They are fantastic speakers for sure. I have paired them against Forte III and Heresy III and my ears preferred the RF-7 II. I'm leaning more towards the RF-7 III now. :)
RF-7 sounds bigger and more open than either of the other 2 models. It's pretty darn different right off the bat. I can hear the room with the RF-7, it narrows right to the artist with the next 2 model speakers. The top end rolls off on the 3rd model, but ever so slightly from the second. If I had to pick based on what TH-cam is doing to compression and what not. It would be the RF-7 (first one). It is brighter, so I may match it with a softer DAC/AMP. But, from just a sound stage presentation.. The RF-7 by a mile. If your listening to just the artist. The RF-7ii. That really has strait to the point sound stage. The RF-7iii is just a tad on the softer side than the ii. But, still right at the artist level.
Really ? All three speakers sound really distant, a little sluggish on the mid-bass, and muffled when compared to listening to the track directly here. th-cam.com/video/i0-OayXxaqc/w-d-xo.html
My vote goes for the Original 7's. I think that the twang of a plucked guitar string is the truest representation, as well as the sharp crack of the drum hits, especially the snare. Just beautiful sound. Ugly duckling but that's not what sound is about. III's are a close second but I find the II's to be noticeably soft and muted compared to the other 2.
You really can't go wrong with any of them Rich. It just comes down to personal preference on the sound you are most pleased with. Thanks for watching!
The biggest difference in my opinion were between the RF 7 and RF 7 II .... I didn't hear as drastic a change between II & III but you certainly can't go wrong with any of 'em ... With a great sound system and the ability to tailor the audio to your liking any of 'em would make a great addition to the entertainment room.
In my room, we didn’t hear much difference in the bottom end. Slightly better midrange but not major. Most improvement we heard during my audio get together was in the top end. Very refined, yet detailed.
Just picked up a pair of cherry RF-7's in mint condition on OfferUp today for only $400! There's a couple of black center RC-7's on ebay but they want $500 a piece! These are all for my backyard movie nights or sports and BBQ's. Then back to garage for storage until next time.
I heard the same thing in another video, the RF-7iii sound so much more dynamic and lively. I wonder if they are a touch more efficient and the volume increase may explain the difference. But I DEFINITELY heard it in 2 different videos comparing Klipsch speakers
Outstanding comparison. They clearly made improvements with every version. Only thing 3’s are missing is some of the color from the tom toms in the final song. Strange drop in that range for some reason.
I'll give you ten thumbs up! Awesome video and very interesting results for sure. I've never found my RF7 Is to be bright in my room, and in this video, the Is seem to have the most "live" sound without sounding "veiled" like the II and III. So I'm glad I'm still happy with my RF7 Is and very fortunate to own them. Thanks again!
Wow Robert! I've never received that many thumbs before! Thanks bro! My room is very lively to begin with. 15' x 25' living room with 12' ceilings, lots of hard surfaces, and opens to the kitchen, breakfast nook, home office and dining room. Lots of echo in my room which I know is horrible for 2ch listening but it's what I have to work with. Can't ever see the wife letting me put acoustic panels on the wall. The RF-7's are definitely the brightest speaker, and to my ears in my room, they can get a bit harsh. One of the guys that came over for the demo a few weeks ago has RF-7 powered by McIntosh and he said in his room, they aren't overly bright either.
You made a good point. I use a Denon receiver, but use a Bob Carver Sunfire 400-7 amplifier which was designed to have a somewhat "tube" sound. The speakers do sound quite different when driven by the Sunfire versus the Denon amps.
Growing up my Dad had the most beautiful La Scalas that I have ever seen and one day he "upgraded" to (4) RF7's, the RSW-15 and whatever model the corresponding center channel was at the time. For me the ultimate combo was the La Scalas with the Sub but, to each their own. Hearing this the RF7's are nice and lively. I personally think part of what I loved about the La Scalas is the cabinets. The whole box resonates. Such a beautiful thing.
Awesome! Thanks Youthman. So great to hear them side by side. And I must say, its a huge relief to me and my wallet to find that I prefer the sound of the RF-7 classic. LOL.
Listening on my RF5's and the RF7's sounds a lot like the RF7III's But the RF7's sound the most live to me still of live music! There range to the top end is up there! The RFII's are not as high on the high end. I am Glad Kilpsch brought back the top end for the RFIII's. Thanks for the review.
Another great dem video, you can certainly hear the family sound character of all three models. They all sound good, the 7ii seem to sound a bit fuller than the original 7’s and the 7 iii again slightly fuller and tamer-treble, not that any sound bright in this dem. The original 7 sound more transparent/ open, but they all sound great in different ways.
Thank you for this comparison! I have stumbled upon a badly cared for pair of RF7. Very dirty, crusted dust. Needing to take the large drivers out so that I can clean more inside the cabinet. However I got them to where I can listen to them without being disgusted. They still sound just as good as I could image the should, and that is even without a working woofer on one of them. My plan is to clean them up and then sell them for something a bit smaller. Truth be told they are just to big for my area.
It’s unfortunate when people don’t take care of their speakers, but I have seen that many times over the years myself. Look for the RF-5. They are a bit smaller and still fantastic and from that same series.
Klipsch hasn’t changed since VOX. I have never been a fan of their entry level speakers (synergy, Icon and now the “Reference”). But their Reference Premiere, RF7 and Heritage series still are incredible.
@@Youthman Klipsch makes good speakers, but i've recently compared the Klipsch RF-5 with the RP 280f and the new RP 280f hasn't any chance. By the way, I'm not alone in my opinion. I recently talked to a sound engineer who worked for Klipsch at the time and he also said that the RP Series can't possibly compete with the first RF Series.
Keep in mind you are comparing a $1200 (from 10 years ago) pair of speakers with an $800 (with inflation) pair of speakers. The RF5 also had the large 1” titanium compression driver that the flagship RF7 series had. The Reference Premiere does not have that high caliber of a tweeter. You have to step up to the RF7 III ($3200 pair) to get that. So not quite an apples to apples comparison
Laughing because I just played this through my RF-7’s and thought “I can’t tell the difference “. Then it occurred to me that if my RF-7’s could sound like RF-3’s they’d be RF-3’s! Then I turned on the rest of my reference 7’s (RS and RC) along with the RSW-15 and I thought “I love my klipsch speakers.”
Same thoughts, same speaker system! I hear differences but only ones that my RF-7s showcased good or bad. A winter project is to DynaMat the horns in the whole sysyem (7) to control resonance.
Great vid again. The mic is awesome. The sound is slightly right on my head phones on the 7's, in the middle on the ii's and slightly left on the iii's just as it should be. I would say the ii's and iii's open up more then the 7's. Bass is definitely stronger on the ii's and iii's.the differences are more noticeable to me from the 7's to the ii's and more subtle from the ii's to the iii's. Gotta love these comparo's...
The classic are the overall winner in my opinion. They are great on their own but shine with a good sub, like the RSW12. ( which I prefer over the 15 for controlled output) Shame I had an entire classic line stolen by a "friend" I was helping through a rough time.. I'm talking RF7,RC7,RS7 and RSW12 with a complementary Sunfire HRS 12.
