Short answer: the SVS Prime Bookshelf for better sound quality, the Klipsch RP-600M for the lower price. The SVS Prime Bookshelf ranks #58 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $699. The Klipsch RP-600M ranks #72 at $343.22, $355.78 cheaper.
What the SVS Prime Bookshelf offers: Reasonable sensitivity for the price at about 87dB, and the 6.5” woofer sits in its own dedicated sealed sub-compartment inside the cabinet for cleaner midrange/bass separation. Watch for: A scooped mid-range paired with a boosted upper mid-range creates an audibly uneven tonal balance, and there’s an additional dip in the treble around 4-5kHz that reads as slightly tinny relative to the recessed mid-range.
What the Klipsch RP-600M offers: 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).
Buy the SVS Prime Bookshelf if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Klipsch RP-600M if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Klipsch RP-600M. It ranks near the bottom of the 84 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| SVS Prime Bookshelf | Klipsch RP-600M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $343.22 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #58 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #72 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5" polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1" aluminum dome tweeter | 6.5" Cerametallic cone woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs (15.5 lbs / 7.03 kg) each | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 73Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | - | 15.7"H x 8"W x 11.9"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 302.3 mm) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
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- Klipsch RP-600M vs Yamaha NS-10
The Two Speakers In Full
SVS Prime Bookshelf: $699.00 Amazon
Pros: Reasonable sensitivity for the price at about 87dB, and the 6.5” woofer sits in its own dedicated sealed sub-compartment inside the cabinet for cleaner midrange/bass separation. Overall response stays within about ±3dB from 80Hz-16kHz, which the reviewer calls reasonable for the price point. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation. Toeing the speakers 30 degrees off-axis smooths the in-room response noticeably if the on-axis tonal balance isn’t to your taste.
Cons: A scooped mid-range paired with a boosted upper mid-range creates an audibly uneven tonal balance, and there’s an additional dip in the treble around 4-5kHz that reads as slightly tinny relative to the recessed mid-range. Measured minimum impedance dips below 4 ohms (EPDR even lower), so an 8-ohm-only amplifier or AVR may struggle - a 4-ohm-stable amp or separate amplification is recommended. Bass extension is modest (F3 72Hz, F10 49Hz measured) - SVS clearly designed this to be paired with one of their subwoofers rather than to stand fully alone. Compared directly against its pricier sibling, the SVS Ultra Bookshelf, in the same review, the reviewer found the Ultra noticeably more tonally neutral.
Full SVS Prime Bookshelf review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1" aluminum dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs (15.5 lbs / 7.03 kg) each |
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Klipsch RP-600M: $343.22 Discontinued Amazon
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.
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) |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8"W x 11.9"D (398.8 x 203.2 x 302.3 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| 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) |
| Weight | 16.1 lbs / 7.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons