Yes, absolutely, I definitely enjoyed your video. You produce some of the best, no nonsense videos of the type on RU-vid. I purchased these speakers. I was SO looking forward to getting them hooked up and experiencing what both you and Steve had to say about them. Unfortunately, for my room and my ears I really thought the top end was lacking. Seriously lacking. There is no question that Klipsch has done something to the horn tweeter to mitigate some of the objections many had with them. Yours and Steve's reviews notwithstanding, I think they went too far. At least they did for my application. The bottom end integrated perfectly with my sub and I had bass nirvana. Top side was a very different story. They sounded muffled. Who ever heard of a horn being described like that? By the way, as an aside, good luck telling the difference between real wood veneer and the vinyl on these little beauties. Anyway, your review is spot on in my view. Having lived with the Klipsch and the SVS Ultra bookshelves, I'd like to see a joining of the bottom half and cabinet of the RP600M and the top half of the Ultras. I found a bookshelf that produced what a marriage like that would have sounded like but it cost me almost three grand in the process.
just got mine based on several reviews to give the Elac BS 244s a rest. listening to The Handsome Family's Through the Trees...so far so good but only 5 songs in.
Z reviews did one on the BIC Fh65b I think and he spastically raved about how great they are and he's reviews good stuff and all the in crowd speakers. I hardly ever seen review videos on BIC America speakers and written reviews they go on about how great they are even there base budget venturi line... I have a pl980 BIC Acoustech 5.1 set and love em. But they seemed shunned by the big name reviewers and can't be there med low price point I've seen alot on speakers on the really budget price point well the good ones several times like the new designer pioneers.
Steve's "horn epiphany" episode prompted me to grab the R-51M's for half price last Fall and I've been luvin' the "emotion" and dynamics they present ever since. :) If I can get the 600's for half price this Fall it will probably be impossible to resist them :/ ...but even with just my $100 Dayton sub, and a Vista Spark, I'm pretty darn happy with just these little guys! :)
I grew up in the 70s and will never forget the first time I heard Klipsch speakers. I was blown away. I worked several years to be able to buy my own set. In the late 80s I am not sure what happened to them but they disappeared. I bought a cheap set of speakers that were just alright and since I have gotten older don't even have a stereo system. The only times now I listen to music is in the car. Getting older is not a bad thing but things definitely change in your life
Between you, Steve and Herb Reichert I'm having a very hard time not buying a pair of these... and I need them like I need another pair of speakers... Thanks a lot! Good company, btw!
Thanks Sean. Glad to hear an audio reviewer I respect struggle with model numbers. I feel slightly less dumb. I don't know how Steve does it. He is amazing. Keep up the good work.
Glad to hear that you are still enjoying the RP600M's. I feel the same way about the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers I purchased last Black Friday. They are not perfect, but they are great to listen to, and really easy to drive. I have them faced straight out into the room. I use them both for movies, and 2 channel music listening. I am really enjoying the "after the hype" videos.
The JBL 530 is incredibly smooth and well integrated. A very refined choice. But curiously enough, is ignored by reviewers outside of Zeos. Would love a comparison with this RP model, as I have never heard the RP600.
JBL tends to engage reviewers with other product lines. The guy who engineered the 530s is no longer with JBL. The cherry vinyl wrapped ones look kinda nice, but only seem to be available in Japanese market.
All I can personally add is I bought the 590's and then the center and these studio speakers are the deal of the century for the sale price. They are that good that I see no need at all for spending more! I keep the grills on but love to see how the 8 inches woofers are recessed in the cabinet for added oomph! That compression driver in this thing is fantastic!🤪🤓🤗
Perhaps the RP500M would be a closer comparison to the R-51M since they are closer in size. What I'd really like is for someone to review the little baby RP400M!
My rp-600m's are hooked up to a vintage pioneer sx828 and sound fantastic. I do use an old pair of Denon bookshelf speakers connected to the b inputs on the amp, just gives a little more low end, without having to crank the bass dial to high. Overall really happy with them.
Modern Klipsch with the tractrix/titanium horn and improved crossover have really eliminated the old school horn shout and other nasties produced by older models with a phenolic tweeter. They have also nailed it with integration.
Absolutely. I always hated the Klipsch "sound" up until recently. After hearing many of the new RP line as well as the RF7 III, I have completely changed my opinion on Klipsch speakers. They are not the ear bleeders they used to be.