Hi great video ...awesome, i love the sounds from RF 7, it's sounds pure and live, RF iii sounds filtered. Wish i could play the track "you have loved enough" from Leonard Cohen on RF-7 Cheers !
With the Stock crossovers the RF 3's and 2's sound alike. In the previous video, I could easily tell the difference between the RF 3's and the RF 2's with it's after market crossover. The RF 7 is the most harsh sounding out of the 3.
Bit late coming to this video but I have to say I preferred the 2's, and then looking down I see others did too: Bass seemed overblown on the 3's whereas the 2's just sounded 'right' Thanks for posting
YOUTHMAN!! iv watched this video prob 30 times over past 4 years!!! I own the Rf7 classic and I prefer there sound in this presentation!!! I had mine in a huge 30 x 60 concrete daylight basement, as shown in my profile pic.. They were very bright until I put up the cardboard n drapes. Now I have em in my garage and have coats on walls and floor rug.. Its perfect!!!! Very good tonal accuracy achieved :)
Great video Youthman. Thanks for all the efforts. I was coveting the Klipsch 280f's. you've now ruined my day ;-) ...all the best, an Irishman living in Nottingham, England.
I'm with the others who say the first generation RF-7 sound more appealing with them being more open and straightforward than the II's and especially the III's. With what "improvements" each ensuing series has to offer plus overall inflation the MSRP price seems to have nearly tripled from the original 7's to the 7 III's and then actually sound worse (in my ears - of course, I'm listening to them thru two dinky computer speakers - maybe it's a different sound in a showroom). I have a pair of the original 7's bi-amped with two Yamaha tanks from the 1990's and the sound they deliver is nothing short of incredible. One of my speakers is running off of just one woofer (damaged voice coil, I believe - I just disconnected it so I wouldn't hear it rattle at higher volumes) and the loss of bass is barely noticeable, maybe something to do with the cabinet symmetrics (?). If anybody knows where I can find a replacement RF-7 woofer or maybe a single RF-7 speaker with a beat-up cabinet for cheap (due to their age, Klipsch no longer stocks replacement drivers for the original 7's; I've checked eBay, Simply-speakers, and a few other sites with no luck), it would be greatly appreciated.
Hello from Russia!!) Are you still have the pair of RF-83's? It will be awesome to add them to your comparison.. Thank you very much for your videos, watching all of them is a pure joy!!
Hello from sunny Florida in the US! I sold the RF-83 after purchasing a pair of LaScalas. It blew the RF-83 away on every level except for the slam that the RF-83 have. Take a look at this article Klipsch posted to their blog - www.klipsch.com/blog/klipsch-la-scala-trio-home-theater-room-build
Thanks for your efforts, Youthman. Really great video - I could hear a difference in sound stage, both width and depth were increased on the 3's compared to the 2's. The 3's presented more isolation of the instruments compared to the 2's as well, and had better imaging because of it. Tonal aspects were very similar comparing the 2's and 3's. Perhaps in person with several hours of listening you can identify some differences. I heard a fuller and slightly more transparent base in the 3's compared to the 2's .. Bottom line, the 2's and the 3's have far more in common than they have in difference. They both sound fantastic !!
Thanks for your comment Jamie. Man, I only wish I could adequately describe what I'm hearing like you are able to. My ears hear a difference but many times, I cannot put into words what the difference is. I tend to speak in simple, layman's terms. I think your assessment is spot on though. They definitely sound different, not drastically, but different. Both RF-7 II and RF-7 III are amazing speakers. Love the RF-7's but they are a bit on the bright side for my ears, especially at really loud volume.
I would recommend trying to hear them in person. Midrange is surprisingly good for a non horn midrange. Unfortunately there isn’t a way for me to accurately capture on a recording what I’m hearing in person. Doesn’t help that my living room acoustics are horrible.
I could see where that would be beneficial. Klipsch doesn’t make many 3-way floorstanding speakers. My KLF-30 were 3-way but we’re a bit too bright on the top end for my taste. Guess there are no perfect speakers.
The RF-7III have more bass weight ... It was difficult to hear mid & top end differences via headphones, though the older RF-7 sounded slightly more forward, but overall the RF-7III's sounded superior, and that's via TH-cam and headphones, so "being there" must have been pretty amazing.
Since my above feedback, I'm seriously thinking of buying a pair of RF-7III's ... Now I'm thinking Black or Cherry ... Since you've seen both (I'm thinking Cherry at this stage) what's your opinion? Because of where I live, it's not possible for me to see or hear them, but the kind dealer (if I buy) will give me a two week window to send them back in, if not completely happy.
Very good comparison. I know that judging the sound via youtube is not good, but in my humble opinion, there is a big difference in the sound between RF 7 and RF7 II. Also, I think that the sound from RF 7 III is more clear than in RF 7 II. From my perspective, the RF 7 III has the best sound from these speakers. But again it is just the sound via youtube. Good job. Greetings from Slovakia.
I’ve heard all three in my own set up, and I would concur the same. The RF7’s were pretty harsh and very bright. Each new version became more refined in the top end. Bottom end didn’t really change.
Youthman have you ever considered doing a Klipsch RF-7iii vs Tekton Double Impact shoot out? That would be a great 👍 review! This one was pretty darn good...
Interesting, I reached out to them several times and they never returned my e mails. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The DI’s get rave reviews but unfortunately there’s no dealers in my area where I can get a demo.
They all sound great. I honestly think they get better with each edition. RF-7s sound great but the IIs give a bit more bass. The IIIs have about the same bass as the IIs but give better Highs so IIIs compared to Is, the Bass and Highs are both better. At least that's what I'm hearing. If you like bass and not too concerned with the Highs, I think the IIs would work perfect. If you like bass and clearer Highs, I think the IIIs is where it's at. For me, the IIIs are on point. Sound AMAZING!
Holy cow! Now that’s a speaker selection. I just received my new pair of Klipsch RP-280F in Walnut. Love them so far. Got a terrific price too because the walnut ones were on sale. Went from a 5.1 surround sound system(I just don’t watch many modern movies)to a oldschool stereo receiver. Just the two speakers no sub woofer.....plenty of bass!.
Hey Mike, I have only had one opportunity to hear the Reference Premiere and it was at Magnolia in Best Buy. Sadly, they don't have a clue how to setup speakers. Subs were turned WAY up to where they sounded boomy and overpowering the front sound stage. I have heard great things about them from owners though. Klipsch is supposed to send me a pair of RF-280F to review sometime in March so I'm looking forward to that. I would love to see the Walnut since I haven't seen that finish yet. Nothing wrong with a 2.0 setup. Sure beats the mess out of TV speakers. :) Rock on and thanks for watching!
I’m 2 seconds away from pulling the trigger on that same deal. The walnuts are beautiful. Not sure why they’re so much cheaper than the other finishes!
I played this video on my RF-7 II setup. The RF-7 original sounds just slightly sharper in the high end than the II or III. The I also sounds just a tab less powerful in the low end than the II or III. I can not tell any sound difference between the II and III as the clip is played through my RF-7 II. Maybe in front of the live speakers there would be more noticeable differences. If one already has the II, there is not enough sound improvement between the II and the III to upgrade and if one is on the market for a II or III, I suggest getting the II at a great discounted price instead of paying full price for the III. There simply is little to no noticeable sound difference between the II and III to justify the $1,500 difference.
