Klipsch RB-61 II vs Klipsch RP-600M: which to buy?

For most listeners I would take the Klipsch RP-600M. It edges ahead on sound quality and midrange clarity, takes treble detail by a clear margin, and it is the better value of the two.

Buy the RB-61 II if bass is the first thing you notice in a system. It takes bass response by a clear margin, with low end that is deep, rich and tight rather than boomy, and it fills a room well enough that I never felt the need to add a subwoofer, even on bass-heavy tracks. It also takes design by a narrow margin, and the cabinets feel solid and weighty in a way that suggests they will still be working years from now. Go in knowing the horn treble is extremely revealing and can turn hard at higher volumes on bright recordings, so budget for a warmer amplifier or a little EQ.

Buy the Klipsch RP-600M if vocals, acoustic detail and top-end air matter more to you than low-end weight. It takes treble detail by a clear margin, with a bright, vibrant top that stays on the right side of harsh and settles further after break-in, and it takes sound quality and midrange clarity by narrower margins, with vocals sitting front and centre. It is also the stronger value pick, and it doubles happily as the front pair in a 5.1 movie setup in a small to medium room. Two caveats: add a subwoofer if you want real low-end rumble under action scenes, and give it some volume, because it opens up properly when pushed.