The Disaster.

[Shahab]

Hello everyone,

I finally decided to upgrade my audio set up and after much research decided on Klipsch. Ideally of course I want the K-horns but that'll wait till I discover an oil well in my lawn. So after much research I decided on RB 81s for front, similar centre, Quintet or RB 10/51 for surround and a sub woofer. For receiver I was convinced on Harman Kardon due to the loyal service that my HK AVR70 has given for ages without a single hickup.

So while on a visit from Islamabad where I am based to shoot a commercial, the gentleman in Karachi, Pakistan tries to talk me into the fact that HK no longer makes good receivers and I should try the Marantz 6003 or and Onkyo. While waiting for him to get me prices of HK AVR3600 or the AVR7550HD I went ahead to check out the RB81s since I hadn't heard Klipsch before. And...

What a disappointment! What a disappointment! I had spent hours doing homework and had decided on them but I couldn't believe how disappointing the sound was. Here is what happened:

1. They plugged them with a Marantz 6003 and a JVC BD player.

2. Played Eagles Hell Freezes Over.

I was expecting exceptional vocals. Full marks on that albeit a little too harsh on the ears. But with all due respect, most computer speakers have more bass. The size and weight of those speakers, I was waiting for the room to shake but boy I thought something was wrong with the drivers or they weren't even playing and the only sound was from the tweeters.

Anyway, they plug in an Onkyo 875 and change the bluray to some Celine Dion (can't stand her). Again, the vocals were out of this world and again a little painful on the ears but no bass nothing whatsoever!

Apologies to fans of Klipsch here but back in my hometown Peshawar, I got my late father's speakers, a pair of Sony from the 70's (with wooden arches like grills) and a pair of Technics from the 80's. I won't count the Sony on the higher notes but bass wise, the RB-81s sound like the speakers on my MacBook Pro compared to those speakers. And here is the price for the Klipsch pair... around 900 US Dollars!

Still thinking something was wrong, I plug in my MacBook Pro through a TosLink and play Pink Floyd PULSE Live (.flac). This time around they add a Klipsch Sub-12 to the equation. That monster shakes the place but music wise, it was rumbling. Now the guy says why don't you save on the fronts by getting RB61s and get the Sub-12 with it. For the love of the clarity of vocals of Amazing Grace by Judy Collins, I gave it a thought till I asked them to unplug the sub. For close to 550 US Dollars, Klipsch, the 61s are as good as...

At this point I would like to share some history with you all.

I started listening through headphones when I was two years old. While in diapers I knew how to turn on the Tascam deck, play, rewind etc. my mother says.

Recently, thanks to the fact that there's a production house as one of our group companies, I have been listening to uncompressed music on Genelec Monitors whenever I can so to some extent, I know by heart the instruments played in PULSE Live and some of the other songs I tried on those speakers. I am by no means ANY expert AT ALL. NO! and NO I don't know all that much just sharing what I experienced. Being in advertising I get to spend time in a lot of studios with Dynaudio and other nice monitors but of course I don't expect the same sound at home.

So I am back to square one. A friend has gone to Dubai for a meeting and I have asked him to check out the Harman Kardon AVR3600 and the 7550HD. I have had the AVR70 for ages now and after listening to the Marantz and the Onkyo I have started to love the old 70 even more. If only it had HDMI and an optical input!

At the risk of being accused of blasphemy, I would add that the Bose Accoustimass 3 that I got for around 200 Dollars used, sounds better. If the satellites sound tinny, they don't weigh as much and are not as big as much as the RB-81s that sadly sound tinnier.

Any guidance or tips would be helpful. This has turned out a little harsh I believe but after reading so much about the Klipsch name, I am very disappointed. I had decided on the RB81s due to the fact that I will be placing all this in my bedroom so towers would be too space consuming. I still love the clarity but for that price? Come on Klipsch, help me out!

Stay happy!

Shahab.

[Rivernuggets]

Welcome to the Forum Shahab.

Sorry to hear about the RB-81s that did not deliver what you anticipated. You described the bass so awful, I started to think if the the binding posts in back were properly connected. The two red binding posts should be connected by a metal clip; same with the black pair. If they are not, it's possible you were hearing only the tweeters. Just a thought...they were probably hooked up right.

If you want to stay with the Reference line, one bookshelf speaker to look for would be the RB-75's. They were made to have a similar sound to the RF-7's (amazing floorstanding pair). The RB-75's are discontinued though - don't know how the used market is for you there.

