", just turn the treble down to -2 or -3. Also, it depends on the amp that you are using. I have an original pair of Klipsch Heresys and I'm using a Marantz 1060b Integrated Amp to power them. They sound a LOT better on the Marantz than they do on a Yamaha (can't think of the model number right now) receiver.
Thanks for your fine review Sean. I own both Klipshorns and a pair of RP-280F as mains for the theater material. However, I decided to lower the level of the horn tweeter a bit. NOT with the EQ in my Marantz AVR, (I leave that FLAT), but with taking the input links OUT on the rear of the speakers. I put high quality L-Pads in and BI-Amp them. Running the L-PAD at 12 O'Clock for the horn on it's own amp makes for a much smoother sound to my ears and not so forward and in your face for ORCHESTRAL recordings.... There are many high end speakers that have adjustments on them for this reason, so your speakers can be better tailored to your room, and your tastes... Just a thought....
Well, okay. The elephant in the room is the comparison between the 600m and the rp 160m's. The horn has some distinctions between the 2. Both have been dampened when compared to the reference line. I would like to see some b___s here and discuss- beyond hype, if there is enough of a difference to explain the price difference, between the 600ms and the rp 160m's. Is the difference sonically really all that? Has anyone reviewed this matter? Peace..
How are these speakers compare to the previous speakers RP160m ? I am asking because I own RP160m, and want to know should I upgrade to these ? Thank you for your response.
What interests me the most about this review is your very well-stated assessment of the polarizing nature of the Klipsch sound and the fact that this speaker eliminates this issue by solving the problems that led to the polarization. Short of just guessing, do you have reason to believe that the Klipsch line in general, especially the larger floor standing models, such as the La Scala and Cornwalls, have similarly resolved this problem? As an aside, based at least partly on your review I became extremely interested in Tekton Design speakers and ended up purchasing the Ulfberht's, which I absolutely love. Thanks for the heads up!
Great review, what are the chances of you getting your hands on the klipsch RP 4000 I really can’t find any reviews about that speaker! And if you have any opinions, I’d love to hear them
It's sad to say but human beings will never be satisfied with anything. Nothing is never enough. We complain about everything. The best thing to do is for everybody to built their own stuff to their liking. I guarantee you that even then. People will find something to complain about.
I personally use Emotiva B1 and have them paired with a TA-100 and love the setup! I would recommend this setup to anyone looking for a great desktop setup.
Good to see you back. Another great and useful video! I used to have the RP150M and the RP160M’s. I think the old models lined up with what you experienced with these - with the 150M’s sounding less bright. Not sure if that is because the horn on the 150M’s was smaller. I also noticed the tweeters in the 150M’s were stamped with a different part # than the 160M’s. And just for reference my amp at the time was the excellent Marantz PM6005 integrated.
Tell ya something else for free too 😉 ... I did a test one day with the Marantz 5005, Klipsch RP150Ms and CD sources. Even against the higher model Marantz CD 6006 and other brands at a similar price point ... I preferred the Marantz CD 5005. Obviously good synergies between CD and Amp. Edit: ... And you might be surprised how noticeable the CD player differences presented! Edit: corrected 6005 to 5005.
I have some for my HT . Klipsch has a ringer- That "it" speaker that's going to be a big cash cow. As I've said before: $3000 bookshelves that sound great. zzzz. ok fine, for that price they BETTER be. For under $600 a pair? Rock on! There are VERY FEW speakers at that price that I dare call giant killers. STILL not my bag for nearfield, they need space. Older klipsch do shout.
My experience with these speakers did not mirror your own except for the bottom end. The top end was very disappointing. The tweeters sounding like they were playing through a wad of cotton. My room sucks up the high frequencies so I was hoping for a much brighter sound. Plus, that's my own personal preference. When I discussed my issue with a high end audio retailer who carries all of the Klipsch product line, he stated very mater of factly that the RP 600M rolled off the top end pretty good and was not surprised I was not happy with their performance in that area. I think you hit on something in your review when you indicated that they did not sound like a typical Klipsch product in that they were closer to neutral on the treble side. That's not something Klipsch has been noted for in the past. I see from many of the comments that lots of folks love them and I wish I could count myself in that number. Whatever those boys down in Arkansas did to those horns (they did SOMETHING), I think they went a bit too far.
Well, I don't have those magic speaker cables with the Area 51 black boxes on them. (I'm just messing with you) So they are that sensitive to gear, huh? I don't think I like that in a speaker. Still, I was expecting performance on par with your review. Hard to believe my components would make that much difference but they are the only variable (besides the aforementioned secret government technology) so I suspect you're right about that. I spent a little more money and got the SVS Ultra's and you know how that went. They're phenomenal.
@@mikehanks1399 What goes on inside the box, stays in the box. Yeah - these speakers are pretty sensitive to what you pair them up to. As for the Ultras.. I have a set that are still sitting in a box. :) They're on of over a dozen products that are currently awaiting evaluation. Looking forward to finally reviewing em'. :)
I agree but i've always found their horns rolled off. Most people don't realize the brightness range is around 8,000hz -10,000hz and not 15,000hz - 20,000hz.
I was looking at the 160's in comparison. If they have better high freq response than the 600's that would be great to find out. I was disappointed to hear about the roll off occurring as I need it due to hearing loss in the 6K range..
@@mubodude 600m's are replacing the 160m's - Just picked up a pair of the 160's from Crutchfield for 399.99/Pair - get them while they're still available.
@@trebor694u Ah, didn't know that. I haven't been speaker shopping in quite some time and a bit outta the loop. I'm still using JBL 4311's that won't die. Ebay has the 160M pair for $329 shipped/no tax!
The RP160M's are awesome! Bought them over 2 years ago and i'm still in love with them. Easy to drive, great sound stage and to be honest, i prefer their looks over the RP600M.
Hi. I am considering Martin Logan 35XT bookshelf speakers or maybe the smaller Motion 15s. I would like to see you and others review them and compare them.
They didn't do it for me. And in part it may be because I didn't get them broken in properly. Some reviewers are suggesting they need quite a bit to get them loose. No idea. I was disappointed immediately. You say clarity. I heard muddy, with sub par definition. I do realize it probably has a lot to do with my small room: 7ft ceiling, about 170 sq.ft. Walls are plaster over concrete. There is a thick room size rug and a very big stuffed sofa, with a couple of quilts on the wall. Because the space is shared I can't do much more in terms of treatment. So, I parked the 600s and built myself a pair of Fountek ribbon MTMs based on the design from Stones Sound Studio in Australia. Somehow, they get past the room, and sound sweet and balanced. I'm driving the Founteks with the same 60W/ch Neurochrome Parallel-86 Power amp I used on the Klipsch.
Hey man. Love your reviews :) I had these RP600Ms for a while, but ultimately returned them because the bass just wasn't there and I felt like Klipsch still needs to work on that horn sound that 'colors' their budget models. Ordered S400s from Buchardt as a replacement. I know, triple the cost. Don't judge me :) Which amp ~1300USD do you think will complement both S400 and LS50? Will Parasound 2350 and A 23+ be on that short list?
Thanks Vicky! The S400's are badass speakers. No judgement here.. :D For $1,300 USD... and for something that will compliment both the Buchardts and the KEF's.. I'll defer to a product that I'll be reviewing soon from a brand named Iota VX. Which was sold under the Nakamichi name. Real good stuff. A review of that gear will be coming out soon.
Sean, the most important comparison I'd love to need your view is how does this pair compare to JBL Studio 530. That is in the same price range and is highly rated. Would you recommend this pair over the JBLs?
