Since Klipsch is one of the most well-known speaker manufacturers, generations of music fans have come to associate it with a distinctive look and consistent usage of horn-loaded speakers. Klipsch is one of the best options for completing your home theater set-up. It’s also possible to pick from a variety of speakers from various series to get the one that’s right for you.
A new Klipsch product, the Reference Premiere line, has arrived in our listening room. Complete home theater systems with Klipsch Reference Premiere Series speakers are the finest. Floorstanding speakers, broad dispersion surrounds, a Dolby Atmos module and specially tuned subwoofers are all included in the Klipsch Reference Premiere 5.1 speaker system. Numerous adjustments have been made to the line-up in terms of sound, materials, and appearance.
Find out more about Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers here.
Klipsch Reference Premiere Series Speakers: Comparison
Find out about each of the speakers from Klipsch Reference Premiere lineup.
Product Differentiator
With this powerful Klipsch Reference Premiere, you’ll get a soundstage that is detailed, tonally balanced, and has a feeling of scale. However, Horn-loaded tweeters aren’t for everyone, and if you prefer deeper bass, you may want to look at a different subwoofer.
Aesthetics and Design
Having Klipsch speakers in the home is a design treat for me. Wood-like appearances may be achieved using walnut and ebony satin coatings, which are scratch-resistant. Also lovely, but a fingerprint magnet, is the new piano glass finish. Installing a tower is simplified by the use of cast aluminum feet, which eliminates the need for plinths and thereby reduces resonance and contact with the floor.
There are rubber feet attached to all three of the speakers in the center, bookshelf, and surround configurations. However, the magnetic black fabric grilles really cover the tweeters and drivers, so if you don’t like the design aesthetic, it’s not a problem. With copper trim rings surrounding the tweeters and woofers and ebony or walnut vinyl coatings, the MDF construction is exceedingly sturdy. Quality and workmanship seem to be on the rise as well.
These finishes are scratch resistant, and my loaner walnut set shows no dust or fingerprints. The praises have been many and pleasant whether I’ve shown them off to friends or in past review coverage.
Technical Sides
As we look closer, we’ll see ceramic-coated anodized aluminum woofer cones sandwiched between ceramic cones. Despite its great tensile strength, the woofer remains well-dampened.
Since of this, the woofer can vibrate as rapidly and far as possible without flexing, which is a big advantage because this also makes the speaker incredibly efficient.
Linear Travel Suspension is included into the Reference Premier’s titanium tweeter to reduce distortion and enhance clarity in the speaker’s high-frequency response.
As a result of the woofers’ increased bandwidth, the tweeters will be less vulnerable to distortion. As a result, the frequency response and distortion will be as broad as feasible. Klipsch’s new 9090 hybrid tractrix horn system, which surrounds the tweeter, is the company’s best-sounding 2-way horn system ever.
Tractrix ports are also responsible for a more realistic bass response and tone in Reference Premiere speakers. The addition of the tractrix port as a bass reflex tuning does what horns do to high frequencies.
In order to provide a deeper and broader sounding speaker, the port must be able to transmit low-frequency sounds without turbulence. The baffle design of the Reference Premiere is much smoother than the baffle design on previous Reference II speakers.
As a result of the horn-loaded titanium tweeters’ superb directivity and efficiency, you’d feel like you were in the studio where your music was made. Instruments are given their own area and the soundstage of a live performance is re-created in this recording.
Feel like you’re getting up up and personal with the instruments. Lastly, the Reference Premiere speakers should be able to provide clean, dramatic sound because to their low distortion components and efficiency. All genres of music should respond well to you.
Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers are capable of reproducing the sound quality of any song or film as if it had been recorded and released at the time of its release.
Detailed Features
Woofer Cone
Lighter Cerametallic allows for increased output and better efficiency than Injection Molded Graphite or IMG. It is also more stiff than IMG, resulting in less distortion at high levels. In addition, Klipsch’s Reference Premiere line utilizes Cerametallic woofer cones, while the Reference series uses injection molded graphite.
Voice Coil Former
Titanium voice coils can handle more power with less electrical damping than Kapton voice coils, resulting in a superior frequency response. As a result, titanium voice coils provide the reference premiere a distinct advantage over the reference series in frequency response.
Tweeter Diaphragm
When it comes to tweeter diaphragms, the Klipsch Reference Premiere series employs titanium, while the Reference series uses aluminum. Compared to aluminum, titanium is lighter, which reduces high-frequency distortion and increases efficiency.
More stiffness than aluminum guarantees that titanium is less prone to distortion and provides a more consistent high-frequency response. According to these findings, Reference Premier is superior than Reference in this regard.
Tweeter Housing
High-frequency distortion may be decreased thanks to the use of a vented housing in the Klipsch Reference Premiere series. The reference premiere series has an advantage over the reference series because of this. Checkout KEF R500 which has a better tweeter housing.
Horn Material
Silicon composite coating is used on the horns of the Klipsch Standard Premiere series while ABS plastic is used in the reference series. Silicon composite coating reduces high-frequency distortion by dampening horn resonance, which is not possible with ABS plastic horns.
Cabinet Bracing
The Klipsch reference premier series speakers use H bracing for their cabinet bracing. With the use of a milling brace, And H Bracing is able to use. In addition, the reference premiere uses a single piece of bracing rather of the multi-piece bracing utilized in the reference series.
One piece bracing enables the speakers to have a more robust and less-resonant cabinet construction. As a result, the cabinet bracing on the Klipsch Reference Premiere series is superior.
Overall Sound Performance
When it comes to Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers, horn-loaded tweeters are a significant selling factor, as are most other Klipsch products. This is where these speakers truly shine, capturing incredible levels of detail while not needing a massive lot of power to operate.
As a result of the use of identical tweeters and drivers, these speakers provide an amazing overall soundstage that is enhanced by their superb tonal balance. When effects are transferred from one speaker to another, there is a seamless fluidity and extraordinary cohesiveness.
The surrounds and subwoofer fill in the lower frequencies as they fluidly cross over with the floorstanders, allowing the music to flow around the back of the room.
Floorstanders provide amazing bass extension despite the fact that the subwoofer doesn’t go as deep as some of the competition. These floorstanding speakers look great with the center speaker, which provides crisp and focused conversation that is connected to the pictures on the screen.
The whizzing ball flies across the soundstage effortlessly, emitting distinct noises of destruction from different spots in the space. While the Klipsch was able to replicate all of these little acoustic characteristics with unfailing precision, it was also able to provide ample of dynamic range in the larger parts of the performance.
When a flying saucer slams into the ground, you get a clear feeling of its size. As it soars about the room before bursting and smashing into the ground, there’s a real sensation of weight and enormity. In addition to the subwoofer, the floorstanders have a lot of depth of their own, allowing you to feel the saucer smashing down in front of you.
In addition to delivering wide soundstages, the center speaker is also capable of clearly resolving conversation. Rear channels expand out in the surrounds as bullets bounce about and explode through the walls, filling the area behind and to the side. Incorporation of the sub assures that large machine-gun volleys will have a significant low-end impact.
Individual Speakers
Before we dive into whole system escapades, let’s spend a little time with each individual model.
RP-8000F Floorstanding Speakers
There’s just one thing I’d change about the 2018 Reference Premiere series’ flagship towers (that aren’t Atmos). The RF-7 III towers, which I tested before going on to this series, are much superior. Compared to the 8000F or 8060FA, the LFE of RF-7 IIIs is much better.
Aside from that, the RP-8000F is a beautiful and powerful floorstanders. At $600 apiece, I believe they’re a steal. If you’re looking for a subwoofer for your home theater in a box, look no further. When it comes to serious music listening, these headphones are a wonderful match for those who like vinyl or high-resolution digital downloads. For maximum dynamic range, should you use a subwoofer? You betcha! The RP-8000F towers become monsters when paired with a specialized bass-bomb.
RP-8000F towers with Dolby Atmos support were not reviewed, but the previous-generation models were excellent, and I can provide some advice to anyone contemplating the new models. You’ll enjoy a more accurate listening experience and save money if you can put in-ceiling or on-wall speakers for your Dolby Atmos system, I believe.
\The RP-8000F, on the other hand, have a 6.5″ up-firing woofer and outperform the RP-500SA Dolby Atmos elevation speakers in terms of performance. To put it another way: The 8060FAs are excellent speakers, but the price is a little expensive.
RP-6000F Floorstanding speaker
If you take a look at the speakers, you can undoubtedly anticipate them to be loud and powerful. Resolving strength and nuanced sound staging aren’t sacrificed in the process.
The Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F floorstanding speakers aren’t the heaviest in the line, but they still carry quite a punch, making them excellent for both music and home cinema. In addition, the RP-6000F can also be smooth, polished, and delicate when the song dictates, making it a genuine all-rounder.
To match a variety of decors, the RP-6000F is available in scratch-resistant Ebony or Walnut impression finishes. Cast aluminum feet, satin coated baffles, and laser-etched logos give the RP-6000F speakers a high-end look regardless of the finish you pick. Copper woofers are eye-catching, but if you want a more discrete design, just press on the magnetically attached speaker grilles.
RP-504C Center Channel
A broad soundstage fills in the gaps between Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers’ front channels with the RP-504C, Klipsch’s premier center channel. In terms of width, it’s broader than a lot of sound bars (at 31.13″) Because it’s small in comparison to other centers I’ve tried, it provides a lot of options for placement. Despite the fact that it isn’t a full-range speaker, it performed well when used in conjunction with large towers and a subwoofer.
My only gripe is with the price. Instead of four 5.25″ woofers, the RP-600C center channel has two 6.5″ drivers, which provides the same frequency response for $150 less. A quad-woofer doesn’t have the same elegance as the 600C, which lacks the same expansive soundstage and is higher (therefore less placement-flexible). Even so, that’s an excellent method to save money without losing quality.
RP-600M Bookshelf Speakers
Build a home theater system with your RP-600M bookshelf speakers. With these Klipsch goods, you’ll be able to get started right away.
Bookshelf RP-600M Speakers may be modest, but compared to other bookshelf speakers, they resemble mini-towers in appearance and sound. It’s possible to put up a whole surround system with two or more pairs of RP-600M speakers if you don’t have the room for floorstanders.
Subs will be needed to fill in the missing low-mid tones, but these bookshelf speakers are excellent. As stereo pairs, they rendered voices, guitars, and string instruments with accuracy and clarity.. Their ability to reproduce squealing tires, exploding bombs, and orchestral orchestrations is uncannily accurate.
The overall performance is balanced, and the sound performance exceeds my original expectations. For beginners, RP-600M can be said to be A great starting point. The price is not high, and it is easy to match, and the sound performance is excellent value for money. It can be said to be the best recommendation for audio beginners.
Klipsch RP-500M
My first impression was that these speakers were among the greatest I’ve ever heard. With the Cyrus ONE’s capacity to sense impedance and tune itself for best performance, driving these vehicles is a breeze.
It’s easy to fill my space with a rich, powerful picture thanks to the broad and open soundstage of the RP-500M speakers. In the club, on the field, or directly by the stage, instrument separation sounds natural and spontaneous.
Although the bass is somewhat rolled off at the very bottom end, its control and rich layers of texture still manage to strike forcefully from across the room.
The mids are, to use the nicest possible term, “somewhere in the neutral zone.” No harsh or weak midrange is present. Instead, there is a focused yet light and airy middle. Slightly leaning towards the voice while yet sounding natural.
Just enough glitter is added for good measure to round out the highs and make the overall sound even more enjoyable. For the first time, I’ve got a chance to evaluate a speaker of this quality. As far as I can tell, this is the best music I’ve heard at this price range. Their design ensures that they’ll fit in with most decorative items and won’t be an eyesore, but rather a discussion starter.
RP-500SA Dolby Atmos Speakers
For Dolby Atmos soundtracks, they offer a rich, lifelike sound, and they may be used as full surround speakers when mounted to the whole wall. If you have $500 to spare, they are a definite buy.
Many Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers are meant to accomplish one thing—reflect movie or TV program sound effects off the ceiling to mislead your ears into believing there are speakers above you—but the finest ones do a whole lot more than fulfill Dolby’s basic standards.
