In this review, we will be comparing Premier 600C and RP-450C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Paradigm and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 600C and Klipsch RP-450C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm 600C | Klipsch RP-450C |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-25k Hz | 58-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-180 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.55kg / 43lbs | 16.23kg / 35.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-3/16" x 35-11/16" x 13-11/16"
208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm | 6-13/16" x 31-1/8" x 14-9/16"
174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm 600C and Klipsch RP-450C 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* |
Paradigm 600C |
Klipsch RP-450C |
| 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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Premier 600C is a 3-way design whereas the RP-450C is a 2-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.
Paradigm 600CKlipsch RP-450C
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm 600C |
Klipsch RP-450C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
Premier 600C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the RP-450C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 600C has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas RP-450C has a frequency range of 58-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the RP-450C can go slightly deeper then the Premier 600C's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
Premier 600C and RP-450C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 600C sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the RP-450C's is at 97 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-450C a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm 600C, 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.
Premier 600C can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas RP-450C has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Premier 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
Premier 600C features Binding post type posts and RP-450C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 600C's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-450C'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 Paradigm 600C's and Klipsch RP-450C's external dimensions. Paradigm 600C has external dimensions of 208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm (8-3/16 x 35-11/16 x 13-11/16inch) whereas Klipsch RP-450C has external dimensions of 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm (6-13/16 x 31-1/8 x 14-9/16inch).
Klipsch RP-450C is 116mm narrower and 34mm shorter than Paradigm 600C but it is also 22mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch RP-450C is 22mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Paradigm 600C is 34mm taller.
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 Paradigm 600C is approximately 3156.4cm2 / 489.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-450C is approximately 2926.7cm2 / 453.6inch2. The Premier 600C requires 8% more surface area than the RP-450C 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 Paradigm 600C weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the Klipsch RP-450C weighs 16.23kg / 35.7lbs. This makes the Premier 600C 20% heavier than the RP-450C.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 600C and RP-450C'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 Paradigm 600C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 600C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration Card
- Center Channel Elevation Gauge
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-450C?
Here are the items that come with the RP-450C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Detachable magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
94 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
58 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
174mm
vs
208mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2926cm2
vs
3156cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
650USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 600C |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-450C |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker (Ebony) |
| Power Range |
15-180 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
58-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
208.0mm (8.2") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Width |
907.0mm (35.7") |
791.0mm (31.1") |
| Depth |
348.0mm (13.7") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
16.23kg (35.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
polymer veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Walnut, Black |
| 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 600C costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch RP-450C 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 (60Hz vs 58Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-450C is more sensitive (97dB vs 94dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RP-450C is easier to place; Paradigm 600C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-450C sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-450C is cheaper - $650 against $1,099, about 41% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm 600C B Klipsch RP-450C
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-450C 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-450C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $449 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.