I just ordered a pair. I heard a sound demo and loved them. I'm looking for speakers that sound as good as my Sennheiser headphones and these might be them.🙂
Do these speakers have better bass and dynamics than the Elac Debut B6.2s? I own the Elacs and I find the treble and mids to be perfect for my needs but the lack of bass and the fact that I have to turn up the volume to higher levels to hear dynamics makes them sound extremely lifeless. A sub is not really possible in my setup and prior to the Elacs, I had the Onkyo SKF 4800 towers which had too much bass for my small listening room but were very musical sounding to my ears. I power my speakers with an Onkyo A-9050 integrated amplifier. I’m a classical musician so detailed dynamics at all volume levels are important to me.
I'm not sure how you'll feel about the top end, but everything else about the 600m is more expressive than the B6.2. As a musician, I think there's a good chance that you'll dig on em'.
Check out this crossover upgrade guide that will make the Klipsch with better clarity, detail and imaging. community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/163667-how-to-make-the-rp-160m-come-alive/
It's not a horn.Don't talk about stuff you know nothen about. You keep mis-leading people with wrong information. If you're gonna speak on someone else's product you should atleast read on the proper info. Thx
thanks for the review ! I came very very close to buying but then heard the difintive technology demand series ehaa so confussed now sold my hpm 100s so have extra money but I will say I been a audiophile since 89 and blown away buy the fs52s still!! Even bought another set I put up lol I d like to find some elac f6 to get over the F52s lol I know You never reviewed f52s but must be a reason idk thanks again I've watched a lot of reviews on the RP600 but take your reviews with more weight thanks again sean !!
I am not a fan of them. To me they sound very tinny. When I listen to diffrent opera recordings the voices are pushed into the backround, punchy electronic music has no bass whatsoever, and the hit-hats during Jazz just ring in my ear. I pass this cup of tea to someone who has not my ears
Why are people drawn to certain speakers, these speakers for instance? I'd say it's at least partially because they are drawn to the hype. When lots of people say they're great, people are inclined to agree if/when given the chance, meaning when they hear the speakers, so unless they're really bad, people are going to agree with the chorus of people/reviewers saying how great they are, it's just a natural tendency and bias we have, it's hard to be a contrarian, psychological tests have even demonstrated this. Now, I"m not saying these speakers are bad, I've never heard them in person myself, but I have heard a lot of other speakers that have very positive reviews from a majority of audio people whom I have to disagree with. Ultimately, I think audio is very difficult to make sense of in some ways(the ear is dumb compared to the eye as I've heard said), and obviously it's very subjective to say the least, so when we hear something which isn't really bad or really great, which will likely be the majority of the products we listen to(and I would contend that the differences are generally much smaller than we make them out to be because we often magnify and exaggerate them to make a point) we will tend to agree with what the "community" is saying, and that goes for better or for worse. I mean, "even because I don't like the sound," these speakers can't really be that bad can they, I mean so many people think they're great, so they must be pretty good, something must be wrong with what I'm hearing, maybe it's a bad room or setup. No offense, but I think we need to learn to trust ourselves more, our own perception of the sound we are hearing, and not be biased by a chorus of reviewers, especially when they're singing the praises of some product. No, I'm not saying just because the general consensus is that something is good that it must necessarily be bad, in fact, I'd say it's probably the opposite, if a large majority says something is good, there's usually some merit and it's worth checking out, but we do need to listen for ourselves and form our own unbiased opinion, and that's not easy to do.
With making speakers and I found that image happens with 3 things. Time alignment. Medrange tone. Treble level. About #3...You said there is a close image you can "touch", and the treble is forward (tipped up a bit). With my speakers, when I adjusted my crossover to vary the treble level (I noticed that) with it a bit bright it would make the image, but then the image would drop off again with further treble level. And it's a narrow margin when the image comes in, when the treble level is just a little bit bright but not too much, just pleasantly bright.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s when I was a college student and was first turned on to “high end” audio (although I dwelt in the entry level strata) the older audiophiles lumped Klipsch in with JBL for being a “has been.” You know, a company that once made great stuff but had inevitably ended making cheaper speakers that dwelled in that purgatory somewhere between mass market mid-fi and true high end. I’d have never even bothered to listen to Klipsch or any gear found at the now defunct Circuit City or Best Buy. Today though, Klipsch is getting the same fanfare as KEF and B&W got 20 to 30 years ago. I guess I should give them a listen.
Informative review .... going to have to give these a listen.... the set up you describe can be met in my room and I was hoping for a less rolled off treble from my entry Elacs
You and Steve have persuaded me. Now, I need to find an integrated amp replacement for my beleaguered Yamaha receiver. Big room to drive (20 x 32 x 17), listening point ~10 feet in front, so I'm looking for ~100 watts or better, honest RMS continuous power. Needs an MM input and s/w out. Hoping for 100 dB peak at 10'. For others, I wish you'd treat sensitivity a bit more since it means so much to amp power. That data seems under-reported. Soon. Stand back, Saint-Seans.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt I think you have a point. In defense of the choice, I will be using two existing 12" powered subs to take the strain off the Klipsches at
@@ZeroFidelity Thanks for the clue. Your review of these speakers has motivated me to place an order. Now, what to do with the existing Pioneer - A. Jones power-sumps? :)
I wonder how it compares to 160M Your description tells the story of civilized, tamed Klipsch Can you part with it and have fun with them? As 160m were my choice among other speaker producers
, save some money if your on a budget and buy the RP160-Ms. for $334.00 on Amazon. Black oak, piano gloss black, and cherry veneer. same speakers, just a small change in tweeter design.
I picked these up last week on Amazon for $330 (piano black version)...and I'm STUNNED by their performance. I would go to say that they are damn near toe to toe with SVS Ultra Bookshelves (over $1000 a pair). I should know... i have them both.
I am pretty sure I got the same deal on the RP-600M first gen. I am curious how different / similar they will be to my RP-160m. The main difference should be the change to the ported tweeter.
Also keep an eye open for mid-summer sales. It's a slow time of the year, and often times manufacturers will run promotions that are as good, if not even better than holiday sales.
I personally need someone to do a comparison video of rp150 and these. Unless klipsch has completely redesigned the horn, I just don’t think the treble in terms of smoothness and refinement can compete with other speakers at the price. Granted, the positives remain true, I thought the rp150 were very dynamic, it was exciting even. The horn does give you that floaty treble and soundstage. One thing I don’t think he mentioned is power handling, if you need a party speaker, the rp150 can reach unlimited spl (it’s commendable). The bad points also persist, poor horn and driver integration (this is a big one for me) makes the sound seems disconnected and flushed out the u shaped profile a bit. Bass is a bit light and the biggest for me was that while there is a good deal of soundstage and imaging, the treble doesn’t sound that refined. I hate to use the word grainy. The treble is elevated and rarely silbant but the detail sounds choppy to me. Additionally the 150 usd price hike is interesting as well. All in all if someone likes the sound of the rp150 they will love them. However at about 400-500 I think elac unifi and especially q acoustics concept 20 must be considered as serious rivals. Both are in my opinion better balanced although the klipsch do different things for sure. So please, comparison and collabo video with Steve jajja. Thanks Sean, nice video
Elac Unifi will require a more powerful amp (>80W(?)). More bass from the RP-160Ms than the 150Ms ...(and so the 600Ms v the 500Ms(?)) - bigger cabinets. I haven't heard the 500/600s ... But would have thought you'd want a buyer lined for your 150s - esp if your not gonna get a chance to hear the latest models.
@@ShellstaTubeYou're right the the 600 should have more bass. I looked up thespecs: rp150/500 is 48hz +/-3 and rp160/600 is 45. The elac Ub5 is 46 (i assume +/-3db, it doesnt specify) The elac will require a bit more power as I think they are 85 db sensitivity but a Nad 316BEE 40 wpc A/B can bring them to their limit before running out of gas. With my UF5 (the towers), the nad struggles a bit more . Thats the thing also with the Elac UB5 and the Ls50, the concentric driver has its limits, which are lower in the elac's case before they get really unruly and shouty. The more power you have, the better controlled the bass will be, not the louder they will get. The Ub5/UF5's "taut and controlled bass" is unheard of imo at this price.
Nice review. Need to get my ears on these. Unfortunately, I find it hard to believe that that speaker has more detail than the Elac Debut 6.2s. Because I have those Elacs on a NAD C325 and they're only a smidge warm on that and very very clean up top! However, I am considering an RP8000f and center upgrade to my HT. Where they should work regardless! But need to HEAR them first!
I know this video is a lil but old but since I just purchased these a few days ago.... About a year ago I had the choice between these and the RP8000Fs and I went with the RP8000F since my living room in my new house was going to be pretty large. Since purchasing the 8000s I have never liked their sound on certain types of music. For instance, Steely Dan and Floyd sounds fantastic but Judas Priest kills me, well basically any hard rock or metal. I listen to a wide range of music but mostly hard rock and metal. I purchased the RP600Ms for my office since the price dropped and some of the reviews I had seen said they were still dynamic but not as harsh as the 8000s. I put them in my office and immediately noticed the people were dead on. They are not nearly as harsh on the highs and way more balanced over all. So I decided to put them in the living room to see how they would sound in a larger room. They are paired with a Pioneer LX504 and a RP120 sub and they sound fantastic. They fill the room perfectly. I tried them on every type of music I listen to and they sound great on everything. I tried them streaming Tidal, my CD player and my record player (all on direct) and everything I threw at them they sounded great. I was skeptical about all the hype since the RP8000s had tons of positive videos but these are basically what I wish I would have gotten with the 8000s. If I could get my money back on the 8000s I would buy another pair of these. Since my office is way too small for the 8000s I have put them in the garage and put my Polk T50s back in my office.
I have a perplexity: ¿Why almost all modern loudspeakers, no matter size and/or price, are ported boxes? It's not really true that configuration of the cabinets gives deeper bass, but an artificial reinforcement in the upper bass region, which can give at the first "glance" a pleasant sensation of bass fullness, but in the long run results in a kind of miscontrol of that band region (this is quite evident with male voices and instruments like bassoons, for example). The ported designs are also far more difficult to position in the room than sealed boxes, because of the reasons I've mentioned above. Actually, I have two systems in my living room. One has two really big and heavy Mission 767 sealed columns I acquired in 1990 and they sounded great from the very beginning (putting apart the physical efforts to open those "coffins" and erected them into their place, that is). Past year I purchased a pair of KEF Q300 (frontal ported) wich sounded very good in the Hi-Fi store, but they costed me blood, sweat and tears to position them until I found the optimal position for not sounding "boomy" and so on. P.S.: The Mission can reach comfortably no less than 25 Hz (measured directly into my living room) at a perfectly audible level, whilst the KEFs barely emit anything below 45 Hz or so (equally measured). Any explanation for this audio "fashion"?
@@zanyzappers Just to move them from one place to another, a lot of times. The final distance (excuse me the metric system) are 30 cm to the rear wooden wall (surprisingly, more and less separation gave more cased sound)l, 0.85 meters to the side walls, 1.78 meters between the centers of them and I had to mount them on stands (it was not an easy task to find a pair enough solid, stable and DEEP for them and costed me one half the prize of the loudspeakers themselves. I had to import them through the retailer, who had not any appropriate model in his own stock). Of course, these figures are valid just for my case and my living room, and cannot be generalized. The acoustics of my living room is reasonably good, but these KEFs are stubborn! (P.S.: I drive them with a Cyrus Two (solid state) SE integrated amp + Cyrus PSX additional power supply. The attempt to move them (as an experiment) with a far costlier Luxman MQ-360 2×40 watts all-tube power amp reinforced the "cased" character of the sound).
That is my question. I know they are different price points, but as a noobie going back to vinyl with a Rega P3 and the Billie tube amp I'm wondering how which speakers I should try. I've been following the Buchardt S400, but they are alot more money. Thanks for any input.
I really love my RP-260Fs too. I think they are the exact same drivers as the 600Ms. After bi-amping them the bass became clear and distinct down to 35Hz. So good I got rid of my sub. They are really cheap since the new models came out. I think they look better too.
Having listened to Klipsch (La Scala) speakers years ago at a friends I can say that I liked them. Trouble is, as you surmise, most folks either like or hate the horn sound.To me it is kinda forward and P. A. associated. Klipsch, Electro-Voice and Altec are some brands noted for their "west coast " sound. That Klipsch is still building a quality product after all these years is a testament to their R&D. You sir, give an informative and lucid review of this speaker. Easy to understand and entertaining. Makes me almost wanna buy the freakin' things.
I agree that a more detailed comparison between these and the 160m's (and 150m's). When I wrote in about this suggestion in the past on another review, someone may have mentioned that there is a difference in the horn. What I believe is true of the 160m's and the 600M's is that sound is more rounded and not as harshly bright than the usual reference line. Everyone seems to say so, that is. For those of us who own the 160's m , is it worth it or a great upgrade (it seems not) to replace the 160m's with the newer 600m's. Thanks for this review.
1- it was a SUGGESTION as I think such would be helpful. His opening comments suggest or pose the question of whether or not this is really the hot thing it is promoted to be. It seemed to me to pose the question of - compared to what(?) as a consideration. 2- I dont know if the dude has ever done a review of the 160's in the past or if he has had any experience with them. I did not bother to go through his whole history to check that out as I can do other things with my time. The fact that I am even taking the time to respond to your comment already makes me wonder why I am spending my time doing to. 3- he is not the only one reading my comments ( you are a case in point ) so - maybe others can offer feedback. I am aware that he does not have the 160's or 150's in this demonstration. I am proposing what I think would be helpful. If you don't think so - that is cool- then just say so instead of being more invested in being a smarta__.
I'd need to have both speakers on hand to provide you with a qualified verdict. Hopefully somebody here, who HAS conducted an A/B comparison, will see your question and provide their take on how the two compare. Cheers!
I have a pair of the Klipsch rb-61 II and was wondering how they differ from these as far as sound? I bought them fairly cheap to run off a small mini tube amp but haven’t even hooked them up.
The 600M's will offer up better integration between the horn and the woof, less horn shout, less bright, more neutral, and arguably more realistic tone. I don't think you'll need to rush out and replace what you have, but it's certainly worth auditioning the 600m's if you already like how the RB-61 II's sound.
As surrounds, which one would you prefer, these 600M's or 402's..is there any benefits of that wide dispersion with 402's compared to these 600M's..? They are in the same price range so it's a difficult choice..
Heh, I got my Fortes for less than these, got a 3w single ended valve amp because I think they wanted to kill me using a burly solid state integrated. Actually, they're fun with either, Fri-Sat solid state, Sunday we roll out the tubes.
Sean nailed it!
