Polk A7 or Klipsch RF 62?

Kaje

Hi,
So the topic says it all, plan to drive them with a HK 3490 mainly for music ,and for movies as a 2 channel only( using virtual surround of the HK).

Thanks!

jkg123

Polk

jkg123

But then again, you posted in a Polk Audio Forum...so...might be bias

cubdog

Klipsch. Just to play devils advocate.

cubdog

mikehpolk

Polks.

When i was shopping for my fronts, i compared already-broken in A7's to RF 82's, and I still preferred the A7's. I'm quite happy with them.

Though, both are great.

BUT, the Polks go a little lower. Essential if you will have no subwoofer, or want extra bass.

specd_out

I am not a fan of kilpsch mainly because their sound tends to be more bassy. I also tend to favor the sound of a dome tweeter over a horn.

Its all personal preference.

leroyjr1

For HT I'd take the Klipsch hands down. It's a much more efficient and dynamic speaker. For music they both are bright.

mantis

Klipsch for me in this system , Klispch will bring a much better theater experience with impact and sheer force of intensity. For music they bring a Live feel to the room. They can when properly setup , placed and calibrated are magical. POWER DETAIL AND EMOTION , it's what KLIPSCH is known for .

The Polks are nice to just IMO a step down.

B Run

Hk3490 will sound nice with Klipsch, but either way you'll be happy. For HT you won't beat Klipsch and both will do music nicely, just different.

nhhiep

the klipsch is better movies. For music, both are bright. Klipsch is a little brighter.

leroyjr1

nhhiep wrote: »

the klipsch is better movies. For music, both are bright. Klipsch is a little brighter.

The newer versions aren't as bright.

bd1886

I like the warmer Polk sound mostly for the richer "listening" music. Have Klipsch too for different listening and especially outdoor theater.....not for relaxing with but that is just me.

Dengnath

I bought the klipsch 82's over the a7's and don't regret it one bit

vadang

I love my polks, but if I found a set of 82s for cheap, I would get them and seriously think about re-doing my system. But I like the sound of the horns, some do not.

steveinaz

They are going to be pretty different from one another---can you audition them first?

Lietuvis91

I think the horn tweeter is the key difference here. People seem to either love it or hate it, so that is what you need to decide. I thought I would like it, but when i auditioned them I found them bright, yet not as detailed as polks, which kind of defeats the purpose of being bright in my mind. The one thing i find pretty impressive about polks is the width of the range and the detail you hear across that range, i feel they are better balanced. To me, even the monitor line is pretty impressive in that regard.

Then again, your room features could make a difference. Wood floors and big glass windows in my living room have made all my speakers sound brighter than they would otherwise, so something to consider.

tommyt21

I'm a horn tweeter hater, Klipsch is all they sell in my area. After many demonstrations and feeling like nails were being driven into my ears I searched the net and discovered Polk. I jumped blind into the Polk pool and have never regreted it since. My setup sounds 10X better than anything I have heard in the stores around here (Except pardigm studio 100, wow just beautiful) but thats not saying much. All they sell around here is no name brands and Klipsch..LOL

swizzchard

Hey Guys, just registered after researching the Klipsch and Polk forums, as well as objective <cough> reviews. I'm wondering the same speaker comparison and its pretty evident from peoples opinions that both the RTi-A7 and the Klipsch are bright.

I am looking at the Klipsch RF-62 II and the Polk RTi-A7. Looks, hands down the A7 win out. My plan is to power this with a Denon 2312 (or if I can get a deal 3312). Given the Klipsch are more efficient they should sound good with the receiver. I'm wondering can the RTi-A be ok driven by the Denon receiver? I will more than likely bi-amp the fronts since both receivers can allow bi-amping. I will eventually complete either set at a 5 channel system and just use my existing subwoofer for now.

I listen to music and want a good movie experience. I've listened to the RF-62 II powered by the 3312 and it did sound excellent. I tested with the Roots CD which is very much instrumental and bassy, along with Rage Against the Machine. However, they didn't have the A7 to do side by side. I feel to do a true comparison you have to do same song, same time, switch...

I listened to the same songs at a Fry's while on a business trip against the RF-82 in another media room, but the 82 sounded bad due to the room... overall the A7 sounded like they were struggling with some of the high-powered mid frequency and lows. But, it was only being powered by the denon 1912...

This thread seems to be mixed 50:50 A7:rf-62 which makes it a little more difficult...

Stilly74

I have heard the A7's and the 82's side by side. I think it's mostly personal preference. I liked the 7's sound better( to the point of getting a pair of Rti 12's) over the 82's. But was with a couple of friends and one liked the 82's better , other friend was undecided.
Follow your ears. Your the one in the end that will be enjoying them

tommyt21

I'll disagree with most of the more knowledgable posters here and say that the RF 82's I got to demo seemed like cheap POS, IMHO. Just do the rap test on the cab of the Klipsch they are like a hollow can, sounded like crap IMO super bright, narrow stage, bloated low end and no mid range. I'll take the A7's all day every day.:cheesygrin:

Disclaimer: I hate horn tweeters and have never found a klipsch model that I liked. I enjoy the laid back wider sound stage of my POLKS. Yes I am a Polk fanboy

ravaneli

your Polks are anything but laid back. I know because I have them too.

I got Klipsch Icon W series recently and I am beginning to think that I like horn tweeters. I don't understand where the claims for Klipsch brightness come from. Compared to my Polks, these are too dull if anything. If I will listen to one song for max effect, the A7 will make max effect. But for listening to music for hours while working, I prefer the soft Klipsch. Also, for old music the Klipsch creates the authentic feeling.

swizzchard

swizzchard wrote: »

I am looking at the Klipsch RF-62 II and the Polk RTi-A7. Looks, hands down the A7 win out. My plan is to power this with a Denon 2312 (or if I can get a deal 3312).

Will the Denon be enough for the RTi-A7? Music will be in 2 channel stereo or direct, bi-amped. Movies will be 5.1

B Run

It will work just don't crank it too high, especially with 5.1 driven. More power would really make them sound better and get the most out of them though.

PrazVT

@swizzchard

I ran my Rti A7s with a Denon 3311ci and as B Run mentioned, they'll play but just don't crank it too much in 5.1 mode. Also, don't bother with the bi-amp as all the channels are sharing a power supply.

Based on my experience - you have 3 choices:

1 - Get the Rti A7s playing via any of the receivers in the Denon 331x / Onkyo 70x/80x / Pio VSX-5x class receivers.

2 - Get MORE out of the Rti A7s via a receiver with good amps (ex. Pio SC series, or a NAD receiver for ex.)

3 - Get the MOST out of the Rti A7s via a good high current external power amp + a less expensive receiver w/ pre-outs. Max bass, max dynamics.

That's basically it in my view. I went the (expensive) route of trial and error so I've done all 3 options And I'd go with 2 or 3 if I had to do it again.

swizzchard

Sounds like it takes more to get these on an even playing field with the RF-62...

The 62 cost more in speaker, but the RTi-A7 require more components to make them sound good.

tommyt21

swizzchard wrote: »

Sounds like it takes more to get these on an even playing field with the RF-62...

The 62 cost more in speaker, but the RTi-A7 require more components to make them sound good.

I'll stand by what I said earlier, I have heard a pair of rf-82's running on a onkyo tx-809 at 135wtts/channel and feel they dont hold a candle to my A7's running on my SC-35 140wtts/channel. This is all my opinion, but I just feel after spending alot of time with the A7's that they are very, very good speakers for there price point. In my honest opinion the Klipsch RF-82 is an inferior speaker to the Polk A7's.

PS. Before I get flamed, My opinion is not based on a good A/B testing running on the same equipment. However it is still my experince and opinion on these two speakers.:redface:

swizzchard

I respect that and your opinion, and thanks for the disclaimer. Price will be a huge factor as I can get polk new @ 50% MSRP, but bang for buck is HUGE.