Klipsch - Blu-ray Forum

BStecke · 08-15-2007, 04:58 AM

Hey guys . . . thinking about upgrading my speakers here sometime soon, and wanted to gather some opinions. Right now I've got some Klipsch Synergy speakers from around 2001 that I like quite a bit, but I'm wanting an upgrade. I can get a pretty good deal on the new Klipsch Reference series speakers, and I'm wondering if the Reference is a marked improvement over my old Synergy series.

I would be looking at the RF 82's for the front, RC 52 for the center, and the RS-42's for surround. To finish, I would have the RW 12d sub. Any opinions on this setup? Also, would it be odd to have a center with 5.25" drivers with dual 8's in the fronts? I would be getting these through some accommodations, and for some reason the larger center isn't available, but for what I'm getting the rest of the setup for, I could get the larger center elsewhere and still save a lot of money. I'm probably going to go check these speakers out at Magnolia one of these days, but I'd like to gather some opinions. I know once a lot of brands go to the big box stores as Klipsch has done in the last few years, their quality seems to drop (Alpine) significantly, and I'm interested in what others have to say about these speakers.

My other option would probably be something from Definitive, which have sounded nice in all the demos I've heard. I don't have any specific models for these yet, as I've just begun my research, but how does Definitive stack up to Klipsch?

gvortex7 · 08-15-2007, 06:00 AM

My Klipsch Quintet II speakers that I just got from Ebay last week is all I needed. These "relatively" small satellites and a very nice size center speaker have a bombastic sound. 5.1 LPCM audio from Blu-rays never sounded more dynamic.

Zaphod · 08-15-2007, 06:02 AM

I have the following Klipsch speakers: fronts - RF-25's, center - RC-64, surrounds - RS-35's and subwoofer - RW-10. Now I never owned any Klipsch Speakers before these, but they sound great! I went with the higher number RS's and RC to match the 6.5" woofers in my RF-25's, even though I don't know how much difference that would make to have different sizes all around for the woofers. I know the Klipsch Synergy series is crap now that they are mass produced on a factory line for Best Buy, so if you want to go Klipsch then you are good to stay away from these. The reference series are still made in the Klipsch tradition and if you get a good deal you shouldn't be disappointed. Plus depending on what amp you have pushing them the Klipsch speakers still have a good sensitivity so even a less powerfull amp can push them pretty good. I have them all hooked to a Onkyo 605 and they work wonderful, even cranking up the volume to obscene levels the speakers put out great, LOUD, but undistorted sound!

Kaldaim · 08-15-2007, 09:27 AM

I've found the Klipsch reference series to be a little pricey, and I personally do not care for their horn tweeters. I know a few people who swear by them but I've never been terribly impressed.

Not sure what kind of deal you're getting, or if you're interested in looking around at other options, but I own a pair of Infinity Beta 50's for my fronts and a Beta 360 for my center. In my opinion these speakers are phenomenal for the price, and if you do a little bit of research you'll find that many people agree with me.

Whatever route you decide to go, make sure your receiver can put out lots of power or buy an amp to do it for you. I've seen (heard?) would-be great sound systems dragged down by insufficient power.

Shop around and test a lot of speakers, because, in the end, it's what you think sounds the best that is going to make you happiest =)

Good luck!

Darth-Blu · 08-15-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaldaim

I've found the Klipsch reference series to be a little pricey

You're right about that one. The money I spent on my speakers, I could've saved up for a descent TV.

But everyone from my family comes over to listen to my set-up when a good movie comes out.

ground chuck · 08-15-2007, 11:53 AM

i'm a firm proponent of definitive. my old college roommate, had a pair of 4ft floor speakers and you could here these things 3 stories up and down as clear as day. needless to say the RA's were always dropping by to tell us to turn in down.

