In this review, we will be comparing RP-600C and Premier 500C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-600C and Paradigm 500C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-600C | Paradigm 500C |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix horn dome | 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-25k Hz | 73-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 125 watts | 15-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.91kg / 24lbs | 11.82kg / 26lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8" x 21-15/16" x 12-1/8"
204.0 x 558.0 x 308.0mm | 7-7/16" x 20-1/16" x 12-11/16"
189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-600C and Paradigm 500C 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-600C |
Paradigm 500C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RP-600C is a 2-way design whereas the Premier 500C 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 RP-600CParadigm 500C
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 RP-600C |
Paradigm 500C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
RP-600C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer. On the other hand, the Premier 500C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-600C has a frequency range of 58-25k Hz whereas Premier 500C has a frequency range of 73-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the RP-600C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 500C's min frequency of 73Hz.
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
RP-600C and Premier 500C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-600C sensitivity is rated at 97 dB and the Premier 500C's is at 92 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600C a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm 500C, 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.
RP-600C can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Premier 500C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the RP-600C.
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-600C features Binding post type posts and Premier 500C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-600C's Binding post terminals
Paradigm 500C's Binding post terminals
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 RP-600C's and Paradigm 500C's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-600C has external dimensions of 204.0 x 558.0 x 308.0mm (8 x 21-15/16 x 12-1/8inch) whereas Paradigm 500C has external dimensions of 189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm (7-7/16 x 20-1/16 x 12-11/16inch).
Paradigm 500C is 48mm narrower and 15mm shorter than Klipsch RP-600C but it is also 15mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-600C and Paradigm 500C in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-600C and Paradigm 500C 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-600C is approximately 1718.6cm2 / 266.4inch2 and base area of the Paradigm 500C is approximately 1647.3cm2 / 255.3inch2. The RP-600C requires 4% more surface area than the Premier 500C 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 RP-600C weighs 10.91kg / 24lbs and the Paradigm 500C weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Premier 500C 8% heavier than the RP-600C.
Here is a comparison of how RP-600C and Premier 500C'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 Klipsch RP-600C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-600C:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Plastic tipped bolt (w/ attached nut)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Paradigm 500C?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 500C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
58 Hz
vs
73 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
850USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
189mm
vs
204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1647cm2
vs
1718cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600C |
Paradigm Premier 500C |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 125 watts |
15-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
97 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-25k Hz |
73-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn dome |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
204.0mm (8") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Width |
558.0mm (22") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
308.0mm (12.1") |
323.0mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
10.91kg (24lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Gloss White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Paradigm 500C costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch RP-600C does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-600C digs deeper - 58Hz against 73Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-600C is more sensitive (97dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-600C sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-600C is cheaper - $499 against $850, about 41% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-600C B Paradigm 500C
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-600C is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Paradigm 500C if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 73Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-600C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.