In this review, we will be comparing R6 Meta and RC-64 III, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R6 Meta and Klipsch RC-64 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R6 Meta | Klipsch RC-64 III |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-28k Hz | 57-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-250 watts | up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs | 25.00kg / 55lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-15/16" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"
202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R6 Meta 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* |
KEF R6 Meta |
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 R6 Meta 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.
KEF R6 MetaKlipsch 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 |
KEF R6 Meta |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-3/4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
R6 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2400Hz. 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
R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz whereas RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the RC-64 III can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
R6 Meta 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 R6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R6 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the RC-64 III's is rated at 99 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R6 Meta, 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.
R6 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas RC-64 III has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R6 Meta.
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
Both R6 Meta and RC-64 III features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 KEF R6 Meta's and Klipsch RC-64 III's external dimensions. KEF R6 Meta has external dimensions of 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm (7-15/16-inch x 24-5/8-inch x 13-5/16-inch) 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).
Klipsch RC-64 III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 283mm wider, 2mm taller and 49mm deeper than KEF R6 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R6 Meta and Klipsch RC-64 III in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R6 Meta and Klipsch RC-64 III 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 KEF R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2. The R6 Meta requires 40% 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 KEF R6 Meta weighs 17.82kg / 39.2lbs and the Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 40% heavier than the R6 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R6 Meta and RC-64 III's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R6 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R6 Meta:
- 1 R2 Meta
- 1 microfiber grille
- Rubber feet
- User manual and warranty information
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 |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
202mm
vs
204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2122cm2
vs
3526cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
88 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
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1829USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R6 Meta |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-250 watts |
up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-28k Hz |
57-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
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" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
500Hz and 2400Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
202.0mm (8") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Width |
626.0mm (24.6") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Depth |
339.0mm (13.3") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
17.82kg (39.2lbs) |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
furniture grade veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: KEF R6 Meta 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 | B | Klipsch RC-64 III digs deeper - 57Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 88dB), 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 | KEF R6 Meta takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF R6 Meta is easier to place; Klipsch RC-64 III is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Passive Radiator. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R6 Meta: bi-amping; Klipsch RC-64 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,999 vs $1,829 a pair). |
A KEF R6 Meta 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?
Klipsch RC-64 III 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 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R6 Meta 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.