Loved the video this morning. These candid, no BS evaluations are why I value your channel much higher than any of the other audio reviewers who always post rosy reviews.
The fact that Klipsch can sell them for $430 tells me that they're inflated. I also strongly agree that the "sale" price promotes impulse buys and later remorse.
I bought klipsch 600m thinking they would beat a pair of vintage Boston towers 3 ways. I was Wrong!. I found the klipsch to be more artificial and the Boston t830s are more pleasant and natural to listen to at all volumes. I sent klipsch back and ordered svs prime bookshelf ( for rear surrounds) and svs ultra center. The Boston's STAY! I'm afraid I'll be disappointing if I try to replace the towers.
It was hard to say no to a pair of piano black RP-600Ms at about $400 (new/shipping & tax included). That said, my GoldenEar Aon 2s outclass them, and the Klipsch midrange is poor. Their treble is very good, and they do play incredibly loud due to their sensitivity. That’s where they excel.
@@Adrian-jh5cr I bought SVS ultra bookshelf, they beat my Boston towers in dynamics and sound stage though a tad less refined, but fun to crank up with my SVS sub. Perfect for home theater. I listen to the towers for casual mid level listening.
For anyone who has a pair of these, I highly recommend the GR-Research upgrade. The upgrade was a HUGE improvement; it fixed a lot of the issues/deficiencies of these speakers. That being said, if I was in the market for a pair of speakers I wouldn't buy the RP600Ms and the upgrade kit, I'd shop for something better out of the box.
I doubt it. If you watch alot of GR Research videos, you will see a pattern of short cuts taken on the crossover. Even on rather expensive stuff. GR has convinced me to go DIY.
Love the honesty in your reviews and your are not afraid to go against the grain! I find that really helpful and does raise eyebrows on why these get better reviews else where. Keeps us all better informed and it saves people hard earned money too.
Klipscsh randomly sells it's last gen Ref Premiere stuff pretty cheap You've got some balls going against every reviewer on RUclips and dissing the RP-600M. The Corporate Donors will be displeased. I, however, am nominating you for a Nobel Prize
I never said it was a bad speaker. It’s great. It just wasn’t a speaker that would serve as a reference anymore at its price... which is all over the place anyway.
@@cheapaudioman Can you talk more about how the speakers sound when paired to a sub? I will be using a sub with my bookshelfs so low end isn't so important. How do the rp600m compare with other speakers in the class if they are all connected to a sub.
Music preference plays a significant role on equipment choices. I am heavy on acoustic Jazz (specially Afro-Cuban), blues and classical. The RP-600M has brought my system to a level that no other speaker has done for me- and I had several Bookshelf speakers costing an average of three times the price of the Klipsch's. I am also aware that this could change if my music preference changes. Anyway, another great review and analysis by the new Standard in Audio review.The CAM.
I always appreciate CAM telling it his way. Me personally I get a warmer more intimate acoustic feeling from the Klipsch. Although the Primes are detailed, I feel less engaged. Either way I think as audio enthusiasts or audiophiles we are lucky. So many great choices and great quality reviews. 😎
@@tbonet859 I used a marantz receiver, the emotiva ta-100, a topping mx3, SMSL ad18, the svs soundbase, and I believe the ta-100 acting as a preamp into the A300 emotiva amp.
Well said. Sale prices create a sense of urgency that's not based on sound preference. I my case if I don't have a chance to sample before buying, in my mind it sort of helps mitigate any disappointment "Buyers Remorse". Then the hassle of sending back or finding a buyer. Yuck. The struggle continues It's crazy.
I'm pleased with my Klipsch RP-600M and after a year of use I still plan to keep them. But your assessment is fair. I've set mine up with the a recently purchased center RP-500C for a nice 3.0 system. In other words the speakers are used for both stereo audio and 3-channel audio-visual purposes which are quite pleasing in this manner. Increasingly for a strictly 2.0 system I'm finding tower/floor speakers over bookshelf/stand-mount to be my personal preference.
Thanks for doing what you do Randy! You have become a part of my Saturday mornings, with a coffee in hand, chatting about all the great value gear out there to get the most value for our dollars and all before the kid wakes up. Dig it man.
Awesome breakdown - Love the "current thoughts" summary in the description! I picked up the BC3 from your recommendation and paired it with a TA-100, very impressed!
Hey Randy, Honest reviews are what I'm on RUclips for and I appreciate your honesty! Don't change a thing bud! There's nothing I hate more than a reviewer that I can see through as far as sucking up to a company. Stay true to yourself and us youtubers as well!
I've watched the price of the speaker fluctuate and have never felt compelled to buy it. $450-$650 is still a hefty investment for a bookshelf speaker for some people.
You do this well and are right on point with my own thoughts. I've owned and still do many speakers you audition. Keep up the good work and enjoy your coffee ☕️ 👍
@@cheapaudioman Speakers and all pleasure objects are investments. Just like funds or stocks in your IRA. You buy them for future returns. A good investment is only worth having while it continues to meet your objectives. NEVER fall in love with an investment, fall in like. I still have the Missions I bought in 1983. I still really like them. I like them more after replacing the tweeters around 20 years ago. One of my shop buildings has 25 year old Polks that I really like with my SAE amp and Hafler preamp. I have other speakers, some near field monitors, some general purpose. When I hear something that I want more, that something will become my main speakers. Like you , I found the Klipsch to be weak in some critical areas. Just listen to Steely Dan Babylon Sisters, where the high hat just barely opens as the female vocals do a descending slide and Fagens voice punches in for just a beat. Hey Nineteen opening measures are even more obvious. The Klipsch just falls apart, my Edifier near field powered monitors on my linux audio box pull it off better. Stefan Grossman Spider Web Blues just lays out flat on the road through the RP600s, all the finger sounds and punch gets lost. Thanks for bucking the Klipsch gang bang love fest!
Appreciate the honest review and discussion! Keep it up. I’ve noticed that most of the of the reviewers that hold the RP600M in high regard tend to pair them with rather pricey Class A or Class A/B amps. I’ve also been told by some other RP600M owners that these speakers really need that to bring out their full potential, particularly in the bass and low-mid section that you also note as lacking at low volumes. I currently have a pair of these as well and do sometimes find them to be a bit bright and fatiguing when paired with some Class D amps, but I’m going audition them with some other amps before I decide whether to keep them or not.
Funny. Though we probably wouldn't want to see his hearing-test graph plotted over the top of the RP600M's frequency-response graph. Just sayin'... I'm not a big fan of the RP's either, but the SVS Prime has cheesy construction and a 7-8 db. rise from around 1.5 kHz to almost 3 kHz. It's hardly a reference bookshelf to hold up in comparison. I don't think he even rated it very well next to KEF in his run-off video between those in this price range.
Interesting. I compared the RP600M to the SVS Ultra's (their top tier and a step above the prime's) in a direct AB comparison where I could pan between both speakers instantly. Klipsch on the left channel and SVS on the right channels on the same amp, in FL Studio. I found their sound to be almost identical save for a few subtle differences. I sat there listening to different content at high volume for a good while comparing the two and for the price difference the Klipsch definitely win in my book. They're a great sound for $400 used or refurbished. Just outstanding in comparison to the SVS for half the price.
Another great review Randy and I totally get were your coming from with much respect. With that being said I really enjoy my rp600m’s. They’ve actually moved into my bedroom though and running with a budget Yamaha receiver and sounds phenomenal. In my man cave I’m running the big brother RP8000f and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 towers for a different flavor of sound periodically and both threw a Nad 356bee and couldn’t be happier . I think all speakers no matter what price bracket are going to have there advantages and disadvantages . To me the Klipsch is a well rounded speaker that does everything well and great in some areas. To add to the excitement one of my customers is a Klipsch dealer and I was able to get my RP8000 f’s for a little over $800.00 dollars . That just sweetened the deal that much more and I must say you have to audition these sometime and think you will be very surprised how much more these Excel over the 600’s especially in the mids which really adds the butter to them :) and of course the bass is unreal with a 8” mid and woofer. I actually haven’t ran my sub since there arrival feeling no need for more bass. Totally get the frustration with the pricing/ marketing structure. But to me if I want something I’ll just wait for the price to drop and not pay the premium so it doesn’t bother me. i.imgur.com/PRwFYah.jpg i.imgur.com/7QQ1mw9.jpg
It’d be interesting to see the “winners” of each price bracket compared to see what you get for each step up in $. B1+ vs Prime Bookshelf vs Uni-Fi 2.0.
