In this review, we will be comparing RP-600M and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-600M and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-600M | ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Cerametallic | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 46-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.7" x 7.9" x 11.8"
399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm | 12-5/8" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"
321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-600M and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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
Both RP-600M and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-600MELAC Carina BS243.4
TweeterWoofer
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 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
RP-600M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-600M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the RP-600M can go slightly deeper then the Carina BS243.4's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-600M sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though RP-600M is rated up to 100 watts and Carina BS243.4 30-100 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
Both RP-600M and Carina BS243.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-600M's Dual binding posts/bi-wire/bi-amp terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-600M has a rear firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-600M with its rear-firing port.
Klipsch RP-600M Tractrix horn-shaped 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's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-600M has external dimensions of 399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm (15.7 x 7.9 x 11.8inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch).
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is 78mm shorter and 54mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-600M but it is also 3mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-600M and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-600M and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 is approximately 608.0cm2 / 94.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The RP-600M requires 20% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 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 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 weighs 7.30kg / 16.1lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the RP-600M 9% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how RP-600M and Carina BS243.4'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-600M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled)
- Operating Instructions
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
459USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
506cm2
vs
608cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
399.0mm (15.7") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
301.0mm (11.9") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Ebony, Walnut, Piano Black |
Satin Black,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Carina BS243.4 costs roughly 3.3x what Klipsch RP-600M 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (45Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-600M is more sensitive (96dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-600M is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | ELAC Carina BS243.4 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-600M is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-600M: bi-amping; ELAC Carina BS243.4: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-600M sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-600M is cheaper - $459 against $1,500, about 69% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-600M B ELAC Carina BS243.4
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take ELAC Carina BS243.4 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-600M has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Carina BS243.4 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-600M 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.