If you are looking for a new pair of speakers to invest in, this article might be the perfect find for you.
Today I’ll be reviewing the Klipsch RB 61 II bookshelf speakers, a speaker that offers great imaging and optimal soundstage for a low cost, similar to the Polk T300 bookshelf speaker.
Let’s learn more about the US-based company, Klipsch.
If you are an audiophile you can carry on. I mean when it comes to audio, Klipsch has got to be one of the main players, or even legends out there with regards to audio devices.
Every audiophile must have heard of Paul Klipsch. He founded the loudspeaker company back in 1946. Since then Klipsch has carried on their founder’s passion to deliver the world, the best home audio experience possible.
Let’s find out about their bookshelf speaker, Klipsch RB 61 II live up to Klipsch’s prominent name.
This is great for people who appreciate a minimalist style because it is stylish and discrete. All kinds of musical genres, from jazz to rock, sound terrific and have a superb soundstage.
Additionally fantastic for viewing television and movies due of how clear the dialogue sounds.
Klipsch RB 61 II Bookshelf Speakers: Big Sound for Home Theater
Good quality from Klipsch is taken for granted. I can confidently say that Klipsch speakers are one of the best offerings that the audio realm has.
It is not only me who is talking about Klipsch speakers; you will find people speaking about them across the whole sound community. Most speakers out there can’t even hand a candle to Klipsch.
Those bookshelf speakers are great surround speakers that not only offer good looks but also exceptional sound.
You will be hard-pressed to find a bookshelf speaker that offers crisp sound as good as this one offering from Klipsch.
Simple, yet Intriguing, the Design:
Besides wanting your speakers to sound good, you want their design and materials to be good too. As important as the sound quality is, having an attractive design will help the speakers form a focal point in your home.
Good looks from Klipsch are taken for granted, you just can’t hate the iconic copper woofers. The cabinets are made out of quality MDF that is fully covered in glossy black vinyl. The front face of the cabinet is consumed by a large baffle that gives the impression that it’s floating.
Klipsch decided to go for a front-firing port that is located right underneath the woofer cone. As I mentioned, at first sight, the RB-61 looks like the rest of its brother, it features that nice black and bronze signature theme, that has proven to be successful many times. On top of all that, it promises to blend into pretty much any interior.
As I explain the Features, you will realize that a loudspeaker design, means more than just aesthetic.
Features:
Feature-wise, the RB-61 II bookshelf loudspeaker doesn’t look too special. However, when you look closer you will spot some things that stand out.
No doubt, first of all, would be the known enhanced titanium Linear Travel Suspension, while the tweeter sits comfortably in the Tractrix horn.
The woofer comes in a form of a 6.5 cerametallic cone and it is combined by two transducers that operate on 100 Watts RMS or say 95 dB sensitivity.
Its crossover is dialed for 1500Hz, it sure comes pretty high. Thanks to its front firing slot style port you won’t have to worry about the distance to walls when positioning the speaker. Something we encounter a lot with other speakers.
Klipsch also included dual binding posts, which serve for high frequency and low frequency.
I am a fan of rock music, and everything that has to do with rock. I personally use these as my rock music speakers because of their looks and performance.
Splendid Performer, Performance:
You often hear the expression ‘sound stage’, even I used it as soon as I started writing. Let me help you by clarifying what it means.
Basically, it is like a 3D sound, imagine you are sitting in a space with instruments and musicians around you meaning a good soundstage will let you hear and pinpoint all instruments that are playing around you.
And having a good stage is what Klipsch does the best. Thanks to their Tractrix horn technology in the cabinets, they give accurate and virtually distortion-free tones. The horn technology and the titanium diaphragm compression driver are what sets this bookshelf speaker apart from the competition.
Crisp Highs with deep low ends. Playing music on them will feel like another level.
Their tweeter delivers crisp highs, the horn design allows the spread of the sound across the whole “soundstage”, while the woofer gives the low frequencies deep and resonant bottom end.
Klipsch also has included a new crossover system. It separates the main areas of the sound stage.
Basically, the lows, mids, and highs, so it can ensure good clear separation.
All this makes the RB-61 II sound splendid. They offer a great overall sound that is accurate and controlled.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Stylish and Discreet, making it perfect for those who prefer a minimalist aesthetic
- The soundstage, the overall warm and great for listening to music, all kinds of genres from rock to jazz and even classical music.
- Fills medium sized rooms with great sound
- Outstanding sound reproduction and superb damping characteristics
- Flat Frequency Response
- Also great for watching movies and TV because its a great speaker for dialogue clarity. Make sure you connect it to your surround system for even better results.
Cons:
- Bass might come across as generic and this bothers some people
- There’s no spot or “hole” in the back meaning it is not mountable on the wall
- A bit less distortion would have been appreciated.
Frequently Asked Questions, F.A.Q:
Are they Front-firing or rear-firing speakers?
They are front-firing since there is no rear port.
Do they provide enough bass without a subwoofer?
If you just use them for average tasks or simply as a home theater to watch movies to listen to music, they will be more than fine with their bass. To get the best experience, i recommend you get a pair of headphones for watching movies instead.
But if you are into something more “overkill” you might need a subwoofer.
Can you mount it on the wall?
Sadly, No you can’t, it has no wall mounting bracket. If you want a wall-mountable speaker, take a look at our Klipsch KHO-7 Review.
Final Words:
We arrived in the end and by now I am sure you noticed that I was quite impressed with the Klipsch RB 61 II.
But of course, there’s no speaker or device, in general, that is perfect, they all compromise on some fields while exceeding on some.
That’s the case with the Klipsch RB 61 II too, I would prefer it to be a real wood speaker, a better finish than a vinyl could have been applied, also the mount bracket.
Yet again, this would cause cost issues so in a way all of Klipsch RB 61 II drawbacks are understandable.
In the end, it all boils too, for the price they offer great value to the table. Great sound quality from Klipsch.
Further Reading
You can also read a Klipsch R-26F or a Klipsch RB 61 II Review.
Mix & Mastering
I love to get my hands on all sorts of audio equipment, from headphones and speakers to audio interfaces. I love putting these products through their paces and seeing what they can do.
