petergaryr's Full Review: Klipsch RF-5 Main / Stereo Speaker
Many years ago when I first got interested in high fidelity reproduction, the name Klipsch was the Holy Grail of speakers for me. Their flagship was the horn loaded corner placed Klipschorn. I hoped that some day I would have the money and room to purchase a set. Neither happened, but the name has always had a mystique for me.
Well, times have changed and so has Klipsch. The current RF5 is a tower design with twin 8" Cerametallic™ woofer cones that are claimed to be lighter, stronger and better damped than commonly used cone materials. Cerametallic™ is a specially treated aluminum that has been anodized, or electro-chemically transformed into ceramic on both outer surfaces. Similar to the motor of the large compression driver, powerful, video-shielded 28oz. magnets drive these woofers allowing for precise signal tracking without blurring the sound. They have a very distinctive, rather attractive copper color.
The high end is crossed over at 2500 KHz to a 1" titanium dome compression driver that is coupled to an 8" square Tractrix Horn and powered by an unusually large, video-shielded 9.6oz. magnet.
They are internally wired with custom manufactured Z-Series Monster Cable. Monster Cable is also used on the external bi-wire jumpers.
Each RF-5 comes with a curved, cloth-covered, stand-off grille. This "floating grille" creates a physical barrier, protecting the drivers from damage and actually works to minimize sonic reflections. A spiked or protective tipped, stabilizing outrigger foot complements the enclosure’s computer-optimized bracing, which minimizes cabinet vibration and reduces unwanted coloration. Frequency response is 34Hz-20KHz and sensitivity is 99dB@1 watt/1meter. It is rated to handle 150 watts maximum continuous power.
While I firmly believe that it is critical for a loudspeaker to be auditioned in your own home’s environment using your other connected equipment, here is what the experience has been for me:
I have listened to a wide variety of material on them ranging from rock and jazz to classical. My conclusion is that these would fall into the category of mid-range “audiophile” without any apologies. The bass is solid, the mid-range uncolored, and the high end bright and clear. The soundfield is almost photographic, which may be a turn-off to those who prefer a more diffuse sound. There is a tremendous sense of “air” around instruments and voices. I am now hearing the scraping of bows, breaths being taken and music stands being knocked about in recordings with which I am familiar (and had not noticed before). This is due to the extended high frequency response and wide dispersion pattern of the horn driver. While this is extremely appealing to me, I feel I should warn you that this accuracy also results in hearing all the defects in recordings as well. Source material that you might have thought was perfectly fine may be revealed as having bad things you never noticed before. While I can’t fault the loudspeaker for this, it is something of which to be aware.
The RF5s are part of my home theater, so they work equally well with movie soundtracks. Since they are magnetically shielded, you can place them close to the screen if you so desire. While no reasonable person would describe these as being “bass shy”, they can benefit from being coupled with a good quality subwoofer.
The cabinets are solidly constructed and very well braced to eliminate any unwanted resonance from them. The RF5 is available in three furniture-grade wood veneers: black, maple or cherry. It is rare these days to find something other than the ubiquitous vinyl veneer. If décor is a consideration, then having the choice of three real wood cabinets may be a significant factor.
So, having said all this, to whom would I recommend these? If you are looking for a solidly constructed, accurate tower with a furniture grade cabinet then these deserve serious consideration. My only caution is that you carefully audition them in your own home. The extended high end may, under certain conditions, sound “harsh” to some people.
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