Short answer: the KEF Reference 3 Meta, if you are buying new. The KEF Reference 203 ranks higher than the Klipsch RP-6000F II (#17 vs #115 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the KEF Reference 3 Meta, is rated 4.6/5 at $15,999.98 and is still sold new.
The KEF Reference 203 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. Its bass reaches about 51Hz before falling 3dB, against 67Hz for the Klipsch RP-6000F II. The tradeoff: This is a 20+ year old, long-discontinued speaker only findable secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, audio forums): condition, driver matching, and component aging vary by unit, so audition before buying if at all possible.
The case for the Klipsch RP-6000F II: Highest power handling and clean, well-behaved compression at typical volumes. The tradeoff: Worse baffle-step coloration than the smaller Klipsch RP-5000F II (3-4dB swing vs 2dB), plus a sibilance issue the 5000F doesn’t have: a real regression in tonal balance despite the higher price.
Buy the KEF Reference 3 Meta, the replacement for the discontinued KEF Reference 203; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch RP-6000F II.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Reference 203 | Klipsch RP-6000F II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,000 per pair Discontinued | $999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #17 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #115 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 42”H (1067H mm) | 39.6” x 9.3” x 17.6” (1006 x 236 x 446 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.6 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 3.2 ohms per manufacturer spec) | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1x 0.75” supertweeter, coaxial 1” dome tweeter + 6.5” midrange, 2x 6.5” woofers | 1” titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 6.5” cerametallic woofers |
| Weight | 58 lbs (26.3 kg) | 49.4 lbs (22.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, with switchable flat/cut/lifted bass ports for wall placement | ported, rear |
| Crossover Frequency | 400Hz, 2.7kHz, 15kHz | 1770Hz |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 55kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) | 38Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 50-200W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.83 | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.84 | 7.47 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 125W continuous, 500W peak |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Reference 203: $5,000 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the KEF Reference 3 Meta, ranked lower, rated 4.6/5.
Pros: An unusually accomplished 4-way design for its era: excellent on-axis linearity (within about +/-3dB), genuinely good directivity both horizontally (~55 degrees) and vertically (~40-50 degrees), and an estimated in-room response that closely matches what the reviewer actually heard. Distortion is excellent: under 1% harmonic above 80Hz at both 86dB and 96dB, and multitone stays around 1% even at 96dB. Bass reaches a real F3 of 51Hz (F10 37Hz), with in-room extension into the low-mid-40s. The reviewer’s overall listening notes were essentially “nothing stood out bad or good”: a genuinely neutral, accurate speaker with a distinctive rounded-baffle look that avoids the diffraction issues a flat baffle this wide would normally have. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88dB.
Cons: This is a 20+ year old, long-discontinued speaker only findable secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, audio forums): condition, driver matching, and component aging vary by unit, so audition before buying if at all possible. Demands a robust amplifier: impedance dips to about 3.6 ohms with an EPDR of 2.2 ohms. The small supertweeter shows minor breakup artifacts at the extremes of the vertical polar plot and some compression at very high output in the top octave, though neither was audible in normal listening.
Full KEF Reference 203 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 400Hz, 2.7kHz, 15kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 42”H (1067H mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 0.75” supertweeter, coaxial 1” dome tweeter + 6.5” midrange, 2x 6.5” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 55kHz ±3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.6 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 3.2 ohms per manufacturer spec) |
| Recommended Power | 50-200W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.84 |
| Weight | 58 lbs (26.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex, with switchable flat/cut/lifted bass ports for wall placement |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Reference 203 vs JBL 4367
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Klipsch RP-6000F II: $999.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Klipsch RP-500M II (smaller bookshelf, rated 4/5), the Klipsch RP-600M II (larger bookshelf, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-5000F II (smaller floorstanding, ranked higher, rated 4/5), the Klipsch RP-8000F II (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, rated 3.9/5), the Klipsch RP-404C II (smallest center, rated 3.7/5), the Klipsch RP-500C II (center, rated 3.9/5) and the Klipsch RP-504C II (largest center, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Highest power handling and clean, well-behaved compression at typical volumes. Precise imaging from the controlled horn directivity. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90dB.
Cons: Worse baffle-step coloration than the smaller Klipsch RP-5000F II (3-4dB swing vs 2dB), plus a sibilance issue the 5000F doesn’t have: a real regression in tonal balance despite the higher price. Bass extension is mixed (less deep at -3dB (67Hz) than the 5000F) and needs a subwoofer regardless. Narrow horizontal dispersion (~50-60 degrees).
Full Klipsch RP-6000F II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1770Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 39.6” x 9.3” x 17.6” (1006 x 236 x 446 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 6.5” cerametallic woofers |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 125W continuous, 500W peak |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.47 |
| Weight | 49.4 lbs (22.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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