In this review, we will be comparing Chorus 706 and RP-600M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chorus 706 and Klipsch RP-600M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Chorus 706 | Klipsch RP-600M |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polyglass | 6.5" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25 - 120 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.7" x 10.4"
390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm | 15.7" x 7.9" x 11.8"
399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Chorus 706 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* |
Focal Chorus 706 |
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 Chorus 706 and RP-600M are 2-way speakers.
Focal Chorus 706Klipsch 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 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
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
|
Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. 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
Chorus 706 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz 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 Chorus 706's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Chorus 706 and RP-600M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chorus 706 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-600M's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Chorus 706, 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.
Chorus 706 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 Chorus 706.
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. Chorus 706 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-600M's Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chorus 706 has a front firing port whereas RP-600M has a rear firing ports. Focal Chorus 706'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 Focal Chorus 706's and Klipsch RP-600M's external dimensions. Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm (15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-600M has external dimensions of 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm (15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8inch).
Focal Chorus 706 is 9mm shorter and 38mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-600M but it is also 18mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chorus 706 and Klipsch RP-600M in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Chorus 706 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 Focal Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-600M is approximately 608.0cm2 / 94.2inch2. The Chorus 706 requires 5% 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 Focal Chorus 706 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 Focal Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Klipsch RP-600M weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs. This makes the Chorus 706 12% heavier than the RP-600M.
Here is a comparison of how Chorus 706 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 Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chorus 706:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles (attached)
- User manual
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 |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
390mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
578cm2
vs
608cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
439USD
vs
459USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M |
| Brand |
Focal |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25 - 120 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
1500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
390.0mm (15.4") |
399.0mm (15.7") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
263.0mm (10.4") |
301.0mm (11.9") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Walnut, 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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch RP-600M is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch RP-600M digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-600M is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| 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 ($439 vs $459 a pair). |
A Focal Chorus 706 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 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Chorus 706 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.