In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Klipsch. Klipsch Reference R-610F is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the R-51M is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-610F and Klipsch R-51M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-610F | Klipsch R-51M |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0" | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Copper-spun IMG | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-21k Hz | 62-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 85 watts | Up to 85 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.36kg / 36lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 37-1/16" x 9-3/8" x 14-1/2"
942.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm | 13.3" x 7.0" x 8.4"
338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch R-610F and Klipsch R-51M 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 R-610F |
Klipsch R-51M |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
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 R-610F and R-51M are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-610FKlipsch R-51M
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 R-610F |
Klipsch R-51M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
R-610F features a 1.0" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer. On the other hand, the R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz.
Frequency Response
R-610F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz whereas R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the R-610F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51M's min frequency of 62Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
R-610F and R-51M have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-610F sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the R-51M's is at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-610F a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-51M, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 85 watts RMS, though R-610F is rated up to 85 watts and R-51M Up to 85 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
R-610F features Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts and R-51M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-610F's Post terminals
Klipsch R-51M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R-610F and R-51M 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
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 R-610F's and Klipsch R-51M's external dimensions. Klipsch R-610F has external dimensions of 942.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm (37-1/16 x 9-3/8 x 14-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch R-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm (13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch).
Klipsch R-610F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61mm wider, 604mm taller and 154mm deeper than Klipsch R-51M.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-610F and Klipsch R-51M in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-610F and Klipsch R-51M 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 R-610F is approximately 881.9cm2 / 136.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2. The R-610F requires 130% more surface area than the R-51M which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-610F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-610F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Feet
- 4 Screws
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
- Loudspeaker Feet note
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-51M?
Here are the items that come with the R-51M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information