Snowgod · 08-15-2007, 12:21 PM

As long as you mate the Reference speakers with an amp that compliments them such as a Denon which provides a warmer sound for movie soundtracks you will love them. Pair them with a Yamaha though and you may find them a little bright sounding.

darkpoet25 · 08-15-2007, 12:53 PM

That was one thing I never did like about Klipsch is the horn loaded tweeter. When I heard a set at a local HT store I thought they sounded too bright. I did like the Definitives and Paradigms I heard though.

DTMoney84 · 08-15-2007, 01:04 PM

I have to agree, Klipsch is definately very pricey. There is no question they put out a great product but for that price range I think you do have a lot of options to explore. I would recommend getting out and checking out as many different demo's as you possibly can.

Snowgod · 08-15-2007, 01:55 PM

There is a good reason most movie theaters use Klipsch speakers. They provide a great amount of bang for the buck. If you think they are pricey then you may want to try a package deal on home theater in a box speakers like HSU-Research or Mirage Omnisats. Polk also makes some good speakers that can be found for good prices at some dealers. You also may want to check out hifi.com for Cambridge Soundworks latest.

I Bleed Blu · 08-15-2007, 10:54 PM

Klipsch is a great speaker. I have RF-62's and a RC-62. I plan on getting a Rw-12d sub and surrounds to go with these asap. They sound great with my Onkyo 805. You want be dissapointed.

sokrman14 · 08-15-2007, 11:45 PM

They are a very efficient speaker. They dont require a lot of power to reach loud volumes or peaks in the speaker. However, that being said I think that you can find speakers for the same price that sound better. Boston Acoustics are equally efficient and will most likely give you a little crisper. Klipsch tend to "screech" in their high notes from my opinion, but that is all upto the listener. I would just say keep an open mind and keep listen to other speakers before you just replace the ones that you have without testing others.

mildots · 08-17-2007, 09:36 PM

Speakers are a very personal decision. What you may like someone else may not. Make sure to bring a few piece's of music that you are very familiar with to demo the speakers. That will help you make the decision.

As far as Klipsch Reference goes I have a Pair of RF3's and I truely enjoy them, but thats my personal opinion.

BStecke · 08-17-2007, 09:57 PM

Went and checked out the Def Techs and the Klipsch reference setups at Magnolia. The reason I'm looking to stay with Klipsch is that I can get a complete Reference setup for less than 800 bucks through accommodations. I liked the Def's, but the Klipsch setup didn't have a subwoofer, and the only downside I saw to the Klipsch setup was the lack of bass. I liked the built in subs in the Defs, but I do like a little more punch in the higher range, and the Klipsch definitely had that. They had them on a Yamaha receiver too, which I know usually brings out more of the harshness, but they still sounded quite good. I listened to both on the Superman Returns airplane scene, which as you know is only Dolby Digital, but totally blew away my current setup. I can't imagine what an uncompressed soundtrack would sound like.

BStecke · 08-20-2007, 06:09 AM

I'm pretty set on these for my upgrade . . . however, what do you think about the center? Would the RC52, with the 5 1/4's be ok with the RF82's, or would the RC62, w/ the 6.5's blend a little better? I didn't have a chance to listen to the RC62 . . . Magnolia doesn't sell it, so I'd have to get it elsewhere, but with what I'm saving, that wouldn't be a problem.

Zaphod · 08-20-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BStecke

I'm pretty set on these for my upgrade . . . however, what do you think about the center? Would the RC52, with the 5 1/4's be ok with the RF82's, or would the RC62, w/ the 6.5's blend a little better? I didn't have a chance to listen to the RC62 . . . Magnolia doesn't sell it, so I'd have to get it elsewhere, but with what I'm saving, that wouldn't be a problem.

The center channel is the most important speaker in the surround sound setup, IMO. I have the RC-64 and LOVE IT! This is basically a floor standing speaker for a center channel. It has four 6.5's and a horn tweeter, and the dialog and sound that comes out of it is amazing and it gives a wide listening range across the sound field nicely filling in the traditional "gap" between the fronts. Beware though this speaker weighs like 64 pounds.

