Impressed with Klipsch!

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
edited August 2008 in Speakers
I stopped into my local Best Buy today to pick up a few camera items & I just happened to stroll over to the Magnolia Theater to check it out.

After tracking down a salesman...I had him put the Def Techs on first. They sounded pretty darn good but didn't really excite me. He then put on the Vienna Acoustics & they sounded incredible. We switched back & forth between the Def Tech's & the Viennas's & really there wasn't any contest. The Vienna's really stole the show.

Then he asked me if I ever listened to Klipsch, which I really haven't. He said they just got these in & were hooked up only yesterday http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/wf-35.aspx & if I wanted to give them a listen. I said sure because I really wasn't expecting too much & I had some time to kill.

Boy was I wrong!! I wasn't prepared for what I was hearing...Damn!! the whole room filled up with tremendous sound & Diana Krell never sounded more alive & as if she was in the room giving her concert. I'm telling you these Klipsch's delivered in a big way. We switched back & forth between them & the Viennas. In the end the Klipsch Icon WF-35's stole the show even from the Viennas. To my ears of course. I'm going to have to go back with more CD's & really give a serious listen.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2008
    400x400.aspx

    I know they're similar but looks more like a waveguide than your typical horn.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2008
    Wow, those have beautiful cabinets, for sure!

    I've not heard those new Klipsch speakers, so I can't comment on them specifically, but I have to say I've been content with my Klipsch RF-35 speakers the whole time I've had them. The only thing I don't so much like about them is the run of the mill black veneer. Looks like they've definitely addressed that.

    And, wow, those are very interesting looking 'horns'. I've never seen any waveguided drivers before, but I can definitely see where they get their name if they look like those.


    Oh, and this makes me wish our Best Buy had a Magnolia's. :(
    George Grand wrote: »
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2008
    Nice review and glad you enjoyed them. I listened to the lower-end old ones unimpressed but will have to give these a listen at my local Magnolia HIFI. Thanks!

    Klipsch really has made some changes to their new line-up with this pair of $20K P-39F!

    07.jpg
    Jake
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2008
    zingo wrote: »
    Nice review and glad you enjoyed them. I listened to the lower-end old ones unimpressed but will have to give these a listen at my local Magnolia HIFI. Thanks!

    Klipsch makes goods speakers on the higher end of things. The horn theme however requires the right electronics. In fact, I would venture to say that Klipsch is as picky with everything upstream as say, Totem.
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  • JDOGG
    JDOGG Posts: 433
    edited August 2008
    I love my RF-7's! You should go take a listen to the new RF-83's and see what you think.
    Panasonic VIERA 46" 1080p plasma
    Onkyo TX-SR805
    Klipsch RF-7(bi-amped)
    Klipsch RF-25
    Xbox 360 with HD DVD
    Playstation 3
    Cobalt Cable
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited August 2008
    I use a pair of Klipsch RF-25's for my two channel bedroom setup and they sound great. Klipsch got a bad rap for a while manufacturing lower end crap but they still make a lot of really nice sounding stuff
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • meirco11
    meirco11 Posts: 47
    edited August 2008
    i do know that the klipsh is a good speaker,but i will keeping my polk rti6.my polk rti a7 and mostly my amazing lsi9 forever and ever!!!!!!
    thankssssssssssssssss
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited August 2008
    I've found that Klipsch can sound pretty impressive at first, but typically it doesn't take long before they start getting annoying. Plus any comparable speakers I've ever compared them to usually has them whooped in mid-range clarity.

    Now to be fair I have heard a ton of Klipsch speakers, BUT not this particular model. So maybe they're on to something with this new design.

    I'm very interested to hear your thoughts after you get some more listening time. Especially since I'm familiar with your AAD's and find it hard to believe that any Klipsch could ever come close to holding a candle to those beauties.
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited August 2008
    cmy330go wrote: »
    I've found that Klipsch can sound pretty impressive at first, but typically it doesn't take long before they start getting annoying. Plus any comparable speakers I've ever compared them to usually has them whooped in mid-range clarity.

    Now to be fair I have heard a ton of Klipsch speakers, BUT not this particular model. So maybe they're on to something with this new design.

    I'm very interested to hear your thoughts after you get some more listening time. Especially since I'm familiar with your AAD's and find it hard to believe that any Klipsch could ever come close to holding a candle to those beauties.

