Klipsch RB-51: anyone use these for music?

[Matt X]

Hey, I am currently looking to complete a separate (analog) music system for my office, and need some opinions on speakers. I got a great deal on a Dual Turntable, using an old HK AVR 80 receiver (to be upgraded to tube int. amp at some point). I was considering Klipsch RB-51's as the speakers for the near term, to eventually shift into my HT as rears as I upgrade ( I hope to make the HT all klipsch @ some point).

- Just wanted any opinions on these for MUSIC. I haven't beenable to find many on the internets, and I'm not going to go by the one opinion posted here:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1157067061370

Thanks!

[I Bleed Blu]

I can't comment on that exact set of speaker because I havent heard them but just wanted to say any Klipsch Reference speaker is going to sound great; see sig, I'm in the process of finishing my HT with all Klipsch speakers and am about to buy a set of RS-62's for my surrounds; you may want to take a look at them or the RS-52 as they are a lot cheaper, but I have heard the RS will blow their bookshelf speakers away; esp sense u say ur gonna eventually use them for surrounds... Hope this helps some.

[Matt X]

RS's will definitely be in the mix as my side surrounds - i'm shooting for a 7.1 setup - but I figured the RB-51's would work well as stereo speakers for the time being, and be kick-ass REAR surrounds when the time comes ---

[I Bleed Blu]

Originally Posted by Matt X

RS's will definitely be in the mix as my side surrounds - i'm shooting for a 7.1 setup - but I figured the RB-51's would work well as stereo speakers for the time being, and be kick-ass REAR surrounds when the time comes ---

Yes I completely agree! Klipsch rocks!

[all_blu_man]

i sell them at the store. they are excellent speakers.

[groovyone]

I have teh 51s as my fronts for now. Love them. I was blown away with how good they sounded for their size. We heard them with and without a sub and with a mix of music before I bought them. No regrets. They will be my rears, hopefully soon.

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by groovyone

I have teh 51s as my fronts for now. Love them. I was blown away with how good they sounded for their size. We heard them with and without a sub and with a mix of music before I bought them. No regrets. They will be my rears, hopefully soon.

thanks y'all! I'll check 'em out in ~1wk. I was about to drop >$700 on a used set of B&W CDM-1NT's (yes I know that would rock), but I figured cost-effectiveness wise, w/the Klipschs I have a tailor-made way to upgrade BOTH my HT and music systems, and not kill my wallet ('course now I gotta find decent stands)

[jomari]

for klipsch speakers, its either a love or hate relationship with em. since theyre horns, people find em a tad 'bright' compared to other speakers. i personally love em. i have its bigger brother, the RB-61s and use them as my fronts. a little bit bright in the beginning, but they open up pretty well after you 'break them in'.

the RB-61's have 6.5 woofers, and go as low as 43hz with a 95 sensitivity, compared to the RB-51's 5.25" woofers, with a frequency response of 50hz-23khz, sensitivity at 92ohms.

the way i see it, its something that id consider to save up for, and hopefully it stays with you for the long run.

do remember to toe in your speakeres, and play around with placement. most of the time its recommended to place it farther from the wall, to get better results. for stereo listening (without a subwoofer), id prefer the 61's.

analogs are the horns best friend.

find yourself a reputable seller locally, not only to establish a good relationship with a supplier, but to help out the business.

JandR has it on sale here...

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.proc...urce=nsa&nsa=1

[blugasm]

I love my Klipsch Reference towers and my Synergy sub really shakes the sh*t out of the house.

Go for em!

[groovyone]

I got my 51s at BestBuy. I was even able to use the 12% off reward zone coupon.

[kingofgrills]

Klipsch speakers can be very polarizing with people as was stated earlier - people either lover or hate 'em. Personally, I've found Klipsch speakers to be a bit on the bright side for my tastes and a bit fatigueing. A friend of mine swears by them though, and they're well built.

My suggestion would be to audition them for a prolonged period of time with the amplifier you intend on using. Some speakers take on different characteristics depending on what's driving them, and Klipsch fall into that camp largely due to the tweeter design. They're well built speakers, but their not for everyone.

