Decide on RB 81 instead of RB 75 ordered today

[FENDEBENDER]

I have rf 7 and rc 7 and have decide to go with rb 81 instead of the traditional RB 75 for back speakers any thought on this decision.

There about the same size but look a little cleaner than the 75 as far as build and speaker cover. I'm hoping they will stay up with the front for music and Movies. I understand that there a little smoother which should be fine for music and and they both have the 8" cone so hopeful it will be a good match timber wise.

[Catharsis147]

Fender,

Search the forum, but Trey is quoted somewhere here saying that the RB-81 is the replacement for the RB-35, not the -75 (meaning the RB-75 is better than the RB-81). The RB-75 will match your front better. Also, the build for the -75 is better than the -81, no question (vynil versus wood veneer? no contest). I will try to find Trey's quote somewhere.

[Catharsis147]

Fender, actually it wasn't Trey, it was BobG (who also works with Klipsch. Here is the quote from the topic Rb-81 vs RB-75:

Seems there is quite a bit of confusion over the RB-75 and RB-81. Let me try to illuminate.

There is no replacement in the new Reference line for the RB-75. That speaker was our effort to provide RF-7-like performance in a bookshelf package. It's a great bookshelf speaker and has the 1.75" compression driver that only the RF-7 and RC-7 shared with it. Very expensive driver and definitely overkill in the bookshelf model where we had to attenuate it to avoid outrunning the woofer output. After all, it was able to (more than) keep up with two 10" woofers in the RF-7.

The RB-81 is the replacement for the RB-35; not for the RB-75. The RB-81 has a 1" compression driver that is an upgrade over the RB-35 driver. It is not competition for the RB-75 driver nor for the new 1.25" compression driver in RF-83, RF-63 and RC-64. That new driver is much like the RF-7 driver though its smaller size allows it superior HF extension and pushes the break-up distortion mode further beyond 20kHz.

If you want performance like the RB-75, you'll need to find RB-75's. RB-81 is a very nice speaker but it's no RB-75.

[FENDEBENDER]

Thanks

Yes i had saw that item and i believed the rb 75's to be somewhat better

than the rb -35'. but it has a 6" cone and the rb 81 has a 8" like the 75 so i felt like it was probably somewhere in between, but im willing to try the 81 if im not happy ill return it or purchase the 75 down the road. I have my setup in the main living area and everyone passes by this area and the 81` looks a lot better (WF) than the 75's with the grill sticking out like the others i have, which are not noticeable because there a long the front wall and where talking about surround speakers and not main so you can get by a little in that area., even when i run dvd audio disk there not always worked that hard except for a few exceptions.Steely dan aka Donald Fagen or some exceptions.I agree with your thought that the nob for performance would probably go to the 75's but looks to the 81 and sound not far behind. I should receive mine late next week and ill let everyone know my thoughts.

PS: I also heard that the rb 75 horn had been de tuned down on the rb 75 vs the other rc-7 2 x8" and rf7 2 x10" cones so it's output has been lowered a little to accommodate the one 8" cone so im taking that into consideration that the 81 will be getting close to it. Thanks for the info so far guys

[FENDEBENDER]

OOOps the rb 35 is 8" like the 81, but the 81 spec are closer to the 75 the 81 is 150 watts rms peak of 600 like the 75 the 35 is 125 watts rms plus the 81 is bigger and heavier than the 35. If i was talking main speakers of course that would be a different story but for surround it may work if not i'll be sure to give my findings.

.

[Catharsis147]

I agree Fender,

WAF will favor the -81, and for surrounds they should be fine, I was just being a bit nit-picky (the better timbre match is the-75, but that is in an ideal world where WAF does not exist). Please let me know how they sound when you get them! Did you order the Cherry or the Black? One other thing: I recently saw the RF-83's and they had VERY different binding posts (I think they were metal, heavy-duty ones), let me know what the posts look like on the RB-81. Another Klipsch purchase is always a plus in my mind..........

[FENDEBENDER]

My thoughts exactly on the WAF for the 81's. I agree the Nod goes to the 75 for overall performance but based on the spec the 81 is closer to the 75 than the 35 and from the

cost side it is 50 % more dollars for the 75's ( Got a pretty good deal on these considering they are the new version) but as i said ill be trying them out sometimes next week and if i decide latter on the 75's and can try these for the surrounds. Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

[Guest BobG]

Binding posts on the new Reference models vary, with the more expensive models getting more expensive binding posts. I believe there are 3 different binding post types.

[FENDEBENDER]

Hopefully i'll have some info by this time next week.

[Zen Traveler]

... I have my setup in the main living area and everyone passes by this area and the 81` looks a lot better (WF) than the 75's with the grill sticking out like the others i have, which are not noticeable because there a long the front wall and where talking about surround speakers and not main so you can get by a little in that area...

I don't think you could go wrong with the RB-81's but the RB-75's grill sits flush with the front of the speaker as the RB-81, not like the RF-7 or RC-7.[:^)]

[FENDEBENDER]

Very interesting, anyone else confirm this i just assume them to be the same, of course if it is true thats what i get

for assuming. []

Thanks

The 81 are on there way and should be in house by 5-23.

PS to go up from the 81 to 75 is about 50 % more $ thats also a WAF.

[]

[Bruinsrme]

The RB75's grill sits flush. It was part of the cosemetic changes we saw in the 5 series, RF15,25,35 and RB75.

[Catharsis147]

This is true, though I doubt it will make a difference what the grille looks like compared to your front end if you are using the RB-81's as surrounds. I have RB-75's for surrounds and front ends matched to a RC-7 and it looks fantastic.

[Zen Traveler]

I own 2 pairs of RB-75's. One set is used as mains in the Bedroom and the other are these that I use as rears in a 7.1 configuration (or 9.2 depending how you look at it [H]).

I am EXTREMELY happy with both, but I have to admit they are overkill in each situation. IMO, for rear surrounds the RB-81's would more than suffice. That being said I feel the RB-75's would keep their resale value more. Good luck on your decision. []

[FENDEBENDER]

Well im still lookin for a pair of black rb 75's.

[Catharsis147]

I agree with TDK,

I also use RB-75's as rears, though I do not feel they are overkill, only because I listen to quite a bit of music in DLPII Music mode. I think either way, the new RB-81's should serve you wonderfully, even if I am still pushing for the Rb-75's [] Please give us a report on their performance if (or when) they arrive!

[FENDEBENDER]

I have tracking number in hand due wednesday.

The one's i had in back were great speakers but they were

rated at 90 db so there was a great mis match and i'm hoping

these will close that gap.