I like and appreciate your contents. I recently decided to dust off my old audio system (Marantz AV560 pre-amp, Marantz MA500 mono blocks, B&W DM302 speakers) that had been parked for more than 15 years ago when my son was born. Turns out he's into music. I was able to find the RP-600M + the Wiim Pro Plus for under $500. I also added the modi+ DAC for $129. I essential modernize my system for roughly $600 and I am very pleased. The RP-600Ms are great for what I paid for them. Thanks and keep pushing out those contents.
Great video as always cheapaudioman. The SVS Prime series are fantastic speakers. Klipsch I found fatiguing when I listened to them at the store. I made the right choice with my SVS Prime 5.1.2 system. They makes me smile everyday Keep up the excellent work cheapaudioman 👍🏻
I bought the rp600m after all the hype. After an hour of listening I was left scratching my head and disappointed, full of buyers remorse. I gave it about a month hoping my opinion would change, but it did not, they never grew on me. Luckily Ron pointed me towards Danny at GR Research's upgrade. Much easier to listen to now. Sounds far more balanced and the measured response verifies this. I doubt I will ever part with them now that I have this project complete. Very worth it if you're someone who plans on keeping them.
I’m waiting for the same upgrade to come. I think filling up that missing range and taming those highs will go a long way. Dynamic eq for low level listening is key.
That's exactly what I hoped it would do and it lived up to the expectations. I ended up skipping the tube connectors and kept them in stock configuration where they are still able to be biamped. For me it was more about getting the speaker to behave a little better without need for additional EQ. That's exactly where it landed in the end and I love them.
@@adamyelle4901 I’m even more excited now. I’m not sold on the tube connectors, especially after his latest videos about speaker wire which was debunked by audiosciencereview guy.
@@NakeanWickliff Just drop the treble 2db on the tone control, and keep them on axis, I doubt you'll notice that dip. Try enjoying speakers, instead of focusing on measurements.
@@skolvikings5263 taking measurements does not preclude me from enjoying my speakers. The minute I hooked them up I was like whoa, that treble is something else. The attack of a kick drum shouldn’t draw attention to itself in the treble region but it does for me. I was coming from Klipsch heritage speakers which focus heavily on the midrange and vocals. I love them for this quality and tone. That was completely gone from these speakers. I measured to see what was going on and sure enough almost a 6db drop at 1850hz. Also not just a shelf at 10khz and above but it actually keeps rising until the tweeter gives up on the top. So I eq’d with mini dsp and all is well.....except I’d rather not have to use my pre out of my receiver and my mini dsp plus another amp just to get a flat response from my speakers. I’d build my own if I didn’t care about them looking like crap. Anyhow, I’ll have the new xo soon and won’t need to use tone control or eq to FIX the recipe, I can just use it to add the garnish and use my DSP snd amp for other duties. I don’t measure for the sake of measuring. I measure to help see what I’m hearing soo I can enjoy the speakers and more importantly the music how I would like to hear my music.
While this guy is celebrated to the extreme, as you said “universally”- I think we ended up on the same page with the 600. I find the midrange to be a little confusing, upper midrange soft and the top end a little tilted for long term listening. On top of that, I just wish I had more texture and tone in the bass. I hear the notes and love the extension but man, I’m missing the clarity in bass with that guy. Great little video this morning and took some courage to speak up even if this will be the unpopular opinion.
Ron, I don’t think it’s going to be that unpopular. I agree with Randy. I think if Klipsch can afford to sell them for $430, they should find the best price between $430-$630 and stick to it. At $430 steady, they’d never be in stock.
Monitor Audios are really great speakers, but the prices have really gone up a lot from when you could buy the amazing Bronze 1s for $300 new and the 2s for $400. Now, the least expensive bronze 50 is $500. B&W has really shot up in price too, although they and the Monitor Audios are now made in China and used to be made in the UK. The least expensive B&W is the 607 which is now $700. Even the Wharfedales have gone up quite a bit the last several years. The 12.2s are now $500. But, they're still my 3 favorite speaker brands.
The tonality of the 600M bothered me a lot, something sounded not right, but initially I didn't know what the problem was. Until I played a song, "Cut's like a knife" in Bryan Adams' "MTV Unplug" album. The flute solo was almost inaudible. There's a serious dip at 1.7Khz in the frequency response. Sold the 600M and bought a pair of LS50, much prefer the LS50's tonality.
I can never get to where I don’t feel like a veil is over them. I have a pair of the biggest non Reference series Klipsch towers with amazing sound, so open and strong just kills these... I have decent electronics, a top of their “normal line” Marantz integrated the 8006, and also a nice Yaqin tube amp. I just cannot get the 600s to open up at all and have had them for almost a year so they are broken in. Maybe this is Klipsch’s effort to be less horny? I just don’t get it, I want to love these but they are relegated to TV use... I mean they are fine for that, just no open sound or highs... The towers though which should be semi crappy sound so amazing on both the ss and tube amps... Together they aint bad when I blend in the Yaqin with the Marantz driving the 600s.
@@jfr1907 Don't feel bad. These speakers didn't even "open up" for me when they each had their own 500W amplifier, the same class D blocks I've used to drive speaker cabinets at shows. Raw power will not overcome a poor crossover. Tube rolling will not overcome a poor crossover. I realized I was either going to start soldering up new crossovers, or I was going to sell them. They sold really fast, and just about covered the costs of a Philharmonic Audio Affordable Accuracy Plus kit, which ended up being a far better pair of speakers, and didn't require any soldering. It all worked out in the end. Good luck on your journey. I hope you find a solution that works for you, and your setup.
skol vikings Check the video by iwii posted 4 months ago, where he compared 600M and LS50, scroll down and check my comment. Small people think others are as small.
The first time i heard Klipsch loudspeakers was at the Australian Hi Fi audio show in Sydney 1972. These were the big La Scala models. The records used to demonstrate the speakers was The Missing Linc vol 2. A direct to disc recording of instrumental tracks. The other record was The Carmen Ballet recorded in Russia. I remember the sound as being very bright and a bit hollow . The next speaker i heard was the Magnaplanar dipoles The sound was a vast improvement .The overall sound was more "musical" with a beautiful midrange warmth which the Klipsch could not do. The bass did not extend down to where the Klipsch excelled but in my opinion was still pretty good. The Maggies excelled with classical music with a less strident sound that the Klipsch had. I am not surprised at your decision to sell them.
Randy, the sadness you feel now you are about to sell these speakers means you do have a connection to these speakers. You are about to say goodbye to a pair of old friends. Just binge listen to your favorite speakers or new friends you meet along the way and fill your soul with happiness......
Thanks - Did the same A/B shootout between Prime & 600M and have to agree the Klipsch had a dip in the middle that I was not a fan of. SVS were a more even well rounded sound.
Never heard you mention the Focal chorus 605 ($300 Amzon) or any Monitor Audio, Triangle br03, Fluance, there are so many great speakers out there now. But promoters for the masses tend to keep people thinking inside the box. Did you try the not so raved RP500m which supposedly measured considerably better? As an owner of 100's of speakers over the years, I'm still finding $100's of dollar speakers that are sounding more and more like $1000's of dollar speakers yr after yr! Carry on Randy good work
Thank you Randy! Your reviews on the SVS primes drove me to take a test drive . I was blown away and decided to sell my Yamaha tower speakers replacing them with the Primes. They are keepers. Bravo!!! I did go for the piano finish so they look as good as they sound.
Nice video Randy. It isn't easy for everyone to try dozens of speakers to choose one overall endgame, your honest appraisal of the speakers helps me choose something I can live with long term. If I find something on sale, I have your past videos to help me keep from buying S15's sound.
On sale now for $350 I was looking at the SVS Prime Bookshelf, but for $150 difference... really considering this now. Surely trying to clear stock for the new V2.
If I got speakers to test every week, I would be selling speakers so as not to fill my house with bookshelf speaks. And I too believe that the pricing "game" is not a fair way to do business. My comments are sponsored by Bob's Steel cookies. If you want a cookie that lasts forever, but lacks a bit of tastes, Bob's are you first choice. Peace.
congratulations!!! it takes cojones to change one's opinion about anything. a youtuber should never say "the best speaker ever!" because there are more coming down the pipe (you heard that, jaguar? cougar, tiger, whatever? 🤣). you are the best, oh Great Cheapo One! ✊
The reality of TV's, Speakers and Amp's is that you will be satisfied with what you buy if it's a decently reviewed product that has the features you need. Only if you do side by side comparisons will you want something else.
