Excellent clarity, great bass, wonderful value.

none so far

I wanted to up grade my sub/sat system to larger speakers. So I went to local stores in CO comparing tower's. I was willing to spend around $700. I had looked at some Boston's, Def Tech's, and Infinity's before deciding on the 8.5's. I overlooked the 8.5's simply because I assumed the 8" wouldn't give sufficient bass and I didn't think the horns would play sufficient midrange. Boy was I wrong. Man do these speakers sing. When I found these on clearance for $388 I bought them. The bass is wounderful with great definition, and high's and midrange with great attention to detal. The horn's are not harsh, not bright, not dull, but just right. Same with the 8" it has just the right amount of upperend bass and more low end than I could ever expect from an 8". To cover my extreme lows I added a KSW-12 and I couldn't be happier. These were first set of Klipsch speaker's I bought in HT system. I later bought the KSF-C5 center, and KSF-S5 surround's. Everything is powered by a Yamaha RX-v995. If I could I would rate them higher than 5 because a rating of 5 doesn't do them justice.

Great Bass, very good midrange and highs

Still Looking !!!!!

During the purchase of a new house, it quickly became apparent that I was going to have to sell my loved KEF's and settle for a sub/sat style system. I sold my KEF's to a close friend (so I still get to see and hear them) and substituted them with a pair of old Infinity's RS 2001.5 that I had lying around. After a few months of listening to Power Towers (DEF TECH Pro 400, 2002, 2004 as well as Klipsch) I decided to go separate sub and mains. Ironic, because the 8.5's are bigger than the KEF's. Huh! I picked up a pair of 8.5 at a local dealer (It was the last pair, so I got them below cost) and I am very happy. I also purchased a Klipsch KSW-10 sub to go along. I should get my sub today....... Using Klipsch KSF-S5 in white for rears. Center channel for now is an Infinity that will be replaced latter.

I am using an Accurus DIA 100, Toshiba 2108 , MIT Interconnects and Speaker wires. I use the system for 2 channel listening as well as pro-logic for now, (Yamaha Dolby Prologic Processor). I will be upgrading to Dolby Digital in the future.

Anyway, if you can find a pair, it's worth listening to and if you like them, purchase. If not, the RF-3 sound very similar and are new for 2000. A little more expensive than what the 8.5 where originally.....

Similar Products Used:

KEF's C-65

Clear open, life-like sound, soundstage

Highs, may require some component matching

I own the entire synergy series" 8.5's, c-5, and s-5's.
I think this is a great system. I ran it for a while by Denon 2700 and now I use Outlaw 750 for the front three channels. Outlaw improved soundstage tremendously and make sound even bigger: 8.5's are really ``big'' sounding ones.
(BTW, I tried also 10.5's very hard and don't really believe that they are any better: remember that they have to match the sound of two theirs drivers, which is more difficult.)
I also have two Hsu Research tn1220 subs which complement
the sound just great. Highs can be a problem for 8.5's, so one should try a solid thick copper wire to tame them- I use 12 awg Synergistic Research Alpha series and silver Synergistic Alpha Sterling interconnects, along with Canare
digiflex digital cable. Of course, there are always better
systems, but Ksf series provides such a big, open, life-like
sound with really huge soundstage, especially, on the right
recordings (like, say Yello's Motion picture, Keb'mo, Clapton's Pilgrom, etc.) that you can unlikely get with any other non-horn speakers at any price. The instrumental music sounds at times unbelievably good. Guitars (e.g., Santana's Supernatural) are so real. Voices, at times, can be a problem - you may need to work with tonal controls and/or select between Direct or Stereo modes. This though NEVER a problem with movies. (Ksf-c5 is excellent too.)
The integrity of the synergy series is ``synergistic.'' I tried to convince myself that I need to go out there in search for better (i.e., more expensive) speaker and tried some from Def Technology, Vienna Acoustics, M&K, Monitor Audio, B&W (up to CDM series), NHT, ..., BUT none of those I listen to could make this addictive life-like open sweet and powerful sound. (Of course, they have many other strengths, but in other areas.)

