Klipsch is famous for designing and making highly efficient speakers at an affordable price for audiophiles. Which goes without saying, their bookshelf speakers are efficient as well such as the Klipsch RP 600M. There are some good reviews about them here and there but no matter what, the RP600M still requires an amplifier that best matches their capabilities in order to let them sound their best.
If you are on the lookout for an amplifier to pair with your Klipsch RP 600M, then look no further, we will be showing you a list of the best amps that you can match with your bookshelf speakers. Before we start listing them, you might want to know what are their strengths and limitations as well, another important aspect will be their sound characteristics. Let’s start finding out more about the Klipsch RP 600M so that we can find the right amps to match with them.
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Sound Characteristics and Merits of Klipsch RP 600M
The very first thing you will notice will be the Klipsch RP 600M’s 1inch (25mm) Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Tractrix Horn. It is the most iconic aesthetic aspect of any Klipsch speaker. Below the tweeter, will be a 6.5inch Cerametallic Cone Woofer with its bright orange color. It is a bass-reflex enclosure type and you will find a rear-firing Tractrix Port at the back of the speaker cabinet. Careful speaker placement is necessary such as not placing the speaker too near to rear walls due to their rear-firing bass port. The toe-in position will require trial and error, in order to get the best sound to you from a certain angle. The speaker design is rather attention-grabbing, but it does look better without the speaker grill on.
The Klipsch RP 600M really has an incredibly high speaker sensitivity of 96dB which is amazing for a bookshelf speaker. The nominal impedance of 8 Ohms further ensures us that it is easy to drive this pair of speakers. But when we look at the power handling of Klipsch RP 600M, it doesn’t show the minimum amount of power required. Instead, it shows that the RP 600M can handle continuous power out of 100 Watts and 400 Watts for peak power. Their frequency response is equally impressive, it is 45Hz-25kHz (+/-3dB). With such a low-frequency range, we probably may not need to integrate a subwoofer. All these data will further help us to filter down the potential amps which we can be matched with your Klipsch RP 600M stand-mounters.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch RP-600M Bookshelf Speakers
The highs coming out from Klipsch RP 600M is crisp and with an ample amount of clarity, probably a little too harsh for some when driven at high volume. They are aggressive with their attacks, never shy away from being forward sounding which makes it quite an entertaining listen. The clarity is there but there seems to be lacking details and richness. As we move down to the midrange, the timing and agility of the Klipsch RP 600M start to lose their energy. There is that metallic taste, the overall sound production doesn’t really feel natural and somehow we felt the highs are too ‘strong’ without being insightful.
The low ends are not doing so hot either, the bass reproduction is kind of muddy and not tight enough which also makes the response timing not as accurate. The deep bass that we are expecting is not prominent but integrating a subwoofer will do the trick. The liveliness of the Klipsch RP 600M is its greatest strength, if you just want an energetic music listening experience without analyzing then it will be a fun speaker to be with. To further nitpick a little, the overall soundstage and imaging are lacking as well which makes us think that the RP 600M seems to be made for home theater systems and requires a subwoofer to improve their sonic performance.
As entry-level speakers, it is quite good and will be a fun listen if you are not overly analytical about the details. We would not recommend going for HiFi separates as it just doesn’t seem to be worth it, but still, if you really want to, you can always opt for entry-level power amps. The overall sound quality is quite bright but not as harsh sounding that you will cringe. With all this information acquired, we can now list the best matching amplifiers for your Klipsch RP 600M bookshelf speakers.