I dunno if the size of the speakers makes that much of a difference since the center typically carries only dialog.

08-15-2007, 04:58 AM	#1
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Klipsch Hey guys . . . thinking about upgrading my speakers here sometime soon, and wanted to gather some opinions. Right now I've got some Klipsch Synergy speakers from around 2001 that I like quite a bit, but I'm wanting an upgrade. I can get a pretty good deal on the new Klipsch Reference series speakers, and I'm wondering if the Reference is a marked improvement over my old Synergy series. I would be looking at the RF 82's for the front, RC 52 for the center, and the RS-42's for surround. To finish, I would have the RW 12d sub. Any opinions on this setup? Also, would it be odd to have a center with 5.25" drivers with dual 8's in the fronts? I would be getting these through some accommodations, and for some reason the larger center isn't available, but for what I'm getting the rest of the setup for, I could get the larger center elsewhere and still save a lot of money. I'm probably going to go check these speakers out at Magnolia one of these days, but I'd like to gather some opinions. I know once a lot of brands go to the big box stores as Klipsch has done in the last few years, their quality seems to drop (Alpine) significantly, and I'm interested in what others have to say about these speakers. My other option would probably be something from Definitive, which have sounded nice in all the demos I've heard. I don't have any specific models for these yet, as I've just begun my research, but how does Definitive stack up to Klipsch? Last edited by BStecke; 08-15-2007 at 05:03 AM.

08-15-2007, 06:02 AM	#3
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	I have the following Klipsch speakers: fronts - RF-25's, center - RC-64, surrounds - RS-35's and subwoofer - RW-10. Now I never owned any Klipsch Speakers before these, but they sound great! I went with the higher number RS's and RC to match the 6.5" woofers in my RF-25's, even though I don't know how much difference that would make to have different sizes all around for the woofers. I know the Klipsch Synergy series is crap now that they are mass produced on a factory line for Best Buy, so if you want to go Klipsch then you are good to stay away from these. The reference series are still made in the Klipsch tradition and if you get a good deal you shouldn't be disappointed. Plus depending on what amp you have pushing them the Klipsch speakers still have a good sensitivity so even a less powerfull amp can push them pretty good. I have them all hooked to a Onkyo 605 and they work wonderful, even cranking up the volume to obscene levels the speakers put out great, LOUD, but undistorted sound! Last edited by Zaphod; 08-15-2007 at 06:05 AM.

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08-15-2007, 06:00 AM	#2
gvortex7 Blu-ray Champion Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Fort Lauderdale, FL Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:105	My Klipsch Quintet II speakers that I just got from Ebay last week is all I needed. These "relatively" small satellites and a very nice size center speaker have a bombastic sound. 5.1 LPCM audio from Blu-rays never sounded more dynamic.

08-15-2007, 09:27 AM	#4
Kaldaim Active Member Member since:Apr 2007	I've found the Klipsch reference series to be a little pricey, and I personally do not care for their horn tweeters. I know a few people who swear by them but I've never been terribly impressed. Not sure what kind of deal you're getting, or if you're interested in looking around at other options, but I own a pair of Infinity Beta 50's for my fronts and a Beta 360 for my center. In my opinion these speakers are phenomenal for the price, and if you do a little bit of research you'll find that many people agree with me. Whatever route you decide to go, make sure your receiver can put out lots of power or buy an amp to do it for you. I've seen (heard?) would-be great sound systems dragged down by insufficient power. Shop around and test a lot of speakers, because, in the end, it's what you think sounds the best that is going to make you happiest =) Good luck!

08-15-2007, 11:53 AM	#6
ground chuck Power Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Charm City Blu-ray collection:75 Blu-ray reviews:48 Trading Score:18	i'm a firm proponent of definitive. my old college roommate, had a pair of 4ft floor speakers and you could here these things 3 stories up and down as clear as day. needless to say the RA's were always dropping by to tell us to turn in down.

