In this review, we will be comparing RP-160M and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch RP-160M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer
- 45-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 95 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:9.03kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 424.0" x 8.8" x 12.8"( 424.0 x 224.0 x 327.0mm )
B&W 606 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Continuum Woofer
- 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Weight:6.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 345.0" x 7-1/2" x 12-13/16"( 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm )
What size room are the Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 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 RP-160M |
B&W 606 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both RP-160M and BW 606 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch RP-160M |
B&W 606 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RP-160M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz. On the other hand, the BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .
Frequency Response
RP-160M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the RP-160M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the BW 606's min frequency of 52Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
RP-160M and BW 606 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-160M sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-160M a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 606, 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
RP-160M can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-160M has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the BW 606.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both RP-160M and BW 606 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-160M's Dual binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-160M and BW 606 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 RP-160M's and B&W 606's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-160M has external dimensions of 424.0 x 224.0 x 327.0mm ( 16.6 x 8.8 x 12.8inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .
Klipsch RP-160M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34mm wider, 79mm taller and 3mm deeper than B&W 606.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 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 Klipsch RP-160M is approximately 732.5cm2 / 113.5inch2 and base area of the B&W 606 is approximately 615.6cm2 / 95.4inch2. The RP-160M requires 19% more surface area than the BW 606 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 Klipsch RP-160M and B&W 606 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 Klipsch RP-160M weighs 9.03kg / 19.9lbs and the B&W 606 weighs 6.90kg / 15.2lbs. This makes the RP-160M 31% heavier than the BW 606.
Here is a comparison of how RP-160M and BW 606's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-160M?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-160M:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Detachable magnetic grilles User Manual Warranty Information Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of B&W 606?
Here are the items that come with the BW 606:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Two-piece foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 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 |
 Height |
345mm
vs
424mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
615cm2
vs
732cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-160M |
Bowers & Wilkins 606 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
allow up to a week for the temperature effects to stabilise and 15 hours of average use for the parts to attain their intended design characteristics. |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
424.0mm (16.7") |
345.0mm (13.6") |
| Width |
224.0mm (8.8") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
327.0mm (12.9") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Weight |
9.03kg (19.9lbs) |
6.90kg (15.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Ebony, Cherry |
Black, White, Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |