Klipsch Reference Series RF-5

Klipsch has been making speakers for a good many years. Through the years, they have learned what works and what doesn’t. The RF-5 is a good example of what does work.

At first glance, the Klipsch RF-5 is an all black, unassuming tower speaker. Remove the grilles and you will see the striking gold driver cones. The black and gold combination makes you take notice and it’s then that you realize these are no ordinary speakers.

Standout Features

• Tractrix horn loaded titanium driver
• Dual Cerametallic woofers
• Magnetically attached grille

Features

One of the defining characteristics of Klipsch speakers over the years has been the use of a horn tweeter. Horn tweeters generally can play louder and are a little harsher than a conventional dome tweeter. With their Tractrix horn loaded titanium tweeter, Klipsch seems to have found a good balance. It’s not too harsh, not too bright, not too loud, but sounds just about right.

The dual 5.25 inch woofers handle the lower end duties. The drivers employ Klipsch’s Cerametallic technology. They are a mix of ceramic and metallic properties to provide a driver that is both lightweight and strong. The bass is enhanced by the use of a bass port on the rear side of the cabinet. This combination provides for tight, accurate bass response.

The grille on the Klipsch RF-5 is attached by a magnet. Rather than relying on the typical male/female interface which is prone to breaking and are sometimes a pain to get off, Klipsch uses a magnetic grille. This allows the user to remove the grilles with ease but also holds the grilles firmly in place.

The Klipsch RF-5 is rated to handle frequencies between 34-23,000 Hz. To get the best sound, you should use them with an amplifier rated between 100 and 400 watts RMS.

Summary of Reviews

Expert reviewers liked the RF-5s. The system proved sensitive and very easy to drive (giving lots of output for not a lot of power) and it offered a delightfully detailed, always alive sound. The speakers were able to reproduce detail usually only found on speakers costing much more.

Consumer reviews were also favorable. Whether purchased as a pair or in the surround set (RF-52) the sound was equally impressive. For many users, these speakers represented a huge upgrade in sound quality, many times from a well known speaker manufacturer. The speakers were well worth the cost and provide a truly cinematic experience right in the home.

Summary

Whether these are you first set of speakers or you are a seasoned audiophile the Klipsch RF-5s are sure to bring your home theater to the next level of realism. You will wonder how you ever survived without having cinema quality sound before.