kelvins Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Hello All, I`m new to this forum but have been lurking for a couple of days. You people seem to give solid advice to newbies such as myself. My system is: Philips 55pp9401 HD ready tv Sony V555es receiver Pioneer dv-444 dvd player Xbox gaming console Klipsch sf-2 mains Klipsch sc-1 center Klipsch ss .5 surrounds KLH 15 asw-200 sub To me mt system looks and sounds pretty doggone good. A friend of mine came over to watch a movie the other day and he said my system sounded okay,but the klipsch reference speakers would blow mine away. My question is how true is this statement? Do my synergies sound that bad compared to the reference series? Any input would be greatly appreciated,Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Well, I haven't heard the Klipsch Synergy Series, but according to what I have read around here, there is a big difference between the Klipsch Synergy Series and the Klipsch Reference Series. Just go to a Klipsch dealer/showroom and see if you can hear the Klipsch Reference Series for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen328 Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Overall that a very nice system. Better than mine by all means. The only flaw I see would be the sub, but still a great looking and sounding system. Both reference and synergy sound great to me, reference certainly have an edge though. Personally, if I had your system I would stay right were I am for now (except maybe that sub), and wait for the next klipsch product line or something else that will actually be a big improvement. Still antoher possiblility would be a trade in. Today I took a little trip to Tweeter to look at some SF-1s. I was talking to the salesman and discovered that if you bring back your speakers within one year of purchase, you can upgrade to the next model up for the price difference, with no additional charges! SO if I were to buy a pair of SF-2s now, a year later I could upgrade to RF-3s for the difference($200). I don't know were you bought your speakers or how long you have had them, but its probably owrth checking into. If you could get a deal like that it would deffinatly be worth it. Otherwise I would stay where you are and just worry about that sub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 Strange advice. Like all Klipsch products, the performance to value ratio with the Synergy Series is outstanding. For the money, it is excellent. However, your friend told you the truth. the Reference Series is a substantial increase in performance over Synergy. Start saving your money and upgrade ASAP:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted October 12, 2002 Share Posted October 12, 2002 there is no comparison between the Synergy models I have heard in the dealer's rooms and the Reference ones. Of course the Synergy models sound good. And so do the Reference speakers. All of the music is there with the S models, as it is with the R ones. But the R models seem to be able to provide the sound without effort. While the lower models work at producing the music, the Reference ones seem to be able to handle it all in stride. Bass is a bit better defined, but what I really noticed was that the treble, especially the cymbals seemed better. On lower cost speakers, the high end often gets mashed together into a hissing or sizzling sound we recognize it as cymbals, but that is not really what they sound like. There is also better separation of the notes with the Reference speakers I have heard. Twice as good? Hard to say, especially if it means something tangible, like a sub-woofer, which can make a very big difference. Let me say this though: buy the best speakers you can afford. Speakers are the only bargain in audio, its where you get the most bang for your buck. If you like the Klipsch sound, their Reference series is good enough to build a great system around. You can keep adding many improvements to the RB5s, for example, without growing too fancy for them. Sub-woofers, center and rears, better CD player, pre-amp and amps can all be added, if you like their sound, without changing the main speakers. The Reference series is just that a standard at which point other speakers can be compared. It is Klipsch state of the art line at the price point of the average American consumer. On these models everything is a little better. The larger horn makes a difference, the lower cross-over point makes a difference, the larger woofers make a difference, the greater weight makes a difference, the slightly greater sensitivity and higher power handling makes a difference too. Yet while all these differences do not add up to a walloping contrast between the two, they do add up to a better speaker with longer lasting appreciation. I could foresee a Synergy owner trading up to the Reference series, but I think that a Reference owner will only add more Reference speakers to his system. When Klipsch BBS members read of unhappy Synergy owner, they are likely to recommend trading up to a better series. But when they hear of an unhappy Reference series owner, they are more likely to recommend changing or tweaking something with the system, because it is unlikely to be the speakers that are at fault. Instead, the front electronics may not