Short answer: the KEF Q Concerto Meta if budget allows, the Klipsch RP-600M II if it doesn’t. The Q Concerto Meta ranks #11 of 131 large bookshelf speakers against the RP-600M II’s #73, and the price gap between them, $950, is large enough that the RP-600M II remains a legitimate budget pick rather than an also-ran.
The Q Concerto Meta’s standout trait is in-room consistency. Its reviewer calls out really good neutrality with directivity that stays remarkably steady from lower treble into upper treble, one of the reviewer’s own top 10 picks under $1,500. Its main limitation is a radiation pattern of about plus or minus 50 degrees, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred 60 degrees for maximum envelopment, and it wants to be pointed closer to on-axis rather than heavily toed out.
The RP-600M II is a real step up from the original RP-600M, but with a treble caveat. Its redesigned waveguide extends flush to the baffle edge to reduce diffraction, its horizontal radiation is 10 to 20 degrees wider than the original, and the reviewer notes it largely eliminates the original’s midrange resonance issues. The catch is that on-axis treble runs notably hot, even hotter than the original in some respects, and needs about 20 degrees of toe-out or the grille installed to sound balanced. Unusually, the reviewer found it actually sounds better with the grille on.
Bass extension favors the KEF. It reaches F3 53Hz and F10 35Hz against the Klipsch’s F3 70Hz and F10 41Hz, a meaningful difference for anyone running these without a subwoofer.
Buy the KEF Q Concerto Meta for the more consistent, deeper-reaching measured performance if the price fits your budget.
Buy the Klipsch RP-600M II if the price gap matters and you’re willing to toe it out or run the grille to tame its hot treble.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q Concerto Meta | Klipsch RP-600M II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,399.99 per pair | $449.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #11 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #73 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) | 15.7”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofer, 100 mm (4 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 6.5” Cerametallic cone woofer, 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 | 5.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 | 7.77 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How KEF Q Concerto Meta compares with other leading options:
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Perlisten S4b
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs AsciLab C6B
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q Concerto Meta: $1,399.99 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Really good in-room neutrality with consistent horizontal directivity from seat to seat. Directivity holds remarkably steady from lower treble into upper treble, where many similarly-priced speakers narrow sharply as frequency rises: one of the reviewer’s top 10 picks under $1,500. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.2dB.
Cons: Radiation pattern measures about ±50°, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60° for a stronger sense of envelopment. Needs to be pointed closer to on-axis rather than heavily toed out: combined with its rolled-off, shelved-down top end, too much toe-out makes it sound noticeably dark.
Full KEF Q Concerto Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofer, 100 mm (4 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers! More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs KEF R3 Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs AsciLab F6B
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Revel M106
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs KEF R3
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs AsciLab C6B
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Buchardt Audio E50
- See all 72 comparisons
Klipsch RP-600M II: $449.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the Klipsch RP-600M (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: Redesigned waveguide extends flush to the baffle edge, reducing diffraction compared to the original RP-600M. Roughly 10-20° wider horizontal radiation than the original, giving more soundstage envelopment while retaining precise imaging. A major step up in overall tonal neutrality compared to the original RP-600M, largely eliminating that model’s midrange resonance issues. Unusually, sounds better with the grille on: the grille smooths out the elevated treble rather than degrading the sound, a rare trait among speakers the reviewer has tested. More refined back-panel hardware, including anodized binding posts and jumper cables for optional bi-amping. Responds well to EQ correction (verified using measurement software and a miniDSP), letting the on-axis response be made genuinely linear. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: On-axis, the treble runs notably hot (even hotter than the original RP-600M in some respects) and needs about 20° of toe-out or the grille installed to sound balanced. Horizontal dispersion is very slightly less linear across angles than the original RP-600M, a minor trade-off for the wider overall radiation pattern. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity (about 94.5dB) is, like the original, a half-space rating roughly 9dB above the anechoic reality (closer to 85-86dB). In-room bass rolls off around 60Hz in practice, and a 120Hz boost paired with a midrange scoop gives kick drums their “tambour” without real low-end weight: a subwoofer is still recommended. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Toeing the speaker out for better on-axis tonality (rather than using the grille) introduces slightly more diffuse imaging from added sidewall reflections.
Full Klipsch RP-600M II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Cerametallic cone woofer, 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.77 |
| Weight | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: The Truth about Klipsch’s “NEW” Sound. RP-600M Update. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Klipsch RP-600M II
- GR-Research: We Bought The "NEW" RP-600M II Is KLIPSCH Listening?! More from GR-Research →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Aoshida Audio Musician Knight I V2
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs JBL 708i
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Dynaudio Emit 20
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- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Theory Audio sb25
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs JBL Studio 630
- Klipsch RP-600M II vs Polk Signature Elite ES20
- See all 116 comparisons