In this review, we will be comparing RP-600M and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-600M and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-600M | MartinLogan 35XTi |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Cerametallic | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.30kg / 16.1lbs | 8.40kg / 18.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.7" x 7.9" x 11.8"
399.0 x 202.0 x 301.0mm | 13.5" x 7.5" x 11.8"
343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-600M and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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
Both RP-600M and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-600MMartinLogan 35XTi
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 |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-600M has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the RP-600M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 35XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Motion 35XTi 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 Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-600M sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan 35XTi, 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.
Motion 35XTi can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas RP-600M has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
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 Motion 35XTi 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
MartinLogan 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-600M and Motion 35XTi 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.
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 MartinLogan 35XTi'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 MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm (13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch).
Klipsch RP-600M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 56mm taller and 1mm deeper than MartinLogan 35XTi.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-600M and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-600M and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The RP-600M requires 6% more surface area than the Motion 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi 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 MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 15% heavier than the RP-600M.
Here is a comparison of how RP-600M and Motion 35XTi'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 MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
459USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Height |
343mm
vs
399mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
576cm2
vs
608cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1500Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
399.0mm (15.7") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
301.0mm (11.9") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
7.30kg (16.1lbs) |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Ebony, Walnut, Piano Black |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - MartinLogan 35XTi 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 | A | Klipsch RP-600M digs deeper - 45Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-600M is more sensitive (96dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-600M is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan 35XTi takes more power (250W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RP-600M: bi-amping; MartinLogan 35XTi: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-600M is cheaper - $459 against $1,500, about 69% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-600M B MartinLogan 35XTi
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 MartinLogan 35XTi 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 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-600M the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and MartinLogan 35XTi for a mid-size room, a large room and a very 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.