I would suggest trying out Klipsch speakers against other speakers in that price point. Speakers that come to mind are B&W 685s or CM1s, Monitor Audio Bronze or Silver series speakers, which are also available in Magnolia stores (not online), or Paradigm Atom Monitors. Each of the speaker series I listed have earned rave reviews for years and are worth an audition.

[Matt X]

all good points...I'm wondering if I'd be able to score RB61's (i'd prefer those, too) from BB, but it looks like they stopped selling them (at least on the website). I think I'll go w/the Klipsch's for now, If I keep 'em as music speakers then they'll be good for the all-tube setup I will eventually have, which seems to me would help bring the "brightness" down a little, if it's still there after break-in (right now the only tube component I have is my phono pre-amp, but a good integrated amp WILL happen)

[jomari]

Originally Posted by Matt X

all good points...I'm wondering if I'd be able to score RB61's (i'd prefer those, too) from BB, but it looks like they stopped selling them (at least on the website). I think I'll go w/the Klipsch's for now, If I keep 'em as music speakers then they'll be good for the all-tube setup I will eventually have, which seems to me would help bring the "brightness" down a little, if it's still there after break-in (right now the only tube component I have is my phono pre-amp, but a good integrated amp WILL happen)

after 'breaking em in', they definitely do come out really really nice. considering you are planning to use them for stereo listening, its definitely got a good amount of competition out there.

they will sound a bit harsh, but y'all have to consider these are horns, not ribbons, or some regular tweeters out there. horns have a higher amount of sensitivity, and definitely bring out the best or worst of a recording. for example, if you listen closely to some tracks that have guitars in em, or a good jazz drummer, you'd hear the plucking, as well as certain taps to the snare drum not intended.

for the 61's look around, find a good reputable dealer, and hopefully they can help you. whats your zip code? dont want to post it? go to klispch.com and use the store locator to get a authorized seller. i highly suggest going 61's instead of 51's. in the long run, you're saving money. these speakers will last you a LONG time.

from that standpoint, you will find a good number of klipsch users seeking the old school stuff, like the reference klipschorns, heresies and la scalas. all a bit bigger than usual, but then again, its all in the experience.

from that point, welcome to the world of horns.

[Woody]

As above posters say, love em' or hate em'.


Klipsch are decent for HT. It really depends on music though. If you like loud and bright they are for you.

If you like smoother highs and imaging I would recommend something else. Also, if you are going to listen to ALOT of music before you go to your HT look at something else.

However if you don't do alot of serious listening and you use them more for "ambiance" or background music. It would make sense to get them, especially if you plan on using them as rears in the near future.

[Matt X]

I would say my goal is to get a pair of "good" speakers for MUSIC that would work as good or better as HT speakers later on (and these are two totally separate systems I'm talking about). My ultimate goal is to have an all-tube setup for my serious music listening room, w/ a different set of speakers than the klipsch's (well, the 51/61's at least) - either higher-end klipsch's or something more difficult to pair up properly like Magnepans or something (I used to own the Carver AL III's years ago & I miss them dearly) As I upgrade, the speakers (rb51/61's) will rotate into my HT to do their ultimate duty as surrounds or whatever.

[Matt X]

OK, as a follow-up, I got the RB51's (would've preferred the larger drivers in the 61's, but just couldn't stretch the $$$, ah well) tonight @ BB. I'm only listening to the second LP to play through them RIGHT NOW (no break in), and I gotta say - nice! ya might need to jack the bass up a little, but even "Russian Lullaby" on John Coltrane's Soultrane sounds deep, and rich. didn't think you'd hear that from a Klipsch owner? it might be the tube phono preamp I'm using (Bellari VP129). for my initial impression, I think the "harshness" you hear people describing is actually a function of their good DETAIL - I tried a more well-used LP (Billy Holiday w/Ray Ellis and his Orchestra), and was a bit distracted by the pops and scratches, which were audible but tolerable on some other systems in my house. I think that the klipsch's are simply not as forgiving (ahhh christ, listen to me, I already sound like some snobby "audiophile"), but you can temper that (or offset it?) w/ "warmer" gear (the tube pre helps, I think)

---The Replacements' "Don't Tell a Soul" ain't too bad on these speakers, either. I'm gonna go get another beer. later!