I have the RP600Ms hooked up to a high end 25 W per channel EL34 tube amp and I'm surprised at how good they can sound. They were fine with a far more powerful mass-produced solid state Marantz A/V receiver, but they punch way above their weight with the little tube amp :o) Another satisfied customer after owning them for a couple of years and trying them with a lot of different electronics. I own speakers listing for about 20X the RP600m and I play and listen to a lot of live music, so I know what music is supposed to sound like and I'm very particular. These speakers are "keepers". I own the competitive Elac Uni-Fi UB5 speakers as well, and they can also shine but only with quite a bit more power. My son uses them to very good effect with an 80 Watt per channel Cambridge CXA81 stereo integrated amp. Happy listening!
Love this series. In many ways this is the sort of information that I want to know about. More than the initial review. Because when I buy something I will have to live with it.
I have a pair of Forte III's on the way. I can't wait, super excited! I had some Epic CF-3's about 19 years ago that I sold. I have had a number of speakers in my setup from Thiel, Martin Logan etc but they all missed that magic the Klipsch used to give me. I can't wait to get horns back in my system. Thanks for the follow up review.
I just got some (10/25/2019), Black Friday sale price under $500 a pair. Unlike some internet trolls, I have heritage (Crites upgrades) and reference klipsch as well as other speakers to compare. I am not making general or interpolated statements. My 600M are mated to a 15" sealed sub. I have had the opportunity to listen for several hours to a wide swath of genres. The klipsch exhibit NONE, as in NO TRACE of the older models upper midrange harshness or horn shout. They will not appeal to the "Boutique" listeners who want ever-so-gentle, laid-back treble and "calm" midrange. A bit forward is a great thing. Music is simply more realistic and alive than on a dozen or more brands I could name, have owned or auditioned at length. These are a true refinement of not just klipsch, but horn loaded speakers in general. They punch way above thier price and weight, and represent a solid milestone and sound standard for under a grand.
i have the model before these the rp-160 and i really enjoy the sound from them. i am no audiophile but i know i like the way they sound especially with rock music. thanks for your reviews keep up the good work.
Good update review if I said that correctly. I Just own Klipsch R-15M I use as a "C" pair on my 2 channel Onkyo AV. I have a Klipsch sub I use and have it balanced just right to enhance the bottom end. I'm still enjoying my Elac Debut 6.2 just love those speakers. Never so far get tired listening to them. Keep up the good work my friend.
I was not really into speakers and I was out for a pair of Focal Clear. I came across the Audiophiliac's review, yours, and a few others, so I ended up hitting that infamous next day delivery button. I auditioned it them for 18 hours on a Sunday and missed work on Monday. I was just blown away, I could not stop track after track. It was just the sound signature I was chasing. Then I got greedy (financially irresponsible some would say) and went for the whole cake instead of a slice. I returned the RP600M and ordered the RP8000F and the Yamaha A-S501. I mostly use the Questyle CMA400i in DAC mode for this setup. Five months forward, still a joy to listen to, still no buyer's remorse, still no itch to get the 12th pair of cans , and still nice looking piece of furniture with a traditional Moroccan lantern (modded with an RGB smart bulb) on top of each. I'm only tempted by the Magnapan's LRS, but they are always on back-order and I don't have enough room anyway.
Just found a pair used from the klipsch amazon warehouse for $350 fingers crossed Now to find a cheap half decent amp. thinking of going with either: topping MX3 Sony STDHR190 SMSL AD18 80W2 any other CHEAP amp/receiver recommendations for 600m? Don't need any features just an amp that'll work and do the speakers justice for a few years.
Hi: Do you have a link for the short stand on the bottom of your speakers. I have the exact same pair and would love to purchase a pair of the stands. thank you
Amazing !! Sean you nailed it .. I'm loving this "After The Hype" series .. I 100% agree to the thoughts you represented over here .. Big Thank You and keep posting !!
Hi! Love your videos, I'm pretty new on the audio fidelity stratosphere thus I need to ask your opinion. I've recently bought a cambridge audio CXA81 and I want to pair it with either the KEF LS50 or the Klipsch RP600M. The speakers will be on my computer desk (I have a big desk) with not much space from the wall. Any input on the above is welcome. Thanks in advance.
I bumped up from the 400m’s to the 500m and what a huge difference in soundstage! I was really surprised! The midrange was more apparent, along with the lows! I bumped up based on the cheapaudioguy’s review that the RP-500m was the best in the RP line and I believe he was spot on.
