Integration of lower midrange up to 20khz. A gentlemen before me mentioned that once you change crossover components the sound really opens up. While I don't doubt him, and I'm sure his speakers performance went up another level, I can stiil hear all the little squeaks from Diana Krall's chair, and her lips closing and opening just as I hear them on my Senheiser 600 Maxed Out Home Headroom amp. I still wish I had his soldering techniques and know how to perform the same changes he did.

Ultimate coherence across the band....that's all that MY ears wish for.

These might be the speakers that I keep for the rest of my life. They aproximate a real concert better than many, many speakers out there that have ridiculous prices. I'm not just talking about dynamics, or sheer impact, but also truth of timbre (which I value "HIGHLY"), and unbelievable clarity. They also image and soundstage like "champs", if you take the time to position them well. They need a fairly large room to be at their best. My room is 26x14x17 (l,w,h). The inside corner of the speaker is 56 inches away from the back wall while the outside corner is 57 3/4 inches away. The distance between the tweeters is 7 feet 7 inches, I found this to be the perfect blend between tonality and imaging. I sit 11 feet away from the plane of the speakers. At this point, using a laser pen to check for accuracy, I find the inside of the speakers form an imaginary plane towards me that is 24 inches away from my shoulders. DO NOT aim these gems directly at the listener or they will drive you, and all of your friends out of the room. These are unlike regular box speakers in that they don't have to be severely toed in to work their magic. I really hope this info helps other Klipsh owners in optimizing their sound. I listen to Duke, L.Armstrong, M.Davis, B.Goodman, E.Fitzgerld, Patti Page,the Count, B.B. King, J.L.Hooker, C.C.R., Zeppelin, Stones Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, string quartets, symphonic works from Bruno Walter, and Leonard Bernstein, Mexican music, you name it, I probably dig it. I've auditioned many high end speakers in my system, that is the only true way to determine if they are right for you. Tried the Audio Phisic Virgo's, WAY TOO finicky. Spendor SP 100's, I loved these but I couldn't get rid of a bad bass peak that I'm sure was caused by my room. Incidently, the Spendors produce the human voice better than anything I ever heard, even better than the quad 988's. But the Klipsh's are right there with them. Overall this speaker does too many things really , really well and in the long run I find these to be extremely smooth, engaging, and emotional. I just can't say enough about these. Good luck in your pursuit of music nirvana. It took me almost three years to write this review, I couldn't pry myself away from my listening chair. I woke up very early today, so I finally got a chance to sit and write. My system: Rega Planar 9 Sony SCD1 (Shunyata King Cobra pwr cord) BAT VK5i BAT VKP5 BAT VK60's (monos, don't need this much power, but you can tell the sound open up) Nordost SPM REF (cd to pre and pre to amp) Cardas Golden Cross (phono) Cardas Neut. Ref. (biwire speaker wire) PS Audio 300 (Lab cables and mini Labs for all components)

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Dozens of speakers, I don't have time to name them, the kids are awake. I must go listen now.

- dynamics - incredible transparency (when modified) - liveliness - almost unbeatable price/perf ratio (in the US, but not in France :-[)

Linearity and coherence can be perfected. Highs could be better (but not for this price). Best used in a large room.

These are truly excellent speakers IF they are properly setup, which isn't the case in many homes : by properly setup, I mean : bi-cabled, spiked, and the outside of the horns must be damped with pounds of plastiline or some other heavy damping (very easy : unscrew the horns and damp them, with loads of plasticine, don't damp the cabinet ! only the outside of the horns). In fact, in this configuration, they are a real bargain and they can easily compete with speakers that are 3 times more expensive. In fact, in France, they were sold at around 3.000 US$ (no kidding) ! So I've lived happily with these speakers in this configuration for almost 3 years, until I decided to have a look at the crossover, which is just behind the cable. A quick look at it shows that the parts are ALL VERY LOW GRADE ! Which means that there is a lot of room for improvement. So if you can solder, here is a quick-and-dirty recipe (please, if you don't know, don't take the risk, and don't blame me): - replace the yellow caps in the middle (2 are 2.86 uF 200V 15% in series, 1 is 1.25 uF 250V 15%) with high grade polyprop like Audyn Caps, Hovland Musicaps or Auricaps. - replace the long ferrite self (1.75 mH) with a very large self of the same value from Jantzen audio for ex. (1.7 mH www.jantzen.com), and the smaller self of 0.175mH with a larger one of a close value (0.17 mH). Replace the resistors from T+ (tweeter) by two Philips PR 02 or PR 03 of the same value. Replace the caps in the black box by Elna Silmic II (same or smaller tolerance) for example. You will probably need to rebuild the whole crossover outside the cabinet from scratch, as these components are much bigger than the original ones. The whole thing may cost around 100$ per speaker. Anyway, the improvement for me was huge. You are in a totally different league. Transparency makes a quantum leap, the highs are easier and the bass is much tighter than before. My 8W 300B drive them like toys. For ex., on Diana Krall "Blvd of broken dreams", I can clearly hear all the crackings of her chair from the start of the track, which was only possible before with quality headsets. In a word, if you can, try it. My system: Sources: Sony SACD SCD-XB770 + modified ART DI/O DAC (another unbelievable product) --> YBA Preamp 1 --> custom 300B amp --> modded Klipsch KLF20

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Martin Logan SL3 Proac Response 2.5 several other audiophile products

Sounds awesome music sounds true.