Mostly true. I agree that is most likely cause of feeling the need to upgrade unless you have really poor quality stuff you know you need to upgrade. However, when you follow all the reviews on a particular product and hear nothing but praise, or should cost 2x the amount, and do not hear anything negative, that is the sweet spot. The original Elac 6” bookshelves and the Sony 3-ways fit that category at their respective price points. In the graph I think Randy now has enough data to compile, they would fall significantly above value vs cost curves at their respective prices. Easy choices for budget followers. Although the Fluance turntables cost as much or more than most of the top rated speakers and amps, they too represent a unique value for the money.
I sold my second set of RP-600m piano black in favor of KEF q150 just last month, piano black look and feel twice the price of KEF but after listening to both for roughly six months I decided to part with them forever. I have background music running all day long almost every day with very low volumes in the morning when I still have people asleep in the house and KEF just handles low volumes better (yet are less sensitive...), imaging is not quite as good as Emotiva B1 (ribbon tweeter magic) but they sound incredible with sound coming from all directions unlike Klipsch.
I am so sorry that you’re sad don’t make sad make happy happy, however you have to go where your heart takes you and your, standing points and what you believe in I’m trying to make sense here takes you, have an awesome day buddy and I’m glad that we weathered the cold, and keep up the great work
Had an SVS Prime set up for 5 years. Bookshelves+Center +Sats. Also PB-1000 and PB12-NSD. controlled and powered with a Yamaha RX-A780. This amp smooths out high volume high frequency.
I had purchased the RP600s a few months ago as a replacement for the Elac B6 in my office using a Musical Fidelity Amp. I had thought I made a mistake because they were fatiguing and not listenable with certain music. I decided to move them to my bigger living room with a vintage NAD amp that's a little warmer and I really like them now... So to me, it all depends on the room and equipment you pair them with. For my office I got the Revel Concerta 2s which are perfect.
Found a very lightly used pair for half MSRP and pulled the trigger. I am very happy with them at that price point. All your points are very valid! I am happy to have not paid top dollar as I agree they are not quite $600 range. Would strongly recommend picking these up if you find a nice used set.
I was able to get my hands on a pair of B&W 606 S2 from best buy display models for $450. I also had a pair of RP-600M and RP-160. I must say when listening to the B&W, the B&W just sound so much better. More crisp, more detailed, just overall a better experience. Not saying the Klipsch aren't good speakers, but they are definitely not the end all and there are so many good speaker companies out there to choose from. I am going to be selling both of my Klipsch bookshelf pairs. Now that's not bashing Klipsch at all. Considering my favorite pair of current speakers I own, the KG 5.2. Found on the used market and at bargain prices, those are hard to beat. I appreciate this honest review from the cheap audio man! That's the beauty of this hobby. Everyone has their own ears to choose what works best for them!
I use my 600s in my office with a pair of R41s. I have 0 complaints. They are not my main speakers. I have Cornwalls for that. I think I have a horn problem.
I never met a bookshelf speaker that satisfied me regarding bass. I always add a sub. I even added a sub to my KEF LS50 Meta's. Add a sub to the RP-600M and they kick butt. I've tried it.
Amen about the pricing. JBL no longer distributes any classic speakers in Germany, only soundbars, bt speakers and headphones. So I'm getting a pair of 600Ms just in case Klipsch goes the same way as they started to introduce soundbars and so one. Better safe than sorry, can't find the JBL Studio 530s even used on ebay here.
I think the reason some people love these speakers and others don’t may depend a lot on setup. I’ve found that you don’t want them pointed directly at you ears. You can use toe-in and distance to rear wall as a tone control. They’re also not good for near-field listening. You need to be a reasonable distance away, maybe at least 6’. In my opinion correct placement is worth it as these speakers really draw you into the music.
I appreciate your honest reviews, new to the hobby at this level I've been watching most of your videos and have been stuck between the klipsch line for its aesthetics and the airmotiv b1+ to pair with my denon avr-s650h. This video was a great help.
All the mass market Klipsch stuff is generally Good. But not Great IMO. The Klipsch stuff I would consider Great would be the Klipschorns, Cornwalls, Lascalas. But i admit that you can do far better today for the price. Those products are expensive today because you are paying for the Legacy Klipsch developed over the last 70 or so years.
The great thing about RUclips is you get hundreds maybe thousands of different opinions on speakers. Everybody has different taste when it come to speakers so buy what you like.
Of course. The problem is people don't know if they're going to like a speaker until they buy it. The reality is you really cannot judge a speaker until you hear it for yourself, but then it may be too late. I mean, returns may be challenging, at least where I live. I've bought plenty of speakers based on great reviews only to be sorely disappointed. Fortunately, I was able to return most of the stuff, but I did end up being stuck with some unwanted speakers. Sure I'm frustrated and disappointed, wish it worked out better, but there's no use crying over spilled milk, we need to clean it up and move on. I just try to make the best of it, do what I can to find a way to use it or sell it, accepting what happened and that it is what it is.
Great video! Bummer I Missed this while I was hunting for new speakers last week. Anyways, I do have the Klipsch 600 coming in the mail :) I was lucky to get the pair for $350 from an online retail store (which sorta drives your point about pricing) so I’m sure I’ll have little buyers remorse. Also, I’m upgrading from the Edifier R1700BT so I’m thinking I’m still at a novice level where I’ll just be excited when something sounds “better.” That said I did research sound stage and imaging and learned that this is really what my ears are attracted to. Hopefully the Klipsch give me enough of it to be satisfied. If not, at least I have this channel for the other recommendations for a better experience in that respect. Thanks!
Good on ya for telling it like you hear it. Way too many reviewers have a hard time saying less than wonderful things about popular audio gear. Its subjective, but have always preferred the sound of something like a Wharfedale, Spica, Mission, Monitor Audio, Rogers, Proac etc. Thanks for your reviews.
Wanted to say thank you thank you thank you for saving me almost three hundred dollars for mentioning the Elac Outlet store!!! Two fronts, rears, and and a center for WAY less than it would have been on Amazon for the b62's. Love your channel btw!
Right on. I am a fan of Klipsch. But the 600M were hovering around $500 and now retail at $765? I want an 8 ohm speaker set to add with my vintage setup. Help give a bit more horn. I am a couple months out from buying. There are some open box and B grade options.
Thanks for the video. I bought a pristine set of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 used and saved hundreds. Bi-wiring really helps. I also picked up a new Wharfedale WHD-8 sub online for $199.00. So, I’m happy for now. My rock and jazz records sound great. But where I really noticed improvement is in classical organ music.
I appreciate your insight, but if I purchased speakers based upon this video, I would be totally screwed…you REALLY need to address speaker sensitivity and compatibility with different amplifiers when discussing speakers….while you discuss some wonderful speakers, not everyone has equipment suitable for them… pairing your speakers with your equipment is SO important…you offer no explanation of what equipment you are using to base these opinions/observations…I would be interested to know a few things about the equipment you are playing these from, and what your listening environment is…the Klipsch pricing structure doesn’t bother me…everyone should do their homework and make the best buying decision…there is lots of info out there to help you get the best deal…if you don’t do your due diligence, that’s on you…
Yes I agree with the marketing schemes and pricing. Our prices in Canada make it a challenge so the used market is the place I shop. The kef ls50 open box for 800.00 cdn. So the dilemma begins. Have elac uni bookshelf and fluance bookshelf.
Sincerely, thank you for this video. The Klipsch pricing structure pisses me off too. For that reason, I'm not buying another from them. I did purchase the RP-600M's at their lowest price and had to do some exotic things at the time to get them at that price. I came close to buying additional Klipsch speakers a couple of times. They were at the higher prices at those times. I was unsure of which model to choose and didn't pull the trigger. I was tempted by their 'sale' in January and couldn't audition them first. This video helped make a better purchasing decision. Thanks again!
I replaced my rp600m with the rp280f. I like them much more because the bass is much more adequate but the rp600m is capable of a lot of enjoyable listening in my experience. I enjoy it in smaller listening spaces and I think it was slightly above my ear if I remember. I had them on adjustable stands with a Yamaha receiver with ypao. I still have them but not in use atm. I plan to set them up somewhere when I get space. Maybe at my brother's apartment.
Agree 100%! I have both pairs and after many months of listening, I find the 600`s a bit fatiguing. I will keep mine though for certain music and recording quality. Great video Randy.
It's impressive to see how much your presentation style has improved over the last year. Your vibe in this video is lethargic. You've figured out how to bring more personality and enthusiasm without coming across like a salesman. Nice work!
I currently have both speakers mentioned and spent many hours with both. I would personally go with the Klipsch. The SVS to me are brighter and that's running on a warmer amp (Arcam SA20). But we all have different ears. As long as you enjoy the music..that's what matters. ✌
The sheer size of these alone rules them out for me (desktop user forced to live in a box, like at least 70% of the city slickers out there). The 400M you reviewed seemed like a better choice but I can only assume they share the sonic traits you've discussed here - c'est la vie.
So, quick question. Your channel is called cheapaudioman, yet every speaker you talked about in this video is a full paycheck or more out of my pocket. That doesn't seem cheap to me. If I gave up my vehicle or my house payment to afford those. I splurged on some Polks about 10 years ago, but switched to Fluance and I've been happy ever since. The Fluance speakers I have (2 towers, 2 dipole surrounds, 1 center channel, total cost about $700) combined with 2 Polk 12" subs that I got direct from Polk as refurbs, total cost around $1,100 (which was spread out over a few months) and fills my house with wonderful sound. I believe that was what the 2 bookshelf Klipsch cost if I heard you right. I think my cheap audio was a better route to go. :)
Cheap is a relative term and means different things to different people. I’ve reviewed many products below $200 and devoted an entire video to products under $250 recently.
i agree. sell the klipsch. I just upgraded my old soundmate .375s that I bought in the early '80s (which are still awesome for a small speaker). I tested six speakers and it came down to two: the klipsch and the primes. i kept the primes. everything my old speakers were, plus richer and fuller. love them.
For me Klipsch builds one line of speaker and that's the Heritage series. No matter how improved the RP line up has gotten they still don't sounds as good for the money as dozens of other speakers out there. But a lot of people love the RP line of speakers. Of course, many of those people have different tastes and expectations as well as limited exposure to other products. It was Steve Guttenberg that first got the hype train rolling on the 600M and I heard them about a month later and just couldn't understand what he found so amazing. But then he loves ZU speakers and those are easily the worst sounding so called higher end speakers I think I've ever heard. But Steve and I see eye to eye on many other speakers so perhaps it's just reviewer courtesy. Anyway, if you want bang for your buck try and speaker kit. Madisound sells quite a few but they are typically quite high end and therefore high priced but compared to their commercial equivalents they are a steal. Parts-Express sells a few good values and GR-Research sells the encore XLS if you don't opt for all the upgrades for less than $500 bucks a pair. I built my own two ways with a Dayton Audio 6.5 and 1-1/8 tweeter with an 1800 hertz crossover and a well tuned and braced box and they outperform any commercial speaker I've tried under $1000. Total cost around $200. Yes, I have years of box building experience and a bit of speaker design experience but the kits eliminate the need for this and truth be told, unless you're going to try and go toe to toe with a Joseph Audio or Wilson two way then extreme precision isn't necessary.
I was about to buy the Triangle Borea BR03 (400€ over here), but after watching your comparison, I got a pair of RP 600M for 350€ in Europe. Added the 3db boost at 1933 Hz as mentioned in the audiosciencereview.com review and being fine with them. The ELAC Unifi 2.0 and AperionAudio Novus B5 would almost be twice the price over here (600€). SVS Prme is about 500€ in Germany and not very popular (so selling them, could be difficult). For now, I stick with the Klipsch
God love ya and bless u Randy for your forwardness, honesty and candor ! Your doing a awesome job man for the common folk of the world, who want the truth and not the bullshit. 👍
I have a 50 year old Pioneer SX727 receiver (re-capped) and 40 year old Polk SDA-CRS speakers. Have enjoyed this combo for many years until I went with av surround sound. Now getting back to 2 channel and pulled out the Pioneer and Polks. Found a good deal on the Klipsch’s so thought I’d try them. The Polks are more transparent with a cleaner sound while the RP300M’s are warmer and more forward. Definitely get a more “live” sound from the Klipsch’s. However on many recordings the midrange sounds muddy. Sounds like male singers are crowding the mike. Maybe it’s the receiver. Tried speaker placement but can’t really pull them out due to room size. If I engage the loudness circuit and turn the bass down a few notches, the Polks get the warmer midrange while keeping the clarity missing from the Klipsch’s. May hook Klipsch’s up to my Yamaha or Sony av amps and see how they respond but as of now I’m not too impressed. Not hearing what all the positive reviewers are. Lots of variables factor into the sound.
How would you describe the differences between these SVS and the Warfedale 12.2’s. I listen to a lot of jazz, jazz vocal, contemporary jazz, instrumental, and lots of 70’s rock (Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, etc.) I look for balance and what my ears consider to be accuracy/neutrality. Need to replace some classic ADS710’s I use in the garage running off of an older Onkyo Integra receiver. Caps in the ADS crossovers need replacing and am not sure I can easily access to replace them, just thinking about buying a new set of speakers. I love the neutral signature of the ADS but they are very inefficient (probably 85db). Am curious to get your opinion when you have a moment.
I recently obtained a pair of Klipsch brand new in non damaged boxes RP 280 FA's for the home theater that I am slowly building as I find cheap stuff for $688. At that price I can't complain. I did have to settle for the cherry finish which is just fine by me.
Bought a pair if 600m’s refurb pushed for $350. never had “real”,passive bookshelf speakers before and wow I’m blown away. Agreed klipsch is playing shenanigans with their constant sales between 450-600 new. Non the less, thanks to youtubers like you, I can get an idea of wat these speakers sound like and know what a good price is for them.
Loved the video this morning. These candid, no BS evaluations are why I value your channel much higher than any of the other audio reviewers who always post rosy reviews.
i love this guy...... i play his videos at 1.5 X speed. I love him TALKING wicked FAST because life (is). Measurements confirm the big midrange dip.
@@odurandina 1.25x is perfect.
I was delighted to buy are pair of the RP600M for $430 last year. No complaints about seasonal discounts - it rewards the patient.
Wow your content just jumped up a level, nice job
Thanks!
i love this guy...... i play his videos at 1.5 X speed. I love him TALKING wicked FAST because life (is). Measurements confirm the big midrange dip.
Very impressive video, Randy. Taking on the Klipsch bandwagon is courageous. That’s like taking on the LS50 😂. Oh wait, you did that already.
The fact that Klipsch can sell them for $430 tells me that they're inflated. I also strongly agree that the "sale" price promotes impulse buys and later remorse.
I saw that they're back up to $630 which is crazy.
I bought klipsch 600m thinking they would beat a pair of vintage Boston towers 3 ways. I was Wrong!. I found the klipsch to be more artificial and the Boston t830s are more pleasant and natural to listen to at all volumes. I sent klipsch back and ordered svs prime bookshelf ( for rear surrounds) and svs ultra center. The Boston's STAY! I'm afraid I'll be disappointing if I try to replace the towers.
It was hard to say no to a pair of piano black RP-600Ms at about $400 (new/shipping & tax included). That said, my GoldenEar Aon 2s outclass them, and the Klipsch midrange is poor. Their treble is very good, and they do play incredibly loud due to their sensitivity. That’s where they excel.
@@danielseiler4344 Towers always sound better than book shelf speakers
@@Adrian-jh5cr I bought SVS ultra bookshelf, they beat my Boston towers in dynamics and sound stage though a tad less refined, but fun to crank up with my SVS sub. Perfect for home theater. I listen to the towers for casual mid level listening.
For anyone who has a pair of these, I highly recommend the GR-Research upgrade. The upgrade was a HUGE improvement; it fixed a lot of the issues/deficiencies of these speakers. That being said, if I was in the market for a pair of speakers I wouldn't buy the RP600Ms and the upgrade kit, I'd shop for something better out of the box.
Have you found anything better out of the box?
I doubt it. If you watch alot of GR Research videos, you will see a pattern of short cuts taken on the crossover. Even on rather expensive stuff. GR has convinced me to go DIY.
I love a 15" sub with Bookshelf speakers for low level listening. It's truly a pleasure.
Love the honesty in your reviews and your are not afraid to go against the grain! I find that really helpful and does raise eyebrows on why these get better reviews else where. Keeps us all better informed and it saves people hard earned money too.
Klipscsh randomly sells it's last gen Ref Premiere stuff pretty cheap
You've got some balls going against every reviewer on RUclips and dissing the RP-600M. The Corporate Donors will be displeased. I, however, am nominating you for a Nobel Prize
Possibly, I say possibly a nomination for the "reactions" of bookshelf speakers Hall of Fame...
At JBL "We want you to hear the truth"...
Nah it sucks, straight up, just good enough for a certain genre of music and movies.
I never said it was a bad speaker. It’s great. It just wasn’t a speaker that would serve as a reference anymore at its price... which is all over the place anyway.
