Klipsch rf-63 vs B & w 683 vs Paradigm studio 60

[tomba]

I have been listening to these speakers, however, in 3 different locations as no one dealer has the other one. I have been a long standing klipsch fan and listen to 40% music / 40% television and 20%HT. I am stuck.

the RF-63's and studio 60's are the same price. the b & w saves $600. I am looking for advice from someone who has heard all 3. pro's--cons. What about the klipsch rf-62??? Am i comparing apples to apples????

I have a denon AVR-4308 receiver and my room is 15 x 22 with the tv and speakers on one of the short walls.

then there is the center. the klipsch (rc-62) and B & w (61) centers are 1/2 the price of the paradigm (cc-590). i have read that the B&w center sucks.

This is about value for the dollar. Is the paradigm studio 60 a "better" speaker and worth the extra $1000 over the B&W and $500 and $1700 over the 2 klipsch setups?????

I am looking for some honest assistance.

If you hate Klipsch please don't respond .Myself and the other people responding don't need to read your hate. There is more to life than bashing.

thanks for all your responses.

david

 

[bandphan]

I am looking for some honest assistance.

If you hate Klipsch please don't respond .Myself and the other people responding don't need to read your hate. There is more to life than bashing.

thanks for all your responses.

david

Not bashing klipsch, or the others but its like comparing apples and oranges, completely different sounds. Choose the one you like, and if you have been a klipsch fan, get them.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have had klipsch ref series in my house at the same time as Paradigm Studios and to me, there was no comparison in sound. I like the Digms but you may like the klipsch.

Now when I was younger and into hard rock, I had some big and mean Klipsch which had either 12 or 15 inch woofers and they were awesome for this music. Now I am old and listen to mainly jazz and the Digms seem a lot better for this music.

 

[tomba]

I still listen to hard rock and I realize that i will have these for a long time. From a sound perspective they all seemed to "rock". it is just so hard as i can't compare.

I agree that if i like the klipsch sound i will be happy with them. I also like the paradigm and b&W sound. Aren't they all a similar 'middle range" speakers from each company???

thanks

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I guess you could look at it that way but I don't think it means much. You really just have to go with what sounds good to you.

You see what I picked and listened to over 15 pairs of speakers.

Aren't they all a similar 'middle range" speakers from each company???

thanks

 

[tomba]

very very nice system!!!!!!!!!!

no more input from anyone???

 

[adwilk]

I'm a fan of klipsch, or maybe more of a reformed fan. I've always really liked the "in your face" qualities of the klipsch stuff and I too listen mostly rock. I LOVE klipsch stuff for movies except for the subs as it turns out. I once thought those were a good deal but thats not the point.

Anyway, as a rock fan, its hard to imagine liking the (imo) overly laid back british speaker in the B&W. Of the three, it would be the first off my list.

Now to the Digms. Umm.... Yeah, I really do think it takes the cake. Not AS forward as the refs, my first listenings kept me somewhat bored. But, if you listen to the two and try not to pay attention to the overall sound and pay attention to what your actually hearing, there are some differences that would have to way in the Canadians corner.

For example... the Klipsch are known to be very revealing. Thats fine and good as long as they reveal subtleties in a natural way. In heavily distorted tracks such as rock its hardly noticeable that they dont. You'll easily pick this up in the more refined genres. They play everything the recording throws at it, but while the speaker is overall very dynamic, it has a very difficult time not throwing everything "in your face".

The paradigms are somewhat aggressive but they have this uncanny ability to know when to get after it and when to relax, in a word, they are certainly more transparent. They can play the rock stuff with any body out there, but are versatile enough to flow through whatever you throw at them.

After spending what seems like a bazillion hours in front of each, being heavily biased towards the klipsch, I do think the paradigm presents a better overall package. The klipsch really doesnt heavily best the digm in any category but the paradigm beats the klipsch hands down in a few.

As for movies, i used to love how (again) revealing they are... now, its almost annoying.

I still have some Ref Bookshelves around, but my klipsch stuff is gone for the most part. paradigm is a heavy favorite in my pursuit for new goodies...

 

[DB77]

Klipsch? Not so much...............

Klipsch are not in the same league as far as build quality, customer service and industry reputation as B & W, and Paradigm. You can argue for Klipsch all day long but it's a fact.

