KEF and Klipsch, two of the top companies that produce high-quality bookshelf speakers, offer their entry-level products, the KEF Q350 and the Klipsch RP 600M. Both speakers have a reputation for being great, so it can be challenging to choose which of the two is better. That is why we are here to make a side-by-side comparison of the two, so you can make a better decision.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
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KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers (Pair, Walnut) | Check Latest Price | |
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Klipsch RP-600M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers - Pair (Ebony) | Check Latest Price |
Sound Quality
KEF Q350
The KEF Q350 is an entry-level bookshelf speaker under the company’s award-winning Q series. The speaker comes with one 6.5-inch low-mid driver and a 1-inch high-frequency tweeter.
Audio Specification of the KEF Q350:
| KEF Q350 | Specifications |
| Type | Passive |
| Driver | 1” Aluminum Dome Tweeter 6.5” Aluminum Uni-Q Woofer |
| Frequency Response | 63 Hz to 28 kHz |
| Impedance | 8 Ohms |
| Crossover | 2.5 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 87 dB |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 15 to 120 W |
The speaker has an impressive frequency response of 63 Hz to 28 kHz, which is excellent for its size. The mids and highs are detailed and accurate, and its bass is tight. The speaker is perfect for listening to voices, music, and movies.
The speaker uses the company’s award-winning Uni-Q technology, which places the tweeter in the center of the mid and bass cone. The Tangerine waveguide technology is also applied to the speaker, enhancing the speaker’s dispersion. All the technology used in the speaker results in an omnidirectional sound, where anywhere is a sweet spot.
The speaker can quickly get loud when the volume is cranked up but does not easily get distorted, which is outstanding regarding its size. On paper, the speaker can only go down to 63 Hz, which is not that low compared to a subwoofer, but its bass is still deep and punchy.
Overall, the KEF Q350 is an excellent sounding bookshelf speaker. It would be difficult to find another omnidirectional speaker within the price point of an entry-level bookshelf speaker. It is one of the best in the market for its sound quality.
Klipsch RP 600M
The Klipsch RP 600M is an entry-level speaker under Klipsch’s renowned Reference Premiere Series. It is equipped with one 6.5-inch Cerametallic woofer and a 1-inch Titanium vented tweeter.
Audio Specification of the Klipsch RP 600M:
| Klipsch RP 600M | Specifications |
| Type | Passive |
| Driver | 1” Titanium Vented Tweeter 6.5” Cerametallic Woofer |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz to 25 kHz |
| Impedance | 8 Ohms |
| Crossover | 1.5 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 100 W |
The Klipsch RP 600M is one of the best bookshelf speakers. It has an excellent frequency response as it can go down to 45 Hz and go up to 25 kHz. This is impressive, especially since it is only a bookshelf speaker, not a studio monitor speaker. The speaker’s bass response is great even at high volumes, and its mids and highs are very clear and accurate, which is perfect for watching movies and listening to music.
The speaker comes with the company’s patented Silicon Composite Hybrid Tractrix Horn, which maximizes the speaker’s focus on producing high frequencies towards the listening area, resulting in a smooth high-frequency response and clear treble.
It has a more profound low-frequency response compared to other entry-level bookshelf speakers and does not easily get distorted even at high volumes.
Overall, the Klipsch RP 600M is one of the best-sounding entry-level bookshelf speakers. It can produce a clean bass at higher volumes without distortion, and its mids and highs are clear. Its sound quality is perfect for an entry-level speaker.
Build Quality
KEF Q350
The KEF Q350 has one of the largest speaker cabinet sizes under the KEF’s Q Series. You can already tell that the speaker is durable and does easily topple even with strong vibrations in just one look.
Build Specifications of the KEF Q350:
| KEF Q350 | Specifications |
| Dimensions | 35.8 x 21 x 30.6 cm (14.09 x 8.26 x 12.04”) |
| Dimensions (w/ Rubber feet) | 36.2 x 21 x 30.6 cm (14.25 x 8.26 x 12.04”) |
| Weight | 7.6 kg (16.8 lb) |
| Cabinet Material | Medium Density Fiberboard |
| Design | Two-way bass reflex |
The speaker cabinet is made of medium-density fiberboard, an industry standard, and coated with vinyl. The speaker’s design can reduce the load on the cone, resulting in a cleaner bass.
The speaker now has a larger roll surround than older versions and a newly modified driver, giving it a better bass response even at high volumes. The speaker also comes with an improved Auxiliary Bass Radiator to enhance its overall bass quality and a new cone structure that improves its midrange clarity.
The damped tweeter loading tube in the speaker gently terminates the sound produced at the back of the tweeter, resulting in a better lower treble response. The overall design of the placement of the drivers is near-perfect, as it dramatically improves the dispersion of the sound without any problems.
