Klipsch comments

[STRONGBADF1]

Just some brief thoughts from about a 30 minute listening session...

On saturday I demoed the klipsch rf-25, rf-62 & rf-82. They didn't have the rf-63 and I didn't have the time to listen to the rf-7 & rf-83.

Store server demo songs: Eagles "Hotel California" (live)

CD songs used: Cake "Stickshifts and Safetybelts", Liquid Tension Experiment "Paradigm Shift" & Joe Satriani "Train of Angels"

DVD video concert songs used: Eric Clapton's One More Car, One More Rider "BellBottom Blues" & "My Fathers Eyes" (5.1 setup, Sorry but I forget what model center/surrounds/sub...My bad!)

The rf-25 is nice. The rf-62 is better. Smoother but high end is really the only big difference IMO but they still have that "Klipsch" sound alot of people love. The rf-82's has alot more bass as would be expected and the mid-high end had more depth then the rf-62's. (same tweeter and horn but silghtly different crossover 1800hz for the rf-62 2000hz for the rf-82) They all had a recessed mid range that I found a little dissapointing. Lacked the lively detailed response I was looking for. Billy Prestons Hamond organ on "Bellbottom Blues" lacked that classic reverb that makes the Hamond a Hamond. I have really focused in on mid-range reproduction lately so i may be overstating a little bit, but to be fair it could have been partly the rest of the 5.1 set-up (very small surounds) and I am sure all the crossovers were not set properly. I usually need to listen to a speaker 2-3 times to get familiar with it so...

I wish they had the rf-63's on display I really think for me they would have been the best speaker of the lot. I wonder if the mids would have been better. 1-1/4" tweeter with a 1700hz crossover instead of 1" in the fr-62 & rf-82 with the cross over points listed above.

IMO they improved the middle of their reference line up with better high freq. response and the Klipsch faithful should be very happy. I will go to a different store and give another listen soon. If my experience changes I let you know.

Take care,
SBF1

 

[howie85]

If you could squeeze in some time with the ref 7s, I would like to hear the results.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

For you and me both!

I really wanted to but I am shopping for myself and they are out of my price range so I wanted to spend my time with what I can afford.

I get around to it this week end maybe...

SBF1

 

[howie85]

You know that the rf7 series is now discontinued, there could be some close out deals to be had. Ipurchased mine just before the announcment but am happy with my purchase either way.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

You know that the rf7 series is now discontinued, there could be some close out deals to be had. Ipurchased mine just before the announcment but am happy with my purchase either way.

The store I was in had them discounted but not much. About $200 off the rf-7's a pair. Still too expensive.

We'll see I was a little disapointed with the mids so I would be surprised if I get wooed it to a set. I really do want to hear the rf-63's though.

I like the sound of the Paradigm monitors and studios better right now. The studios are a little pricey for me right know.

I need to find a dealer who stocks both and have a listen to rf-62's vs. the monitor7 and the rf-63 vs. the monitor11 and then throw the studio60 and 100's in for good measure. All on the same equipment in the same room for a real shoot out.

Oh well...I know the studios would win for me but it would be fun.

I am looking for a set-up for about $3000 that would pull double duty for HT and music that inculdes 5.0 speakers A receiver and new cables and surge protector. I will hold over my sub (JBL PB-12) and dvd player (old Toshiba)from my current system until the sub dies or I get the itch and the HD-player wars gets settled.

My final plan would be to have less than $5000 wraped up in the 7.1/7.2 HT with out room treatments, furniture/racks and TV.

All loose numbers in the planning stages of course!

I originally started with a $2500 figure in my head but...


Anyway...I'll just keep plugging away until something smacks me up side the head and screams "BUY ME"

SBF1

 

[howie85]

you must be an OAK to resist all the things that slap us and say buy me...

 

[howie85]

I went from some polks to the Klipsch. I have only hooked up the 2 rf7's and the sub and demoed some stuff with the speakers placed almost next to each other and no idea how to setup my receiver. I can say however they were much cleaner then my previous setup and the suspense on the final results are really eating me up. I have my sound treatments stacked in the spare bdrm while im painting my evenings away in my new room. hopefully soon to be filled with sound and sight. If you want to take a look you can see my progress in members system gallery.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19493

 

[westcott]

Would you like my observations of the old Reference series?

I will be demoing the new 83s and the new center channel on Wednesday afternoon. The subs are not in yet and the dealer will not have time to set up the new rear surrounds.

 

[howie85]

Sure lets hear it. I have already heard that the new series given the asking price is not really such a deal and the the ref7 are still hanging with them as far as dynamics go. I suppose Klipsch might be targeting a more broad range with the new series? Let us know your thoughts when you are done.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Would you like my observations of the old Reference series?

I will be demoing the new 83s and the new center channel on Wednesday afternoon. The subs are not in yet and the dealer will not have time to set up the new rear surrounds.

Hi westcott,

Yes! I would like to read your opinions.

I have always been a Klipsch fan but after listening to the Paradigms...I'm more music than movies so I think giving up the dynamics for the smoother highs and more acurate mids is a good trade.

As I said before I think the highs are improved with the new Klipsch. let us know what you hear.

