Short answer: the Technics SB-C700, because the Klipsch needs correcting out of the box. The RP-600M II runs notably hot in the treble on-axis, even hotter than the original RP-600M in some respects, and only balances with about 20 degrees of toe-out or the grille installed. The Technics’ coincident 1.9cm tweeter and 16cm flat-diaphragm woofer give true point-source geometry, though its 85dB sensitivity and 4-ohm impedance want a capable amplifier.
Buy the Technics SB-C700 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Klipsch RP-600M II when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Technics SB-C700 | Klipsch RP-600M II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.00 per pair | $449.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #60 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #75 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 13.2” x 11.3” (220 x 336 x 286 mm) each | 15.7”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (398.8 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (3.5 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m) | 86dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Coaxial “Phase Precision Driver”: 1.9cm dome tweeter + 16cm flat-diaphragm woofer | 6.5” Cerametallic cone woofer, 1” titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.11 | 5.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 | 7.77 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Technics SB-C700: $1,699.00 per pair Value Electronics USA Tube Audio eBay
Pros: Distinctive coincident “Phase Precision Driver”: a 1.9cm dome tweeter mounted at the exact acoustic center of a 16cm flat-diaphragm carbon-fiber/honeycomb-sandwich woofer, giving true point-source geometry. Directivity is unusually symmetric front-to-back and top-to-bottom (both horizontal and vertical average exactly 60°) and off axis sound tracks the on axis response unusually consistently for a large bookshelf speaker. Die-cast aluminum chassis and a high-gloss convex “Entasis form” cabinet with side panels up to 42mm thick for extra rigidity. Measured bass extension of 85.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: 85dB sensitivity paired with a 4-ohm nominal impedance wants a fairly capable amplifier. Bass extension is shallow relative to its 6.5”-class woofer at -3dB (85.0Hz), though it reaches a more usable 40.5Hz at -10dB: a fairly steep low-end rolloff shape once past the reference band. At $1699/pair, some in the ASR community have questioned the value proposition against similarly-measuring alternatives at lower prices.
Full Technics SB-C700 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85.0Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 13.2” x 11.3” (220 x 336 x 286 mm) each |
| Drivers | Coaxial “Phase Precision Driver”: 1.9cm dome tweeter + 16cm flat-diaphragm woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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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)
- Erin’s Audio Corner: KEF Q1 Meta vs Emotiva vs Klipsch | The Real Differences
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