Thanks Shun. I just released another video on the RF-7 III. I'm with you...I don't think I would sell my RF-7 II to upgrade to the RF-7 III if I had to pay $1500 to do so, even though I feel the RF-7 III sound better than the RF-7 II. Thanks for watching!
A suggestion: listen through earphones WITHOUT watching the video and look at it only when you like the sound. By the way, in my opinion the IIIs lack a bit of bass because they are not 100% broken-in yet and for the opposite reason the RF7 Is sound richer in the mids. Even if a comparison like this is not enough to judge these speakers, it is useful to determine they sounds differently, so thanks for doing it!
I'm not sure how well you can compare these listening through another speaker as i am, yes, I have a very high fidelity system but I just find this odd. To my ears the original RF7's sound the most pleasing here, not as accurate at the 3's but just a more open sound, eq'ing could totally change that though.
I finally listened to this video through my headphones yesterday. Immediately I noticed the drastic difference between the 7i vs the 7ii & 7iii - it's like the 7i's are turned up several notches higher in volume because it's that much brighter. It confirms what my ears hear in person (I've owned the RF7i for 12 years). The 7ii and 7iii are definitely much much smoother, and more difficult to distinguish through the headphones. The 7iii does seem slightly smoother than the 7ii, but not dramatically so. Really looking forward to auditioning the RF7iii when the time is right for me! Thank you for posting this video Youthman!
Youthman from the video the oldest version reminds me of old 90s to early 2000 klipschs and is definitely my least preferred one among the three. The ver2 and 3 are different from each other from here as well but due to the headphone I am using which has a coloration of its own, I would have to listen to the two in person to know which model sounds more lifelike. Klipsch did a good job in making the big jump in ver 2 then just more slightly refining ver3
Hey there Youthman........Lots of hard work getting that together!, HATS OFF to you for arranging all this ! I hope you are enjoying the use of the H4n recorder, the sound quality has really improved the audio portion of your productions ! (O:
Thank you kindly. I have been borrowing the H4n and had to return it. SVS is shipping me their Ultra Tower Speakers to review, then in March Klipsch is sending me the RP-280F to review and then sometime later SVS will be sending me the SB-16 Ultra Sub to review so it looks like I am going to invest in the Zoom H4n Pro as I will be needing to use it for future reviews.
There are a lot of mixed thoughts. A lot of people do not like the painted black front face because they cannot see the wood grain but to me it gives it a more modern look especially with beveled edges and the plI think. The plinth was new to me so it took it a bit to grow on me.
In this video, in this constellation and position, you would like it or not, with no doubt the winner are RF-7! They are not weighted as likely as the other two, but it gives them even the advantage, they are the most alive here! The RF-7 II had the worst position, although it seems that this is not the case, since none of the two speakers is far enough away from the rear wall and they sound as if they were ''tightened by the throat''. The biggest disappointment are RF-7 III, because they should be probably the best here... At the end, for my money, sound and beauty (in cherry veneer) and the current price of the new ones, RF-7 II are the ones I would buy!
Dragan, the RF-7 II are fantastic speakers. My room is very lively due to a lot of hard surfaces so the RF-7 III help with that but the RF-7 II sound amazing as well and have used them for several years in my 2ch setup. To my ears in person, the RF-7 III have a slight advantage due to the smoother top end. The RF-7's are a tad bright in my room. You can't go wrong with any of these three...there is a reason why they are Klipsch's Flagship Reference Speakers. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your reply and thank you for your effort to compare all these speakers. In my country, this task is a little harder to accomplish. Maybe it will be easier with European manufacturers... I'm still opting for Klipsch RF 7-II. In positioning them, they do not have to be turn too much towards the listener (they can be set straight ahead or just a little towe in) and then the tweeter and the high ton will not be so pronounced, unlike the III that has a rubber horn and that is not a problem. What is certain, products made in US, like RF's and Forte III from Klipsch and from others manufacturers like Tecton Designe - Double Impact or Zu - Omen, Definition and Soul Supreme or perhaps Wallsh - Tall 2000, can once again be proud of themselves in terms of ideas, innovation, design, workmanship and price.
I figured with the price of the RF-7 II being $1,600 cheaper (per pair) now I was buying the RF-7 II's. I told my wife I would be kicking myself if I didn't buy them at 2k a pair! From what I remember and your video reinforced is that the original RF-7's were very bright. The RF-7 III's I would love to hear in person but doubt I could justify the price difference. All great speakers though and you can't go wrong with any of them.
Scotty, I think you are correct. The RF7 II are still fantastic speakers. The cost difference between the RF7 II and RF7 III might be reasonable to some and not justifiable to others. I do believe the RF7 III are a better speaker but there is a bigger difference in sound between the RF7 and RF7 II than there is between the RF7 II and RF7 III
Awesome video Youthman! I got new 7IIIs 3 months ago. They sound much better after a seemingly long break in. It seems necessary to keep them away from the wall or they lose their low, deep tight, clean bass. At about 85 db the speakers sound amazing with at least 17 inches behind the speaker. Huge loss in sound when too close to walls. While being efficient they still seem to sound better with a more powerful amplifier even at lower volume Great comparison, great video!!
Great job and ausome vdioe. The iiis are an improvement over the iis for sure. Its no by a lot but you can tell. The sound stage is different and no matter high or low it was balanced and the bass souds tight. My orders from Metropolis Lake Outfitters are all coming thursday and i cant wait. Cant speak enough to Youthman for all the great videos and all the insight. 👍👍
What up ym! My opiñion Rf-ll adds that nice mid bass and it all comes together very nice cool vid man... the threes are more punchy!! But over all nice sound..
What's up aurenell! Thank you for the kind words. All three are amazing speakers with my fav going to the RF-7 III, then RF-7 II and then RF-7. Thanks for watching!
I own a pair of RF-7 II and i can't lie i still think they sound better in this video more alive then the new RF-7 III i think it could be the setup u have going tho for some reason the RF-7 II sound for direct and more punchy then the RF-7 III do.RF-7 1 They sound good but they sound more harsher.
It’s difficult to capture in a microphone what my actual ears are hearing but the RF-7 III are definitely not harsh as the top end is more refined and slightly laid back compared to the RF-7 II. Both are amazing speakers thoughThanks for watching!
Yes the RF7's are great and I have 2 pair of them. Love them. I also dampened the horns using 1/2" stick on insulation to cut down any harshness. Original RF7's are the best. Plus I have 2 Klipsch RSW-15 Subwoofers to go with them. I feel over the years Klipsch has degraded their speakers and still sell them at high prices. Get less for more money. Sounds like that's what is happening to everything. Glad I got mine back in the 90's. They still kick great.
I have to add the RF 7 Classics win, with me listening to the comparisons through cheap $3 speakers on my Samsung laptop. Listening through such crappy speakers makes me laugh at myself. I was a Klipsch owner for 18 years> I decided to try something different as I moved from a house to a one bedroom apartment. I have Martin Logan ELS speakers in my small living room/dining room. I have always noticed that once you get a a decent high quality level of speaker, the room has more to do with the sound than buying new speakers. I don;t have room correction on my setup and I wish I did. Oh well, that will be my next purchase :)
What I'm hearing is little to know difference between the RF7 and RF7II, maybe a slight density/increase in bass, but very faint if at all times, but upon turning the volume up on my headphone amp, it is there. With the RF7III there is a big difference in bass response from the RF7 and with the RF7III the bass is much fuller and even noticeable between the RF7II and RF7III, no difference in treble or mid range between the models. There probably is a bigger difference in person due to You Tube Compression. The volume also gets louder between each speaker, being loudest with the RF7III, are they more efficient? On the second song the RF7 sounded louder and less loud on the RF7II. The RF7III sounded a little more composed/smoother and had a slightly wider soundstage. The second song also did the RF7 justice and showed that even though there are some differences between models, it's not mind blowing and the RF7 still held it's own and actually sounded better than the II and III on the second song with the II's and III's sounding smother overall. The RF7 was louder on the second song which could possibly be due to efficiencies between the speakers. There is something about a horn that I just never forgot after my first pair of Klipsch. Did you end up keeping all of these or were they just in your home for testing.
Hi Sid, in person, the RF-7 sound a bit "shouty" and harsh, especially at high volume levels. The RF-7 III are definitely the smoothest sounding from top to bottom but I really like the sound of the RF-7 II as well. My favorite currently is the RF-7 III (slightly) over the RF-7 II and the RF-7 being my lowest pic. The RF-7 are 102db, RF-7 II 101db and RF-7 III are 103db but you should not be able to hear a difference between 2db. I've always been told that our ears need 5db to really hear a difference. Not sure to the validity of that but that's what I've always heard. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. As you've heard, certain parts of a song they sound very similar while other parts (vocals, various instruments etc) make their differences more apparent. The RF-7 are in my son's bedroom, the RF-7 II are in the living room and the RF-7 III were sent to me by Klipsch for review. I'm not sure how long I have them. I won't be complaining if they say I can keep them. LOL
I’ve had the RF7i since 2006, and yes they sure can get bright and harsh if venturing past 85-90dB in my experience, even with a good quality Arcam amp. I need to hear the 7iii in person...
They're all spiritual successors, becoming more of everything with each iteration. The RF-7 iii has more bass and is sharper in spots. I'm emotionally attached to the all-wood sleek appearance of the RF-7 ii, but totally understand the black face of the iii. Have you seen Klipsch's walnut finish in person? Does the grain have a tigers-eye effect to it? The original is live sounding in a way, almost like a heritage speaker, but more. I can see why these are made where the heritage series is made. They're very true to Klipsch's philosophy.
@@Youthman Yeah. About 4 days ago. Sure, you can buy the Jubilee right now as the KPT-535-B, but they changed the driver for the tweeter on the Heritage Jubilee, and added the fantastic veneer. I love that about Klipsch. Always will. A thing that amazes me is the rest of the division. The KPT 684 SW, and the KPT 1802 HLS. I wonder if some day, they'll dress those things up as Heritage units for Roy, or any of the fine creators over there. Trey got me into Klipsch in 2009, and I've been hooked ever since. RB-61ii's, RF-82ii's, RF7-ii's.
funny how i have recently developed this strange hobby of spending alot of time surfing the net and reading customer and media reviews of klipsch speakers,the newer models in particular.
When switching between the two and the 3's the drums are much more scarp on the 3's like they lost there bass and only have treble. Or like there standing in a empty room.. Don't know for sure but in this video I would go for the mk2
I agree on the second song the drums sounded a bit sharp in this video on the RF7 III, less body (thinner) than the other 2's. The other 2's have more dynamic in that single element. Is it maybe only the video or does it really sound like that ? We don't talk about the bass qualities but only about those drum comparison in the middle frequency section.
Seems like the speaker choice would be mostly determined by the acoustics of the room, sound dampening, etc. Say, could you compare them with some different music? For instance Rush - La Villa Strangiato? Or Rush - Circumstances? Both are from the Hemispheres album (1978). The studio recordings, if you can. This music is so classic and from my teenage years, so I know it very well. It would be a great way for me to really size up the differences between the speakers calibrated by the specific music experience of my own ear; i.e. some of the music I know best. Anything from the first four Black Sabbath albums would be great as well, though I'd prefer the Rush. I think La Villa Strangiato would be awesome through these Klipschs! Do it! Do it! Do it! You won't regret it ;-)
Thanks for the suggestions but they were setup during an Audio Get Together I had. Currently I have the SVS Ultra in the living room, the RF-7 II in my sons room and the RFA-83 in the theater room
You said it yourself. The room plays a major role. Best to tune the room to your speakers instead of the other way around. Funny you should mention Rush. I always use what I refer to as “The Hemispheres Test” when demoing speakers too. The biggest Rush I ever had was when I once owned a pair of Altec A7 Voice of the Theater speakers and was driving them with a Peavey 50/50 tube amplifier of all things!! Unfortunately I eventually ended up selling them when we moved and I no longer had the room for them. I now own a pair of Klipsch RP-280F combined with a pair of RP-150M on the front end, an RP-450C center, RVX-54 for surrounds and 3 Emotiva subwoofers. I don’t quite reach the sound pressure levels of the Altec VOT but the Klipsch’s are very accurate and smooth. The system also gets very loud! 🥂 Cheers! When they turn the pages of history....
This comparison could be more exact if you would record the two songs on each pair in the same position as the previous set (for the youtube audience) and A/B/C them in post. For you guys sitting in the room not that awesome if you want to switch between the speakers. Thanks anyways for the “generation” demo. Did you try some room correction in this room (Dirac for example) since no treatment is possible in the living room?
No I didn't try that. I figured staggering the speakers would yield very close results. To switch speakers every time I switch songs isn't very practical. My HK Receiver is a stereo receiver so it does not have any room correction software.
Was that Bonnie Raitt you were playing? If this type of music is really your thing, check out Vaya Con Dios. They're a Belgian trio around vocalist Dani Klein. You'll love 'm
Honestly....I'm not a big fan of Bonnie. I played it since someone suggested it as a quality recording. I mostly listen to Pop music (top 40 kind of music) or anything with a beat (NF, Lecrae etc). I do like Tracy Chapman though but when I uploaded it with her audio, the video was blocked Worldwide due to copyright. LOL. So I removed her track and re-uploaded. I'll check out Vaya Con DIos through. Thanks for watching!
You have GOT to listen to Sabrina Claudio. She has an amazing voice and her music is perfect for demo'ing the capability of your speakers as it is mixed masterfully, has striking vocals, and dancing bass lines to represent the low end. She is kind of a mix between Sade and Alica Keys.
Вторая версия RF-7 - лучшая, это отмечают многие знатоки фирмы. Первая детальна, но верха явно перегреты. Третья звучит с рупорным окрасом на средних частотах. Вторая имеет самый сбалансированный звук из представленных, кмк...