Steve please do a collabo with Sean for Rp150 vs 500. How does the 500/600 compare in treble to the rp150??? Everyone seems to say that its quite a bit better. I thought the rp150 treble was not as refined compared to otehr speakers in the sub 1000 category.
Thanks, Steve!
@@chrisselner5005 Appreciate the collab encouragement. Cant answer those questions though as I'm not familiar with the speakers that you're referencing.
I completely agree with the collaboration idea. Get 3 or 4 of you together with different tastes and each can share and comment on how it the product does for each of you.
Measurements please!
I love them! I just got a pair and they are the best sounding speakers I’ve ever owned.
Niiice I am about ti buy them, can't wait anymore
Polarizing...with a Polaroid shirt 👀
What kind of stands are those?
I purchased one pair. Your review is spot-on! The principal character is balanced, balanced, balanced. Bass is good, but a Subwoofer helps below 50 Hz. Really, truly satisfying. A raving good bookshelf design. There a-re better ones For Triple the Price (like my LS50), but noticed only in A/B comparison.
By far the best RP-600M review on-line. Thank you very much. I almost exclusivity only watch you and Steve at this point . Thank you and keep up the hard work.
$1600 speakers in Australia, and we live closer to the factory!
Stewart Ross ... all hifi is expensive Down Under! It’s crazy.
Damn, I'm afraid to look how much they are here in NZ then
The Truth ... you are living on the wrong end of the earth! 😂
From my neck of the woods it’s just around $750
Why is that?
I was able to get a pair for here in Australia for $950 from America. Postage is a killer, but it’s better than paying full price here!
I currently have them, they are a blast to listen too. Bestbuy sells them, go buy them and give them a try.
my best buy does not...no klipsch
Wait...I’m confused. You called them horn speakers. But I read that they’re not horn tweeters, Klipsch calls it a wave guide with a regular tweeter. What are they? Who’s right?
Yup it's a Tweeter with a wave guide. Real Horns uses a compression driver. Klipsch uses compression drivers with their heritage line.
I tried them and I have bought the Elac Debut 6.2s instead. Where I live the Elacs are half the cost of the Klipsch and I thought they sounded better. The only problem with the Elacs is they are not very pretty.
Guttenberg just gave a thumbs up for those Jamo 803's too. Mainly cuz they're such a good deal for the price
(and no, no one is saying they're in the same league as these RP600's you're reviewing cuz they're clearly not)
been loving mine that i got for $450. using them at my desk and work just fine as i have a large desk and sit 3-4ft away from them. really want some of the floor standing versions rp8000m.
Got mine for 449 too! And def get the 8000f, I got them both and my neighbors hate me!!
Bah. They retail for $850 CAD up here in Canada. :(
@@ShortHandedNow i got lucky and got the order out when "Z Reviews" still had the video on patreon only. got the video a week early and soon as it came out price went back up to $550.
maybe if you are close enough to the border you could pick a set up at a bestbuy and smuggle them back?
@@aflea8272 the company I ordered off Amazon offered me the piano black for the same price 449, but all my klipsch gear is in walnut so I told him it's either walnut or I'm going to cancel the order. Yea it's still 549, just checked Amazon now
@@aflea8272Exchange is currently to far off sadly. The Canadian dollar has just slipped way to much in value :(.
Hi Sean,
Do not usually do UA-cam comments ... after watching this video I had to do one.
I really enjoyed the format and delivery of the review, the breakdown, concise on all the points, the characteristics covered, and the scope of the pros/cons.
What I appreciated the most is the focus on the listener user preferences/experience and how these speakers may or may not appeal to certain audience.
It is obvious that you have deep expertise in this field. I spent last night jumping from one ZF video to the next.
May I make a suggestion? Not sure if you have done this already. Would you consider a review comparing a new speaker and an old vintage one in the same “class”? For example, I would be interested in how my 15+ year old B&W DM303 stand up today and how R&D have pushed audio quality forward.
Thank you.
H.
Great looking speakers, great specs, great price tag! Great work on the review as usual man!
Hi Sean..good explanation bro.. how about rp 600m vs b&w 606.. which one is better sound quality in term of sound stage, image , balance , dynamic, punchy and naturally? I came in mindset before, these klipsch is more to HT.. for stereophile look like there is manipulation in sound for klipsch.. not sure why😔..
quite interesting speaker, not for me in my current nearfield listening room, i also like sealed cabinet for more clarity and better sound quality. if i just want to throw something together without a subwoofer in my living room these can be a interesting choice. if they just made a woofer the works in sealed box that would benefit sound quality, as woofer are specialized for either ported or sealed, you could make one that works in both but then they are not perfect for either.
I went with the RP-500m because they were for a tiny room, but this review could apply just as well to mine. Having said that, I shopped and listened to a LOT of different options... some went way above this price point. LS50. Elac Debut and Ubi. LS305’s. To me, none of them produced the same clarity. I found myself REALLY looking for a reason to NOT get them because (1) I’m not crazy about the copper drivers and (2) klipsch has that sort of mass produced perception. Everyone has klipsch.
Zero regrets on my purchase. I did hook them up to an old 8” KLH sub, but the experience is unreal. Movies. Games. Music. Klipsch hit a home run with their reference premier line.
vwr32jeep Klipsch speakers(their quality ones, and Klipsch is not deceptive about their many levels of quality, reflected in advertising AND cost) are really quite interesting. They are, seemingly, designed to be “unlocked”, and once they are, wow. For the cost, they are rock solid, bordering and occasionally crossing over into amazing and nuanced. They are speakers designed, engineered, constructed by folks that get what speakers genuinely are, and extension of the purchasers character and passion. Just my opinion lol!
vwr32jeep Klipsch speakers(their quality ones, and Klipsch is not deceptive about their many levels of quality, reflected in advertising AND cost) are really quite interesting. They are, seemingly, designed to be “unlocked”, and once they are, wow. For the cost, they are rock solid, bordering and occasionally crossing over into amazing and nuanced. They are speakers designed, engineered, constructed by folks that get what speakers genuinely are, and extension of the purchasers character and passion. Just my opinion lol!
In your experience are the vocals harsh S going on. I guess that’s he means by sibilant. Are the vocals strong or recessed?
whatfreedom7
It’s at 10:45 or so. He said “I wouldn’t call it sibilant”. He says the treble is “forward but not harsh”. In all fairness, I’m using the RP-500m, but it’s the same horn horn tweeter. To be honest, when I’m listening to music I really do forget about the speaker. I have yet to wish the highs were different at all. They just sound good and I turn it up. I do leave the grills on because I don’t care for the copper color, but these are pointed directly at me. I even have the treble set above neutral on the receiver. I’m using a Yamaha RX-A870, so it’s kinda low end.
Had the RP 150M which led to some vintage Forte I with a Godzilla integrated, I could hear the groans of audiophiles everywhere. Then Steve started his horn phase. Don't know about the RP 600Ms with a SET, but the Fortes love it, they aren't loud using 3 watts, but man do they sound right. Anything acoustic is just phenomenal.
How can something esthetically so "unappealing" create this engaging sound???
Far from perfect but F. H. what a delight to turn them on! Low volume or medium...or higher. Highs are just right, medium range ok but not exceptional, bass sweet and fairly precise.
Paired to Pro Ject S2 Stream Box, Pro Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Dac (Austria), Creek Destiny 2 Amp (UK) and a touch of Rel T1 sub to bring this cosy warmth at low volumes.
Quite unique. Just got them to give them a try but... Might smile like Steve...
They look cheap and ugly "piece of furniture"... Compare to Sonus Faber o even Quads...
But damn, they are addictive.
