Short answer: the Klipsch RP-600M, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #111 of 134 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $377.99; the Yamaha NS-10 ranks #129, rated 2.2/5, and costs $499, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 bookshelf speakers, and the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, ranked #41 at $549, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The case for the Klipsch RP-600M: More linear horizontal dispersion than the updated RP-600M II: as you move side-to-side, the tonal character changes less, a genuine advantage for off-axis listening consistency. Watch for: A strong, annoying resonance in the lower vocal range around 300Hz stands out clearly (though it can be EQ’d out).
Why pick the Yamaha NS-10: Legendary studio reference monitor with a well-documented history; Yamaha’s original spec sheet included genuine measured data (frequency response, distortion, impedance, polar response) rather than just marketing numbers, unusually transparent for the era. Watch for: A pronounced peak of about 7dB above the midrange average around 1.7kHz gives the sound a forward, bright, or “tinny” character: this is the real underlying issue, and it wasn’t actually fixed by the “Studio” revision.
One note: the Klipsch RP-600M is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore.
Buy the Klipsch RP-600M. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Yamaha NS-10 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-600M | Yamaha NS-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $377.99 per pair Discontinued | $499 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #111 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #129 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 75Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 73Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 126Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 8”W x 11.9”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 302.3 mm) | 15”H x 8.5”W x 7.8”D (382.0 x 215.0 x 198.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 5.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Cerametallic cone woofer, 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn | 7.1” woofer, 1.4” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) each | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.66 | 2.24 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.61 | 5.63 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM 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-600M: $377.99 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch RP-600M II, ranked higher, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: More linear horizontal dispersion than the updated RP-600M II: as you move side-to-side, the tonal character changes less, a genuine advantage for off-axis listening consistency. Takes exceptionally well to EQ correction (miniDSP or similar), letting a knowledgeable owner fix its tonal shortcomings without needing to upgrade. Standard 6.5” woofer/horn-tweeter two-way design with reasonably gradual bass rolloff (F3 ~70Hz, F10 ~40Hz) rather than a steep vented-enclosure cutoff. Measured bass extension of 73Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.2dB.
Cons: A strong, annoying resonance in the lower vocal range around 300Hz stands out clearly (though it can be EQ’d out). Overall tonal balance is notably less neutral than the newer RP-600M II, with a roughly 3-4dB suckout in the estimated in-room response. The waveguide doesn’t extend flush to the baffle edge, increasing diffraction compared to the redesigned version. Klipsch’s marketed sensitivity spec (about 96dB) is a half-space, in-room-style rating roughly 9dB above the true anechoic figure (closer to 85-86dB), which can mislead buyers comparing spec sheets. Elevated treble on-axis, similar to its successor, benefits from toe-out or careful placement. Vertical listening tolerance is limited to about ±10° from the tweeter axis. Still needs a subwoofer for real bass weight; a boost around 120Hz gives kick drums their “tambour” without the underlying “meat.”. Discontinued.
Full Klipsch RP-600M review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 73Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 8”W x 11.9”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 302.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Cerametallic cone woofer, 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.61 |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs (7.3 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
- GR-Research: We Bought The "NEW" RP-600M II Is KLIPSCH Listening?! More from GR-Research →
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Klipsch RP-600M vs B&W 805S
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Yamaha NS-10: $499 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Legendary studio reference monitor with a well-documented history; Yamaha’s original spec sheet included genuine measured data (frequency response, distortion, impedance, polar response) rather than just marketing numbers, unusually transparent for the era. Distortion, compression, and multitone performance all measured better than the reviewer expected for a decades-old design: in some respects competitive with newer speakers he’s tested. Vertical dispersion holds up reasonably well for a speaker of this vintage. The redesigned “Studio” cabinet is more robust than the original, with crossover tweaks and nicer binding-post terminals. Sealed cabinet design allows placement close to a wall without added boominess, though at the cost of overall bass extension. Measured bass extension of 126Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90.2dB.
Cons: A pronounced peak of about 7dB above the midrange average around 1.7kHz gives the sound a forward, bright, or “tinny” character: this is the real underlying issue, and it wasn’t actually fixed by the “Studio” revision. Comparing the Studio version’s measured response to the original NS-10M’s published data, the original arguably measures more linear: Yamaha’s fix (lowering tweeter level by 2-3dB) left the core midrange peak largely untouched, addressing the wrong problem. The famous “tissue paper over the tweeter” mixing-engineer trick doesn’t actually help: testing it directly showed it adds diffraction and comb filtering rather than correcting the real midrange peak. Poor horizontal directivity, especially in its designed on-console orientation: usable window is only about ±20° off the tweeter axis before tonal character shifts noticeably. Directivity mismatches between direct and reflected sound make this difficult to properly correct with EQ in a typical farfield listening setup with nearby wall reflections. Bass is quite limited (F3 around 100Hz in most rooms once corrected for the inflated on-axis sensitivity reading), typical of a small sealed monitor design. Correcting the main midrange peak with EQ likely requires two bands rather than a single simple filter, since the peak isn’t perfectly symmetrical. Possible age-related tweeter compression at very high output, potentially from degraded ferrofluid affecting heat dissipation in these decades-old drivers. Discontinued.
Full Yamaha NS-10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 126Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 15”H x 8.5”W x 7.8”D (382.0 x 215.0 x 198.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 7.1” woofer, 1.4” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 5.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.63 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons