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
I would like to afford a tube source, as soon as I can, but school, etc., steers me away for a while. I have been looking at some tube cd players here (Agon), because I saw what a tube pre did for my freind's Klipschorns. It was like magic from top to bottom, with his MC 2200.
I have learned to understand these speakers better, as I listen to them more, and yes, they sound really, really nice. I am happy with them. I am glad some one finally put in a good word for these particular speakers.
Hello Greggie , and anyone eles looking into the klipsch rf-7s. Go to vacuumtube.com, I beleive issue # 19 ,[check with them]has a reveiw of the rf-7s driven by a David Berning tube micro amp.The reveiwer found a match made in heaven...out doing the s.e.t.amps he had on hand with the rf-7s, especially in the lower octives...
hi stiltskin. I just looked st the reviews at the klipsch
site under RF 7. I saw a review (issue #19) from that magazine. I don't know if they are the same, but it is good to hear that.
I just love the "alive" sound that comes from these speakers. I think I can live with these particular speakers
(none being perfect). There is a certain amount of enjoyment that I get from horns. My friend has a pair of Khorns, that also are nice, yet much different sounding.
I want to get something with tube sound and run it thru these, because of what tubes can sound like thru horns. Thanks for the info
I listened to many, many speakers before I chose the RF-7's.
After listening to so many, I knew when I first heard the RF-7's that it was for me! It's what I've been looking for all these years in sound, quality, clarity, 3D imaging, and WOW, right out at you like LIVE STAGE! What an impact, what a thrill! I listened to the Joseph Audio RM-25's and it wasn't for me. It lacked somewhat on the higher sounds than the RF-7, and just didn't have the impact for me as did the RF-7. The RF-7's almost feels like you are right there, LIVE hearing it. It's great. I love the horns! No, it isn't for everyone but that's ok..... we are all different and we won't all like the same things! :)
It's personal choice that makes you happy and that's all that counts. Happy RF-7ing!!!! I LOVE THEM. I have Four of them now.
While I have no experience with the newer Klipssch Horns, I have sold/owned/dealtwith the older stuff in the past. Last Klipsch's I owned was the SB1's/2's, driven by tube gear. Let me first say that I like what Horns can do in terms of pressence and dynamics onthewhole. For dirt cheep entry level speakers, these things sounded freaking fantastic on my tube gear!!! I used them on both a Scott 72b(?) and a Jolida 501 integrated. The sound was really too good for the money!...seriously! And before that, I'd sold/tore down my expensive system, including Sonus Electa Amators, Threshold SS amp, Pass Labs pre, etc!
The Klipsch's I was used to selling, before I picked up a couple pair of the SB series stuff being "disco'd" at a local chain store(Still available at Best Buy), were the older KLF series stuff, and next higher line up(not ref series with gold drives), the better one's. While I can't say I liked the KLF's so much, as they were a bit too warm and plain sounding(not harsh or bad though), I just found them a bit lacking in that "something special sound".
Anyway, I've always admired the benefits(as far as passive speakers go) of Horns, when executed proplery(note:Avantgarde horns, which are way refined, but beamy). Still, most have left me lacking for enthusiasm.
when I came across the SB's at a chain store, hooked to a receiver set up, I thought to myself, "I bet these would sound way better on tubes!" I was right. They sounded way too good...especially the SB1's!
While I didn't get to try the promising sounding SF3's, I thought these speakers were a great buy for a budget try. They simply worked marvelously on tubes.
I think some of the higher end and vintage line Klipsch stuff still would excell much better in terms of Dynamics at the very least. I'm sure the cheep drives have their limitations on the SB stuff you can pick up at "Best buy". But, I wouldn't mind hearing the above mentioned speakers.
Think I'll go check em out.
I'm in the above camp a bit, in that I've relaxed my stringent requirements a bit over the years, and like anything that's cheap yet sounds great!...basically overachieving. I too with audiohpile spekeakers would have more pressence, impact, and involvment for the likes of HT and rock and such. These are area's I've always thought traditional monitors could improve for home use. Yet, you're listening close up anyway, so it sometimes works ok, using high end that is.
I'd like to see more high end horn options, indeed.
Otherwise, my next project is to pick up some old SF electa amators/minima amators and try to pop in an electronic crossover, making em active! That might sound great. We'll see.