Do you find the RF-7 III a bit more muted or rolled off on the top end compared to the others? Perhaps due to the redesigned tweeter or rubber material around the tweeter? Seems high frequencies are more dampened. I prefer the RF-7 IIS.
The RF7 III have the smoothest tip end out of the three speakers and IMO sounds the most refined. I share my thoughts between the three here - th-cam.com/video/J3ZTAI9-06s/w-d-xo.html
Rf7 gen1 with deanG upgrade is hard to beat. I closed my eyes and couldn't tell a difference, maybe the III had a little more bass. I power mine with 650 watts each with two emotiva mono blocks. More power wakes them up no doubt. Here in the future a pair of 3's are now $4000, hard pass. Spend your money on amps. If i did grab a new speaker, something like a KEF R11 meta, id just keep them
dude i go back to the fortes.....klipsch is the only thing i buy .....i have the RF7 for 15 years....and realize they dont make speakers like they used to
A good video, but so much is lost by the time it's recorded, uploaded and played on my system I would have appreciated some commentary on what stood out to you in person. From what I can tell the III sounds the best, but cosmetically the II is by far the best looking, especially in Cherry. I wish I could get the III with the Cherry finish of the II and with the veneer front. I'm rocking some original RF-7s now. For me the big question for when I upgrade if whether to go Heritage or not.
No worries, the Audio Demos typically do not include much, if any, commentary. Check out this video - th-cam.com/video/J3ZTAI9-06s/w-d-xo.html for my thoughts on the three.
![[UNCUT]"ตุลามรณะ"ย้อนฟังคำทำนาย หมอดูทุกสาย ดวงเมืองร้อน (หมอปลาย ฟองสนาน อ.โอเล่)I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lE5az5VvT9M/mqdefault.jpg)
I got the Classic's ... for what I hear there's totally no need to upgrade :p
I just love them ... there so fantastic ...
Still rockin my original RF7 to this day. Made in Hope Arkansas USA. They Still sound great.
I like the RF-7ii for sure
They are fantastic speakers for sure. I have paired them against Forte III and Heresy III and my ears preferred the RF-7 II. I'm leaning more towards the RF-7 III now. :)
for sure, the 2's are the best of the bunch
Very natural sounding...
Praying mantis Kung-fu me too I thought I was the only one can tell from the 2 to 3 the2 Sound more real and crisp
as classic owner i agree
As for me I like RF7 it's more clear, thanks
Great speakers and very detailed
Gotta love the classic RF-7's...I won't be getting rid of mine just yet!
The classics in this demo sound the best to my ears.
never make fun of a klipsch speaker. they're very sensitive
Nice!
They might be sensitive but they wouldn't get crossover nothing.....
@@markrigg6623
Keep your wife and girlfriend away from Klipch they are very HORN E
Yes, they're very sensitive but don't crossover them cause they will pound you with sweet sound!!🤣
RF-7 sounds bigger and more open than either of the other 2 models. It's pretty darn different right off the bat.
I can hear the room with the RF-7, it narrows right to the artist with the next 2 model speakers. The top end rolls off on the 3rd model, but ever so slightly from the second.
If I had to pick based on what TH-cam is doing to compression and what not. It would be the RF-7 (first one). It is brighter, so I may match it with a softer DAC/AMP. But, from just a sound stage presentation.. The RF-7 by a mile.
If your listening to just the artist. The RF-7ii. That really has strait to the point sound stage. The RF-7iii is just a tad on the softer side than the ii. But, still right at the artist level.
Really ? All three speakers sound really distant, a little sluggish on the mid-bass, and muffled when compared to listening to the track directly here.
th-cam.com/video/i0-OayXxaqc/w-d-xo.html
My vote goes for the Original 7's. I think that the twang of a plucked guitar string is the truest representation, as well as the sharp crack of the drum hits, especially the snare. Just beautiful sound. Ugly duckling but that's not what sound is about. III's are a close second but I find the II's to be noticeably soft and muted compared to the other 2.
You really can't go wrong with any of them Rich. It just comes down to personal preference on the sound you are most pleased with. Thanks for watching!
RF7 MK1 MORE DETAILS AND CLEAR SOUND RF7/2 RF3.The Winner is RF7 1👌👌👌🙏
Yes, i agree with you ! RF7 first version win !
Its more aggressive in the treble which helps it when recorded and played over various devices. But in real life.......not as good.
The biggest difference in my opinion were between the RF 7 and RF 7 II .... I didn't hear as drastic a change between II & III but you certainly can't go wrong with any of 'em ... With a great sound system and the ability to tailor the audio to your liking any of 'em would make a great addition to the entertainment room.
You are pretty much spot on with my review.
agree
In my room, we didn’t hear much difference in the bottom end. Slightly better midrange but not major. Most improvement we heard during my audio get together was in the top end. Very refined, yet detailed.
JUST ADD THE 10 ohms resistor to the RF 7 ....and you will see how it TRASH them all.
@@Gioxtream I thought the Sam thing!
Just picked up a pair of cherry RF-7's in mint condition on OfferUp today for only $400! There's a couple of black center RC-7's on ebay but they want $500 a piece! These are all for my backyard movie nights or sports and BBQ's. Then back to garage for storage until next time.
Killer backyard system
🍒Cherish them.. Thats a ridiculously low price :)
I heard the same thing in another video, the RF-7iii sound so much more dynamic and lively. I wonder if they are a touch more efficient and the volume increase may explain the difference. But I DEFINITELY heard it in 2 different videos comparing Klipsch speakers
I usually level match speakers when comparing.
The classic for Shure nr: one best instrument balans and detail 💪🏽🎶🥁
Outstanding comparison. They clearly made improvements with every version. Only thing 3’s are missing is some of the color from the tom toms in the final song. Strange drop in that range for some reason.
@@florida995 nope the rf7 iii build is very cheap
I'll give you ten thumbs up! Awesome video and very interesting results for sure. I've never found my RF7 Is to be bright in my room, and in this video, the Is seem to have the most "live" sound without sounding "veiled" like the II and III. So I'm glad I'm still happy with my RF7 Is and very fortunate to own them. Thanks again!
Wow Robert! I've never received that many thumbs before! Thanks bro! My room is very lively to begin with. 15' x 25' living room with 12' ceilings, lots of hard surfaces, and opens to the kitchen, breakfast nook, home office and dining room. Lots of echo in my room which I know is horrible for 2ch listening but it's what I have to work with. Can't ever see the wife letting me put acoustic panels on the wall. The RF-7's are definitely the brightest speaker, and to my ears in my room, they can get a bit harsh. One of the guys that came over for the demo a few weeks ago has RF-7 powered by McIntosh and he said in his room, they aren't overly bright either.
You made a good point. I use a Denon receiver, but use a Bob Carver Sunfire 400-7 amplifier which was designed to have a somewhat "tube" sound. The speakers do sound quite different when driven by the Sunfire versus the Denon amps.
I bet the tubes do help smooth out the top end.
