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Klipsch Unveils New Flagship Reference Premiere Series INDIANAPOLIS (September 9, 2004) At CEDIA EXPO 2004, Klipsch Audio Technologies will introduce the Reference Premiere Series, an elite new line up of specialty market loudspeakers that the companys brand manager calls the pinnacle of modern day horn-loaded technology and design. Slated to ship in the spring of 2005, the luxurious and sophisticated Reference Premiere Series consists of a floorstander, center channel, surround speaker and subwoofer. The Premiere floorstander and center channel are three-way designs that utilize a .75-inch titanium dome, Tractrix® Horn-loaded supertweeter coupled with a unique Tractrix Horn-loaded 4-inch midrange that together provide unparalleled dynamics and clarity. The woofers and midrange drivers on these models incorporate a Nomex honeycomb core sandwiched between two fiberglass layers for a cone that is incredibly light and rigid with ultra-low distortion and quick low-end response. Coupled with cast frames and powerful motor structures, these drivers are able to deliver astonishing realism. The two-way surround speaker features dual 1-inch titanium-dome compression drivers with high-output ceramic motors mated to square 90 degree by 60 degree Tractrix Horns in a proprietary Wide Dispersion Surround Technology array. The speakers dual 6.5-inch fiberglass/Nomex woofers with cast frames and massive motor structures deliver the same quick low-end response as the floorstander and center channel. The surround also features dual keyholes with threaded inserts for multiple mounting options. Making an ultra-performance statement, the subwoofer offers a unique digital control interface with DSP room correction for unparalleled in-room performance. It delivers extreme impact and quick low-end response due to its 15-inch cast-frame, fiberglass/Nomex rear-firing active woofer with a massive motor structure and high-excursion surround. An 18-inch fiberglass/Nomex front-firing passive radiator gives this loudspeaker its controlled deep output. The subwoofers 850-watt digital hybrid amp offers excellent control and 2400-watt dynamic peak capability. Each Reference Premiere speaker features furniture-grade real-wood veneer elliptical enclosures with a premium fit and finish. This elegant design, in conjunction with extensive internal bracing, results in a more rigid and structurally sound enclosure. Other professional grade materials include premium 4th-order networks, custom internal wiring and magnetically attached low-diffraction grilles. Steady growth of the Klipsch brand over the past five years has proven to more and more people that horn-loaded loudspeakers just sound better, said Jim Garrett, Reference Series brand manager. Now that the Klipsch name is so much more well known and trusted on a broader scale, we believe the market is ready to see Klipschs more esoteric side. When the Reference Premiere Series launches in 2005, the recommended 5.1 system, consisting of two floorstanders, a center channel, two surround speakers and a subwoofer, will have a target U.S. MSRP of $14,500.

I just saw in the news section of the website that Klipsch is going to be releasing the Reference Premiere series of speakers next year. They list them as being 3 way speakers, with a .75 inch horn loaded tweeter, a 4 inch horn midrange, but they don't mention the size of the woofers. Does anyone know about them? They look pretty awesome, but at a msrp of $14,500 for the system, they had better look and sound awesome. G-

I see that the reserve price of $200 was met. Somebody may get a good deal on it, but there is still 4 days to go. BTW the Item # is 3040340325. G-

They didn't look Cherry to me. They appeared to be black satin. G-

You can get a copy of any review that Stereo Review has performed for $5, just check the following link. You need to ask for the Klipsch Forte review from July 1986. http://www.roger-russell.com/magrevsr2.htm#sr1986 G-

I just listened to the RF-35's, the RF-5's, and in another room, the RF-7's. It could have had something to do with the placement, but the RF-35's seemed boomy. The woofers didn't match well with the tweeter, and overpowered it. The RF-5's were very smoooooooth, and were the best sounding speakers that we heard that day. I wish that we could have compared the RF-5's directly to the RF-7's, but they were in a different room, with a different amp, and were tested with different music. The RF-7's sounded good, but they didn't blow us away like I thought that they would. For my money, the RF-5's were the clear winner. The RF-7s probably would go much louder and deeper, but I've got a good subwoofer and like a smooth midrange, and the RF-5's delivered that.

I bought an earthquake supernova-15 off of ebay a couple of months ago, and it really goes low. I looked at Velodyne and SVS as well, and was not sure if I would be satisfied with the earthquake. I am glad that I bought it, it is really loud, and goes really, really deep, but it is not boomy and has a controlled musical nature. I wouldn't trade it for anything close to it's price range, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. G-

I listened to them this past weekend with my girlfriend, and we thought that they sounded very good. But.... We both agreed that the RF-5's sounded better. The RF-7's were in a different room, so we couldn't do a direct comparison to those. The RB-35's were in another room as well, so we couldn't directly compare those, but we both liked the RB-35's nearly as much as the RB-75's, and they were half the price. How could the price double by just having a different tweeter, and a little larger cabinet, to accomodate the tweeter? It is so tough to compare speakers when they are not in the same room. Especially when listening to different amps and music. Last week we listened to some speakers, we thought that the old RB-5's sounded better than the RB-35's which replaced them, but this week my girlfriend liked the rb-35's. Go figure.