Havent really found none but I'm use to klh wich sounded dull and bland. Price for these is great seeing how they have been discontinued

These are a great pair of speakers. I use to own a pair of klh you can imagine what a big jump this was. I'm using an onkyo txds 797 to drive these. Movies are awesome with these speaker and music is wonderfull. I truly thank God for these speakers.

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klh,jbl,bose

They are big at 98 lbs shipping weight each. Two 10 inch subwoofers per speaker and two horns per speaker in a 3 way crossover. Excellent overall sound and high sensitivity which requires less power to achieve high sound pressure levels (volume).

None

The Klipsch KLF-20 speakers are wonderful speakers. I did not have a chance to hear them before buying, but I love them now that they are in the family room. Speakers that I could audition simply are not in the same sphere of excellence. I use them mainly for music and they are exceptionally sensitive and revealing. Voices are so clear, the bass is strong and tight, and the soundstage is wide and high. I added the Klipsch KLF-C7 center channel and home theater is superb.

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JVC, JBL, Polk Audio, Infinity

BASE AND HIGHS

NONE

I bought these speakers on ubid and now i have a system that rocks.I like these better than my bose 901s.no comparison.

Effeciency Midrange Bass Horns Clarity Depth Price

Size, they are not small!

Let me start by saying these KLF 20''s engage you as a listener. A very satisfying speaker to listen to. They do need a break-in priod. These speakers produce a midrange to die for and have substantial bass. The highs are not too bright, as I have heard some suggest. The efficiency of these speakers is amazing, they will please with little power and pump out big power with clarity and volume that will have the coyotes howling 1 mile away. I have connected these, via Bi-Wire, to a Denon 3802 reciever 110w X 7, (7.1). Denon and Klipsch have a reputation of producing a good clean sound and complimenting each other, I can''t argue. The speakers I am just as impressed with for their size are the Klipsch RB5 II Ref. Series Bookshelf speaker. I am using two of these for my rear channels and absolutly love them. They really compliment the KLF 20''s well, with their 8" woolfers and 5 1/2" or 6 1/2" horns ( I forget wich). I tried the smaller RB3''s and retuned them for the RB5 II''s, no comparison. MY Center Channel is the Klipsch RC5, which I also highly recommend and a Klipsch KSW12 is my Sub Woofer. Rear or side surrounds, depending on setup, are the Klipsh RS5''s, I like these speakers but, I am not as thrilled with them as I am the other Klipsh I have listed. If anyone has a great set of wide dispersion speakers they recommend, please post them or E-mail me! Sonus stands support the RB5''s, and I will say, spiking on carpet is a abosute must! Obviously high-end wiring and connectors make a tremdous difference as well. This system is topped of with a Sony 32" XBR450 High Definition Wega, and a Sony DVPNS700P progressive scan DVD. I have had these speakers around 7 months now and recommend them highly, if you can find them?

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Mission, very nice speakers but, a whole different animal.

Realistic presentation

none

This review is for the moron below with the fake name. The fact that this is an open forum does not give you freedom to be immature. I am rating this a 5 to try balance the idiot's "review".

Clarity, Dynamic presentation, Superb imaging, natural presentation of voices and instruments

None

Having owned Klipsch speakers for over 12 years, I decided to audition as many alternatives as possible when I recently upgraded my system. Well, nothing even came close. For the price, or even double the price, nothing can reproduce instruments and voices as naturally as the KLF20s and maintain a wide open soundstage that is so realistic it's uncanny. An excellent speaker that should be on every serious hi-fi enthusiast's short-list. The fact that this has achieved such a high rating (4.77 from 86 reviews as at 16th Feb 2000) is a testimony to the quality of these speakers.

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Everything-bass response is really well balanced

Haven't found any yet after 9 months

I'll make this short...these are so good it's ashame Klipsch has discontinued them. I feel very fortunate to have them. I got the pair for $482.00 and truly love them. The highs, mids,and bass are seemless. Everything you do to improve sound quality these speakers suck in and begin to really breathe.(wires, amp...etc.) Yes, the highs are definitely there so if to some they seem "bright" ...turn the treble back a hair. I also own the KLF-30's and to be honest I "feel" the KLF-20's more (if that makes sense to you). The KLF-30's are EXCELLENT, but I could have lived the rest of a musical lifetime with just the KLF-20's...but for $397.00 a pair(new!) the KLF-30's came home with me! (They are quickly getting as dear to my heart as the KLF-20's-see review for them)

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Infinity SM-150, KLF-30

Efficiency, range, and smile-when-you-listen factor!

possible construction (see summary)

Purchased at AAFES (military exchange) for 799/pair


I have had my KLF-20's for just about a month. I can't say enough superlatives to describe these speakers. They are very efficient, and very impressive. I have yet to have anyone over to my house and not leave wowed. I don't have a sub yet (planning on KSW-12), but I'm not missing it much! One problem....the speaker is rated to 200W continuous and something like 400W peak....I have already blown a tweeter using my Yamaha 995 that only powers 100W X 5!!! I wonder whether it came that way. Luckily, I am still in the 30 day window for returns. Of course, carrying this 100+ pound speaker back will be no fun job. Since the speakers' serial numbers are sequential, and I suspect a manufacturing problem, I am taking them both back.

System:
KLF-20
Klipsch C-7 Center (perfectly matched speaker...check it out)
Klipsch SS-1 rears (a tad wimpy in relation to the rest of my speakers....am trying different placement)
Yamaha RX-V995 ...great receiver! Just wish it had 5 Channel stereo
Sony Wega 36FV15 36 inch Trinitron (buckling under weight of c-7!!)