Growing up my Dad had the most beautiful La Scalas that I have ever seen and one day he "upgraded" to (4) RF7's, the RSW-15 and whatever model the corresponding center channel was at the time. For me the ultimate combo was the La Scalas with the Sub but, to each their own. Hearing this the RF7's are nice and lively. I personally think part of what I loved about the La Scalas is the cabinets. The whole box resonates. Such a beautiful thing.
Awesome! Thanks Youthman. So great to hear them side by side. And I must say, its a huge relief to me and my wallet to find that I prefer the sound of the RF-7 classic. LOL.
Nothing wrong with that Jason. :) Keep rocking bro!
I have original RF-7's as well. It's definitely not like we're roughing it. :)
Die Rf7 III klingt Spitze ,hat den schönsten Hochtonbereich finde ich und spielt sehr offen und detailliert in der Wiedergabe.
RF7 ... is truly more sensitive.
They are nice when stacked, more lively and real sounding.:)
Awesome thanks for sharing!
Listening on my RF5's and the RF7's sounds a lot like the RF7III's But the RF7's sound the most live to me still of live music! There range to the top end is up there! The RFII's are not as high on the high end. I am Glad Kilpsch brought back the top end for the RFIII's. Thanks for the review.
Thanks
Another great dem video, you can certainly hear the family sound character of all three models. They all sound good, the 7ii seem to sound a bit fuller than the original 7’s and the 7 iii again slightly fuller and tamer-treble, not that any sound bright in this dem. The original 7 sound more transparent/ open, but they all sound great in different ways.
There is a reason the RF-7 are Klipsch's Flagship Reference Speakers. They all sound different but all three rock!
Great video comparison,awesome sound quality. Well done!
Wow I really enjoyed the original RF7 classic version. However in person I wonder what my preference would end up being.
The RF7 II and RF7 III have a smoother top end without sacrificing detail and clarity. Just depends on what your ears prefer.
Thank you for this comparison! I have stumbled upon a badly cared for pair of RF7. Very dirty, crusted dust. Needing to take the large drivers out so that I can clean more inside the cabinet. However I got them to where I can listen to them without being disgusted. They still sound just as good as I could image the should, and that is even without a working woofer on one of them. My plan is to clean them up and then sell them for something a bit smaller. Truth be told they are just to big for my area.
It’s unfortunate when people don’t take care of their speakers, but I have seen that many times over the years myself.
Look for the RF-5. They are a bit smaller and still fantastic and from that same series.
The first model RF-7 have more balanced and detailed sound for me.
THE RF 7 BEATS THEM ALL.
That's no surprise.Unfortunately, since the takeover of audiovox, Klipsch is not what it used to be.
Klipsch hasn’t changed since VOX. I have never been a fan of their entry level speakers (synergy, Icon and now the “Reference”). But their Reference Premiere, RF7 and Heritage series still are incredible.
@@Youthman Klipsch makes good speakers, but i've recently compared the Klipsch RF-5 with the RP 280f and the new RP 280f hasn't any chance. By the way, I'm not alone in my opinion. I recently talked to a sound engineer who worked for Klipsch at the time and he also said that the RP Series can't possibly compete with the first RF Series.
Keep in mind you are comparing a $1200 (from 10 years ago) pair of speakers with an $800 (with inflation) pair of speakers.
The RF5 also had the large 1” titanium compression driver that the flagship RF7 series had. The Reference Premiere does not have that high caliber of a tweeter. You have to step up to the RF7 III ($3200 pair) to get that.
So not quite an apples to apples comparison
I’ve owned the RF5’s and didn’t think they were all that great.
Laughing because I just played this through my RF-7’s and thought “I can’t tell the difference “. Then it occurred to me that if my RF-7’s could sound like RF-3’s they’d be RF-3’s! Then I turned on the rest of my reference 7’s (RS and RC) along with the RSW-15 and I thought “I love my klipsch speakers.”
The RF7 Series is one of my favorite series Klipsch has made. Keep rocking them!
Same thoughts, same speaker system! I hear differences but only ones that my RF-7s showcased good or bad. A winter project is to DynaMat the horns in the whole sysyem (7) to control resonance.
Good idea with the original 7’s and possibly the RF7 II since they both have plastic horns. No need on the RF7 III
Try listening through headphones, you will definitely notice how bright the 7i’s are compared to the other two.
Yeah they all sound the same through my iPhone XR speakers....I guess my iPhone sounds like rf7iii lol. I’m dumb.
Got mine and they are indeed awesome. I dont have living room with a pair of speakers in it. I have a pair of speakers with a living room around.
Great vid again. The mic is awesome. The sound is slightly right on my head phones on the 7's, in the middle on the ii's and slightly left on the iii's just as it should be. I would say the ii's and iii's open up more then the 7's. Bass is definitely stronger on the ii's and iii's.the differences are more noticeable to me from the 7's to the ii's and more subtle from the ii's to the iii's. Gotta love these comparo's...
Appreciate the kind words. Glad you are enjoying the videos.
The classic are the overall winner in my opinion. They are great on their own but shine with a good sub, like the RSW12. ( which I prefer over the 15 for controlled output) Shame I had an entire classic line stolen by a "friend" I was helping through a rough time.. I'm talking RF7,RC7,RS7 and RSW12 with a complementary Sunfire HRS 12.
Oh wow Bean. That’s terrible. Sorry to hear that. That was a killer system.
Hi great video ...awesome, i love the sounds from RF 7, it's sounds pure and live, RF iii sounds filtered. Wish i could play the track "you have loved enough" from Leonard Cohen on RF-7 Cheers !
The RF-7 tend to be a bit too bright. The RF-7 II and RF-7 III have a more refined top end.
Ten utwór brzmi swietnie na moich rf7 mk1
With the Stock crossovers the RF 3's and 2's sound alike. In the previous video, I could easily tell the difference between the RF 3's and the RF 2's with it's after market crossover.
The RF 7 is the most harsh sounding out of the 3.
i use my headphones 🎧 and i can tell RF -III sound much clear and louder and detail is amazing
Thanks
Great video! The RF-7's look like dwarfs now. 😆 The RF-7IIs sound more muted than the RF-7's. I like the iii's. But I love my RF-7's! Thx youth! 👌🏽
Haha...they do. I remember the first time seeing the 7's I was like DANG those are HUGE! Not anymore. LOL
Bit late coming to this video but I have to say I preferred the 2's, and then looking down I see others did too: Bass seemed overblown on the 3's whereas the 2's just sounded 'right' Thanks for posting
I like more the Yamaha ns 777. Crazy or not ? :-) FOR ME IS THE RF 7 II
YOUTHMAN!! iv watched this video prob 30 times over past 4 years!!! I own the Rf7 classic and I prefer there sound in this presentation!!! I had mine in a huge 30 x 60 concrete daylight basement, as shown in my profile pic.. They were very bright until I put up the cardboard n drapes. Now I have em in my garage and have coats on walls and floor rug.. Its perfect!!!! Very good tonal accuracy achieved :)
Great video Youthman. Thanks for all the efforts. I was coveting the Klipsch 280f's. you've now ruined my day ;-) ...all the best, an Irishman living in Nottingham, England.
