In this review, we will be comparing Dymension DM30 and RC-64 III, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Dymension DM30 and Klipsch RC-64 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Dymension DM30 | Klipsch RC-64 III |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 4 x 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Polypropelene | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-23 kHz | 57-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.50kg / 53.9lbs | 25.00kg / 55lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.5" x 31.5" x 15.9"
190 x 800 x 403 mm | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Dymension DM30 and Klipsch RC-64 III 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* |
Definitive Dymension DM30 |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Dymension DM30 is a 3-way design whereas the RC-64 III is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Definitive Dymension DM30Klipsch RC-64 III
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Dymension DM30 |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-3/4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
4 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Dymension DM30 features a 1" aluminum oxide Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer. On the other hand, the RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
Dymension DM30 has a frequency range of 41-23 kHz whereas RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Dymension DM30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC-64 III's min frequency of 57Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Dymension DM30 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RC-64 III which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Dymension DM30 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dymension DM30 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the RC-64 III's is rated at 99 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Dymension DM30, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Dymension DM30 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RC-64 III has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Dymension DM30.
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.
Definitive Dymension DM30
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RC-64 III features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dymension DM30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Dymension DM30's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Definitive Dymension DM30's and Klipsch RC-64 III's external dimensions. Definitive Dymension DM30 has external dimensions of 190 x 800 x 403 mm (7.5 x 31.5 x 15.9 in) whereas Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm (8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch).
Definitive Dymension DM30 is 109mm narrower and 14mm shorter than Klipsch RC-64 III but it is also 15mm deeper.
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 Definitive Dymension DM30 is approximately 3224.0cm2 / 499.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2. The Dymension DM30 requires 9% less surface area than the RC-64 III 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 Definitive Dymension DM30 weighs 24.50kg / 53.9lbs and the Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 2% heavier than the Dymension DM30.
Here is a comparison of how Dymension DM30 and RC-64 III's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Definitive Dymension DM30
What's in the Box of Klipsch RC-64 III?
Here are the items that come with the RC-64 III:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
190mm
vs
204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
3224cm2
vs
3526cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1499USD
vs
1829USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Definitive Technology Dymension DM30 |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-23 kHz |
57-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropelene |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1-3/4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Width |
800.0mm (31.5") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Depth |
403.0mm (15.9") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
24.50kg (53.9lbs) |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
furniture grade veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Definitive Dymension DM30 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Definitive Dymension DM30 digs deeper - 41Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 93dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RC-64 III is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive Dymension DM30 takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Klipsch RC-64 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Definitive Dymension DM30 is cheaper - $1,499 against $1,829, about 18% less. |
A Definitive Dymension DM30 B Klipsch RC-64 III
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RC-64 III measures better, Definitive Dymension DM30 costs about about 22% more% 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 a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive Dymension DM30 the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Klipsch RC-64 III for 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.