    I hear ya!! I've heard plenty of other speakers since having the AAD 2001's & none of them really teased me enough to consider giving them up. But for some reason these Klipsch Icon WF-35's really grabed my attention. Definetely more listening is warranted. Was it a fluke or is this new design totally different from there previous lines. Stay tuned.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited August 2008
    Klipsch + Tubes = good sound.

    Klipsch + MOST SS gear = Ear bleeding.:p
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
    +1 --Klipsch with tubes.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,208
    edited August 2008
    Years ago I Installed Klipsch. now there back. Funny I haven't Installed hardly any. A few 2 channel and multiroom /outdoor stuff but no theaters...
    Wierd 2 as Klipsch for theater is amazing. Some of my very best sounding theaters in years past have been Klipsch. They make good stuff.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2008
    I know a guy who has the big Klipsch THX system in his home theater. It's the next best thing to an iMax sound system.
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  • fossy
    fossy Posts: 1,378
    edited August 2008
    my first experience with higher end sound involved klipsch-- I was to young/blind to know what I was really listening to---- I remember the speakers being so big & sounding so deep --- I was told not to touch anything --- They have been making the big klipsch for how many years now ??? They do have a good thing goin on
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited August 2008
    I like klipsch speakers especially the older ones the belles. But I will have to take a listen to these new ones.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited August 2008
    Something I always wondered. Does the efficiency of klipsch improve the dynamics that is so impressive with home theatre(question mark)...I hate these bilingual keyboards. I don`t know how to turn the french off, ergo I cannot get a question mark.

    Thanks,
    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited August 2008
    Midnite Mick wrote: »
    Something I always wondered. Does the efficiency of klipsch improve the dynamics that is so impressive with home theater
    Mike

    yes it does
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    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited August 2008
    In my opinion yes it dose but it depends an your amp as well in the case of klipsch.
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
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  • fossy
    fossy Posts: 1,378
    edited August 2008
    rookie question ---- what makes a speaker "more efficient" than another -- is it the quality of components that make up the speaker ???
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited August 2008
    I imagine it would have something to do with the motor in the driver.....however, others would be able to answer this better than I.

    Question I have is how come pro drivers ie. efficient drivers seem to have a smaller surround. I would have thought the opposite would be true.

    thanks,
    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
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    Usher CP 6311

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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited August 2008
    Well the horn drivers actually dont use a voice coil and they are very very efficient in crating sound. belle's are 1 watt for 124db of sound. I might be off a few db's but they are very efficient
    HT setup
    Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ80U
    Denon DBP-1610
    Monster HTS 1650
    Carver A400X :cool:
    MIT Exp 3 Speaker Wire
    Kef 104/2
    URC MX-780 Remote
    Sonos Play 1

    Living Room
    63 inch Samsung PN63C800YF
    Polk Surroundbar 3000
    Samsung BD-C7900
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited August 2008
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    Well the horn drivers actually dont use a voice coil and they are very very efficient in crating sound. belle's are 1 watt for 124db of sound. I might be off a few db's but they are very efficient

    Klipsch Belle = 103dB @ 1watt/1meter

    http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/belle-klipsch.aspx
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2008
    bigaudiofanatic wrote: »
    Well the horn drivers actually dont use a voice coil and they are very very efficient in crating sound. belle's are 1 watt for 124db of sound. I might be off a few db's but they are very efficient
    That's funny, because I have a pair of horns 8' from me that do use voice coils. :confused:
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2008
    Face wrote: »
    That's funny, because I have a pair of horns 8' from me that do use voice coils. :confused:
    Me thinks he has his horn's and passive radiators mixed up.:D
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited August 2008
    I have two waveguides in my room . . . both with voice coils. Unless we're talking about planars, aren't voice coils pretty much a must?
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    aren't voice coils pretty much a must?
    Yes.The horn is just an extension(waveguide) for the driver to control its dispersion,it needs to be driven by somthing.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • mcs2000si
    mcs2000si Posts: 57
    edited August 2008
    I actually ran into the Klipsh Icon series at Magnolia as well. Sounded really nice. Just picked up RTi10's for fronts and think that they are in the same range as the Icon's. I must admit that the Icon's look amazing in person but i got my RTi10's for 419 out the door and the Icons would be 1500 for the pair. great speakers for those with the money. Klipsh speakers seem to be a little bright and over powering with music (well at least the reference series). anyway thats my two cents.
    Samsung 58" 650 Plasma
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2008
    Maybe my problem with past Klipsch experiences has been SS. The last pair I demoed wasn't impressive to me at all, but I was being driven by an HK receiver. I guess I may not have given them a fair chance...
    Jake
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