@@cheapaudioman Can you talk more about how the speakers sound when paired to a sub? I will be using a sub with my bookshelfs so low end isn't so important. How do the rp600m compare with other speakers in the class if they are all connected to a sub.
Music preference plays a significant role on equipment choices. I am heavy on acoustic Jazz (specially Afro-Cuban), blues and classical. The RP-600M has brought my system to a level that no other speaker has done for me- and I had several Bookshelf speakers costing an average of three times the price of the Klipsch's. I am also aware that this could change if my music preference changes. Anyway, another great review and analysis by the new Standard in Audio review.The CAM.
I love them for sure. I just can’t keep them with everything else. They’re truly great speakers at $450
@@cheapaudioman That is what I paid. I thought $600 was a bit high. Keep up the good work.
I very much agree! These do a marvelous job with classical where getting the highs and mids right is crucial.
I always appreciate CAM telling it his way. Me personally I get a warmer more intimate acoustic feeling from the Klipsch. Although the Primes are detailed, I feel less engaged. Either way I think as audio enthusiasts or audiophiles we are lucky. So many great choices and great quality reviews. 😎
What components do have in your system, feeding your Klipsch?
I think this is a great speaker for tube amps as others have pointed out
@@cheapaudioman
Thank you.
Appreciate your videos.
@@tbonet859 I used a marantz receiver, the emotiva ta-100, a topping mx3, SMSL ad18, the svs soundbase, and I believe the ta-100 acting as a preamp into the A300 emotiva amp.
I own em and like em, connected to my tube gear.
Well said. Sale prices create a sense of urgency that's not based on sound preference. I my case if I don't have a chance to sample before buying, in my mind it sort of helps mitigate any disappointment "Buyers Remorse". Then the hassle of sending back or finding a buyer. Yuck. The struggle continues It's crazy.
I'm pleased with my Klipsch RP-600M and after a year of use I still plan to keep them. But your assessment is fair. I've set mine up with the a recently purchased center RP-500C for a nice 3.0 system. In other words the speakers are used for both stereo audio and 3-channel audio-visual purposes which are quite pleasing in this manner. Increasingly for a strictly 2.0 system I'm finding tower/floor speakers over bookshelf/stand-mount to be my personal preference.
I sold my RP600m for similar reasons, particularly the thin sounding mids... and replaced them with vintage Heresys. Love them!
SVS Prime Bookshelf’s ftwww 🔥🔥🔥 Actually traded my Klipsch R-15M’s Yesterday for some Wharfedale Modus 8’s!
Great to see evolution in your reviews on particular speakers. Real honest evaluation is what matters. It keeps it fresh and exciting too.
Thanks for doing what you do Randy! You have become a part of my Saturday mornings, with a coffee in hand, chatting about all the great value gear out there to get the most value for our dollars and all before the kid wakes up. Dig it man.
Awesome breakdown - Love the "current thoughts" summary in the description! I picked up the BC3 from your recommendation and paired it with a TA-100, very impressed!
Hey Randy,
Honest reviews are what I'm on RUclips for and I appreciate your honesty! Don't change a thing bud! There's nothing I hate more than a reviewer that I can see through as far as sucking up to a company. Stay true to yourself and us youtubers as well!
Appreciate that, Leo.
I've watched the price of the speaker fluctuate and have never felt compelled to buy it. $450-$650 is still a hefty investment for a bookshelf speaker for some people.
Hey, 1,000,000 views in 4 months is pretty solid imo. Congrats.
Your laid back, non chalant sense of humour is refreshing. Keep it up.
You do this well and are right on point with my own thoughts. I've owned and still do many speakers you audition. Keep up the good work and enjoy your coffee ☕️ 👍
No speaker shootout. It’s Saturday Speaker Send-off!
That kind of makes me sad for the Klipsch. I really had an emotional connection to them
Actually, It's Saturday Speaker Shot! Randy, Shot The Sheriff !!!
@@cheapaudioman Speakers and all pleasure objects are investments. Just like funds or stocks in your IRA. You buy them for future returns. A good investment is only worth having while it continues to meet your objectives. NEVER fall in love with an investment, fall in like. I still have the Missions I bought in 1983. I still really like them. I like them more after replacing the tweeters around 20 years ago. One of my shop buildings has 25 year old Polks that I really like with my SAE amp and Hafler preamp. I have other speakers, some near field monitors, some general purpose. When I hear something that I want more, that something will become my main speakers. Like you , I found the Klipsch to be weak in some critical areas. Just listen to Steely Dan Babylon Sisters, where the high hat just barely opens as the female vocals do a descending slide and Fagens voice punches in for just a beat. Hey Nineteen opening measures are even more obvious. The Klipsch just falls apart, my Edifier near field powered monitors on my linux audio box pull it off better. Stefan Grossman Spider Web Blues just lays out flat on the road through the RP600s, all the finger sounds and punch gets lost. Thanks for bucking the Klipsch gang bang love fest!
Appreciate the honest review and discussion! Keep it up.
I’ve noticed that most of the of the reviewers that hold the RP600M in high regard tend to pair them with rather pricey Class A or Class A/B amps. I’ve also been told by some other RP600M owners that these speakers really need that to bring out their full potential, particularly in the bass and low-mid section that you also note as lacking at low volumes. I currently have a pair of these as well and do sometimes find them to be a bit bright and fatiguing when paired with some Class D amps, but I’m going audition them with some other amps before I decide whether to keep them or not.
and it is true, they sound amazing on my class A tube amp. Horrible on my class D receiver
Of course they do any speaker sounds better with better equipment
I guess the RP600 have been Eklipsched
Optimus SVS Prime is much taller.
Ba-dum-bum, psssh!
I see what you did there... and I like it. Solid dad joke.
Bro he liked your comment so much he named a video after it! 👍👍
Funny. Though we probably wouldn't want to see his hearing-test graph plotted over the top of the RP600M's frequency-response graph. Just sayin'... I'm not a big fan of the RP's either, but the SVS Prime has cheesy construction and a 7-8 db. rise from around 1.5 kHz to almost 3 kHz. It's hardly a reference bookshelf to hold up in comparison. I don't think he even rated it very well next to KEF in his run-off video between those in this price range.
Interesting. I compared the RP600M to the SVS Ultra's (their top tier and a step above the prime's) in a direct AB comparison where I could pan between both speakers instantly. Klipsch on the left channel and SVS on the right channels on the same amp, in FL Studio. I found their sound to be almost identical save for a few subtle differences. I sat there listening to different content at high volume for a good while comparing the two and for the price difference the Klipsch definitely win in my book. They're a great sound for $400 used or refurbished. Just outstanding in comparison to the SVS for half the price.
Another great review Randy and I totally get were your coming from with much respect.
With that being said I really enjoy my rp600m’s.
They’ve actually moved into my bedroom though and running with a budget Yamaha receiver and sounds phenomenal. In my man cave I’m running the big brother RP8000f and Monitor Audio Bronze 500 towers for a different flavor of sound periodically and both threw a Nad 356bee and couldn’t be happier . I think all speakers no matter what price bracket are going to have there advantages and disadvantages . To me the Klipsch is a well rounded speaker that does everything well and great in some areas. To add to the excitement one of my customers is a Klipsch dealer and I was able to get my RP8000 f’s for a little over $800.00 dollars . That just sweetened the deal that much more and I must say you have to audition these sometime and think you will be very surprised how much more these Excel over the 600’s especially in the mids which really adds the butter to them :) and of course the bass is unreal with a 8” mid and woofer. I actually haven’t ran my sub since there arrival feeling no need for more bass.
Totally get the frustration with the pricing/ marketing structure. But to me if I want something I’ll just wait for the price to drop and not pay the premium so it doesn’t bother me.
i.imgur.com/PRwFYah.jpg
i.imgur.com/7QQ1mw9.jpg
Wow! I didn't really think this would be sad, but it was. Well, I'm off to Europe for two weeks with my family!
And it cheaper than a audio sytem;))))))
What a great video Randy. That's growth in the audiophile journey. Awesome 👍❤️
thanks so much
Great explanation! It echos my own experience. Thanks, Randy!
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”
Thanks for follow up opinion on the Klipsch, don’t see that from reviewers.
Zero Fidelity has a follow-up video, he calls it After the Hype or something like that
It’d be interesting to see the “winners” of each price bracket compared to see what you get for each step up in $. B1+ vs Prime Bookshelf vs Uni-Fi 2.0.