Sean thanks for your always entertaining and personal reviews.
Kind Regards from Madrid, Spain.
I bought these back in October and they are fabulous. Highly recommended!
This price point for bookshelf speakers is really heating up, so this is a great time to get into bookshelf speakers! Andrew Jones got things started a few years ago, first with his Pioneer speakers and then with his ELAC offerings. But Klipsch has answered the challenge. In my opinion, these RPs topple ELAC from its price point dominance, and are now the new kings.
BTW, if anyone is interested in these speakers but doesn't want to pay $550, consider buying a pair of the prior generation RP-160s, which are marked down now. For some reason the 160s flew under the audiophile radar, but they sound just as good as the 600s, with only minor cosmetic differences. As an owner of a pair, I can attest that everything Zero Fidelity says here about the 600s is also true of the 160s. I matched mine with a slightly warmish vintage amp, and the combination is exceedingly magical. I got mine refurbished for around $300/pair, and I consider them an even better deal than my now unused ELAC Debut B6s, which as another commenter notes, can be a little too rolled off on the top end.
Have the RP 150's. Amazing little speakers. Mine sit atop a pair of upgraded Quartets and not only do they keep pace with the quartets, but they sound more "true" at volume. Did I mention that they are amazing little speakers?
I have them too..they are great. I run them with tubes , Elekit 8200.
these speakers are a little to big for my present needs. I've had the earlier models of the 4 inch version and I always liked them. At this point, the RP 500M would be better for me. Do you think all the sizes share the characteristics of this model. I know that's a tough call to make...what do you think? Thanks for a very good review and great points made.
Thanks for adding some balance to all the raves.
Not really, not fully..
I'm glad Klipsch has finally toned down the horn, great american speaker company.
Made in China ... its a shame!
usa is fascist stae...they have their slaves around the world
SVS is the great American speaker company and Klipsch is the shitz.
@@thegoat164 SVS doesn't make speakers, they design speakers and have them all built in china. Klipsch actually makes their high end in the usa
They "toned down" the horn(s) years ago. And if you think they are too "bright", just turn the treble down to -2 or -3. Also, it depends on the amp that you are using. I have an original pair of Klipsch Heresys and I'm using a Marantz 1060b Integrated Amp to power them. They sound a LOT better on the Marantz than they do on a Yamaha (can't think of the model number right now) receiver.
Thanks for your fine review Sean. I own both Klipshorns and a pair of RP-280F as mains for the theater material. However, I decided to lower the level of the horn tweeter a bit. NOT with the EQ in my Marantz AVR, (I leave that FLAT), but with taking the input links OUT on the rear of the speakers.
I put high quality L-Pads in and BI-Amp them. Running the L-PAD at 12 O'Clock for the horn on it's own amp makes for a much smoother sound to my ears and not so forward and in your face for ORCHESTRAL recordings.... There are many high end speakers that have adjustments on them for this reason, so your speakers can be better tailored to your room, and your tastes... Just a thought....
Will these pair well with the new monoprice 16" subwoofer? Can you review that subwoofer? is it good for music? These vs wilson speakers? lmk.
My brother bought some vintage horn speakers and I feel this review echos my feelings about them exactly. He’s using a vintage 30wpc amp ( Marantz)
A vintage Marantz with the RP 600M is really shouty and harsh to me. I paired them with a Marantz 2265B and was not pleased.
Well, okay. The elephant in the room is the comparison between the 600m and the rp 160m's.
The horn has some distinctions between the 2. Both have been dampened when compared to the reference line. I would like to see some b___s here and discuss- beyond hype, if there is enough of a difference to explain the price difference, between the 600ms and the rp 160m's. Is the difference sonically really all that? Has anyone reviewed this matter?
Peace..
How are these speakers compare to the previous speakers RP160m ? I am asking because I own RP160m, and want to know should I upgrade to these ?
Thank you for your response.
Hi Sean
How do they compare to Kef LS50 in mids, treble, bass, imaging please
Great review Sean. Hope you’ll review the Forte III: outstanding speakers
What interests me the most about this review is your very well-stated assessment of the polarizing nature of the Klipsch sound and the fact that this speaker eliminates this issue by solving the problems that led to the polarization. Short of just guessing, do you have reason to believe that the Klipsch line in general, especially the larger floor standing models, such as the La Scala and Cornwalls, have similarly resolved this problem?
As an aside, based at least partly on your review I became extremely interested in Tekton Design speakers and ended up purchasing the Ulfberht's, which I absolutely love. Thanks for the heads up!
Great review, what are the chances of you getting your hands on the klipsch RP 4000 I really can’t find any reviews about that speaker! And if you have any opinions, I’d love to hear them
It's sad to say but human beings will never be satisfied with anything. Nothing is never enough. We complain about everything. The best thing to do is for everybody to built their own stuff to their liking. I guarantee you that even then. People will find something to complain about.
Carlos Javier so well said
What would you recommend for a desktop speaker? LS50? Elacs?
I personally use Emotiva B1 and have them paired with a TA-100 and love the setup! I would recommend this setup to anyone looking for a great desktop setup.
@@smite0568 I have Elac b6.2s right now, they are very good. Not sure the b1s would be an upgrade with my Hegel amp.
Good to see you back. Another great and useful video! I used to have the RP150M and the RP160M’s. I think the old models lined up with what you experienced with these - with the 150M’s sounding less bright. Not sure if that is because the horn on the 150M’s was smaller. I also noticed the tweeters in the 150M’s were stamped with a different part # than the 160M’s. And just for reference my amp at the time was the excellent Marantz PM6005 integrated.
Yup - Marantz tends warm - Klipsch tends bright - great match 😎.
Tell ya something else for free too 😉 ... I did a test one day with the Marantz 5005, Klipsch RP150Ms and CD sources. Even against the higher model Marantz CD 6006 and other brands at a similar price point ... I preferred the Marantz CD 5005. Obviously good synergies between CD and Amp.
Edit: ... And you might be surprised how noticeable the CD player differences presented!
Edit: corrected 6005 to 5005.
Thanks. Yeah, the smaller the horn, the easier it is for it to sound well integrated in a real-world environment.
Correction: It was the 5005 Amp/CD vs the 6006 CD (model up). I'll correct in comment above.
If you had to choose your last speaker what would you choose, the Klipsch RP-600M or the
Buchardt S400 ?
I have some for my HT . Klipsch has a ringer- That "it" speaker that's going to be a big cash cow. As I've said before: $3000 bookshelves that sound great. zzzz. ok fine, for that price they BETTER be. For under $600 a pair? Rock on! There are VERY FEW speakers at that price that I dare call giant killers. STILL not my bag for nearfield, they need space. Older klipsch do shout.
My experience with these speakers did not mirror your own except for the bottom end. The top end was very disappointing. The tweeters sounding like they were playing through a wad of cotton. My room sucks up the high frequencies so I was hoping for a much brighter sound. Plus, that's my own personal preference. When I discussed my issue with a high end audio retailer who carries all of the Klipsch product line, he stated very mater of factly that the RP 600M rolled off the top end pretty good and was not surprised I was not happy with their performance in that area. I think you hit on something in your review when you indicated that they did not sound like a typical Klipsch product in that they were closer to neutral on the treble side. That's not something Klipsch has been noted for in the past. I see from many of the comments that lots of folks love them and I wish I could count myself in that number. Whatever those boys down in Arkansas did to those horns (they did SOMETHING), I think they went a bit too far.
