Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower

Last updated: September 16, 2026

Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower on measured sound quality, the Klipsch RP-6000F II on price. The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower ranks #6 of 71 floorstanding speakers at $5698. The Klipsch RP-6000F II ranks #54 at $1500, $4198 cheaper.

Klipsch RP-6000F II vs Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower

What the Klipsch RP-6000F II offers: Highest power handling and clean, well-behaved compression at typical volumes. Precise imaging from the controlled horn directivity. Watch for: Worse baffle-step coloration than the smaller 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).

What the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower offers: A RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter and dual SEAS Excel aluminum woofers in a 3-way, 4-driver bamboo tower measure a genuine 38.7Hz extension point with a nearly flat on axis slope of 0.05dB per octave, among the best measured towers in this batch. The bass alignment Q of 0.62 keeps the low end well damped rather than peaky. Backed by a 7 year parts and labor warranty and hand assembled in Orange County, California, with each pair matched within +/-1.5dB. Watch for: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some of the passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models in this same batch. At $5,698/pair it is Ascend’s most expensive tower, well above the Titan dome tweeter version of the same cabinet. The manufacturer’s own claimed sensitivity (87.5dB) runs nearly 1.5dB higher than the independently measured average (86.1dB), worth accounting for when matching an amplifier.

Buy the Klipsch RP-6000F II if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower if sound quality is the priority over the price.

Skip the Klipsch RP-6000F II if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 71 floorstanding speakers.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Klipsch RP-6000F II Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower
Price$1500 per pair$5,698 per pair
Ranked#54 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers#6 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers
Bass Extension (-10dB)33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
Bass Extension (-3dB)67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
Sensitivity90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer)
Drivers1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 6.5" cerametallic woofersRAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6" SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6" SEAS Excel aluminum woofers
Weight49.4 lbs (22.4 kg)56 lbs (25.4 kg) each
Impedance8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)8 ohms nominal
Frequency Response38Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified)36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer)
Crossover Frequency1770Hz-
Power Handling125W continuous, 500W peak400W continuous, 600W peak
Dimensions39.6" x 9.3" x 17.6" (1006 x 236 x 446 mm)43"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm)
Woofer Cabinetported, rear-
Spinorama Preference Score4.836.36
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub6.567.81
Enclosure-ported
Warranty-7 years parts and labor
Country-United States

More worthwhile head-to-heads for Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower:

Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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

Klipsch RP-6000F II: $1500 per pair Amazon eBay

Klipsch RP-6000F II ranking card

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 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).

Bass Extension (-10dB)33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Crossover Frequency1770Hz
Dimensions39.6" x 9.3" x 17.6" (1006 x 236 x 446 mm)
Drivers1" titanium tweeter with Tractrix horn, dual 6.5" cerametallic woofers
Frequency Response38Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified)
Impedance8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum, measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Power Handling125W continuous, 500W peak
Sensitivity90dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Spinorama Preference Score4.83
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub6.56
Weight49.4 lbs (22.4 kg)
Woofer Cabinetported, rear

Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower: $5,698 per pair Ascend Acoustics eBay

Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower ranking card

Pros: A RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter and dual SEAS Excel aluminum woofers in a 3-way, 4-driver bamboo tower measure a genuine 38.7Hz extension point with a nearly flat on axis slope of 0.05dB per octave, among the best measured towers in this batch. The bass alignment Q of 0.62 keeps the low end well damped rather than peaky. Backed by a 7 year parts and labor warranty and hand assembled in Orange County, California, with each pair matched within +/-1.5dB. Measured bass extension of 38.7Hz (-3dB).

Cons: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some of the passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models in this same batch. At $5,698/pair it is Ascend’s most expensive tower, well above the Titan dome tweeter version of the same cabinet. The manufacturer’s own claimed sensitivity (87.5dB) runs nearly 1.5dB higher than the independently measured average (86.1dB), worth accounting for when matching an amplifier.

Bass Extension (-10dB)28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
Bass Extension (-3dB)38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data)
CountryUnited States
Dimensions43"H x 7.5"W x 10.5"D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm)
DriversRAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6" SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6" SEAS Excel aluminum woofers
Enclosureported
Frequency Response36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer)
Impedance8 ohms nominal
Power Handling400W continuous, 600W peak
Sensitivity87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer)
Spinorama Preference Score6.36
Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub7.81
Warranty7 years parts and labor
Weight56 lbs (25.4 kg) each