I like and appreciate your contents. I recently decided to dust off my old audio system (Marantz AV560 pre-amp, Marantz MA500 mono blocks, B&W DM302 speakers) that had been parked for more than 15 years ago when my son was born. Turns out he's into music. I was able to find the RP-600M + the Wiim Pro Plus for under $500. I also added the modi+ DAC for $129. I essential modernize my system for roughly $600 and I am very pleased. The RP-600Ms are great for what I paid for them. Thanks and keep pushing out those contents.
Great video as always cheapaudioman. The SVS Prime series are fantastic speakers. Klipsch I found fatiguing when I listened to them at the store. I made the right choice with my SVS Prime 5.1.2 system. They makes me smile everyday
Keep up the excellent work cheapaudioman 👍🏻
I bought the rp600m after all the hype. After an hour of listening I was left scratching my head and disappointed, full of buyers remorse. I gave it about a month hoping my opinion would change, but it did not, they never grew on me. Luckily Ron pointed me towards Danny at GR Research's upgrade. Much easier to listen to now. Sounds far more balanced and the measured response verifies this. I doubt I will ever part with them now that I have this project complete. Very worth it if you're someone who plans on keeping them.
I’m waiting for the same upgrade to come. I think filling up that missing range and taming those highs will go a long way. Dynamic eq for low level listening is key.
That's exactly what I hoped it would do and it lived up to the expectations. I ended up skipping the tube connectors and kept them in stock configuration where they are still able to be biamped. For me it was more about getting the speaker to behave a little better without need for additional EQ. That's exactly where it landed in the end and I love them.
@@adamyelle4901 I’m even more excited now. I’m not sold on the tube connectors, especially after his latest videos about speaker wire which was debunked by audiosciencereview guy.
@@NakeanWickliff Just drop the treble 2db on the tone control, and keep them on axis, I doubt you'll notice that dip. Try enjoying speakers, instead of focusing on measurements.
@@skolvikings5263 taking measurements does not preclude me from enjoying my speakers. The minute I hooked them up I was like whoa, that treble is something else. The attack of a kick drum shouldn’t draw attention to itself in the treble region but it does for me. I was coming from Klipsch heritage speakers which focus heavily on the midrange and vocals. I love them for this quality and tone. That was completely gone from these speakers. I measured to see what was going on and sure enough almost a 6db drop at 1850hz. Also not just a shelf at 10khz and above but it actually keeps rising until the tweeter gives up on the top.
So I eq’d with mini dsp and all is well.....except I’d rather not have to use my pre out of my receiver and my mini dsp plus another amp just to get a flat response from my speakers. I’d build my own if I didn’t care about them looking like crap.
Anyhow, I’ll have the new xo soon and won’t need to use tone control or eq to FIX the recipe, I can just use it to add the garnish and use my DSP snd amp for other duties.
I don’t measure for the sake of measuring. I measure to help see what I’m hearing soo I can enjoy the speakers and more importantly the music how I would like to hear my music.
While this guy is celebrated to the extreme, as you said “universally”- I think we ended up on the same page with the 600. I find the midrange to be a little confusing, upper midrange soft and the top end a little tilted for long term listening. On top of that, I just wish I had more texture and tone in the bass. I hear the notes and love the extension but man, I’m missing the clarity in bass with that guy. Great little video this morning and took some courage to speak up even if this will be the unpopular opinion.
Ron, I don’t think it’s going to be that unpopular. I agree with Randy. I think if Klipsch can afford to sell them for $430, they should find the best price between $430-$630 and stick to it. At $430 steady, they’d never be in stock.
Ron! What are you doing here? Will you make me some biscuits and gravy?
@@cheapaudioman yes, will you bring me a pot of coffee before I make the biscuits and gravy? Just pour it over me as I lay here, I’ll figure it out.
@@stevezeidman7224 you might be right in the long term but man, there are a crap ton of 600m fans lol!
randy loved the rp600m's until he started hanging out with ron.
We appreciate your honest reviews. You're becoming more sophisticated, and we're growing with you.
Mark... sophisticated... well now. I've been called a lot of things but sophisticated has never been one of them. I'll take the win. Thank you, sir
Randy, you really should review Monitor Audio bronze 100 6G. They are so good speakers with fun Factor.
Monitor Audios are really great speakers, but the prices have really gone up a lot from when you could buy the amazing Bronze 1s for $300 new and the 2s for $400. Now, the least expensive bronze 50 is $500. B&W has really shot up in price too, although they and the Monitor Audios are now made in China and used to be made in the UK. The least expensive B&W is the 607 which is now $700. Even the Wharfedales have gone up quite a bit the last several years. The 12.2s are now $500. But, they're still my 3 favorite speaker brands.
SVS Prime Bookshelf currently $$$$700. it is great how prices fluctuates on all speakers
Nice coffee cup, I need to get one of those.
The tonality of the 600M bothered me a lot, something sounded not right, but initially I didn't know what the problem was. Until I played a song, "Cut's like a knife" in Bryan Adams' "MTV Unplug" album. The flute solo was almost inaudible. There's a serious dip at 1.7Khz in the frequency response. Sold the 600M and bought a pair of LS50, much prefer the LS50's tonality.
I can never get to where I don’t feel like a veil is over them. I have a pair of the biggest non Reference series Klipsch towers with amazing sound, so open and strong just kills these... I have decent electronics, a top of their “normal line” Marantz integrated the 8006, and also a nice Yaqin tube amp. I just cannot get the 600s to open up at all and have had them for almost a year so they are broken in. Maybe this is Klipsch’s effort to be less horny? I just don’t get it, I want to love these but they are relegated to TV use... I mean they are fine for that, just no open sound or highs... The towers though which should be semi crappy sound so amazing on both the ss and tube amps... Together they aint bad when I blend in the Yaqin with the Marantz driving the 600s.
@@jfr1907 Don't feel bad. These speakers didn't even "open up" for me when they each had their own 500W amplifier, the same class D blocks I've used to drive speaker cabinets at shows. Raw power will not overcome a poor crossover. Tube rolling will not overcome a poor crossover. I realized I was either going to start soldering up new crossovers, or I was going to sell them. They sold really fast, and just about covered the costs of a Philharmonic Audio Affordable Accuracy Plus kit, which ended up being a far better pair of speakers, and didn't require any soldering. It all worked out in the end. Good luck on your journey. I hope you find a solution that works for you, and your setup.
I'm sure you can hear that precise dip at 1.7Khz...LOL, Would you of noticed it before Danny told you?? C'mon man!!!
skol vikings
Check the video by iwii posted 4 months ago, where he compared 600M and LS50, scroll down and check my comment.
Small people think others are as small.
skol vikings
Correction: video by iiwi. Check it
The first time i heard Klipsch loudspeakers was at the Australian Hi Fi audio show in Sydney 1972. These were the big La Scala models. The records used to demonstrate the speakers was The Missing Linc vol 2. A direct to disc recording of instrumental tracks. The other record was The Carmen Ballet recorded in Russia. I remember the sound as being very bright and a bit hollow . The next speaker i heard was the Magnaplanar dipoles The sound was a vast improvement .The overall sound was more "musical" with a beautiful midrange warmth which the Klipsch could not do. The bass did not extend down to where the Klipsch excelled but in my opinion was still pretty good. The Maggies excelled with classical music with a less strident sound that the Klipsch had. I am not surprised at your decision to sell them.
Randy, the sadness you feel now you are about to sell these speakers means you do have a connection to these speakers. You are about to say goodbye to a pair of old friends. Just binge listen to your favorite speakers or new friends you meet along the way and fill your soul with happiness......
Thanks - Did the same A/B shootout between Prime & 600M and have to agree the Klipsch had a dip in the middle that I was not a fan of. SVS were a more even well rounded sound.
RP600M on sale or $377 right now. Hoping that I like their sound for my first foray into premium audio.
I just orders a pair last night. I thought for $377 it was time I heard the RP 600m for myself. Fingers crossed. LOL
i just got a pair off amazon for $377 only one pair left.
Never heard you mention the Focal chorus 605 ($300 Amzon) or any Monitor Audio, Triangle br03, Fluance, there are so many great speakers out there now. But promoters for the masses tend to keep people thinking inside the box. Did you try the not so raved RP500m which supposedly measured considerably better? As an owner of 100's of speakers over the years, I'm still finding $100's of dollar speakers that are sounding more and more like $1000's of dollar speakers yr after yr! Carry on Randy good work
Safe and Sound is even cheaper!
Thank you Randy! Your reviews on the SVS primes drove me to take a test drive . I was blown away and decided to sell my Yamaha tower speakers replacing them with the Primes. They are keepers. Bravo!!! I did go for the piano finish so they look as good as they sound.