The aesthetics of the speaker is refreshing, as you can see the integration of the tweeter and woofer into one driver only. The speaker comes with a removable grille, so you can choose whether you cover your speakers or not. Either way, both setup still looks impressive.
The speaker is available in three finishes: walnut, white or black. All finishes give a simple but elegant look to it. It is not that heavy, but it also comes with rubber feet, so it can help its stability when you place it on a table.
Overall, the KEF Q350 is an excellent option if you are looking for a durable bookshelf speaker with a beautiful yet simple design. The technologies used in the driver give it more protection to last longer, and the materials used in its external features are trustworthy to last for a long time.
Klipsch RP 600M
As I’m sure most of you already know, Klipsch is an excellent brand known for its build quality, and the Klipsch RP 600M is no different. It’s one of the largest and heaviest bookshelf speakers of all of the company’s products. It has a typically separated tweeter and woofer placement but still looks beautiful, as the baffle and the horn almost have the same size, giving it an almost symmetrical look.
Build Specifications of the Klipsch RP 600M:
| Klipsch RP 600M | Specifications |
| Dimensions | 39.9 x 20.2 x 30.1 cm (15.69 x 7.95 x 11.85”) |
| Weight | 7.3 kg (16 lb) |
| Cabinet Material | Medium Density Fiberboard |
| Design | Bass Reflex via rear-firing port |
An industry-standard, medium density fiberboard was used to make the speaker’s cabinet, which is coated with vinyl. The speaker is available in three finishes: ebony, walnut, or piano gloss. The ebony and walnut finishes are scratch-resistant, while the piano gloss gives a mirror-like finish.
Its Titanium tweeter and vented design minimize the distortion of the sound, resulting in a better and cleaner high-frequency performance. Its spun copper cerametallic woofer, a signature of the Reference Premiere Series, reduces the distortion, resulting in better speaker efficiency and performance.
The speaker also comes with Tractrix ports, which allow the air to transfer quickly and efficiently from the cabinet, resulting in a punchier bass and reduced noise.
The speaker comes with a removable magnetic grille, so you have the option to use these to protect the drivers or let them be exposed.
Overall, the Klipsch RP 600M is an exceptionally built speaker. The materials used in the woofer and tweeter are excellent, and you can trust that they will not easily get damaged even if you play them in a high-volume setting. The cabinet is also durable, so you can expect this speaker to last for a long time.
Control
KEF Q350
The KEF Q350 has limited control options because it is a passive speaker. It only comes with a pair of binding post speaker terminals so that you can connect the speaker to a power amplifier. The terminals are durable, so there will be no issues with unstable and loose connections.
The speaker also has a built-in passive crossover with a crossover frequency of 2.5 kHz, which is perfect for protecting the speakers from blowing off.
Overall, the KEF Q350 is still a great bookshelf speaker, despite its limited control options.
Klipsch RP 600M
The Klipsch RP 600M has the same control options as the KEF Q350, although they differ in the crossover frequency of their built-in passive crossovers. The speaker has a 1.5 kHz crossover frequency, which means a lower crossover frequency than the Q350.
Overall, the speaker is still a great bookshelf speaker, as there is not much to expect regarding the control options for a passive speaker.
Price
KEF Q350
The KEF Q350 is a bit expensive as its price is already close to a mid-level bookshelf speaker, but the price you are paying for the sound and build quality is already an excellent deal.
Overall, omnidirectional speakers are not cheap, so paying for this speaker at a near mid-level price point is already a steal.
Klipsch RP 600M
The Klipsch RP 600M is an excellent speaker for an entry-level product. The sound and build quality of the speaker is outstanding for its price point.
Overall, the Klipsch RP 600M has an excellent price for an entry-level speaker with mid-level speaker qualities. Purchasing a pair of these speakers is a great deal.
Pros and Cons
KEF Q350
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality
- Omnidirectional sound
- Clear and detailed sound
- Beautiful external design
- Durable and stable
Cons:
- Removable grilles are optional
- It needs to drive the volume up for better performance
- A little bit expensive for an entry-level speaker
Klipsch RP 600M
Pros:
- Clear, complete, and immersive sound
- Very low distortion
- Great bass response
- Impressive aesthetics
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Limited connectivity
- The crossover leads to a scoop in the mid-range
- The highs are a little bit brighter
Which Is Better?
The KEF Q350 and Klipsch RP 600M bookshelf speakers are two of the best bookshelf speakers in the market for this price range. Both speakers sound great and are excellently built, but If I have to choose which is better, I have to go with Klipsch RP 600M.
If you are looking for a more affordable option. have a look at my KEF Q150 vs Q350 comparison.