When it comes to audio everything is subjective. Not everyone likes the same kind of sound but to my ears rock and roll on klipsch sounds terrible. It's too bright and harsh. The Paradigms are much better for rock and roll.

The B & W are very nice speakers for listening to classical and vocal music but when it comes to heavier stuff like rock and roll, rap, jazz and other stuff they tend to be a bit to bright and thin.

In purchasing my speakers I listened to many different brands before buying and ended up buying a pair of Paradigm Studio 100's because I liked them far better than anything else at that price point.

Also I consider it a sin to power anything from B&W, Paradigm or any other quality speaker company with a component made by Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo etc..... These big box store brands have all kinds of overmarketed technological bells and whistles that you'll never use and their amps quite frankly suck.

If you're going to buy quality speakers you're gonna want a quality amp powering them. That means you should be looking at pieces from NAD, Rotel, Arcam, B & K, Anthem, and other such brands.

You may consider it bashing Denon but if take some of those speakers you're considering, hook them up to your Denon, and then hook it up to a NAD or a B & K, the NAD and B & K will make those speakers sound ten times better than the Denon.

In the end it's not about any of us offering our own opinions on here. It's about you, the sound you desire, and how you want to spend your hard earned money to get that sound. So my best advice is to let your ears decide and not us. Listen to as many possible combinations of speakers/components as you possibly can before deciding which to buy and then buy the one you like best at your price point.

Good luck!

 

[bandphan]

Klipsch are not in the same league as far as build quality, customer service and industry reputation as B & W, and Paradigm. You can argue for Klipsch all day long but it's a fact.
Most agree, cite evidence
When it comes to audio everything is subjective. Not everyone likes the same kind of sound but to my ears rock and roll on klipsch sounds terrible. It's too bright and harsh. The Paradigms are much better for rock and roll.
Subjective
The B & W are very nice speakers for listening to classical and vocal music but when it comes to heavier stuff like rock and roll, rap, jazz and other stuff they tend to be a bit to bright and thin.
Depends on the series,
In purchasing my speakers I listened to many different brands before buying and ended up buying a pair of Paradigm Studio 100's because I liked them far better than anything else at that price point.

Also I consider it a sin to power anything from B&W, Paradigm or any other quality speaker company with a component made by Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo etc..... These big box store brands have all kinds of overmarketed technological bells and whistles that you'll never use and their amps quite frankly suck.
Not true across the board, and with HT definetly not
If you're going to buy quality speakers you're gonna want a quality amp powering them. That means you should be looking at pieces from NAD, Rotel, Arcam, B & K, Anthem, and other such brands.
See Above Bold txt

You may consider it bashing Denon but if take some of those speakers you're considering, hook them up to your Denon, and then hook it up to a NAD or a B & K, the NAD and B & K will make those speakers sound ten times better than the Denon.
How
In the end it's not about any of us offering our own opinions on here. It's about you, the sound you desire, and how you want to spend your hard earned money to get that sound. So my best advice is to let your ears decide and not us. Listen to as many possible combinations of speakers/components as you possibly can before deciding which to buy and then buy the one you like best at your price point.
I total agree

Good luck!

Im just curious as to how the amps in say a denon 3909 sound different than say any B&K with most average efficent speakers?

 

[Seth=L]

As far as accuracy is concerned the Digms are the best in the selection. I have heard all those speakers you mentioned and I sorta like them all for different reasons. It sucks you can't listen to them all in the same place.

My fronts are currently Paradigm Studio 100s, and am very pleased with how they perform. Don't let me mislead you though, I didn't choose the 100s necessarily because I was comparitive shopping, I just happened to get an outstanding deal on those speakers. Although if I had to choose I know I personally would get the Studios because I know they measure better than the other speakers.

My order of selection would be this, Paradigm Studios, B&W 600 series, and lastly the Klipsch Reference series. It's not that I don't like Klipsch's Reference speakers, but as pointed out before they build quality is not up to snuff with the other two manufacturers. The cabinets are rather large and are not adequately braced and damped.

 

[Seth=L]

Also I consider it a sin to power anything from B&W, Paradigm or any other quality speaker company with a component made by Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo etc..... These big box store brands have all kinds of overmarketed technological bells and whistles that you'll never use and their amps quite frankly suck.----What? Where do you get this information from?