Nice video Randy. It isn't easy for everyone to try dozens of speakers to choose one overall endgame, your honest appraisal of the speakers helps me choose something I can live with long term. If I find something on sale, I have your past videos to help me keep from buying S15's sound.
On sale now for $350 I was looking at the SVS Prime Bookshelf, but for $150 difference... really considering this now. Surely trying to clear stock for the new V2.
Randy, I really enjoy your reviews. Keep up the good work!
If I got speakers to test every week, I would be selling speakers so as not to fill my house with bookshelf speaks. And I too believe that the pricing "game" is not a fair way to do business. My comments are sponsored by Bob's Steel cookies. If you want a cookie that lasts forever, but lacks a bit of tastes, Bob's are you first choice. Peace.
I love your "sponsored by" comment! Made my day 😂
congratulations!!! it takes cojones to change one's opinion about anything.
a youtuber should never say "the best speaker ever!" because there are more coming down the pipe (you heard that, jaguar? cougar, tiger, whatever? 🤣).
you are the best, oh Great Cheapo One! ✊
The reality of TV's, Speakers and Amp's is that you will be satisfied with what you buy if it's a decently reviewed product that has the features you need. Only if you do side by side comparisons will you want something else.
Mostly true. I agree that is most likely cause of feeling the need to upgrade unless you have really poor quality stuff you know you need to upgrade.
However, when you follow all the reviews on a particular product and hear nothing but praise, or should cost 2x the amount, and do not hear anything negative, that is the sweet spot.
The original Elac 6” bookshelves and the Sony 3-ways fit that category at their respective price points. In the graph I think Randy now has enough data to compile, they would fall significantly above value vs cost curves at their respective prices. Easy choices for budget followers.
Although the Fluance turntables cost as much or more than most of the top rated speakers and amps, they too represent a unique value for the money.
I sold my second set of RP-600m piano black in favor of KEF q150 just last month, piano black look and feel twice the price of KEF but after listening to both for roughly six months I decided to part with them forever. I have background music running all day long almost every day with very low volumes in the morning when I still have people asleep in the house and KEF just handles low volumes better (yet are less sensitive...), imaging is not quite as good as Emotiva B1 (ribbon tweeter magic) but they sound incredible with sound coming from all directions unlike Klipsch.
I am so sorry that you’re sad don’t make sad make happy happy, however you have to go where your heart takes you and your, standing points and what you believe in I’m trying to make sense here takes you, have an awesome day buddy and I’m glad that we weathered the cold, and keep up the great work
Had an SVS Prime set up for 5 years. Bookshelves+Center +Sats. Also PB-1000 and PB12-NSD. controlled and powered with a Yamaha RX-A780. This amp smooths out high volume high frequency.
I had purchased the RP600s a few months ago as a replacement for the Elac B6 in my office using a Musical Fidelity Amp. I had thought I made a mistake because they were fatiguing and not listenable with certain music. I decided to move them to my bigger living room with a vintage NAD amp that's a little warmer and I really like them now... So to me, it all depends on the room and equipment you pair them with. For my office I got the Revel Concerta 2s which are perfect.
the same thing happened to me. moved them to a bigger room with tube gear and OMG! magic
🤣
Very glad you made this video, thanks!!!
Came here to see the Klipschsters dog pile on you. I also don't like when they play the pricing game. Cheers.
Found a very lightly used pair for half MSRP and pulled the trigger. I am very happy with them at that price point. All your points are very valid! I am happy to have not paid top dollar as I agree they are not quite $600 range. Would strongly recommend picking these up if you find a nice used set.
Potential buyer here from India, ready to purchase if deal is good. I have been looking for these speakers for quite some time
I was able to get my hands on a pair of B&W 606 S2 from best buy display models for $450. I also had a pair of RP-600M and RP-160. I must say when listening to the B&W, the B&W just sound so much better. More crisp, more detailed, just overall a better experience. Not saying the Klipsch aren't good speakers, but they are definitely not the end all and there are so many good speaker companies out there to choose from. I am going to be selling both of my Klipsch bookshelf pairs. Now that's not bashing Klipsch at all. Considering my favorite pair of current speakers I own, the KG 5.2. Found on the used market and at bargain prices, those are hard to beat. I appreciate this honest review from the cheap audio man! That's the beauty of this hobby. Everyone has their own ears to choose what works best for them!
The 600s are great and really enjoyable. I just couldn't hold on to them anymore with the svs being a more well rounded speaker.
I pair mine with a Klip sub (wireless
Thats awesome. Glad that you enjoyed it
I use my 600s in my office with a pair of R41s. I have 0 complaints. They are not my main speakers. I have Cornwalls for that.
I think I have a horn problem.
I never met a bookshelf speaker that satisfied me regarding bass. I always add a sub. I even added a sub to my KEF LS50 Meta's. Add a sub to the RP-600M and they kick butt. I've tried it.
Almost all new speakers need a sub, even my rp8000f’s are weak in the low end.
Which sub did you use?
Thanks for the "Truth Bombs". It's what we all need to know and understand.
Amen about the pricing. JBL no longer distributes any classic speakers in Germany, only soundbars, bt speakers and headphones. So I'm getting a pair of 600Ms just in case Klipsch goes the same way as they started to introduce soundbars and so one. Better safe than sorry, can't find the JBL Studio 530s even used on ebay here.
I think the reason some people love these speakers and others don’t may depend a lot on setup.
I’ve found that you don’t want them pointed directly at you ears. You can use toe-in and distance to rear wall as a tone control. They’re also not good for near-field listening. You need to be a reasonable distance away, maybe at least 6’.
In my opinion correct placement is worth it as these speakers really draw you into the music.
I appreciate your honest reviews, new to the hobby at this level I've been watching most of your videos and have been stuck between the klipsch line for its aesthetics and the airmotiv b1+ to pair with my denon avr-s650h. This video was a great help.
Sounds more of a price issue, not sound issue. I ab compared rp600m with q350 and c97ii, rp600m wins, still the benchmark in the category
All the mass market Klipsch stuff is generally Good. But not Great IMO. The Klipsch stuff I would consider Great would be the Klipschorns, Cornwalls, Lascalas. But i admit that you can do far better today for the price. Those products are expensive today because you are paying for the Legacy Klipsch developed over the last 70 or so years.
The great thing about RUclips is you get hundreds maybe thousands of different opinions on speakers. Everybody has different taste when it come to speakers so buy what you like.
Of course. The problem is people don't know if they're going to like a speaker until they buy it. The reality is you really cannot judge a speaker until you hear it for yourself, but then it may be too late. I mean, returns may be challenging, at least where I live. I've bought plenty of speakers based on great reviews only to be sorely disappointed. Fortunately, I was able to return most of the stuff, but I did end up being stuck with some unwanted speakers. Sure I'm frustrated and disappointed, wish it worked out better, but there's no use crying over spilled milk, we need to clean it up and move on. I just try to make the best of it, do what I can to find a way to use it or sell it, accepting what happened and that it is what it is.
Great video! Bummer I Missed this while I was hunting for new speakers last week. Anyways, I do have the Klipsch 600 coming in the mail :) I was lucky to get the pair for $350 from an online retail store (which sorta drives your point about pricing) so I’m sure I’ll have little buyers remorse. Also, I’m upgrading from the Edifier R1700BT so I’m thinking I’m still at a novice level where I’ll just be excited when something sounds “better.” That said I did research sound stage and imaging and learned that this is really what my ears are attracted to. Hopefully the Klipsch give me enough of it to be satisfied. If not, at least I have this channel for the other recommendations for a better experience in that respect.
Thanks!
Good on ya for telling it like you hear it. Way too many reviewers have a hard time saying less than wonderful things about popular audio gear. Its subjective, but have always preferred the sound of something like a Wharfedale, Spica, Mission, Monitor Audio, Rogers, Proac etc. Thanks for your reviews.
Wanted to say thank you thank you thank you for saving me almost three hundred dollars for mentioning the Elac Outlet store!!! Two fronts, rears, and and a center for WAY less than it would have been on Amazon for the b62's. Love your channel btw!
Right on. I am a fan of Klipsch. But the 600M were hovering around $500 and now retail at $765? I want an 8 ohm speaker set to add with my vintage setup. Help give a bit more horn. I am a couple months out from buying. There are some open box and B grade options.
