In this review, we will be comparing kO-R2 and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Compression Horn | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Paper | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-20k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 54.65kg / 120.2lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/2" x 25-3/8" x 22-1/4"
1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 and PSB Synchrony T600 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* |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Average |
(* 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 kO-R2 is a 2-way design whereas the Synchrony T600 is a 3-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.
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2PSB Synchrony T600
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
kO-R2 features a " K-706 driver Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 760Hz. On the other hand, the Synchrony T600 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
kO-R2 has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the kO-R2's min frequency of 39Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
kO-R2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Synchrony T600 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Synchrony T600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. kO-R2 sensitivity is rated at 97 dB and the Synchrony T600's is rated at 89 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 300 watts RMS, though kO-R2 is rated up to 300 watts and Synchrony T600 20-300 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
Synchrony T600 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. kO-R2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
kO-R2 has a front firing port whereas Synchrony T600 has a rear firing ports. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to PSB Synchrony T600 with its rear-firing 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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm (45-1/2 x 25-3/8 x 22-1/4inch) whereas PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm (41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch).
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 417mm wider, 108mm taller and 222mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 needs about 366% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is 222mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is 108mm taller.
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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is approximately 3644.3cm2 / 564.9inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The kO-R2 requires 366% more surface area than the Synchrony T600 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 weighs 54.65kg / 120.2lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the kO-R2 57% heavier than the Synchrony T600.
Here is a comparison of how kO-R2 and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of PSB Synchrony T600?
Here are the items that come with the Synchrony T600:
- Floorstanding loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1156mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
3644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
8000USD
vs
8498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
97 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-20k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Horn |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
760Hz |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
645.0mm (25.4") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
565.0mm (22.2") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
54.65kg (120.2lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Horn Loaded |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
13-ply Baltic birch plywood |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Red Oak, Hammertone |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is the newer design, against a 2022 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 | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 39Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is more sensitive (97dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | PSB Synchrony T600 is easier to place; Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($8,498 vs $8,000 a pair). |
A Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 B PSB Synchrony T600
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 OJAS kO-R2 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 39Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.