Polk vs Klipsch for music

[donunus]

What is the general consensus on the better floorstanding loudspeakers for music under $1000? any comments. I've been too much into high end audio brands to notice these brands before until I heard some models that sounded ok. Ill throw in one $599 speaker from another company the athena AS-F2. How do polks and klipschs compare to those for example... Any comments to start my value speaker hunt would be greatly appreciated... Dynamics, midrange, highs, bass, transparency, coherence, realism...etc

 

[Mort Corey]

Klipsch speakers are a "love-hate" type speaker. I have a set of 10+ year old Klipsch speakers and found nothing I liked as well when I recently went shopping around for replacements. Monitor Audio, Energy, Polks, etc, all sounded too restrained for my tastes. Horn loaded speakers are a sound unto themselves. For you, it's an endeavor you'll have spend quite a bit of time with doing live auditions.

That said, I bought some of the smaller Athena booksheld speakers for my granddaughter recently and was quite impressed. I'm sure the F-2's are pretty nice as well. You're under $1K price point for a pair of floor standing speakers is going to really limit your choices to a degree.

Good hunting


Mort

 

[donunus]

I am comparing the models under 1000 to see if these companies can build great sounding budget speakers. You can compare their flagship loudspeakers as well.
bass extension is a bonus but transparency and definition along with dynamics are my first priorities

 

[mulester7]

bass extension is a bonus but transparency and definition along with dynamics are my first priorities

.....and may your very sound priorities remain such, Donunus....it appears as though subs are here to stay......

 

[mulester7]

.....good word/term.....


Transparency

A subjective term used in audio to indicate how easily and how much of the sound of the live event comes through a recording when played through an audio system.

 

[mulester7]

.....if an audio or video word/term ain't defined here, I'm gonna' step out on a limb and say you dreamed it.....

http://www.audiovideo101.com/dictionary/dictionary_search.asp

 

[jaxvon]

Some options:

BIC DV84
BIC Acoustec HT-75

The above two options are lower cost. Another option:
Axiom M-60Ti

 

[indcrimdefense]

I have Klipsch RF-7 fronts & RF-5 rears. The RF-5 exceeds the 1000 per pair for msrp, but if you shop around may find new for less than 1000. I am very happy with my RF-5 speakers, and have used for a variety of purposes; as rears in my main system, as front speakers in a 2 channel setup, and have used one as a center channel recently waiting on my RC-7 to arrive. Exceptional speaker for the money, but very dependent on the quality of components. Have been happy when used with nakamichi receiver & with Cary Audio pre/pro & amp. Can run to the bright/harsh side, but have not had this problem with the Nak (30 watt receiver) or Cary Audio components. Sound is clear, good distinction between high/mid/low, and great bass, if not exceptional bass. Capable of bringing out the best, or the worst, of your components or source material. I looked at paradigm, def tech, and the baby martin logan before purchasing, and the RF-5 was as clean/clear as the rest with better body, and a fuller sound. Have been very happy & am thinking of purchasing 2nd pair for another room. Very clean, but full bodied sound from small footprint tower. Also will run well on little power, but will really open up if use an amp.

 

[donunus]

hows the rf-35 from klipsch? how much does that run msrp? how is it compared to the rf-5

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

$1000 will buy a nice high end used set from Audiogon, but shipping will cut into that budget (just as any purchase will via the net). Figure $150 to ship, and $800 tower budget. I bet you find some fantastic deals there.

Klipsch and Polk, IMO, are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Polk's, in general, are power hungry pigs. Klipsch can be run off a 9 volt battery . If you have the power, the Polks may be the way to go. If you have a modest receiver, it's a no brainer. Klipsch for a fuller, richer sound when the power isn't available. Do demo both, because as stated above, horns are much different than silk dome tweeters. Klipsch may perform better with rock and HT, while Polk may one up them with jazz, classical, and country - again, only if they are fed plenty of power.

 

[Mort Corey]

hows the rf-35 from klipsch? how much does that run msrp? how is it compared to the rf-5

The 35's are not as smooth over the spectrum as the 5's...IMO. To me, the 35's are a little harsh. The 7's are near double your price point but worth every cent of the extra cost....again, JMO.

Mort

 

[donunus]

theres serious competition in the rf7s price range in other brands like the magnepan mg1.6 for example. one of the best sounding speakers ive ever heard period. I even like them more than some 70000 dollar and up speakers

 

[r8n]

Klipsch is sensetive to bad amps!

Exceptional speaker for the money, but very dependent on the quality of components.

Sound is clear, good distinction between high/mid/low, and great bass, if not exceptional bass. Capable of bringing out the best, or the worst, of your components or source material. I looked at paradigm, def tech, and the baby martin logan before purchasing, and the RF-5 was as clean/clear as the rest with better body, and a fuller sound. Have been very happy & am thinking of purchasing 2nd pair for another room. Very clean, but full bodied sound from small footprint tower. Also will run well on little power, but will really open up if use an amp.

I agree! When I asked my Klipschdealer (in Sweden) which surroundreciever he would recommend to my RF-25, RC-35 combination, the answer was, quote (translated from swedish):

"The important thing with Klipsch is that they get alot of currentbackup. The horn-principle makes a 60 degree inductive load, which the most japanese brands will have big problems to drive. You then end up with a bad sounding low-end and a dim/unspecified and sharp sounding high-end."

/r8n -with reservation for bad English

 

[jaxvon]

Not to knock Magnepan or you Donnus, but how can you compare a Maggie and a Klipsch? They are such different speakers...a horn-loaded metal-transducer with cones vs. planar and quasi ribbons? They sound as different as night and day (...if...uhm...night and day had a sound...).