Clean, sharp detail, fast dynamic response and high efficiency.

Would like alternative cabinet finishes.

We demoed a LOT of speakers for two months, along with quite a bit of blind A/B testing, and narrowed down our choice to Klipsch for their wonderful open sound. The Polk towers held on until almost the end, and were comparable for good jazz such as "Romeo is Bleeding" (soundtrack), but fell severely short with contemporary pop such as Sting's "Summoners Tales".

To anyone who "likes" Klipsch and is considering their line, I would strongly recommend that you demo these speakers. They stand well above the majority of their speakers and are quite reasonable at $550-600/pair. I attribute this to their distinctive architecture, but in any case, the RF-3s sound phenominal - at any price range.

We finally discovered the reference line quite by accident (I had thought it was one of the new synergy towers until I opened the grill and saw those woofers - checked the web site, and suddenly understood why it sounded so different and so good).

For the money, I don't know of a better tower speaker, at least for rock, jazz, and HT. Were I more of a classical music lover, I might have preference for the legend 20s. Anyway, these speakers really do knock my socks off, and hats off to those great folk at Klipsch for making them. My only complaint is that I can only get them in black. I'd have no problem spending an upgrade price to get them with a nice wood veneer.

Please note, I only rate this speaker at 4 stars as there *are* better speakers out there - but not for the money. Point in fact, we could have purchased much more expensive speakers but honestly did not find any that we liked quite as much as these.

Our system is rounded out with the Yamaha 995, Toshiba 2109, and reference center. We have yet to purchase the reference surrounds but will no doubt do that soon enough.

Thanks to everyone out there who helped us to pick various components and narrow our choices down. This site has been invaluable.

Jeff

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch legend and synergy towers, Polk towers, Paradigm towers.

great sound

none

this is a great speaker. though efficient, if you use decent cable and interconnects it can sound even better. the correct placement can improve the soundstage. 10-12 feet apart is ideal. for the money, it is though to beat!

Similar Products Used:

infinity

Sound Qualitiy, Looks, Construction

None

I just bought the RF-3's after doing some serious listining to other brands, from Boston's, Missions, Definitive etc... I must say these are just awesome speakers. They pump out good bass, have incredible highs and just sound great! I would highly recommend these to anyone. They are made very well even there grill covers look great.

Broad, well-articulated sound stage, clear, clean sound--loud if you want it

Cosmetically, there might be more attractive finishes, but that's not why I bought them

I am a Klipsh horn fan--have been for a long time. I always thought that the KG3.5s presented a clean, clear sound stage across the front. When I got the RF-3s and hooked them up, I was surprised at how much clearer and cleaner the sound was, with much greater definition in the individual sounds that were occuring in the front plane. I matched these up with an RC-3 and RS-3s at the back. As I said in my review of the RS-3s, I'll match this setup driven by an Onkyo TX-DS747 against any theater that I have been in in recent years. I was considering ordering them from Kief's at $575, but they would not UPS, they have had repeated problems with damage to Klipsch speakers. They would only truck them (from Nebraska) at $160, for a total of $735. I found them in Maryland and drove over for $675--worth every cent. I would try to find them locally because they are heavy and while Klipsch has upgraded the packaging, you still might suffer damage in transit. If you haven't heard these, do yourself a favor--make sure that you take some material that you are very familiar with--a favorite CD, and you will be amazed at the wonderful sounds these things produce. The Premiere series and other more expensive Klipsch in the lineup may sound better, but I can't really imagine how. For the money, I don't think that you can beat these.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch KG 3.5s, Audio Research M-5s, Altec Lansing

Follow-up to my previous comments about speaker "hiss" from the RF-3s. After much effort and cooperation from Bryn Mahr sales person, and discussions with Tech Support at Klispch, what I heard turned out to be amplifier noise due to the high efficiency of the RF-3. Turns out, it takes a pretty good amplifier with a good signal to noise ratio to not have an audible hiss. Klipsch tech, (very helpful and willing to discuss pros and cons) said a full Class A amp will probably be more prone to the noise than a Class AB. I tried both an Adcom GFA 5400 and a B & K 1400, Series II. To my taste, the B & K initially sounded a little better, when fed with the Adcom Preamp (GTP-450). But when I hooked up the B & K amp with the B & K PT-3 Preamp, the sound was not nearly as pleasing. I found the Adcom Preamp and Amp combination was a much better match for the RF-3s. Much more musical and balanced. Wonderful sound. I can't stop listening. Regarding the "hiss". I was mostly concerned to know what was causing it and if I had a defective component. It is at such a low level that is not a problem. I love this system. If you consider the RF-3s, be sure to audition them with the Adcom pair. I think you'll like the combination. Happy listening

everything

none

When I bought these speakers I was about to purchase the syngery series but these blow them away. The guy at the store played the relic and with out a sub these speakers really kicked ASS!!! I recommend them to anyone who is looking to spend a couple of dollars on quality sounding speakers, although I do plan to get a sub in the future. As far as music goes they sound as if your in the concert live.

Crisp highs, Dynamic sound stage, 3-D imaging, good tight bass, contemporary look, CLean Clear sounding, Just Awesome

Bass could be a little stronger

Those who have ranked thes lower than a 5 I question your ears, but then again each of us have different expecations. I picked thes up (along with the RC3, RS3's) and I could't be happier. I have been auditioning these for three months. I agree with previous reviews that these speakers sound better (100 X) in your house than at a store. I think I soiled my shorts when I popped in Saving PRivate Ryan (DVD).

IF you want crisp clear clean highs and mid range, and tight clean bass (not at all thumpy like my CV's) these are the speakers you need to listen to. The detail is just unbelieveable. I have heard things through these speakers that I have never heard before. From Rock to Jazz to Rap and R and B, Smooth and Dynamic. Im powering these with a Denon 3300 and in 5.1 Stereo mode, your mouth just drops and you kick yourself in the butt for not getting these sooner.

PSB 5T where good , and I thought they where better than the Paradigms Monitor 7's. I auditioned DEf Techs Cinemas, and NHT's and I like them too, but I just didn't feel the music as I did with the Klipschs. They where also 1000.00 more than the Klipsch as well If you can close your eyes and feel the music, and feel as though you where there, and if you get goose bumps, then you know you have found your speakers.

These speakers and the whole Reference line is a steal for the price. They should cost alot more and thankful for me they do not.

Thank you Klipsch

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Cerwin Vegas, Technics, Auditioned, PSB,Paradigms,Def Tech, Boston,NHT's

POWER!!! clarity, looks just cool, feet with carpet spikes to keep the speaker bottom off of the floor

heavy (53 lbs!) which isn't really a weakness, only if you have to move a lot

Okay

Having instantly fallen in love with the HT sound, I was bound and determened to get the best speaker i could. I went to many different stores (both high end and low end) and nothing sounded as good as the Klipsch. I was about to but the Synergy series until I read a review in here about the RF3. I went to a local high end store and had the saleman hook up the RF3 on the A channel and then the SF2 on the B and then do a little A/B testing. I could not believe the difference! I kid you not, if you are in the market for Klipsch Synergy series...please do yourself a favor and listen to the Reference and compare the sound. For just a little more money, you will double if not triple the sound. In fact, I love the RF-3 so much, I replaced my surronds (RS3) with another set of RF3. So My center is the RC3, and then I have 2 pair of RF3 as the front and surrounds. Oh baby! it rocks. I even hook up my rears on the Front B speakers when I listen to music and set my receiver to play both A and B...and I have never heard better sound. RF3 is the only way to go. I know that there are some who do not like the sound of horns, but I have no complaints whatsoever. Buy a pair or two, you will thank me later.
The RS-3 sounded great, but I did not care for the displacement of sound. The 180 degree sound is great, but I would rather have the horns and the woofer of the RF3 pointed directly at me rather than angled towards the corner of the room. Let me know if any of you have decided to do the same with your surrounds.

Excellant sound.

Cant think of any at this price.

I originally was going to buy the Klipsch cheaper synergy line of surroung speakers. But when I compared the cost I realised I could get these "reference" speakers for about 30% more. SO I thought what the hell and bought them. And Im glad I did. Sound is great on HT and Cd. Its especially good with the accompanying center speaker. I also have the KSF-12 sub and the system rocks!

clarity, stage presence,styling

none

While I am not an audiophile I do appreciate good speaker sound. The first listening room I visited played these speakers after a few others, and immediately no others of either greater or less cost compared.
When I got them home I asked another family member to play a cd that she knew, and when it came on she stopped in her tracks, wanted to know what they were, and asked for a pair.
My other equipment is of relatively old and moderate quality, but the sound is still much beyond what I would have expected. I had not heard that level of stage presence before.