First post, and it's a big one. I've done a lot of reading around here, and spent a good part of my life drooling over the Klipsch.com site.
First off, who am I, and what is the validity of my comments?
Ive been a long time HiFi/HT enthusiast. I dont call my self an audiophile, as I have a lot to learn. The moniker audiophile, IMHO, should reflect someone with a very distinguished ear, a clear understanding of audio theory, as well as a vast vocabulary of auditioned speakers. I wouldnt say I am green to HiFi, as Ive been listening to music all of my life (All of 25 years) and Ive spent a majority of my money, spare time, and effort seeking Audio Nirvana. So I would say, Im an Audio Enthusiast, seeking sonic enlightenment.
Until, just recently, I had spent my life listening to Mass Market Speakers (Sony, Bose, Polk, Kenwood, Zenith, etc). Other than short trips to the local HiFi shop, Ive never listened to what many of you would consider a REAL speaker. Im sure you will agree though, there is no way to fully appreciate a speaker in the busy hustle of a HiFi shop. There is simply no replacement for bringing a speaker to your house, and spending some quality time alone with them, in your own environment, with your own music.
Enter Klipsch.
Ive been eyeing Klipsch for all of my life. The town I grew up in was little more than an hour from where it all started, Hope Ar. Around those parts, anyone who was serious about audio had Klipsch. I can remember 15 years ago when I saw my first set of Klipsch speakers. One of my school mates father had a set of Heresys. Even at that age, I knew what they were, the Klipsch reputation, and the almost cult following that ensued. I have told myself ever since I would one day own a pair when money permits.
Enter RF-5s.
I am truly a lucky man. A few days ago, I was able to acquire a pair of slightly used RF-5s. They replaced my Sony MF-515 Towers (Twtr, Mid, & 2x6.5 Woofers), and hooked up to my Sony STR-333ES Receiver. I started by placing the RF-5s next to the Sonys for some A/B comparisons. Not that I am skeptical, just that I am a realist. If I can place two speakers together, I can use my past as a reference for the future, and if in contrast there is no perceivable difference, Ill be the first one to call BS and move on to the next stop. So how does an audiophile grade speaker stand against the best mass-market Sony speaker you can throw at it?
No comparison, hands down the RF-5s were so superior, in every way. Imagine that? CD after CD, the Klipsch had a resolution, and clarity I had never heard before in any loudspeaker. Such amazing sensitivity, turning my volume to 9:00 (0 being at 7:00) the 5s chug along at a cool 90db. The RF-5s seemed to reproduce every nuance without effort. Low frequencies seem to flow smooth, deep, and with more than adequate punch without any speaker straining or blaring. At 90db in a rather large living room, the 5s seemed no more stressed than I was sinking into my favorite chair. The high-end, and clarity seemed to tickle my ears in a way Ive never experienced. I am truly blown away.
Call it a musical rebirth.
Here is where the jaw hits the ground. Ive been reading lots of theory lately, and figured What the hell, the wife is out so Ill rearrange the living room based off the theoretical optimum positioning of the speakers and listening position. Ive often heard people preach the importance of optimum speaker placement, and let me tell you this. If you can take any one thing from what I say, take this. Try arranging your living room around your speakers, and not your speakers around your living room. Other than the RF-5s themselves, I have to say this has had the single biggest impact on my system. Period. It opened up so much depth, body, and pin point imaging that I was left speechless in my bliss.
It was like hearing music for the very first time. There is an amazing 3d sound stage that I have never heard before. Sure, Ive heard soundstages before. Drummer on the left, sax in the left middle, bass flowing from the right, bla bla bla, whatever. It all pales to this. I literally have vocals that, according to my brain, are standing 10 feet in front of me, 5 off the floor, two foot left of center, and coming from a space in thin air. I can literally stair at a place on my wall, and its singing to me. If I closed my eyes and threw the remote, the singer would have to duck. Its that real, and personally its one of the biggest sonic miracles Ive experienced in the 25 years of my life. Again, my jaw was on the floor and I am in total disbelief in the sound before me. I simply could not believe it. It is amazing.
Welcome to the next level I suppose. Klipsch, thank you for creating such an amazing speaker, and at a price the average citizen can afford. Now I just have to figure out where I can scrape up the money to get a matching center, sub, and surrounds (Eeek). There is such a tonal difference between the rest of my Sony speakers that watching Tv and Movies has somewhat edged towards an act of confusion. The tonal difference has all but destroyed any 5-channel imaging that was once there, even when levels are calibrated using a 75db reference test tone. Hmmm, maybe its time for a second job to feed my new Klipsch habit.
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Barista T. Bill
This message has been edited by Barista on 02-11-2002 at 04:16 PM