08-15-2007, 12:21 PM	#7
Snowgod Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Central NH	As long as you mate the Reference speakers with an amp that compliments them such as a Denon which provides a warmer sound for movie soundtracks you will love them. Pair them with a Yamaha though and you may find them a little bright sounding.

08-15-2007, 12:53 PM	#8
darkpoet25 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Indianapolis, IN Home Theater Gallery:45 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:297 Blu-ray reviews: 4	That was one thing I never did like about Klipsch is the horn loaded tweeter. When I heard a set at a local HT store I thought they sounded too bright. I did like the Definitives and Paradigms I heard though.

08-15-2007, 01:04 PM	#9
DTMoney84 Active Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Philadelphia, PA	I have to agree, Klipsch is definately very pricey. There is no question they put out a great product but for that price range I think you do have a lot of options to explore. I would recommend getting out and checking out as many different demo's as you possibly can.

08-15-2007, 01:55 PM	#10
Snowgod Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Central NH	There is a good reason most movie theaters use Klipsch speakers. They provide a great amount of bang for the buck. If you think they are pricey then you may want to try a package deal on home theater in a box speakers like HSU-Research or Mirage Omnisats. Polk also makes some good speakers that can be found for good prices at some dealers. You also may want to check out hifi.com for Cambridge Soundworks latest.

08-15-2007, 10:54 PM	#11
I Bleed Blu Senior Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Lexington, KY Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:86 Trading Score:23	Klipsch is a great speaker. I have RF-62's and a RC-62. I plan on getting a Rw-12d sub and surrounds to go with these asap. They sound great with my Onkyo 805. You want be dissapointed.

08-15-2007, 11:45 PM	#12
sokrman14 Special Member Member since:Mar 2006 Location:Omaha, NE Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:32 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	They are a very efficient speaker. They dont require a lot of power to reach loud volumes or peaks in the speaker. However, that being said I think that you can find speakers for the same price that sound better. Boston Acoustics are equally efficient and will most likely give you a little crisper. Klipsch tend to "screech" in their high notes from my opinion, but that is all upto the listener. I would just say keep an open mind and keep listen to other speakers before you just replace the ones that you have without testing others.

08-17-2007, 09:36 PM	#13
mildots Junior Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:south florida	Speakers are a very personal decision. What you may like someone else may not. Make sure to bring a few piece's of music that you are very familiar with to demo the speakers. That will help you make the decision. As far as Klipsch Reference goes I have a Pair of RF3's and I truely enjoy them, but thats my personal opinion.

08-17-2007, 09:57 PM	#14
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	Went and checked out the Def Techs and the Klipsch reference setups at Magnolia. The reason I'm looking to stay with Klipsch is that I can get a complete Reference setup for less than 800 bucks through accommodations. I liked the Def's, but the Klipsch setup didn't have a subwoofer, and the only downside I saw to the Klipsch setup was the lack of bass. I liked the built in subs in the Defs, but I do like a little more punch in the higher range, and the Klipsch definitely had that. They had them on a Yamaha receiver too, which I know usually brings out more of the harshness, but they still sounded quite good. I listened to both on the Superman Returns airplane scene, which as you know is only Dolby Digital, but totally blew away my current setup. I can't imagine what an uncompressed soundtrack would sound like.

08-20-2007, 06:09 AM	#15
BStecke Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jun 2007 4K collection:182 Blu-ray collection:567 DVD collection:1 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:6	I'm pretty set on these for my upgrade . . . however, what do you think about the center? Would the RC52, with the 5 1/4's be ok with the RF82's, or would the RC62, w/ the 6.5's blend a little better? I didn't have a chance to listen to the RC62 . . . Magnolia doesn't sell it, so I'd have to get it elsewhere, but with what I'm saving, that wouldn't be a problem.

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