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Review: Klipsch RF-7 Speaker

Category: Speakers

I like Patricia Barber, and use her recordings to test for
transparency. Def Leopard, and ACDC for the bass. I like the music to sound alive, with very good vocal presence, and not without transparency. I love bass, with good mid bass, along with good control and texture. These are still breaking in, but they were good after about an hour of playing. I had horns before this, and was waiting for the day when I could plunk down my money on these. I bought these from Good Guys, delivered, because of the lentgh of time in transit/risk, othrwise, just last month (25 days ago).
I have to have a horn, because I have listened to other speakers, and even though they can excel in certain areas, where horns may not, I feel I have to listen in to hear the sound, and with these, the music comes to you. You feel like you can reach out and touch individual instruments, almost.
The sound in comparison to my other set up, is different, but better in audiophile terms. Horns aren't for everybody, they can be bright, in your face, and sound off through certain frequencies. However, I seem to still have this teenage kid mentality, that can *easily* deal with it. These speakers can stand up to a Classe'product, and the Roksan Caspian cd excels with vocal presence, and transparency, considering the league the it is in. Together this set up, lands the singer, and instruments *right in my room*. The sound comes out of the speakers in a magical, very lively, and 3 dimensional/spatial quality that hardly any other speakers I have heard. The imaging of each individual instrument is so profound, that you feel that you can put your hand around it.


Associated gear
Classe CAP 100, Roksan Caspian cd, and a Luxman T 14 digital tuner.

Similar products
Other Klipsch, Infinity, and PSB. Also a pair of B&W 802 Naut.
greggie
exertfluffer
270 posts
 
Barryd, I have heard the RF7's! They are pretty descent, not world beatters throughout! My assesment is pretty right on. I've been doing this for a very long time, have heard most all of it out there, sold most of it, owned a lot of it, and tinkered with too much of it!
Personally, I think the older more expensive Klipsch line was better, when I sold it back in 95 at a local AV chain store. Can't remember the series above the KG5.5 and such though. What were they called?...cabinetes were beefier, build overall much stouter, and sound was less colored from my recollection. Anybody remember the series above the KG series?
radiob
30 posts
 
Goofy! It is obvious that you have never tried a 2a3 set 2-3 watt amp on you lascallas, the el84 is the worst sounding of all the tubes on the klipsch heritage line, and 104db per watt, any good 2a3 aet will put the lascallas up in your listening room, and your "HIGH END" stuff down in the basement. Its a shame that you have been missing out on a true pure PWK 2channel set up. It is nearly as good a it will get.
barryd-77b6
1 posts
 
Ole Mechans, had this to say:
>Sorry but trade in those RF7s for the real deal.

No Can DO!! These are GREAT speakers, Ahhh so nice.
Get this, there is a pair of 1977 Klipchorns for sale
for $1800.00 here in my area. I had the audio store
give me a demo of them on different amps. Wow, I must
say that Ayre V1 amp so SOUNDS SUPBERB!!
As for the Klipschorn better than the RF-7! Well, I can
here that it is louder in the way of just being there but
not as transparant and imaging as the RF-7! I'll take
the RF-7 any day! The back of the Klipshorns are utility ugly and seem like cheapy ply board. I wasn't impressed.
I think the RF-7's have a much smoother and pleasing sound that sounds much more accurate than that Klipschorn. I'll have to listen to the newest Klipschorn and see if it's any better or not. The Klipschorn sure looks like it would be easy and alot cheaper to build yourself!!! Not much to them inside as I would have thought. Barryd
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
I've heard the RF-7's at great length, with two different SET amps as well as the Quicksilver Horn Mono's. Nice speaker, but it cannot come close to the transparency and imaging of the older Klipsch. With a good 2A3 or 300B SET amp, the vintage La Scala's or Klipschorns will reproduce the recording studio with an accuracy that is hard to match, and one that makes the RF-7 sound wispy and highly colored. Of course, if they produce the sound that you like, then you've scored bigtime.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
You might check out the Wright Sound Mono 3.5's. If you look under the 'Wanted' section here, there are several being offered, and they are magical with the horns. A true bargain in the audio world.
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