Playing full-range music with Atmos speakers isn’t exactly feared, but it highlights any weaknesses immediately. Klipsch’s Atmos-enabled speakers don’t have any issues playing music, as I discovered with the original Reference Premiere series speakers. Even if they’re set up for Atmos mode, you can really play music through them and it sounds like it’s coming from in-ceiling speakers.
If you’re looking for a set of speakers that are both versatile and high-quality, Klipsch RP-500SA Dolby Atmos Elevation / Surround Speakers are the best you can get right now. In addition, the $500 price tag is a little excessive. However, if you have the money, the RP-500SA is an excellent choice. For Dolby Atmos installation, adding speaker-top or wall-mounted speakers is highly recommended.
SPL-120 Subwoofers
The Klipsch SPL-120 Subwoofer is a 300W 12″ active subwoofer with a stylish design and powerful bass that fills the whole room. We put the SPL-120 through its paces in both single and dual configurations alongside a pair of 2018 Reference Premiere speakers and were generally impressed with its performance at quiet and reference volumes, but found it lacking when compared to Klipsch’s larger (and more expensive) 15″ offerings and the KEF KUBE 12B, which costs approximately $100 more than the SPL-120.
These speakers, which retail for $600, produce room-filling bass that enhances your favorite LFE-friendly music and movie soundtracks, and they are also aesthetically pleasing. In terms of price, performance, design, and size, the Klipsch SPL-120 is a compelling combination.
I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who already has Klipsch speakers and wants to match their existing setup, but it’s a good choice for anyone seeking for a strong but reasonably small 12″ subwoofer. For bass enthusiasts, however, who are on a search for subsonic low-frequency extension (LFE) and ultimate performance, you should go elsewhere.
R-115SW Subwoofer
Our two front speakers, the RP-280F, already produce a lot of bass, so it only makes sense to go with the “big” subwoofer from the Reference series (as there is no subwoofer in the Reference Premiere series). Yet.) to take over when the 280’s are unable to go any farther underground.
The R-115SW active subwoofer has a powerful 15-inch spun-copper Cerametallic woofer and a 400-watt amplifier in addition to a very strong magnet and a very powerful magnet.
Klipsch has made no concessions in the design of the R-115SW. The combination of a large driver area, lots of room for it to move about, and a strong amplifier creates the perfect circumstances for dry, dramatic, and very deep bass. Flowing noise at high volume levels and significant driver excursions are unlikely to be detected with the R-115SW’s bass reflex port, which, unlike most others, is not a tube but rather a big slot opening on the front.
Wrapping Up
With fascinating dynamics and premium sound quality, Klipsch’s new Reference Premiere series is a joy to listen to. The Reference Premiere are the culmination of more than 60 years of advanced Klipsch concept development and sound totally contemporary because to their current high-performance drivers and the extremely efficient Tractrix Horn.
Klipsch’s new Reference Premiere is suitable for both home theaters and more conventional living rooms when it comes to dynamic, gripping, and highly detailed movie sound. For decades, the Klipsch Reference Premiere has been a household name.
FAQ
We’ve nearly reached the end of the post, and now we’re going to offer you with this FAQ. This portion is yours to keep as a parting gift from us. We hope that this FAQ will assist you in making an educated choice.
Can I mix Klipsch Reference and Reference premiere?
We may also combine several Klipsch products to see what works best for you. You may use some of Klipsch’s Reference Premiere wireless Klipsch speakers to cut down on the amount of wires in your home theater setup.
Where are Klipsch Reference premiere made?
Along with the Heritage Series, many of the Klipsch Professional speakers seen in movie theaters, racing tracks, restaurants, and other locations are built in Hope, Arkansas. We can promptly provide items to companies that fit their demands since we build the speakers in Hope.
Is Klipsch Reference Premiere good?
Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers all include copper-toned cerametallic woofers and horn-loaded titanium tweeters. Because these speakers are so efficient, they can provide a huge sound even with low-powered receivers. In comparison to the competitors, they’re reasonably priced.
What does a reference speaker mean?
Most audiophiles’ houses, on the other hand, a “reference” loudspeaker is just the speaker they bought and have been happy with for a long time – which might include some outdated and faulty speakers.
Freelance tech journalist & author of soundboxlab.com …Read More