Wow, you are going to do alot. I'll have to check flights to Indy tomorrow. Thanks, Gary

I was seriously debating making this trip, but to fly to Ind. for a couple of hours at the Klipsch headquarters just does not seem worth it. I think that you should dump the NCAA and mall stuff and have a full day dedicated to interesting klipsch stuff. If anyone wanted to visit Indy, then they could do that on Friday or Sunday. Dream list of Klipsch activities: 1) Listen to all of the Heritage speakers that we hear so much about. I would love to listen to a Khorn and see what I am missing. 2) Listen to the new line of Reference speakers, and compare and contrast the different speakers with several different music genre's. 3) Listen to some heritage and reference speakers with different amplification sources to see the difference. Since most of the readers of this forum can't afford to buy a dozen different amps to see if they can in fact hear a difference, it would be good to have a quick demonstration. 4) I have seen posts by Trey discussing how the computer programs that they use to model crossovers. It would be nice to see a demonstration, and listen to a speaker with different crossover points. He also discussed how many months it took to design and build a new speaker. It would be nice to see the different steps, and listen to a couple of the 'rough drafts', and compare it to the final product. 5) I would like to see how they test the speakers. 6) Maybe a one hour class on speaker theory. Possible topics two way vs. three way speakers. Horn loaded bass vs. direct radiating. Discussion on how they are able to get the reference speakers to sound so much better than the synergy line, when their spec's are similar. 7) A discussion on the state of the industry, and why they have chosen the strategic path they are following. I don't know if anyone else would be interested in these items, but it surely would make my day. It would be interesting to talk to some of the regulars to this forum, but to me, the main item of interest is the speakers. BTW, yes I am an engineer, so I am interested in the geeky aspects of this hobby. Gary

I have a friend who hunts black bears and mountain lions with a pack of hound dogs. The hound dogs probably weigh between 60-100 pounds, and can be vicious. The lions and bears run from the dogs because they are not used to anything chasing them, and if the dogs get too close they hopefully will climb a tree to avoid them. Hopefully you will never encounter a bear or cougar that decides to fight instead, because once they learn how easy it is to kill the dogs, then they become killing machines. From that point forward they will no longer run from a pack of dogs, they just kill them. A big mountain lion will weigh about 180 pounds and the black bears are probably 300-400 pounds, so figure out what a 600 pound cat could do.

The anticipation is killing me avman. How is the timbre match to the RS-7's? Gary

You will have your whole life to acquire and enjoy Khorns and any other stereo equipment you long for. You only have a short time to enjoy all of those pretty, young, and adventurous co-eds that are so abundant in school. Believe me, when you are 35, and locked away in some cubicle, you will be longing for the days when you could hang with some of those girls that you are going to be avoiding by entering the workforce. Wishing I was on Campus, Gary

Although the tweeter size is the same as used in the RF-7, if you look at the specifications, they actually use different tweeters. RB-75 - K-50.1-DB 1.75" (4.45cm) Titanium dome compression driver RF-7 - K-67-DV 1.75" (4.45cm) Titanium dome compression driver Which one is better? Do they sound the same? Why did they use a different driver? These are questions that only the Klipsch engineers can answer for now.

I was just kidding on the rear center, and am not planning on buying one. I think that is a good idea about building a custom center, and it has intrigued me, as there is a pair of K-53K midrange drivers on ebay, which is the same as in my forte's. There is also a K-77 tweeter. If I were confident on which woofer to use and how to build a crossover, then I would attempt it. Since most of the music is in the midrange, I think that the timbre' match would be the best that could be attained, short of having a full sized speaker as the center. As far as buying an academy, it frustrated me when they were either being sold outside of the auction, or having one sold almost immediately with a 'buy it now' price. I was also hoping to get one for $300 by waiting and sniping, but they never last until the auction ends. So, I finally resigned myself to the fact that I'm not one of the lucky ones to get a low price, and the going rate seems to be $500-$600. I thought that it was outrageous since they were only $400 when they were new. But that is supply and demand, and with the RC-7s retailing for $800, then that price doesn't seem so bad. Especially when you consider that the RC-7's are ported, which gives added distortion, and the Academy's are of a sealed design. G-