The 280F are still a great speaker. Probably the best bang for your buck with Klipsch
I'm with the others who say the first generation RF-7 sound more appealing with them being more open and straightforward than the II's and especially the III's. With what "improvements" each ensuing series has to offer plus overall inflation the MSRP price seems to have nearly tripled from the original 7's to the 7 III's and then actually sound worse (in my ears - of course, I'm listening to them thru two dinky computer speakers - maybe it's a different sound in a showroom). I have a pair of the original 7's bi-amped with two Yamaha tanks from the 1990's and the sound they deliver is nothing short of incredible. One of my speakers is running off of just one woofer (damaged voice coil, I believe - I just disconnected it so I wouldn't hear it rattle at higher volumes) and the loss of bass is barely noticeable, maybe something to do with the cabinet symmetrics (?). If anybody knows where I can find a replacement RF-7 woofer or maybe a single RF-7 speaker with a beat-up cabinet for cheap (due to their age, Klipsch no longer stocks replacement drivers for the original 7's; I've checked eBay, Simply-speakers, and a few other sites with no luck), it would be greatly appreciated.
klipsch rf 7 one, richer, more detailed and controlled...for me. but those of the video are the first series or the classic replica of 2009?
Hello from Russia!!) Are you still have the pair of RF-83's? It will be awesome to add them to your comparison.. Thank you very much for your videos, watching all of them is a pure joy!!
Hello from sunny Florida in the US! I sold the RF-83 after purchasing a pair of LaScalas. It blew the RF-83 away on every level except for the slam that the RF-83 have. Take a look at this article Klipsch posted to their blog - www.klipsch.com/blog/klipsch-la-scala-trio-home-theater-room-build
I was waiting for this!
Enjoy! Thanks for watching. I'll be giving my thoughts on the difference in probably the next video.
The RF 3's sound the most accurate, while the RF 1's sound the most 'live' and the RF 2's are right in between. IMO....
Thanks for your efforts, Youthman. Really great video - I could hear a difference in sound stage, both width and depth were increased on the 3's compared to the 2's. The 3's presented more isolation of the instruments compared to the 2's as well, and had better imaging because of it. Tonal aspects were very similar comparing the 2's and 3's. Perhaps in person with several hours of listening you can identify some differences. I heard a fuller and slightly more transparent base in the 3's compared to the 2's .. Bottom line, the 2's and the 3's have far more in common than they have in difference. They both sound fantastic !!
Thanks for your comment Jamie. Man, I only wish I could adequately describe what I'm hearing like you are able to. My ears hear a difference but many times, I cannot put into words what the difference is. I tend to speak in simple, layman's terms. I think your assessment is spot on though. They definitely sound different, not drastically, but different. Both RF-7 II and RF-7 III are amazing speakers. Love the RF-7's but they are a bit on the bright side for my ears, especially at really loud volume.
The beautiful sound of RF-7, is clearly the winner. Still the legend :)
The IIIs are by far the best sounding speakers. Smoother, more balanced from top to bottom, and the bass, wow, much tighter and controlled.
Completely agree
I would recommend trying to hear them in person. Midrange is surprisingly good for a non horn midrange. Unfortunately there isn’t a way for me to accurately capture on a recording what I’m hearing in person. Doesn’t help that my living room acoustics are horrible.
I could see where that would be beneficial. Klipsch doesn’t make many 3-way floorstanding speakers. My KLF-30 were 3-way but we’re a bit too bright on the top end for my taste. Guess there are no perfect speakers.
The RF-7III have more bass weight ... It was difficult to hear mid & top end differences via headphones, though the older RF-7 sounded slightly more forward, but overall the RF-7III's sounded superior, and that's via TH-cam and headphones, so "being there" must have been pretty amazing.
Since my above feedback, I'm seriously thinking of buying a pair of RF-7III's ...
Now I'm thinking Black or Cherry ... Since you've seen both (I'm thinking Cherry at this stage) what's your opinion?
Because of where I live, it's not possible for me to see or hear them, but the kind dealer (if I buy) will give me a two week window to send them back in, if not completely happy.
I absolutely love my cherry RF7 III. Everyone has black...with a black front, I have the best of both.
Let me know if you end up buying them. Hopefully the videos have been beneficial to you.
*I like RF 7 ii little more.*
Listening from my dollar store headphones.
Great demo thank you. All sound great though the RF7 III seem to have a more deep bass but not boomy just nice and full well balanced.
Thanks Gary.
Very good comparison. I know that judging the sound via youtube is not good, but in my humble opinion, there is a big difference in the sound between RF 7 and RF7 II. Also, I think that the sound from RF 7 III is more clear than in RF 7 II. From my perspective, the RF 7 III has the best sound from these speakers. But again it is just the sound via youtube. Good job. Greetings from Slovakia.
I’ve heard all three in my own set up, and I would concur the same. The RF7’s were pretty harsh and very bright. Each new version became more refined in the top end. Bottom end didn’t really change.
Youthman have you ever considered doing a Klipsch RF-7iii vs Tekton Double Impact shoot out? That would be a great 👍 review! This one was pretty darn good...
Thanks King. I reached out to Tekton several months ago but never heard from them
Interesting, I reached out to them several times and they never returned my e mails. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The DI’s get rave reviews but unfortunately there’s no dealers in my area where I can get a demo.
Emotiva is the same way.
They all sound great. I honestly think they get better with each edition. RF-7s sound great but the IIs give a bit more bass. The IIIs have about the same bass as the IIs but give better Highs so IIIs compared to Is, the Bass and Highs are both better. At least that's what I'm hearing. If you like bass and not too concerned with the Highs, I think the IIs would work perfect. If you like bass and clearer Highs, I think the IIIs is where it's at. For me, the IIIs are on point. Sound AMAZING!
Travis, I agree with they have improved with each version.
Holy cow! Now that’s a speaker selection. I just received my new pair of Klipsch RP-280F in Walnut. Love them so far. Got a terrific price too because the walnut ones were on sale. Went from a 5.1 surround sound system(I just don’t watch many modern movies)to a oldschool stereo receiver. Just the two speakers no sub woofer.....plenty of bass!.
Hey Mike, I have only had one opportunity to hear the Reference Premiere and it was at Magnolia in Best Buy. Sadly, they don't have a clue how to setup speakers. Subs were turned WAY up to where they sounded boomy and overpowering the front sound stage. I have heard great things about them from owners though. Klipsch is supposed to send me a pair of RF-280F to review sometime in March so I'm looking forward to that. I would love to see the Walnut since I haven't seen that finish yet. Nothing wrong with a 2.0 setup. Sure beats the mess out of TV speakers. :) Rock on and thanks for watching!
Youthman I’ll watch for that video. The walnut looks awesome very retro but elegant.
Maybe I'll ask Klipsch to send me the RP-280F in Walnut so I can see them myself.
I’m 2 seconds away from pulling the trigger on that same deal. The walnuts are beautiful. Not sure why they’re so much cheaper than the other finishes!
Hey Sam, did you get a quote from Cory?
