In this review, we will be comparing SX-60 and RP-600M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Cambridge Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Cambridge SX-60 and Klipsch RP-600M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Cambridge SX-60 | Klipsch RP-600M |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Treated paper | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-22k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-7/16" x 7-15/16" x 10-7/8"
342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm | 15.7" x 7.9" x 11.8"
399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Cambridge SX-60 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* |
Cambridge SX-60 |
Klipsch RP-600M |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
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Drivers
Both SX-60 and RP-600M are 2-way speakers.
Cambridge SX-60Klipsch 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 |
Cambridge SX-60 |
Klipsch RP-600M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
SX-60 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Treated paper Woofer. 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
SX-60 has a frequency range of 41-22k Hz whereas RP-600M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the SX-60 can go slightly deeper then the RP-600M's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
SX-60 and RP-600M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SX-60 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-600M's is at 96 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to Cambridge SX-60, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though SX-60 is rated 20-100 watts and RP-600M up to 100 watts.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RP-600M features Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SX-60 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cambridge SX-60's Post terminals
Klipsch RP-600M's Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SX-60 has a front firing port whereas RP-600M has a rear firing ports. Cambridge SX-60's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-600M with its rear-firing port.
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 Cambridge SX-60's and Klipsch RP-600M's external dimensions. Cambridge SX-60 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 202.0 x 277.0mm (13-7/16 x 7-15/16 x 10-7/8inch) whereas Klipsch RP-600M has external dimensions of 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm (15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Cambridge SX-60 and Klipsch RP-600M in scale.
Comparison image of Cambridge SX-60 and Klipsch RP-600M Size and External Dimensions
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 Cambridge SX-60 is approximately 559.5cm2 / 86.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-600M is approximately 608.0cm2 / 94.2inch2. The SX-60 requires 8% less surface area than the RP-600M which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Cambridge SX-60 and Klipsch RP-600M on a Media Console
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 Cambridge SX-60 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Klipsch RP-600M weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs. This makes the RP-600M 46% heavier than the SX-60.
Here is a comparison of how SX-60 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 Cambridge SX-60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SX-60:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- 2 Foam port inserts
- Installation Guide
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
 Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
342mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
559cm2
vs
608cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
369USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Cambridge Audio SX-60 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M |
| Brand |
Cambridge Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-22k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated paper |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
277.0mm (10.9") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Ebony, Walnut, Piano Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 |
A |
Cambridge SX-60 digs deeper - 41Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch RP-600M is more sensitive (96dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
Cambridge SX-60 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 |
A |
Cambridge SX-60 is cheaper - $299 against $369, about 19% less. |
A Cambridge SX-60
B Klipsch RP-600M
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RP-600M measures better, Cambridge SX-60 costs about 19% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-600M is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.