I own a pair of 81s and enjoy them very much with an NAD 705 stereo receiver. Bass is adequate. My only complaint would be a small midrange gap.

You mentioned trying to find a good AV receiver. I've been using a Harman Kardon AVR525 since 2002. It lacks the punch and headroom of a higher powered amp, but it's given me no problems and has warmth to its sound. Too old for HDMI, but it does have multiple optical and coaxial inputs. I'd love to upgrade but I keep buying speakers [] .

Good luck in your bookshelf speaker search!

[wuzzzer]

Welcome to the forums.

Lesson #1 - finding the 'Enter' key.

[]

[BE36]

Since purchasing an apple the only issue I have is when I post to hear or E-Bay the enter/return key produces a return when I type in but it gets eliminated after I push the post button. Any Apple owners who know how solve this issue please chime in.

[wuzzzer]

If you're using Safari as your internet browser download Firefox and see if that helps.

[Thaddeus Smith]

If you're using Safari as your internet browser download Firefox and see if that helps.

this is what i ended up doing to fix it on my mac. i also had an issue with safari and ebay, whereby i would have to click "back" twice in order to exit out of item listings. not really a fan of firefox, but it keeps me from having to manually insert html code each time i want to post more than a few sentences here.

[Shahab]

hey Rivernuggets!

Thanks for the reply. I did not check if the binding posts were connected with a clip. Do these clips come in the box with the speakers? I have decided to give the RF82s and the RF63s a go this time I go for a shoot and will definitely check for the binding posts.

As for the receiver I am confused about whether to buy the Harman Kardon 7550HD or buy a cheaper one to use as a switcher/pre-amp and get one of them Rotel Class D amps. The Rotel pre is also an option but it lacks room calibration etc.

The used market here needs time and when you make commercials, that's one thing you don't have. I recently found out that some guy in another city sold off an Anthem D2V for US$2000 because he upgraded to something higher. The benefits of owning factories I believe.

I hope the RF82 sounds good. I plan to use them alone for music and in an HT set up with a SUB-12 and RC-62 Centre. The sub and centre I plan to buy in second stage. The 82s are going to cost me US$1100 *ouch*

I'll post the update when I check them out.

Stay happy!

[Shahab]

Second time in a row!

I press the Return key and when I post it doesn't exist. Must be Safari!

[jacksonbart]

might be easier to start shopping for a used oil rig.

[Montigue231]

when I hit an oil gusher in my back yard it wont be khorns...it will be zebra skin all the way around[]

[Mr. RF62]

when I hit an oil gusher in my back yard it wont be khorns...it will be zebra skin all the way around

???Why do you want to look like a zebra ???

[Montigue231]

thres just something about merlot zebra skin ... when i finally dont have budget restraints holding me back..every room will have zebra skin..lol

[edwinr]

Your post is hard to read shahab. But the general thrust of it is that you were disappointed hearing the RB-81(?)

Your comments were a little surprising - particullarly relating to the perceived lack of bass weight. The RB-81 can punch out some serious low frequencies. I would have to question the dealer's setup. The RB-81 should sound very good with the surround sound receivers you listened with, although they will sound much better with a dedicated integrated or pre power combo. I am wondering whether the dealer had some of the receiver settings dialed in wrong. The problem with auditioning speakers with many receivers is that there are so many surround sound settings, and it is easy to forget to turn them off when auditioning a stereo pair of speakers.

So this is something to consider. It would be a real shame if you didn't buy RB-81's just because of a substandard audition.

There are thousands of very happy owners RB-81 owners out there. Since you had orginally set your mind on these speakers, I suggest you give them another chance...

[falcon20x]

This time around they add a Klipsch Sub-12 to the equation. That monster shakes the place but music wise, it was rumbling. .

I bet the problem is not the speakers but the way the receiver was set up.

If the internal X-over was set to small, in order to send the bass to the sub, instead of large that would explain why you had no bass at all until they added the sub.

, I plug in my MacBook Pro through a TosLink and play Pink Floyd PULSE Live (.flac). .

The best speaker in the world will sound as good as the source you are feeding it and the acoustic around it ! Not much I can say there.

So overall if I understand correctly you are disappointed because the RB 81 bookshelves speakers did not sound as good as the more expensive 100 Lbs, 5 feet tall tower?
Sounds like you have set your hopes to unrealistic level

I apologize in advance but the big speaker sound effect in a small box is bose claim of fame not klipsch.

How can so many of us get it wrong?

Being in advertising you should know better.