I have a pair of these but haven't used them at all (2 years) The very next day after I bought them my Yamaha receiver pucked permanently and I haven't replaced it yet. I've been calling around and I think I'll bite on the Marantz 40 this December. A long time ago I watched a youtube video on these 600's where you send the speakers to a dude and he super spruces the insides up to sound twice as good. Anybody remember that vid? I would like to watch it again and see if he is still in business......thanks Hot Rod
Thank you for another great video. As an owner of the predecessors, the Kipsch RB61 reference speakers, I was curious if upgrading to the RP600Ms should be on my to do list. Unfortunately a rear port is a deal breaker for my instillation, but I did dig into Klipsch's archives to check out the difference in specifications between these two siblings. According to Klipsch the RP600Ms weigh 16 lbs. the RB61s weigh 22 lbs. Where did the 6 lbs go? This is not insignificant. The new speaker is 27% lighter, but sounds better!? Smaller due to rear port maybe? That means less cabinet volume. Lighter due to thinner box construction perhaps? That's not good for resonance. Lighter due to reduced motor magnet mass or basket strength? Not good things. Guess I'm going to have to hear for myself.
check out new record day's evaluation of the RP600M's and how to upgrade and improve them. they are pretty good out of the box, but as you will see, with 2 simple steps they become SERIOUSLY good. first, he offers a kit for a complete crossover that completely fixes the sound and makes them much flatter. second - as you you mentioned and he also points out - cabinet resonance! and this one can be done cheaply yourself, with some no-rez or similar treatment. i do have to correct you on your oversimplified view of magnet mass, which is almost completely meaningless (new record day has a video on that too!). see, magnet size is just ONE sub-factor. but alone is means nothing. there are some cheap crappy car sub companies who intentionally use bigger magnets to fool customers into thinking they're getting a better speaker, but then they simply increase the gap (between the magnet and voice coil). smaller gap - stronger magnetic field. also not all magnets are created equal - there are neodymiums, and even just looking at ceramic magnets those are not all created equal either, some are much stronger than others. then on top of all that, there is moving mass. less mass to move means less field strength required. and of course there's voice coil size and number of windings etc. so a smaller magnet doesn't mean jack, it simply could have been re-engineered and even improved with a smaller magnet. less mass, stronger fields, smaller gap, voila. whether or not this applies positively or negatively to the RP600M vs the RB61's I do not know. But I do know an upgraded set would blow either the stock ones, or your older ones, away by a mile. the guys at new record day design crossovers for people on request (only if they can actually measure the speakers themselves) and who knows, perhaps they've already made one for the RB61's, you might ask them. that's an easy and excellent upgrade, because for mass-produced high margin products like Klipsch, they tend to come with absolute CRAP crossovers. watch the RB600M video on their channel and he'll explain why and prove it to you. they cheap out on that stuff big time. Most of the Klipsch range, while it seems expensive to the average person, is nowhere NEAR audiophile level pricies (i.e. ridiculous) that would justify top quality designs and components in either the x-over or cabinet, that's just the way it is. the mfg doubles their money at least, retail is typically doubling their money, then there's shipping costs. the RP600M in his estimation costs no more than 100 dollars in materials, in total, and probably less. that's why DIY is the best, unless you like speakers costing multiple thousands of dollars or more. and yeah he did show that the woofer uses a cheap thin stamped steel basket... but that can be damped with certain materials to where it's not a major issue either. the magnet is a decent size for the driver, which is small and lightweight.
Are these good for TV and movies? Also is the bass slow? I listen to a lot of hard rock and metal "I'm a drummer". do the 6 inch woofers have a punchy kick or are the more for hip hop and tech music? With the bass turned down are they good for late night TV?
Actually it was Z Reviews that I saw first in all the rave reviews of the RP600M, & Steve was the 2nd or 3rd one I saw. You can thank Klipsch for making a great inexpensive speaker. Steve is the first reviewer I've seen with the Klipsch Cornwall IV, for which he gives a rave review, at $6K a pair. They, Klipsch, took the idea I had a couple years ago taking the Forte III midrange horn & putting it in the Cornwall III, which had a very small horn for a midrange.
I just got these yesterday. They're replacing a pair of RP-150M in my office. I have to say, right out of the box... I preferred the sound of the older RP-150. Granted, these haven't had time to break in yet (or I haven't had time to acclimate), but the RP-600M just seemed more strident to me. Although I didn't get fatigue, I got the sense that I could. That was never the case with the smaller RP-150. Probably a low value comment since I haven't had much time with them, but thought I'd share anyway.
Which speaker has a PERFECT music presentation? What is your choice for the speaker you would want to live with, long term, that's around $550 per pair? (Sorry, I used the word "best" before, which is too general and subjective.)
No audio component I've come across comes close to being perfect. Quite the opposite really. I also don't have a "BEST" for the money. Its all about compromise and electing which compromises you are OK with.
I use to have a pair of RB 5's that I've missed for some time now. I traded them in for RF 5's, which I still own. These are likely my next Klipsch purchase.