Well, I don't have those magic speaker cables with the Area 51 black boxes on them. (I'm just messing with you) So they are that sensitive to gear, huh? I don't think I like that in a speaker. Still, I was expecting performance on par with your review. Hard to believe my components would make that much difference but they are the only variable (besides the aforementioned secret government technology) so I suspect you're right about that. I spent a little more money and got the SVS Ultra's and you know how that went. They're phenomenal.
@@mikehanks1399 What goes on inside the box, stays in the box. Yeah - these speakers are pretty sensitive to what you pair them up to. As for the Ultras.. I have a set that are still sitting in a box. :) They're on of over a dozen products that are currently awaiting evaluation. Looking forward to finally reviewing em'. :)
I agree but i've always found their horns rolled off. Most people don't realize the brightness range is around 8,000hz -10,000hz and not 15,000hz - 20,000hz.
Save some $$ and get the older RP160M
Rob E Yep, the same specs and over $200 less. I have them and they’re fantastic.
I was looking at the 160's in comparison. If they have better high freq response than the 600's that would be great to find out. I was disappointed to hear about the roll off occurring as I need it due to hearing loss in the 6K range..
@@mubodude 600m's are replacing the 160m's - Just picked up a pair of the 160's from Crutchfield for 399.99/Pair - get them while they're still available.
@@trebor694u Ah, didn't know that. I haven't been speaker shopping in quite some time and a bit outta the loop. I'm still using JBL 4311's that won't die. Ebay has the 160M pair for $329 shipped/no tax!
The RP160M's are awesome! Bought them over 2 years ago and i'm still in love with them. Easy to drive, great sound stage and to be honest, i prefer their looks over the RP600M.
Hi. I am considering Martin Logan 35XT bookshelf speakers or maybe the smaller Motion 15s. I would like to see you and others review them and compare them.
They didn't do it for me. And in part it may be because I didn't get them broken in properly. Some reviewers are suggesting they need quite a bit to get them loose. No idea. I was disappointed immediately. You say clarity. I heard muddy, with sub par definition. I do realize it probably has a lot to do with my small room: 7ft ceiling, about 170 sq.ft. Walls are plaster over concrete. There is a thick room size rug and a very big stuffed sofa, with a couple of quilts on the wall. Because the space is shared I can't do much more in terms of treatment. So, I parked the 600s and built myself a pair of Fountek ribbon MTMs based on the design from Stones Sound Studio in Australia. Somehow, they get past the room, and sound sweet and balanced. I'm driving the Founteks with the same 60W/ch Neurochrome Parallel-86 Power amp I used on the Klipsch.
Hey man. Love your reviews :) I had these RP600Ms for a while, but ultimately returned them because the bass just wasn't there and I felt like Klipsch still needs to work on that horn sound that 'colors' their budget models. Ordered S400s from Buchardt as a replacement. I know, triple the cost. Don't judge me :)
Which amp ~1300USD do you think will complement both S400 and LS50? Will Parasound 2350 and A 23+ be on that short list?
Thanks Vicky! The S400's are badass speakers. No judgement here.. :D For $1,300 USD... and for something that will compliment both the Buchardts and the KEF's.. I'll defer to a product that I'll be reviewing soon from a brand named Iota VX. Which was sold under the Nakamichi name. Real good stuff. A review of that gear will be coming out soon.
Copper woofer diaphragm strikes me as being strange.
Copper is neither light nor particularly stiff.
What are the merits of using this material?
www.klipsch.com/our-technology
Sean, the most important comparison I'd love to need your view is how does this pair compare to JBL Studio 530. That is in the same price range and is highly rated. Would you recommend this pair over the JBLs?
I just ordered a pair. I heard a sound demo and loved them. I'm looking for speakers that sound as good as my Sennheiser headphones and these might be them.🙂
Do these speakers have better bass and dynamics than the Elac Debut B6.2s? I own the Elacs and I find the treble and mids to be perfect for my needs but the lack of bass and the fact that I have to turn up the volume to higher levels to hear dynamics makes them sound extremely lifeless. A sub is not really possible in my setup and prior to the Elacs, I had the Onkyo SKF 4800 towers which had too much bass for my small listening room but were very musical sounding to my ears. I power my speakers with an Onkyo A-9050 integrated amplifier. I’m a classical musician so detailed dynamics at all volume levels are important to me.
I'm not sure how you'll feel about the top end, but everything else about the 600m is more expressive than the B6.2. As a musician, I think there's a good chance that you'll dig on em'.
have you listened to the B&W 685's? If so how do these compare?
Hi, where are these small speaker stand available from?
I wish I knew
@@minecraftnotats You could make a set of stands like that in about a half hour, with beginner wood working skills
Check out this crossover upgrade guide that will make the Klipsch with better clarity, detail and imaging.
community.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/163667-how-to-make-the-rp-160m-come-alive/
It's not a horn.Don't talk about stuff you know nothen about. You keep mis-leading people with wrong information. If you're gonna speak on someone else's product you should atleast read on the proper info. Thx
How does this compare with Mission QX-2? in terms of how they sound i mean.. thanks..
How do these compare to the Buchardt S300 or S400. Do the Buchardt's have more bass?
So you want to compare a Vette to a Bugatti ? You already know whose going to win lol
thanks for the review ! I came very very close to buying but then heard the difintive technology demand series ehaa so confussed now sold my hpm 100s so have extra money but I will say I been a audiophile since 89 and blown away buy the fs52s still!! Even bought another set I put up lol I d like to find some elac f6 to get over the F52s lol I know You never reviewed f52s but must be a reason idk thanks again I've watched a lot of reviews on the RP600 but take your reviews with more weight thanks again sean !!
I am not a fan of them. To me they sound very tinny. When I listen to diffrent opera recordings the voices are pushed into the backround, punchy electronic music has no bass whatsoever, and the hit-hats during Jazz just ring in my ear. I pass this cup of tea to someone who has not my ears
Why are people drawn to certain speakers, these speakers for instance? I'd say it's at least partially because they are drawn to the hype. When lots of people say they're great, people are inclined to agree if/when given the chance, meaning when they hear the speakers, so unless they're really bad, people are going to agree with the chorus of people/reviewers saying how great they are, it's just a natural tendency and bias we have, it's hard to be a contrarian, psychological tests have even demonstrated this.
Now, I"m not saying these speakers are bad, I've never heard them in person myself, but I have heard a lot of other speakers that have very positive reviews from a majority of audio people whom I have to disagree with. Ultimately, I think audio is very difficult to make sense of in some ways(the ear is dumb compared to the eye as I've heard said), and obviously it's very subjective to say the least, so when we hear something which isn't really bad or really great, which will likely be the majority of the products we listen to(and I would contend that the differences are generally much smaller than we make them out to be because we often magnify and exaggerate them to make a point) we will tend to agree with what the "community" is saying, and that goes for better or for worse. I mean, "even because I don't like the sound," these speakers can't really be that bad can they, I mean so many people think they're great, so they must be pretty good, something must be wrong with what I'm hearing, maybe it's a bad room or setup.
No offense, but I think we need to learn to trust ourselves more, our own perception of the sound we are hearing, and not be biased by a chorus of reviewers, especially when they're singing the praises of some product. No, I'm not saying just because the general consensus is that something is good that it must necessarily be bad, in fact, I'd say it's probably the opposite, if a large majority says something is good, there's usually some merit and it's worth checking out, but we do need to listen for ourselves and form our own unbiased opinion, and that's not easy to do.
Yup
I hope you review those PSB bookshelves, the ones that Tharbamar YT channel just reviewed recently
PSB reached out a few days ago. Yep. The P5's are now on the waiting list. :)
@@ZeroFidelity Great to hear! Thanks!
With making speakers and I found that image happens with 3 things.
Time alignment.
Medrange tone.
Treble level.
About #3...You said there is a close image you can "touch", and the treble is forward (tipped up a bit). With my speakers, when I adjusted my crossover to vary the treble level (I noticed that) with it a bit bright it would make the image, but then the image would drop off again with further treble level. And it's a narrow margin when the image comes in, when the treble level is just a little bit bright but not too much, just pleasantly bright.
thx for sharing! learned a lot from that
In the late 80’s and early 90’s when I was a college student and was first turned on to “high end” audio (although I dwelt in the entry level strata) the older audiophiles lumped Klipsch in with JBL for being a “has been.” You know, a company that once made great stuff but had inevitably ended making cheaper speakers that dwelled in that purgatory somewhere between mass market mid-fi and true high end. I’d have never even bothered to listen to Klipsch or any gear found at the now defunct Circuit City or Best Buy. Today though, Klipsch is getting the same fanfare as KEF and B&W got 20 to 30 years ago. I guess I should give them a listen.
How Would you Compare The Klipsch RP-160M To RP-600M
why not just demo the speakers you're describing? They're 5 ft away. lolol
I see people on youtube using klipsch horn speakers for desktop. I hope they can hear you.
You look great but pls take care.
This is a great review - but please stop saying "price point!!!" Arhhghhhhh! It's sufficient to say "price!"
Exactly. Sounds like a telemarketer or door to door salesman.
@@R0adsterr0land
Exactly...its hype b.s. in seemingly thoughtful clothing.
I'm disappointed in these reviews among those I normally respect.
The real question is does it take sandwich
Okay Zeos
What is drawing me to these speakers is that they are easy to drive and a person doesn't need to spend alot on high end amps.
Informative review .... going to have to give these a listen.... the set up you describe can be met in my room and I was hoping for a less rolled off treble from my entry Elacs
You and Steve have persuaded me. Now, I need to find an integrated amp replacement for my beleaguered Yamaha receiver. Big room to drive (20 x 32 x 17), listening point ~10 feet in front, so I'm looking for ~100 watts or better, honest RMS continuous power. Needs an MM input and s/w out. Hoping for 100 dB peak at 10'. For others, I wish you'd treat sensitivity a bit more since it means so much to amp power. That data seems under-reported.
Soon. Stand back, Saint-Seans.
I don't want to give too much away, but look up Iota VX. Particularly the integrated+amp combo. REAL good stuff. A review will be coming in April.
I think you need a speaker with a higher spl and deeper bass capability with the size of your room.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt I think you have a point. In defense of the choice, I will be using two existing 12" powered subs to take the strain off the Klipsches at
@@ZeroFidelity Thanks for the clue. Your review of these speakers has motivated me to place an order. Now, what to do with the existing Pioneer - A. Jones power-sumps? :)
I wonder how it compares to 160M
Your description tells the story of civilized, tamed Klipsch
Can you part with it and have fun with them? As 160m were my choice among other speaker producers
I'm used to the R-51Ms. Are these as bright or would I be dissapointed?
On sale for $320 right now. Think I might finally pull the trigger
, save some money if your on a budget and buy the
RP160-Ms. for $334.00
on Amazon.
Black oak, piano gloss black, and cherry veneer.
same speakers, just a small change in tweeter design.
Now you can get the RP600Ms on Amazon for $368 (or 500Ms for $335)
Fantastic speakers! I love em!
Ever considered Paradigm Atom SE?
I picked these up last week on Amazon for $330 (piano black version)...and I'm STUNNED by their performance. I would go to say that they are damn near toe to toe with SVS Ultra Bookshelves (over $1000 a pair). I should know... i have them both.
I am pretty sure I got the same deal on the RP-600M first gen. I am curious how different / similar they will be to my RP-160m. The main difference should be the change to the ported tweeter.
Review the klipsch rp8000f.........
These things were $100 cheaper before the flood of reviews came out. If you can wait until Christmas, they'll be $300. Cheers! Great review.
Also keep an eye open for mid-summer sales. It's a slow time of the year, and often times manufacturers will run promotions that are as good, if not even better than holiday sales.
@@ZeroFidelity Excellent point. Cheers!
I personally need someone to do a comparison video of rp150 and these. Unless klipsch has completely redesigned the horn, I just don’t think the treble in terms of smoothness and refinement can compete with other speakers at the price. Granted, the positives remain true, I thought the rp150 were very dynamic, it was exciting even. The horn does give you that floaty treble and soundstage. One thing I don’t think he mentioned is power handling, if you need a party speaker, the rp150 can reach unlimited spl (it’s commendable). The bad points also persist, poor horn and driver integration (this is a big one for me) makes the sound seems disconnected and flushed out the u shaped profile a bit. Bass is a bit light and the biggest for me was that while there is a good deal of soundstage and imaging, the treble doesn’t sound that refined. I hate to use the word grainy. The treble is elevated and rarely silbant but the detail sounds choppy to me. Additionally the 150 usd price hike is interesting as well. All in all if someone likes the sound of the rp150 they will love them. However at about 400-500 I think elac unifi and especially q acoustics concept 20 must be considered as serious rivals. Both are in my opinion better balanced although the klipsch do different things for sure. So please, comparison and collabo video with Steve jajja. Thanks Sean, nice video
The horn was completely re-designed.
Elac Unifi will require a more powerful amp (>80W(?)).
More bass from the RP-160Ms than the 150Ms ...(and so the 600Ms v the 500Ms(?)) - bigger cabinets.
I haven't heard the 500/600s ... But would have thought you'd want a buyer lined for your 150s - esp if your not gonna get a chance to hear the latest models.
@@progressiveguy9959 Intersesting, I am really curious about hearing them now.
@@ShellstaTubeYou're right the the 600 should have more bass. I looked up thespecs: rp150/500 is 48hz +/-3 and rp160/600 is 45. The elac Ub5 is 46 (i assume +/-3db, it doesnt specify) The elac will require a bit more power as I think they are 85 db sensitivity but a Nad 316BEE 40 wpc A/B can bring them to their limit before running out of gas. With my UF5 (the towers), the nad struggles a bit more . Thats the thing also with the Elac UB5 and the Ls50, the concentric driver has its limits, which are lower in the elac's case before they get really unruly and shouty. The more power you have, the better controlled the bass will be, not the louder they will get. The Ub5/UF5's "taut and controlled bass" is unheard of imo at this price.
Really? Unlimited? I've owned speakers with greater power handling and more sensitive to boot. So they would be..........unlimited plus?
Hey man, what amp and sub would you recommend running with these? I'm somewhat of a nubbbbiiiieeeeee and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Such rave reviews from Stereophile but only rated Class C by them .
Nice review. Need to get my ears on these. Unfortunately, I find it hard to believe that that speaker has more detail than the Elac Debut 6.2s. Because I have those Elacs on a NAD C325 and they're only a smidge warm on that and very very clean up top! However, I am considering an RP8000f and center upgrade to my HT. Where they should work regardless! But need to HEAR them first!
I hope you have a chance to hear them. It's a very, very different experience from the B6.2's. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
What's the best amp and sub for this pair?