be as good as they should be (speakers often outshine the expensive gadgets at the front of the sonic chain), or the placement may not be as optimum as could be. This is not to say that Reference series is perfect; it is still one of the better sedan models of family home entertainment - it just can't compete with the esoteric race car models (some of the old ones Klipsch still produces). But the difference between the first room with Synergy and the second room with Reference models was incredible. On a scale of 1 to 10, with Stereophile recommended speakers being about an 8 or a 9, I would say that the difference was quite significant: a 5 or a 6 - easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 You should ask your friend to bring HIS Reference speakers to YOUR home for a demo with your equipment in your room. The room, and speaker placement, will make the most pronounced difference in the sound of speakers than any other variable. Never buy speakers just because someone else tells you that they sound good. Listen to them yourself and decide what you like. Remember that everyone has an opinion and although that opinion is right for them, it may not be right for you. I hope you enjoy your speakers. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Peel Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Keith's right! I went to the store to listen to both before I made my decision and I thought the Synergy sounded great, and then I heard the reference, WOW! They really sound amazing. Either way you go you will have a excellent speaker. Test out some of your favorite music and movies at the store and see which one you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 kelvins, Welcome to the Klipsch BB Having the Synergy SB3,SB2 and SC1 and also having the Reference RF-7's,RC-7,RF-5's and RB-5's(I also yes also tried the RB-3...not as impressed,limited by the mid-bass performance)I can tell you the Reference are in another class. First its clatiry,dynamic range and built.Then you will notice right away the finish quality,no more plain plasti cheap finish.Compared side by side reveals a more open sound,the Synergy as good as they may be are somewhat congested.The only fault I can find with the Reference line is the copper colored metal cones bring sone artificial ring to voices(compared to much more expensive Spendor FL10 and Dynaudio Contour 3.3). A few more faults could be also linked to the R series but they are minor considering the price,overall the R series are a great step up from the Synergy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Here's a thought. While the current Synergy line is good, I think the sound from the older KSF synergy series is quite better. It's much more similar to the sound of the Reference line. You might want to see if you could find some of them used. When I was living in army barracks, I had KSF8.5, KSF-C5, KSF-S5, and KSW-12. My buddy in another same shaped room had the SF-1, SC-1, SS-1, and KSW-12. I was using a Yamaha receiver and he was using a Denon. It was quite apparent that my setup was better for music and especially for HT. Even he reluctantly admitted it. He ended up returning all of his speakers except the sub in less than a week. I'm not trying to say the new synergy line is no good, they're great. It's just the fact that I think the sound quality stepped down with the new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 I have SF-1's, SF-2's, and an SC-1. I am very happy with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Colin said: "This is not to say that Reference series is perfect; it is still one of the better sedan models of family home entertainment - it just can't compete with the esoteric race car models (some of the old ones Klipsch still produces." Heritage bigotry at it's best. It surprises me that a prolific writer such as yourself , and with your level of experience -- would resort to this type of statement. I do not know what Reference models you heard at the dealer as you did not say. However, you should remember that $1400 separate the RF7's from the RF3's and RB5's, and there is $700 of separation between the RF5's and the RF7's -- and the only differences between those two models are the basket material for the woofers with the two extra inches, and the driver/horn combo. With the exception of the cabinet dimensions, exterior finishes, and the slightly different x-over points in the Scalas -- all three larger Heritage models are identical. Until recently, a pair of Scalas and a pair of RF7's were separated by only $600. Even with the price increase of this past year, I would say the only two reasons for the difference in prices between the RF7 and the larger Heritage is the labor involved in making the cabinets, and the additional crossover components needed to support the third driver. My point is that in order to make a fair comparison between the bigger Heritage models and Reference -- the comparison should be made with the RF7's. I believe the RF7's compete head on in many ways. They put out 75 to 80 percent of the macro-dynamic ability They put out 110 percent of the micro-dynamic ability They deliver a smoother frequency response (as opposed to peaky) They deliver a stable and wide image (as opposed to beamy) The upper treble is practically flawless (as opposed to "grating") They are easier to place which aids in proper integration with the listening room The cones in the RF7 are fabulous. I see no problem with letting the cones handle the fundamentals, and the horn handling the harmonics -- it works. It would be great to A/B your K-horns and Bottleheads with my RF7's and AE-25 DJH push-pull. I believe there would be suprises for the both of us -- but I certainly do not believe you would find the RF7's outclassed by the K-horns (especially if you are sticking with 3 wpc). It is not really fair for you to make the comment with only having a cursory experience with Reference (in a dealer showroom no less, the worst possible place). At any rate, I would hardly consider the RF7 a "sedan". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelvins Posted October 14, 2002 Author Share Posted October 14, 2002 Thanks guys for your replies. I`m currently shopping for a decent subwoofer but i`m on a pretty limited budget for the forseeable future. What could i get in the $400-$500 range that would perform well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Peel Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 As for the sub, I love my SVS, you can get a 20-39 PCi for $599, the 25-31 is a little cheaper, all the SVS subs will ROCK you hard! Might want to consider them, best bang for the buck HANDS DOWN! Well next to DIY I guess http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pci_20-39.htm http://www.svsubwoofers.com/subs_pci_25-31.htm Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulc35 Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 On 10/12/2002 at 8:33 AM, kelvins said: Hello All, I`m new to this forum but have been lurking for a couple of days. You people seem to give solid advice to newbies such as myself. My system is: Philips 55pp9401 HD ready tv Sony V555es receiver Pioneer dv-444 dvd player Xbox gaming console Klipsch sf-2 mains Klipsch sc-1 center Klipsch ss .5 surrounds KLH 15 asw-200 sub To me mt system looks and sounds pretty doggone good. A friend of mine came over to watch a movie the other day and he said my system sounded okay,but the klipsch reference speakers would blow mine away. My question is how true is this statement? Do my synergies sound that bad compared to the reference series? Any input would be greatly appreciated,Thanks. The Synergy series uses aluminum dome tweeters where as the Reference series uses titanium diaphragm compression drivers. Titanium being considered better by some. - Synergy uses injection modeled graphite (IMG) polymer woofers where as the RF line uses Klipsch's patented Cerametallic technology.Oct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warlockUtopia888 Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 On 10/12/2002 at 2:50 PM, Kain said: Well, I haven't heard the Klipsch Synergy Series, but according to what I have read around here, there is a big difference between the Klipsch Synergy Series and the Klipsch Reference Series. Just go to a Klipsch dealer/showroom and see if you can hear the Klipsch Reference Series for yourself. http://forums.klipsch.com/idealbb/images/smilies/1.gif On 10/12/2002 at 2:50 PM, Kain said: Well, I haven't heard the Klipsch Synergy Series, but according to what I have read around here, there is a big difference between the Klipsch Synergy Series and the Klipsch Reference Series. Just go to a Klipsch dealer/showroom and see if you can hear the Klipsch Reference Series for yourself. http://forums.klipsch.com/idealbb/images/smilies/1.gif well im no specialist in the klipsch models n specs etc but i owned a hk 5 x 40w ftc 8ohm receiver and klipsch synergy b3 bookshelf speakers with only a 6,5" and the tactrix horn tweeter and it played amazingly clean and loud as no other bookshelf speaker i had heard and the bass was off the hinches low n powerfull n controlled with about i think only 2 x 60 or 70 w ftc in stereo mode 8ohm,i think they was 6ohm but not sure. all my friends thought i had a 10 or 12 inch sub and some even checked around my living room for hidden subs lol.. then some years later after selling the complete stereo in need of money to my big regret and when investing in new i asked the locak klipsch dealer if they had synergy and how frickin impressed n satisfied i was wih the little b3 bookshelf speakers n hk amp all cost total under 650dollars or somewhere around there, he replied yeah they was so good they had to discontinue the series or models because they beat the reference big brother series in tests ! so there is my two cents.. later i bought hk 3490 and klipsch synergy rf 82 floorstanding speakers and was offcourse impressed n saisfied but for the bass and sound id still say synergy was just as good or even better when price is taken into conciderations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickson69 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 I can say the Reference are nice they're not as nice as the reference premier. I have not yet listened to the synergy line yet so I cannot comment on them. I really like Klipsch there looks, and sound are just so clean and clear and well Ellegant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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