It'll be mentioned less frequently as time goes by. This is a relatively new evolution in their performance, so that "old" sound isn't really all that old. Less than half-a-decade in many instances.
Right. After those reviews, I ordered a pair. Loving with them and comparing directly with my KEF LS50 for about seven months, my thoughts remain the same. The Klipsch are really good. But the LS50 are distinctly superior.
I want those LS50s so bad but they'd require me to shell out big bucks for a 5-channel amp, whereas I might be able to get away with just a receiver and these Klipschs.
THANK YOU!!! I watch ur Content but I'm so sick of these and the other handful of bookshelf speakers reviews beat to death. There's so many other brands other than the cool kids
I love these videos as feelings change over time. I liked my LRS Maggies when I got them but was a little disappointed. Now after 6 months I seem to like them more and more each day. Being a Klipsch fan boy it has taken some getting used to.
Thank you for this great video... (I am from a small country in the Balkans, southeastern Europe called Romania). I'm at the beginning of the audiophile road... I need some advice from you if you are kind ... I intend to buy these great speakers (Klipsch RP600M ... and later I intend to buy another pair of Magnepan LRS speakers) and I would like to match them with: A - DENAFRIPS HESTIA (preamp) + HYPERION (poweramp) or B - SCHIIT FREYA + (preamp) + VIDAR (poweramp) ... What advice do you give me ... A or B? Thanks a lot for the advice ...
I got these after steves recommendation. Picked up a Yamaha a-s1100 used and a Yamaha wxc-50 to stream to. Also got a cheap sub to fill out the bottom. If I want to upgrade anything here it is the sub. The rest is awesome.
Do u think the yamaha s801 would be ok for these + a sub? I just cant get an idea with watching these videos. Some say yamaha and these speakers are a very bad combo...that yamaha and klipsch is generally a bad match. Im not an audiophile...but I want my music to sound good and have an affordable amp that i can add and grow in2.
Just got them. Currently only Loxjie wedge amp, but soon will hook them up to a Onkyo A9110. Could you review that? Steve was quite pleased with it, a great value product again.
@@ZeroFidelity Thank you, SIR. The salesman at Best Buy was mad RUDE and I just walked out. BTW, is it anyway possible for you to audition the Sjofn's?
parttimeaudiophile.com/2012/09/19/second-thoughts-digging-in-to-the-clue-from-sjofn-hifi/ please check out this link, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised
Bloody Killa Thank you very much. I am aware of the kit, but I need someone to install it. I have spoken to Danny about it and he said he may have an answer in the future for guys like me who are not DIY at all. Thanks again.
These are the best sounding budget bookshelf speakers I’ve ever purchased. I paid $550 at Bestbuy only after watching the reviews. If Steve and Thomas praised the speakers, I bought them. After about a week, the sound warmed right up. I’m powering them with my McIntosh MA252 and MCD7005. Thanks for the review.
Tu Ho I would have to agree. I have owned them for around 6 months and look forward to firing them up every day. I don’t see that changing. They are that good.
Well...here I've landed again!!! Really enjoyed this review and your frank thoughts. I must admit, I have been mostly anti Klipsch, at least at this level, due to their overly bright/harsh and forward sound of yesteryear. This has given me a different view. If I was in the market for a bookshelf speaker at this price point, I'd certainty give them a listen. In fact I may just go listen to them anyway, just to hear what the hype is all about. Cheers!! 😃
One thing I would like to know is, how much toe-in you would recommend for these. I usually go with the "point them at a point 1m behind the MLP. Would you agree?
I bought the m600 because of your and Steve’s review. I can say that I love them! I have always wanted a tube amp but the cost was too much for a trial run. I saw your review on the X7 tube amp. It is reasonably priced and I can justify it for a trial run or even the X5. Would you feel comfortable pairing it up with the 600m and a Fluance RT-85 table with the 2M blue cartridge? I love jazz and some rock , no metal.i do like to listen to the system at higher volumes every so often (at least my wife says so!) your thoughts
I'm using the RP-600Ms with Muzishare X7 and really like the combination. My turntable is Fluance RT-81 with Audio-Technica VM540ML (Yes, the cartridge costs more than the table lol). The combination sounds great to me. My phono stage is Musical Fidelity, I'm not using the internal phono of the turntable.
Thanks for the info. I finally received the unit yesterday and hope to get everything hooked up today. I was very surprised by the workmanship in a good way!
Looking to get either these or b&w 606 then add their matching speakers to create a 5.1 system. Regardless of price, anyone know if these still sound better than the 606's?
I hope you don't believe the many 2 way speakers on the market are incapable of producing mid-range. There are many ways to get to where you want to go in engineering.
