Klipsch RF83 Opinions Quick

[Dezoris]

I have the ability to get these for $900 a pair new and wanted to see if it is worth it at that price or is there something else at that range that would be better?

 

[zumbo]

It looks like a great price, but I would'nt buy them. I don't care for Klipsch.

If you know for a fact you like Klipsch, then you may wan't them.

Best I can do.

 

[maximoiglesias]

Klipsch

Not many people in this forum are Klipsch fans, so they will tell you they dont like it dont buy it.

Klipsch are good speakers for the money, if you can get the RF-83 for 900 buy 'em! You will love the sound.

 

[Mike.A]

I got a pair of RF-62's, and I like these speakers so I can only assume the 83's are much nicer.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I had a pair of RF-83 in my bedroom for a little while but just too bright for me.

 

[GlocksRock]

$900 for a brand new pair of RF83s... I'd buy them up quick, you can always sell them if you dont like them.

 

[WmAx]

Not by any means a high-fidelity speaker for primarily music listening. But they are fine for HT purposes.

-Chris

 

[hotroady]

Don't ever allow anyone to tell you what your ears should like. I bought a pr for 1100, and thought it a good deal. Klipsch are best w tubes and bi-wire. Tubes take the edge off the tweets. One of the most dynamic speakers out there. If you want rock music that sounds live..they rock. If I want to sit and listen privately, than I listen to my Martin Logans. The titanium tweeter is very good. Bass is much better than all but the topline Martin Logans, but they need tons of power, Klipsch don't.

 

[yettitheman]

Don't ever allow anyone to tell you what your ears should like. I bought a pr for 1100, and thought it a good deal. Klipsch are best w tubes and bi-wire. Tubes take the edge off the tweets. One of the most dynamic speakers out there. If you want rock music that sounds live..they rock. If I want to sit and listen privately, than I listen to my Martin Logans. The titanium tweeter is very good. Bass is much better than all but the topline Martin Logans, but they need tons of power, Klipsch don't.

You are aware the bi-wiring your speakers has no positive quantitative/measurable difference in sound reproduction? But, to each his own.

 

[hotroady]

You are aware the bi-wiring your speakers has no positive quantitative/measurable difference in sound reproduction? But, to each his own.

I'm aware, that you aren't aware.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm aware, that you aren't aware.

The game....


Also. I agree that people should choose what they like in the way of speakers. The OP asked a specific question, is there "better" for $900. By definition there is something better. At that price they measure quite poorly compared to say the Paradigm Studio 20s. It is acknowledged that only the person choosing speakers should be determining what is best for them. Because they asked someone else what is "better" they then removed the "better for me" factor. For those audio geeks that require accuracy, or can't stand anything that has such horrible measured performance as the Klipsch it would be obvious to that person that something out there is "better", and not just for them. Those accurate speakers would be better for anyone seeking accurate speakers. If accuracy was everyone's point, we would all get along a lot better.

 

[hotroady]

can't get it to post site, correctly.

 

[hotroady]

Of course they say; if it measures good, but sounds bad..you measured the wrong thing. Others have found the opposite to be true of the Paradigm Studio. http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/speakers-subwoofers/172481-review-klipsch-rb-75-paradigm-studio

 

[WmAx]

Of course they say; if it measures good, but sounds bad..you measured the wrong thing. Others have found the opposite to be true of the Paradigm Studio. http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/speakers-subwoofers/172481-review-klipsch-rb-75-paradigm-studio

The overwhelming majority of the time, 'they'(and this seems to include most reviewers and speaker designers, btw) are not qualified to interpret measurements as they relate to human perception. Assuming you have sufficient measurements available, then it requires extensive knowledge of the founding perceptual research that relates measured parameters to human perception in order to understand the measurements sufficiently to make a highly probable prediction of perceived sound quality by most experienced listeners(as opposed to casual listeners that have not developed any sort of listening skills and only care about 'loud' and 'clear', for example, or only use speakers primary for movie use, which is far less demanding than music reproduction).

-Chris

 

[hotroady]

I was at my tech today, he and his brother have been fans of vintage gear for 60 yrs. My tube pre-amp has been there for 3 weeks. I left my amp, CD player to make sure any problems got sorted. I had been getting reports over the phone how all the old boys loved it, over his old beat up Scott speakers. A bad fit w the pins caused a channel to drop out w the pre...they fixed that 2 weeks ago. All this time the tone controls weren't working..they finally found yesterday, that 3 resistors were shorting against the chassis..simple fix, but hard to locate. Anyway, we got into a discussion how speaker tap for 16ohm sounded best, despite 8 ohm speaker. Something as simple as this should be tried by the ear test..to hear what sounds best..no measurement will tell you this. We also agree there are many who cannot hear subtle sonic change. I now have to make a CD for my tech. Seems he agrees w my test CD(Dire Straits-Brother's in arms) He had been playing over and over at the shop..I was there a couple of weeks ago and someone yelled to 'crank it up' It was great ! Called them a bunch of old hippies. Really, what would be the point of measuring something, if you can't hear a sonic improvement? The spec wars of the 70's w transistors, killed tube sales. Thankfully the tube diehards knew the sound they were missing.

 

[WmAx]

I was at my tech today, he and his brother have been fans of vintage gear for 60 yrs. My tube pre-amp has been there for 3 weeks. I left my amp, CD player to make sure any problems got sorted. I had been getting reports over the phone how all the old boys loved it, over his old beat up Scott speakers. A bad fit w the pins caused a channel to drop out w the pre...they fixed that 2 weeks ago. All this time the tone controls weren't working..they finally found yesterday, that 3 resistors were shorting against the chassis..simple fix, but hard to locate. Anyway, we got into a discussion how speaker tap for 16ohm sounded best, despite 8 ohm speaker. Something as simple as this should be tried by the ear test..to hear what sounds best..no measurement will tell you this. We also agree there are many who cannot hear subtle sonic change. I now have to make a CD for my tech. Seems he agrees w my test CD(Dire Straits-Brother's in arms) He had been playing over and over at the shop..I was there a couple of weeks ago and someone yelled to 'crank it up' It was great ! Called them a bunch of old hippies. Really, what would be the point of measuring something, if you can't hear a sonic improvement? The spec wars of the 70's w transistors, killed tube sales. Thankfully the tube diehards knew the sound they were missing.

Usually, the only 'sound' a tube amp provides is the frequency response deviation caused by the high output impedance of the output coil tap, which causes an interaction with the voltage delivered to the load at different frequencies. A standard solid state amp has a very low output impedance, thus very little such interaction. You can easily simulate this effect by placing a high power non-inductive load resistor in line with the speakers on a solid state amp with about a 3-5 Ohm value.

The other 'special' sound a tube amp can make is very high levels of distortion. This is usually only true with SET type tube amps, which commonly produce THD in the 3-5% range during normal use.

-Chris

 

[hotroady]

Usually, the only 'sound' a tube amp provides is the frequency response deviation caused by the high output impedance of the output coil tap, which causes an interaction with the voltage delivered to the load at different frequencies. A standard solid state amp has a very low output impedance, thus very little such interaction. You can easily simulate this effect by placing a high power non-inductive load resistor in line with the speakers on a solid state amp with about a 3-5 Ohm value.

The other 'special' sound a tube amp can make is very high levels of distortion. This is usually only true with SET type tube amps, which commonly produce THD in the 3-5% range during normal use.

-Chris

That's about as true as taking off the exhaust pipe of a Honda, and calling it a Harley.

 

[corey]

The OP asked a specific question, is there "better" for $900. By definition there is something better. At that price they measure quite poorly compared to say the Paradigm Studio 20s. ....For those audio geeks that require accuracy, or can't stand anything that has such horrible measured performance as the Klipsch it would be obvious to that person that something out there is "better", and not just for them. Those accurate speakers would be better for anyone seeking accurate speakers.

What measurements are you referring to?

 

[#1gamecock]

$900 a pair? that's one hell of a deal. they go for $1,200 a piece. these speaker jam like you wouldn't belive for music. they can play down to 28hrz, and can take all the power you at them. go get those speakers now!!!

 

[tom67]

Measurements

I have Paradigm studio 20s also....great speakers....they produce difficult choral music well which is a good test of any speaker, but I have retired mine to the den setup in favor of 9 year old Klipsch RB5s. Frankly the Klipsch do a better job on HT which is about 70% of what I need a speaker for...so application is probably a very valid measure of why we buy speakers...by the way, Klipsch, Bostons and Pioneer bookshelf units outscored B & W, Paradigm and other higher priced speakers for accuracy a couple of years ago according to Consumer Reports testing...On the other hand, the Paradigms are exquisitely built and excel at low listening levels on most music which is what I do in the den...