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Tried various others

Crisp, clear, open sound

can be bright in the wrong room, cheap screws showing around tweeter and woofer(guess I'm used to my old B&W's)

I originally purchased the KSF 10.5 which were very nice but they overpowered my room, too much bass!!!! I'm a college student and I want something that will play loud, clear and accurate. I grew up dreaming of someday buying those Klipsch KG's of yestersday with there real wood vineers. However, things have changed in the audio world and those types of speakers are outdated. So decided I'd look for something a little bit like them.

These things have strong bass while not sacrificing anything clearity in the midrange. The highs are crisp and clear! On no other speaker are cymbols so lifelike. However, they can be bright if pushed hard with the wrong recording in the wrong room. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase($300). They have the power and depth for my Dave Matthews recordings and all my classic rock collection. Someday when I get a center channel and DVD play then I can truly see how good everyone says these things are for HT. But for good old 2 channel they ROCK!
Best of all is that I added an Energy exl:S8 for an extra kick in the low end. These things are really a solid(heavy too!!)and have a quality fit and finish. I would recommend them if you can still find them, BUY THEM!!!

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch KSF 10.5, B&W 601S2, AR 208HO,

Excellent all around, bass, mid and highs

Havent found any yet

About 2 weeks ago I went out looking for a stereo system to replace my then current one (~20 years old!)

Im just a casual listener, and dont know a whole lot about hardware, so I got taken. I went to Future Shop and didnt spend enough time browsing. And then I made my biggest mistake, I bought a boxed Pioneer system. It was a 400 watt dolby digital receiver with 5 speaker package.

It sounded nice in the store, but when I got it home and set it all up, without going into detail, I'll just say it sounded like crap!

So I returned it the other day and went around to every store I could think of, listening to speakers with music I know. I didnt find ANYTHING that sounded good. I was depressed and thought I might as well give up for now. On the way back I saw a London Drugs, and figured I might as well stop to see what they had, if anything.

Turns out Im very glad I did. They had 3 pairs of Klipsch speakers in there, ranging from $800 to $1600 (CDN $), with a $1000 pair of KSF 8.5's marked down to $400 to clear. It only took about 3 seconds of insane sounding bass from "Even Deeper" (off The Fragile) and I realized that these were the speakers I wanted. Granted, I havent really listened to many top of the line speakers, but these were 100x better than anything I had heard before. Of course I listened to a couple other songs from other CD's first, but my first instinct was right, and I grabbed them.

I also picked up another discontinued item, a Pioneer VSX-604s which I cant seem to find on Pioneers page, and there is no review for it on here, but for $200 and a promise that I could return it if dis-satisified (it wasnt wired for me to listen to since it was clearance), I figured I couldnt lose. (Turns outs its 110watts/ch, and the "Super Bass" button is really handy. It was a good deal I guess)

So that is my entire system. Including tax and wiring/plugs it all came to just under $1000, which was $500 less than the Pioneer box system. Even though this isnt a surround setup, it fills my room WAY better than the dolby digital receiver, and I KNOW its all because of these amazing speakers!

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A pair of Pioneer 3 way speakers (15" sub) - Cant remember model number

Clarity, ultra low bass for an 8" woofer, midrage, and treble are well balenced, very powerful with very low sensitivity(87 db). Couldn't EVER find a better deal. They look good with all of my components, they don't sound good unless you have good equipment to push them with.

I think I am falling in love.

First off, every Paradigm above I have audtioned in this wonderful stereo store called "Stereo Discount Center" This is the best store one could probably shop at for GOOD audio equipment. Anyway, the only reason why I didn't purchase any of the Paradigm's I mentioned up above is because I had a price limit(for the first time of my life). I said I wanted a good pair of towers, for a good price of around 300, maybe 350. Stereo Discount was going to give me an excellent deal on the moniter three's which is a wonderful speaker in its own right, but I would of had to buy some stands, I did some research on this website(LOVE THIS SITE) and tripped over the KSF 8.5's. Saw the price, saw the ratings and read the reviews, I felt like I fell in a circle of amazement. Every review said what I wanted to hear. My next step was to find where they were sold, found them at a Tweeter 15 minutes away, I couldn't believe it.
For Christmas my mother chipped in to pay for half, I got them about two weeks before Christmas and was blown away.