Klipsch RP 600M Specifications
- Speaker Type: Bass-reflex (rear-firing)
- Drive Units: 1 inch (25mm) Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Tractrix Horn and a 6.5 inch Cerametallic Cone Woofers
- Frequency Response (+/-3dB): 45Hz-25kHz
- Recommended Power: 100 Watts (Continuous) and 400 Watts (Peak)
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m): 96dB
- Dimensions (H x D x W): 399mm x 301mm x 202mm, 15.7″ x 11.9″ x 8″
- Weight: 7.3kg (16lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Klipsch RP 600M
To improve the musicality, one of the top choices is to pair the Klipsch RP 600M with tube amps, and we would recommend a very highly rated Rockville BluTube amplifier. It is recommended to get the version with the subwoofer and optical output, as the RP 600M definitely needs bass supplements from a powered subwoofer. Furthermore, an active subwoofer will take a load off from the Rockville BluTube amp and let it focus all its power on the rest of the frequency. This will provide more warmth and full-bodied sound quality to the overall music delivery.
More Info at Amazon – Rockville BluTube Tube Amplifier
One of the best amps to match with your Klipsch RP 600M speakers will be the Cambridge Audio CXA61 integrated amplifier. It has a subwoofer output and a premium quality DAC. With the support of an active subwoofer, the CXA61 has more than enough power to drive your Klipsch RP 600M bookshelf speakers. The amp has superb stereo imaging and has an exciting music presentation which complements the RP 600M very well. The CXA61 also has great control over the bass response and with the help of the subwoofer, the bass department of this sound system should be significantly improved.
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA61- 60 Watts Per Channel
Planning to use the Klipsch RP 600M as desktop speakers? Then you will need a compact digital amplifier such as the NAD D 3045 that comes with a built-in USB DAC and more importantly a dedicated subwoofer output to connect to an active sub. The sound characteristics of the D 3045 amplifier also match well with the Klipsch RP 600M, which makes this amplifier an ideal amplifier match for desktop and/or high-res audio file playbacks. This DAC amplifier has enough power to handle your RP 600M and doesn’t break during music peaks. There are also other useful features such as Bluetooth connectivity and more.
More Information at Amazon – NAD D 3045 Digital DAC/Amplifier
For home cinema experience and especially live music performances, the Marantz AV receivers are probably the best amps to go for. The coveted Marantz house sound is strongly associated with their musicality and audiophiles love the warmth, full-bodied sound reproduction. Since all modern Marantz AV receivers have a subwoofer output and with the Audyssey technology, their AVRs can calibrate your Klipsch RP 600M speakers and the subwoofer to work seamlessly in most listening rooms. Definitely worth your time to have an audition with them. You might want to check out the powerful Marantz SR7013.
More Information at Amazon – Marantz AV Receiver SR7013
If you prefer bright-sounding AV receivers, then Sony AVRs will be an amazing amp choice for your Klipsch RP 600M. The Sony STR-DN1080 will be a great start as they are very popular and highly rated by their satisfied customers. Due to its high performance and bold sound quality, not to mention, the price point of the Sony STR-DN1080 is rather attractive as well. They may not be warm sounding but they are still great amps for music playbacks, especially digital music sources. The only qualm we have with STR-DN1080 is that it doesn’t have Audyssey room correct technology but they do have their own auto-calibration software, the D.C.A.C. EX. You should hear them out and judge the sound quality with your own ears.
More Details at Amazon – Sony STR-DN1080 7.2-ch AV Receiver
For subwoofers selection, it all depends on what’s your focus, does music matters more or movie experience is the main criteria. If music is your main entertainment, then you should get yourself a sealed subwoofer as they are more musical sounding due to their speed of delivery, tautness, and agility. For the home cinema experience, the ported subwoofers are the best choice since they are more efficient when it comes to bass output and have higher SPL. You can check out SVS as they specialize in making high-performance subwoofers and their entry-level subs are quite affordable. If you prefer that the subwoofer matches the sound signature of your Klipsch RP 600M speakers then you might want to check out Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch R-12SW Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
Klipsch RP 600M will require certain matching amplifiers to sound their best and will require the bass supplement from an active subwoofer. The amps on this list are some of the best you can go with and each of them has a different role to play. It is recommended that you audition them first before seriously considering them. If the listed integrated amplifiers and AV receivers don’t fit your needs or budget, you can also use them as references when searching for matching amps on your own.
