In this review, we will be comparing RP-600M II and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-600M II and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-600M II | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hybrid Tractrix Horn | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Cerametallic cone | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-25k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94.5 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-13/16" x 8" x 13-1/16"
402.0 x 204.0 x 332.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-600M II and KEF R3 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-600M II |
KEF R3 |
| 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.)
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 RP-600M II is a 2-way design whereas the R3 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-600M IIKEF R3
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-600M II |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RP-600M II features a 1" titanium Hybrid Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500 Hz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-600M II has a frequency range of 44-25k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the RP-600M II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
RP-600M II and R3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-600M II sensitivity is rated at 94.5 dB and the R3's is at 87 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3, 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.
R3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas RP-600M II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R3.
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 RP-600M II and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-600M II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-600M II and R3 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.
KEF R3 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 RP-600M II's and KEF R3's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-600M II has external dimensions of 402.0 x 204.0 x 332.0mm (15-13/16 x 8 x 13-1/16inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
Klipsch RP-600M II is 21mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than KEF R3 but it is also 5mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-600M II and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-600M II and KEF R3 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-600M II is approximately 677.3cm2 / 105.0inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The RP-600M II requires 1% more surface area than the R3 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch RP-600M II and KEF R3 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-600M II weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the R3 65% heavier than the RP-600M II.
Here is a comparison of how RP-600M II and R3'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-600M II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-600M II:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
402mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
100 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
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
677cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94.5 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-25k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hybrid Tractrix Horn |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500 Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
402.0mm (15.8") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
204.0mm (8") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
n/a |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - KEF R3 costs roughly 2.9x what Klipsch RP-600M II 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-600M II digs deeper - 44Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-600M II is more sensitive (94dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KEF R3 takes more power (180W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-600M II: bi-amping; KEF R3: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-600M II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-600M II is cheaper - $749 against $2,200, about 66% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-600M II B KEF R3
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 II 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 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-600M II the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF R3 for a mid-size room and a large 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.