In this review, we will be comparing AE100 MII and RP-600M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Acoustic Energy and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE100 Mark II and Klipsch RP-600M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE100 Mark II | Klipsch RP-600M |
|---|
| Brand | Acoustic Energy
United Kingdom · founded 1987 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.2" paper cone | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51Hz - 26kHz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.60kg / 10.1lbs | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.4" x 6.5" x 9.8"
290.0 x 165.0 x 250.0mm | 15.7" x 7.9" x 11.8"
399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE100 Mark II and Klipsch RP-600M speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
AE100 Mark II |
Klipsch RP-600M |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both AE100 MII and RP-600M are 2-way speakers.
AE100 Mark IIKlipsch RP-600M
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE100 Mark II |
Klipsch RP-600M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.2-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
AE100 MII features a 1" fabric soft dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz. On the other hand, the RP-600M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz.
Frequency Response
AE100 MII has a frequency range of 51Hz - 26kHz whereas RP-600M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the RP-600M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE100 MII's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE100 MII is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RP-600M which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE100 MII sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the RP-600M's is rated at 96 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to AE100 Mark II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE100 MII can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas RP-600M has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the AE100 MII.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE100 MII and RP-600M have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Klipsch RP-600M Tractrix horn-shaped Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE100 Mark II's and Klipsch RP-600M's external dimensions. AE100 Mark II has external dimensions of 290.0 x 165.0 x 250.0mm (11.4 x 6.5 x 9.8inch) whereas Klipsch RP-600M has external dimensions of 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm (15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8inch).
Klipsch RP-600M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 109mm taller and 51mm deeper than AE100 Mark II.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE100 Mark II is approximately 412.5cm2 / 63.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-600M is approximately 608.0cm2 / 94.2inch2. The AE100 MII requires 32% less surface area than the RP-600M which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE100 Mark II weighs 4.60kg / 10.1lbs and the Klipsch RP-600M weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs. This makes the RP-600M 59% heavier than the AE100 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE100 MII and RP-600M's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-600M?
Here are the items that come with the RP-600M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
290mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
412cm2
vs
608cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
459USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE100 Mark II |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51Hz - 26kHz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with waveguide |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
1500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
290.0mm (11.4") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black, White |
Ebony, Walnut, Piano Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch RP-600M digs deeper - 45Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-600M is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RP-600M is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | AE100 Mark II is easier to place; Klipsch RP-600M is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Klipsch RP-600M: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-600M sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($499 vs $459 a pair). |
A AE100 Mark II B Klipsch RP-600M
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch RP-600M has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate AE100 Mark II the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch RP-600M for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.