I know this video is a lil but old but since I just purchased these a few days ago.... About a year ago I had the choice between these and the RP8000Fs and I went with the RP8000F since my living room in my new house was going to be pretty large. Since purchasing the 8000s I have never liked their sound on certain types of music. For instance, Steely Dan and Floyd sounds fantastic but Judas Priest kills me, well basically any hard rock or metal. I listen to a wide range of music but mostly hard rock and metal. I purchased the RP600Ms for my office since the price dropped and some of the reviews I had seen said they were still dynamic but not as harsh as the 8000s. I put them in my office and immediately noticed the people were dead on. They are not nearly as harsh on the highs and way more balanced over all. So I decided to put them in the living room to see how they would sound in a larger room. They are paired with a Pioneer LX504 and a RP120 sub and they sound fantastic. They fill the room perfectly. I tried them on every type of music I listen to and they sound great on everything. I tried them streaming Tidal, my CD player and my record player (all on direct) and everything I threw at them they sounded great. I was skeptical about all the hype since the RP8000s had tons of positive videos but these are basically what I wish I would have gotten with the 8000s. If I could get my money back on the 8000s I would buy another pair of these. Since my office is way too small for the 8000s I have put them in the garage and put my Polk T50s back in my office.
Thanks for posting this. I am receiving my 600m's today and I'm so excited to hear what they sound like.
A bookshelf with rear reflex chanel is a joke. The rb81 mk2 are better.
is it true that rp600m2,,, is less exciting,,, more boring,, or not
Do you remember the differences between the sound of the r51 and these not including the bass?
pls compare sound diff, to klipsch r50m
Will be great if you can review the rp 280f... 2 bigger woofers and same Twitter I believe
I have a perplexity:
¿Why almost all modern loudspeakers, no matter size and/or price, are ported boxes?
It's not really true that configuration of the cabinets gives deeper bass, but an artificial reinforcement in the upper bass region, which can give at the first "glance" a pleasant sensation of bass fullness, but in the long run results in a kind of miscontrol of that band region (this is quite evident with male voices and instruments like bassoons, for example).
The ported designs are also far more difficult to position in the room than sealed boxes, because of the reasons I've mentioned above.
Actually, I have two systems in my living room. One has two really big and heavy Mission 767 sealed columns I acquired in 1990 and they sounded great from the very beginning (putting apart the physical efforts to open those "coffins" and erected them into their place, that is).
Past year I purchased a pair of KEF Q300 (frontal ported) wich sounded very good in the Hi-Fi store, but they costed me blood, sweat and tears to position them until I found the optimal position for not sounding "boomy" and so on.
P.S.: The Mission can reach comfortably no less than 25 Hz (measured directly into my living room) at a perfectly audible level, whilst the KEFs barely emit anything below 45 Hz or so (equally measured).
Any explanation for this audio "fashion"?
I have Q300's - sorry to be off topic however what did you find to be the best position for these speakers?
@@zanyzappers Just to move them from one place to another, a lot of times.
The final distance (excuse me the metric system) are 30 cm to the rear wooden wall (surprisingly, more and less separation gave more cased sound)l, 0.85 meters to the side walls, 1.78 meters between the centers of them and I had to mount them on stands (it was not an easy task to find a pair enough solid, stable and DEEP for them and costed me one half the prize of the loudspeakers themselves. I had to import them through the retailer, who had not any appropriate model in his own stock).
Of course, these figures are valid just for my case and my living room, and cannot be generalized.
The acoustics of my living room is reasonably good, but these KEFs are stubborn!
(P.S.: I drive them with a Cyrus Two (solid state) SE integrated amp + Cyrus PSX additional power supply. The attempt to move them (as an experiment) with a far costlier Luxman MQ-360 2×40 watts all-tube power amp reinforced the "cased" character of the sound).
KEF Q350 vs Klipsch RP600M anybody ?
What I need to find out too!
I like the way your talking more than the speakers you are reviewing.
can these even approach the Buchardt S400?
That is my question. I know they are different price points, but as a noobie going back to vinyl with a Rega P3 and the Billie tube amp I'm wondering how which speakers I should try. I've been following the Buchardt S400, but they are alot more money. Thanks for any input.
Great review, I have the previous floor standing version RP260F and absolutely love them.
I really love my RP-260Fs too. I think they are the exact same drivers as the 600Ms. After bi-amping them the bass became clear and distinct down to 35Hz. So good I got rid of my sub. They are really cheap since the new models came out. I think they look better too.
Having listened to Klipsch (La Scala) speakers years ago at a friends I can say that I liked them. Trouble is, as you surmise, most folks either like or hate the horn sound.To me it is kinda forward and P. A. associated. Klipsch, Electro-Voice and Altec are some brands noted for their "west coast " sound. That Klipsch is still building a quality product after all these years is a testament to their R&D. You sir, give an informative and lucid review of this speaker. Easy to understand and entertaining. Makes me almost wanna buy the freakin' things.
You sir, are excellent in your presentation.... Can't ask for more in a review.
Peace from Holland Sean!
I agree that a more detailed comparison between these and the 160m's (and 150m's). When I wrote in about this suggestion in the past on another review, someone may have mentioned that there is a difference in the horn.
What I believe is true of the 160m's and the 600M's is that sound is more rounded and not as harshly bright than the usual reference line. Everyone seems to say so, that is. For those of us who own the 160's m , is it worth it or a great upgrade (it seems not) to replace the 160m's with the newer 600m's. Thanks for this review.
CM Kilcullen how is he supposed to compare them if he doesn't have both speakers?
1- it was a SUGGESTION as I think such would be helpful. His opening comments suggest or pose the question of whether or not this is really the hot thing it is promoted to be. It seemed to me to pose the question of - compared to what(?) as a consideration. 2- I dont know if the dude has ever done a review of the 160's in the past or if he has had any experience with them. I did not bother to go through his whole history to check that out as I can do other things with my time. The fact that I am even taking the time to respond to your comment already makes me wonder why I am spending my time doing to. 3- he is not the only one reading my comments ( you are a case in point ) so - maybe others can offer feedback. I am aware that he does not have the 160's or 150's in this demonstration. I am proposing what I think would be helpful. If you don't think so - that is cool- then just say so instead of being more invested in being a smarta__.
@@fourthrockonearth
Roger that...thank you!!
I'd need to have both speakers on hand to provide you with a qualified verdict. Hopefully somebody here, who HAS conducted an A/B comparison, will see your question and provide their take on how the two compare. Cheers!
@@ZeroFidelity
I thought similarly...thank you.
How does the Vista Spark sound with the RP 600m?
I have a pair of the Klipsch rb-61 II and was wondering how they differ from these as far as sound?
I bought them fairly cheap to run off a small mini tube amp but haven’t even hooked them up.
The 600M's will offer up better integration between the horn and the woof, less horn shout, less bright, more neutral, and arguably more realistic tone. I don't think you'll need to rush out and replace what you have, but it's certainly worth auditioning the 600m's if you already like how the RB-61 II's sound.
Thanks! I have too many speakers and not enough time but need to see how the old sound first.
As surrounds, which one would you prefer, these 600M's or 402's..is there any benefits of that wide dispersion with 402's compared to these 600M's..? They are in the same price range so it's a difficult choice..
For music: The 600M's. For theater or mixed use: The 402's.
@@ZeroFidelity thanks, i meant to be used in home theater as back surrounds..
@@morbus74 Cool. Go with the 402's. :)
With the comment you have about the Klipsch sound, I would bet you never listened to the original Forte’.
Heh, I got my Fortes for less than these, got a 3w single ended valve amp because I think they wanted to kill me using a burly solid state integrated. Actually, they're fun with either, Fri-Sat solid state, Sunday we roll out the tubes.