If you're going to buy quality speakers you're gonna want a quality amp powering them. That means you should be looking at pieces from NAD, Rotel, Arcam, B & K, Anthem, and other such brands.----I believe there must be some kind of mix up, those are the brands that are hyped up for nothing, the only brand in that list I would consider is Rotel because they make sexy looking products.

You may consider it bashing Denon but if take some of those speakers you're considering, hook them up to your Denon, and then hook it up to a NAD or a B & K, the NAD and B & K will make those speakers sound ten times better than the Denon.----Really? Because I was pretty sure it would sound the same in a level matched double blind test. Ten times better....LMAO!

In the end it's not about any of us offering our own opinions on here. It's about you, the sound you desire, and how you want to spend your hard earned money to get that sound. So my best advice is to let your ears decide and not us. Listen to as many possible combinations of speakers/components as you possibly can before deciding which to buy and then buy the one you like best at your price point.----This is the best piece of advice you have offered.

It's statement's like these that hold little weight around here, and in what I like to call "the real world". The Denon AVR-4308 is a top notch receiver, and I would buy it before anything that NAD offers in receivers. NAD can take their IHF power ratings and stick them where the sun don't shine, I bet if you compared that Denon and NAD on the bench the results wouldn't be much different. I'm not going to say there isn't better than the Denon, but to disregard the fact that the Digms are relatively even loaded and fairly efficient is ignorant (sorry, but that's just the facts).

 

[Seth=L]

Im just curious as to how the amps in say a denon 3909 sound different than say any B&K with most average efficent speakers?

Do you even have to ask?

 

[tomba]

found another store 1hr away that has the digms and b&w's so at least i can listen to the 2 of them side by side.

alot of people say that the b&w's can't rock? aren't they what pink floyd used in "dark side of the moon"? Or is it that the digms are that much better once i get them home?

thanks.

 

[Seth=L]

found another store 1hr away that has the digms and b&w's so at least i can listen to the 2 of them side by side.

alot of people say that the b&w's can't rock? aren't they what pink floyd used in "dark side of the moon"? Or is it that the digms are that much better once i get them home?

thanks.

As far as comparisons go, the Studio series is considered to be another level of speaker compared to the 600 series B&W. The 600 series is more in line with the Monitor series of Paradigm, although I would pick 600 series over Monitors any day of the week. Then the Studio's are in line with, or close to, the 700 series. The Signatures are in line with maybe the first two speakers of B&W 800 line, but then when you get the the 802D the digms fall tragically short in comparison. I'm saying this based on speaker accuracy, not how it sounds to me.

People that say B&W speakers can't rock are biased or like to listen to music too loud. The B&W 600 series tweeter might get brash with too much power, but so does the tweeter in the Digms (at least it seems like it to me). If I where in your shoes I would save some bucks and go with the B&Ws and use the savings to get a good subwoofer from SVS or HSU.

 

[tomba]

thanks. is great info for me to go down with this week. How about the b&w center. some of the reports say it is lacking????

I like your idea of saving money and going with a better sub. i have been looking at the velodyne spl 12 and REL B3.

I can afford the digm system, so that is not my issue. One of my questions comes down to is "spending the extra money on the digms worth the money or will the b&w setup be perfectly fine in my home?" Since they are both quality products they will both last for years. Heck, the stuff i am replacing is 20 year old 2 channel. I guess I can always sell stuff later and upgrade. I just don't want buyers remorse in a few months of "i should have gotten that".

 

[tomba]

another thought i am wondering about is the digm system overkill for my needs?????

 

[Seth=L]

another thought i am wondering about is the digm system overkill for my needs?????

I know it's overkill for me, but I live in apartment. Even my PC's sound system is overkill. I take everything to the max....EXTREME!!!!

 

[gixxerific]

Excuse me could someone please eplain this "Overkill" you are speaking about?
Just never heard of this before.

Dono

 

[fredk]

The 600 series is more in line with the Monitor series of Paradigm

I listened to a pair of Monitor 7s and then the Studio line (20, 40, 60). The difference was quite large.

It would be interesting to hear the differences between the B&W 600 line and the Studios.

 

[tomba]

i am going to get over to the other shop tomorrow. just picked up the new sacd dark side of the moon and can't tell the difference on my current speakers. lets see what happens tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

it is my ears and personal taste.