First off the detail I immediately heard from the music I was playing blew me away. I heard things from CD's I had for years that I had never EVER heard before. The depth I heard from certain songs was absolutely unbelieveable, and the low frequency reproduction is incredible for such a small driver. "KLIPSCH, a legend in sound." Nothing less can be said about these speakers.

My components:
Reciever: Yamaha RX-V496
Tape Deck:Yamaha KSF-321
CD player:Yamaha CDC-575
VCR: Sony HIFI Stereo(forgot the model #)
VCR2:Toshiba HIFI Stereo
DVD player:Sony DVP-560
Equilizer(spectrum display):Audiosource 10 band graphic EQ
TV:Sony 32" Trinitron.

My speakers(for now):
Center: Paradigm CC-70
Mains: KLIPSCH KSF 8.5's
Subwoofer: Paradigm PDR-8
Sides(for music and pro logic): Custom built with Pioneer elite woofers(6 1/2")and long throw horn tweeter made by ZENITH
Rears: Custom built bookshelf speakers with ferrofluid tweeters and Pioneer elite woofers(6 1/2")

Similar Products Used:

Boston Acoustics A70(Old towers), Polk Audio RT 1000's(a friend of mine's speakers)Paradigm Moniter 3,5,7, and 9's, Paradigm reference(STUDIO) 40's, and 60's

Clear sound with good bass.

none

I purchased these speakers a few months ago and I donot regret my purchase. Especially at the price paid.

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Cerwin Vega

None

I bought these speakers at United Audio. The MRP was $650.00 , but they were on close out at $300 a pair. By luck the store I went to had one more pair and I asked if they would go down to $250.00. They did and I took them.

The speakers themselves are high quality and put out great sound. They are the only speakers I have right now and for a two channel environment they handle everything. I plan to buy all Klipsch for my speaker needs. If you can somehow get a pr. of these, please do. You'll be very happy.

Sound, Price, Clarity

none

I have to first admit that I'm a Lurker, but after this no longer. I have loved the posts that I have found here, and have actually purchased all of my gear due to your recommendations. So once again thank you posters…

Currently I have:
Yamaha 595a
Denon 360 CD player
Toshiba 3109 dvd
Klipsch 1.1 (rears)
Jbl Flix2 center
and my new babies Klipsch KSF 8.5 fronts.

I love these speakers, and had no idea what to expect as they are sold out everywhere in the New England area, (except for a store in Portsmouth), that found one unopened pair in the back store room, (claimed that they didn't even know that they had them). Well I read all the reviews of them and the 10.5's and knew that you guys/gals wouldn't let me down, and Tweeter gave me a 60 day money back guarantee if I didn't like them. Took them home, and like a kid on Christmas morning opened them up, and plugged them in. My biggest dilemma was what to listen to first, but I choose Paul Simon's Graceland CD, song 8 (homeless) to hear
how the vocals would sound through a horn based speaker. Well I have to tell you they preformed incredible, clear, focused and intense are the words that pop up to my mind immediately. I could hear sounds that I have never noticed before, the snapping of a tenor’s fingers in tune with the music, the breathing of Paul Simon... stunningly beautiful.

I then popped in the CD "The Cars", to hear moving in stereo, with the effects turned off on my system I took a sip of wine, closed my eyes, and pressed play. Well these $300 dollar speakers preformed magnificently. I could vividly place Ric Ocasek's voice dancing through out the room, from stereophonic point to point. I had to hear it in my Yamaha's Disco mode, to take advantage of my rear klipsch's and a smile came to my face and didn't leave until it was over.

If you can find these speakers, they are the best value that you will ever come across. I was prepared to spend 3 times that amount for mine, (not sure if I could have convinced my non-audiophile wife), and feel that I now have a complete audio environment. P.S. they sound great with 5.1 as well... I can't imagine that they will get any better after breaking in a few months... I'll let you know

Similar Products Used:

15 year old Akai's

Lots of bass, and very clear.

A little bright at times, but controlable

I really enjoy them, they sound great for
CD playback. They sound even better for Home
Theater use, i dont regret this purchase one bit.

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bose