Thanks for the video. I bought a pristine set of Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 used and saved hundreds. Bi-wiring really helps. I also picked up a new Wharfedale WHD-8 sub online for $199.00. So, I’m happy for now. My rock and jazz records sound great. But where I really noticed improvement is in classical organ music.
Great points on the silliness of the up and down prices throughout the year.
I appreciate your insight, but if I purchased speakers based upon this video, I would be totally screwed…you REALLY need to address speaker sensitivity and compatibility with different amplifiers when discussing speakers….while you discuss some wonderful speakers, not everyone has equipment suitable for them… pairing your speakers with your equipment is SO important…you offer no explanation of what equipment you are using to base these opinions/observations…I would be interested to know a few things about the equipment you are playing these from, and what your listening environment is…the Klipsch pricing structure doesn’t bother me…everyone should do their homework and make the best buying decision…there is lots of info out there to help you get the best deal…if you don’t do your due diligence, that’s on you…
Yes I agree with the marketing schemes and pricing. Our prices in Canada make it a challenge so the used market is the place I shop. The kef ls50 open box for 800.00 cdn. So the dilemma begins. Have elac uni bookshelf and fluance bookshelf.
That's an interesting combination. Do you alternate them?
Honest! I have a little flee amp (Pass ACA) that I made from a kit. These speakers are more efficient than the others that you like.
Sincerely, thank you for this video. The Klipsch pricing structure pisses me off too. For that reason, I'm not buying another from them. I did purchase the RP-600M's at their lowest price and had to do some exotic things at the time to get them at that price. I came close to buying additional Klipsch speakers a couple of times. They were at the higher prices at those times. I was unsure of which model to choose and didn't pull the trigger. I was tempted by their 'sale' in January and couldn't audition them first. This video helped make a better purchasing decision. Thanks again!
I replaced my rp600m with the rp280f. I like them much more because the bass is much more adequate but the rp600m is capable of a lot of enjoyable listening in my experience. I enjoy it in smaller listening spaces and I think it was slightly above my ear if I remember. I had them on adjustable stands with a Yamaha receiver with ypao. I still have them but not in use atm. I plan to set them up somewhere when I get space. Maybe at my brother's apartment.
Agree 100%! I have both pairs and after many months of listening, I find the 600`s a bit fatiguing. I will keep mine though for certain music and recording quality. Great video Randy.
Loving the upgrade in video quality. Way to level up!!!!!!
It's impressive to see how much your presentation style has improved over the last year. Your vibe in this video is lethargic. You've figured out how to bring more personality and enthusiasm without coming across like a salesman. Nice work!
Ha. Yeah. I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable in front of the camera
I currently have both speakers mentioned and spent many hours with both. I would personally go with the Klipsch. The SVS to me are brighter and that's running on a warmer amp (Arcam SA20). But we all have different ears. As long as you enjoy the music..that's what matters. ✌
Great honest account of your experience Randy. We all know your digging the Elac UBI 52 better atm and you won't miss the Klipsch. :)
The sheer size of these alone rules them out for me (desktop user forced to live in a box, like at least 70% of the city slickers out there). The 400M you reviewed seemed like a better choice but I can only assume they share the sonic traits you've discussed here - c'est la vie.
I have the 500M's paired with the matching center and an SVS SB1000 pro sub and I don't hear what he is hearing at all.
So, quick question. Your channel is called cheapaudioman, yet every speaker you talked about in this video is a full paycheck or more out of my pocket. That doesn't seem cheap to me. If I gave up my vehicle or my house payment to afford those. I splurged on some Polks about 10 years ago, but switched to Fluance and I've been happy ever since. The Fluance speakers I have (2 towers, 2 dipole surrounds, 1 center channel, total cost about $700) combined with 2 Polk 12" subs that I got direct from Polk as refurbs, total cost around $1,100 (which was spread out over a few months) and fills my house with wonderful sound. I believe that was what the 2 bookshelf Klipsch cost if I heard you right. I think my cheap audio was a better route to go. :)
Cheap is a relative term and means different things to different people. I’ve reviewed many products below $200 and devoted an entire video to products under $250 recently.
I just bought the new Klipsch RP 600 m 2's, & the Klipsch spl-120 sub....any recommendations on a amp for them?
i agree. sell the klipsch. I just upgraded my old soundmate .375s that I bought in the early '80s (which are still awesome for a small speaker). I tested six speakers and it came down to two: the klipsch and the primes. i kept the primes. everything my old speakers were, plus richer and fuller. love them.
For me Klipsch builds one line of speaker and that's the Heritage series. No matter how improved the RP line up has gotten they still don't sounds as good for the money as dozens of other speakers out there. But a lot of people love the RP line of speakers. Of course, many of those people have different tastes and expectations as well as limited exposure to other products. It was Steve Guttenberg that first got the hype train rolling on the 600M and I heard them about a month later and just couldn't understand what he found so amazing. But then he loves ZU speakers and those are easily the worst sounding so called higher end speakers I think I've ever heard. But Steve and I see eye to eye on many other speakers so perhaps it's just reviewer courtesy.
Anyway, if you want bang for your buck try and speaker kit. Madisound sells quite a few but they are typically quite high end and therefore high priced but compared to their commercial equivalents they are a steal. Parts-Express sells a few good values and GR-Research sells the encore XLS if you don't opt for all the upgrades for less than $500 bucks a pair. I built my own two ways with a Dayton Audio 6.5 and 1-1/8 tweeter with an 1800 hertz crossover and a well tuned and braced box and they outperform any commercial speaker I've tried under $1000. Total cost around $200. Yes, I have years of box building experience and a bit of speaker design experience but the kits eliminate the need for this and truth be told, unless you're going to try and go toe to toe with a Joseph Audio or Wilson two way then extreme precision isn't necessary.
He basically praises everything
The RP 600 really needs crossover work. They've great buy not fantastic. I like an accurate midrange over a bright horn.
exactly rp150m has the same issue
I was about to buy the Triangle Borea BR03 (400€ over here), but after watching your comparison, I got a pair of RP 600M for 350€ in Europe. Added the 3db boost at 1933 Hz as mentioned in the audiosciencereview.com review and being fine with them. The ELAC Unifi 2.0 and AperionAudio Novus B5 would almost be twice the price over here (600€). SVS Prme is about 500€ in Germany and not very popular (so selling them, could be difficult). For now, I stick with the Klipsch
The Elac unifi 2.0 is now 400 euro on Amazon.
God love ya and bless u Randy for your forwardness, honesty and candor ! Your doing a awesome job man for the common folk of the world, who want the truth and not the bullshit. 👍
I have a 50 year old Pioneer SX727 receiver (re-capped) and 40 year old Polk SDA-CRS speakers. Have enjoyed this combo for many years until I went with av surround sound. Now getting back to 2 channel and pulled out the Pioneer and Polks. Found a good deal on the Klipsch’s so thought I’d try them. The Polks are more transparent with a cleaner sound while the RP300M’s are warmer and more forward. Definitely get a more “live” sound from the Klipsch’s. However on many recordings the midrange sounds muddy. Sounds like male singers are crowding the mike. Maybe it’s the receiver. Tried speaker placement but can’t really pull them out due to room size. If I engage the loudness circuit and turn the bass down a few notches, the Polks get the warmer midrange while keeping the clarity missing from the Klipsch’s. May hook Klipsch’s up to my Yamaha or Sony av amps and see how they respond but as of now I’m not too impressed. Not hearing what all the positive reviewers are. Lots of variables factor into the sound.
Great, honest and undoubtedly unbiased reviewing. Great channel 👏👍👌🙌
How would you describe the differences between these SVS and the Warfedale 12.2’s. I listen to a lot of jazz, jazz vocal, contemporary jazz, instrumental, and lots of 70’s rock (Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, etc.) I look for balance and what my ears consider to be accuracy/neutrality. Need to replace some classic ADS710’s I use in the garage running off of an older Onkyo Integra receiver. Caps in the ADS crossovers need replacing and am not sure I can easily access to replace them, just thinking about buying a new set of speakers. I love the neutral signature of the ADS but they are very inefficient (probably 85db). Am curious to get your opinion when you have a moment.
I recently obtained a pair of Klipsch brand new in non damaged boxes RP 280 FA's for the home theater that I am slowly building as I find cheap stuff for $688. At that price I can't complain. I did have to settle for the cherry finish which is just fine by me.
Bought a pair if 600m’s refurb pushed for $350. never had “real”,passive bookshelf speakers before and wow I’m blown away. Agreed klipsch is playing shenanigans with their constant sales between 450-600 new. Non the less, thanks to youtubers like you, I can get an idea of wat these speakers sound like and know what a good price is for them.