Later,
SBF1

 

[highfihoney]

i prefer the heritage line of speakers from klipsch over any other of their lines,the older model heritages are very easy & cheap to mod in order to tame the sharp highs too.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

i prefer the heritage line of speakers from klipsch over any other of their lines,the older model heritages are very easy & cheap to mod in order to tame the sharp highs too.

Hey hifi,

Unfortunatly I have not had the pleasure. Wish I could find a place to have a listen.

Take care,
SBF1

 

[westcott]

Well, the manager of the Klipsch dealer just called me and said that they just sold the RC64 that I was going to audition with the R83s.

I told him to let me know when he would be getting another one in and we would reschedule. It is an event to go see a dealer from where I live so I would rather wait until I can listen to the center, as well.

I will put together a comparison review of the old Reference Line vs. the new one asap.

 

[rlr267]

What about the RF-82

What about the 82's versus the 35's? Did you make this comparison? I am shopping and have auditioned the RF-62s and loved them, my wife gave the nodd to buy if I could get them in cherry. The dealer told us to go with the 25 series (he could locate some for us) or move up to the RF-82's since the 62 comes only in black. Lucky me, my wife gave her approval to bust the budget and take the bigger speakers. Now, I am trying to decide, the RF-35s are wider, so our child is less likely to tump it over, but is there any sound improvements on the RF-82?

The rf-25 is nice. The rf-62 is better. Smoother but high end is really the only big difference IMO but they still have that "Klipsch" sound alot of people love. The rf-82's has alot more bass as would be expected and the mid-high end had more depth then the rf-62's. (same tweeter and horn but silghtly different crossover 1800hz for the rf-62 2000hz for the rf-82).

If I extrapolate your comparison of the 25s and 62s, it sounds to me as though I want to stay with the 82s. Right now, same price, so the only question is looks (wider versus slimmer) and sound.

By the way, for the uneducated, what is crossover and why am I supposed to care? More to the point, are higher or lower numbers preferred?

 

[larry7995]

I was at a Home Show today setting up an internet satellite demo and I wandered into this home theater room that Vann's had set up. They had RF-63s and a RC-64 and a sub and surrounds and a Denon 130watt x 7 receiver, the video was a projector and about a 8 ft wide screen. Anyway they were running War Of The Worlds which I had seen on my regular tv. It was freaking awesome to view with that setup! The techs were still setting some stuff up and when this car that was tossed up in the air landed - they both flinched heheh. I was impressed by both the Klipsches and the Martians

 

[westcott]

A crossover is a hardware solution for distributing frequencies produced to the proper driver. A tweeter should handle high frequencies, a woofer should handle mid and low frequencies, as a general rule.

Horn loaded speakers like Klipsch use a design that can allow for a larger frequency range to be handled by one driver. The theory is that you get a more dynamic sounding speaker because there are fewer crossovers involved over the frequency range it is capable of or set to handle, in this case around 2000 Hz. Fewer crossover networks also means fewer components to heat up and create distortion and color the sound and just general fewer components in the loop that could change the frequency response.

I would prefer two horns in a speaker that covers the lower frequencies that are presently relegated to by the 10 or 8" drivers. Horns have a unique sound and it has a lot to do with a narrower dispersion pattern (less interaction with walls) creating a different sound. It reduces smearing and can create a very accurate sound. Direct radiating speakers have a wider dispersion pattern generally and that is what some people describe as an airy sound around the instruments. It really is caused by the wider dispersion pattern and more room interaction at the primary and secondary reflection points.

Most direct radiation speakers are 3 way systems (3 crossover networks) for highs, mids, and bass. Klipsch uses a 2 or 2.5 way system due to the relatively wider range the horn covers, highs and mid to upper low frequencies.

Does this help?

 

[westcott]

I just got a call from the Klipsch dealer and was told that the RC64 is now on back order.

I do not want to get any dealers in trouble but I was told that there were some 6" driver problems and that speakers have had to be sent back to the factory.

He assured me that it will get worked out and that this also happened when they released the old reference series.

I will try to keep you posted as April approaches (thats when he thinks the speakers will be rereleased).

 

[RLA]

I do not want to get any dealers in trouble but I was told that there were some 6" driver problems and that speakers have had to be sent back to the factory.

That's interesting I have not heard of any trouble but will ask my rep on Monday.The flagship RC-64 and RF-83's are built to order and still come out of Hope.

If you want to fly out here I have the new Heresy III and the RF-83,RC-64 and RS-62 set up in the same room. I'll give you a demo that will blow your face off

 

[westcott]

That's interesting I have not heard of any trouble but will ask my rep on Monday.The flagship RC-64 and RF-83's are built to order and still come out of Hope.

If you want to fly out here I have the new Heresy III and the RF-83,RC-64 and RS-62 set up in the same room. I'll give you a demo that will blow your face off

I would love to fly out but I am pretty sure the wife would have something to say about that. I have just enough frequent flyer miles left to take her to Greece this year and California is in the wrong direction from Texas.

I am really curious to hear the entire system and compare it to the old reference line. I will just have to be patient.

 

[larry7995]

I heard it had something to do with the RC-64 cabinets not being sealed properly and those drivers needed sealed cabinets and were getting damaged because the cabinets weren't sealed?
I was going to get an RC-7 discounted to $400 for clearance on the 15th and guess what, my car broke down and cost me yep $400 to fix! Happens every time...