I played this video on my RF-7 II setup. The RF-7 original sounds just slightly sharper in the high end than the II or III. The I also sounds just a tab less powerful in the low end than the II or III. I can not tell any sound difference between the II and III as the clip is played through my RF-7 II. Maybe in front of the live speakers there would be more noticeable differences. If one already has the II, there is not enough sound improvement between the II and the III to upgrade and if one is on the market for a II or III, I suggest getting the II at a great discounted price instead of paying full price for the III. There simply is little to no noticeable sound difference between the II and III to justify the $1,500 difference.
Thanks Shun. I just released another video on the RF-7 III. I'm with you...I don't think I would sell my RF-7 II to upgrade to the RF-7 III if I had to pay $1500 to do so, even though I feel the RF-7 III sound better than the RF-7 II. Thanks for watching!
I do crossover upgrades for these. RF-7 has more of the original klipsch sound.
A suggestion: listen through earphones WITHOUT watching the video and look at it only when you like the sound.
By the way, in my opinion the IIIs lack a bit of bass because they are not 100% broken-in yet and for the opposite reason the RF7 Is sound richer in the mids.
Even if a comparison like this is not enough to judge these speakers, it is useful to determine they sounds differently, so thanks for doing it!
Thanks Fabio
I'm not sure how well you can compare these listening through another speaker as i am, yes, I have a very high fidelity system but I just find this odd. To my ears the original RF7's sound the most pleasing here, not as accurate at the 3's but just a more open sound, eq'ing could totally change that though.
robwas listen to them in person before buying, as the original RF7’s can be very bright and harsh when turned up loud.
I finally listened to this video through my headphones yesterday. Immediately I noticed the drastic difference between the 7i vs the 7ii & 7iii - it's like the 7i's are turned up several notches higher in volume because it's that much brighter. It confirms what my ears hear in person (I've owned the RF7i for 12 years). The 7ii and 7iii are definitely much much smoother, and more difficult to distinguish through the headphones. The 7iii does seem slightly smoother than the 7ii, but not dramatically so. Really looking forward to auditioning the RF7iii when the time is right for me! Thank you for posting this video Youthman!
You can definitely hear the improvement in having less horn coloration the newer model is in this video.
Thanks Don.
Youthman from the video the oldest version reminds me of old 90s to early 2000 klipschs and is definitely my least preferred one among the three. The ver2 and 3 are different from each other from here as well but due to the headphone I am using which has a coloration of its own, I would have to listen to the two in person to know which model sounds more lifelike. Klipsch did a good job in making the big jump in ver 2 then just more slightly refining ver3
I agree. It’s hard to preserve what I’m hearing in my living room through a recording but think your assessment is spot on.
Hey there Youthman........Lots of hard work getting that together!, HATS OFF to you for arranging all this ! I hope you are enjoying the use of the H4n recorder, the sound quality has really improved the audio portion of your productions ! (O:
Thank you kindly. I have been borrowing the H4n and had to return it. SVS is shipping me their Ultra Tower Speakers to review, then in March Klipsch is sending me the RP-280F to review and then sometime later SVS will be sending me the SB-16 Ultra Sub to review so it looks like I am going to invest in the Zoom H4n Pro as I will be needing to use it for future reviews.
They all sound awesome.😂😂
For sure! But I do have in my mind a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
But RF7 III looking best
There are a lot of mixed thoughts. A lot of people do not like the painted black front face because they cannot see the wood grain but to me it gives it a more modern look especially with beveled edges and the plI think. The plinth was new to me so it took it a bit to grow on me.
I like RF7 III because they looking like old brother of RP 280F 😁👌
Or a Father 😀
In this video, in this constellation and position, you would like it or not, with no doubt the winner are RF-7! They are not weighted as likely as the other two, but it gives them even the advantage, they are the most alive here! The RF-7 II had the worst position, although it seems that this is not the case, since none of the two speakers is far enough away from the rear wall and they sound as if they were ''tightened by the throat''. The biggest disappointment are RF-7 III, because they should be probably the best here... At the end, for my money, sound and beauty (in cherry veneer) and the current price of the new ones, RF-7 II are the ones I would buy!
Dragan, the RF-7 II are fantastic speakers. My room is very lively due to a lot of hard surfaces so the RF-7 III help with that but the RF-7 II sound amazing as well and have used them for several years in my 2ch setup. To my ears in person, the RF-7 III have a slight advantage due to the smoother top end. The RF-7's are a tad bright in my room. You can't go wrong with any of these three...there is a reason why they are Klipsch's Flagship Reference Speakers. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for your reply and thank you for your effort to compare all these speakers. In my country, this task is a little harder to accomplish. Maybe it will be easier with European manufacturers... I'm still opting for Klipsch RF 7-II. In positioning them, they do not have to be turn too much towards the listener (they can be set straight ahead or just a little towe in) and then the tweeter and the high ton will not be so pronounced, unlike the III that has a rubber horn and that is not a problem. What is certain, products made in US, like RF's and Forte III from Klipsch and from others manufacturers like Tecton Designe - Double Impact or Zu - Omen, Definition and Soul Supreme or perhaps Wallsh - Tall 2000, can once again be proud of themselves in terms of ideas, innovation, design, workmanship and price.
Thanks for watching!
all of them sound amazing but rf III is more detailed in sound and bass
I agree
I figured with the price of the RF-7 II being $1,600 cheaper (per pair) now I was buying the RF-7 II's. I told my wife I would be kicking myself if I didn't buy them at 2k a pair! From what I remember and your video reinforced is that the original RF-7's were very bright. The RF-7 III's I would love to hear in person but doubt I could justify the price difference. All great speakers though and you can't go wrong with any of them.
Scotty, I think you are correct. The RF7 II are still fantastic speakers. The cost difference between the RF7 II and RF7 III might be reasonable to some and not justifiable to others. I do believe the RF7 III are a better speaker but there is a bigger difference in sound between the RF7 and RF7 II than there is between the RF7 II and RF7 III
You really can’t go wrong with either speaker
RF 7 still sounds awesome!
The R 7 III's is my pick, wider sound stage and smoother.
The RF-7 III is my top pic as well. Not a massive win over the RF-7 II but there are some definite improvements that I'm hearing.
Awesome video Youthman! I got new 7IIIs 3 months ago. They sound much better after a seemingly long break in. It seems necessary to keep them away from the wall or they lose their low, deep tight, clean bass. At about 85 db the speakers sound amazing with at least 17 inches behind the speaker. Huge loss in sound when too close to walls. While being efficient they still seem to sound better with a more powerful amplifier even at lower volume
Great comparison, great video!!
Seriously whoever gave this video a thumbs down deserves a serious kick in the ass! Great 👍 job Youthman!!
Thanks Buck! I'll leave the butt kicking to you. LOL
Great job and ausome vdioe. The iiis are an improvement over the iis for sure. Its no by a lot but you can tell. The sound stage is different and no matter high or low it was balanced and the bass souds tight. My orders from Metropolis Lake Outfitters are all coming thursday and i cant wait. Cant speak enough to Youthman for all the great videos and all the insight. 👍👍
Super excited for your new toys! Definitely reach out to me and let me know how you like them.
Youthman I will, just received the 64 iii and the 15 inch sub. 7 iii coming anytime
And thanks Youthman for this comparison, which version do you prefer?
What up ym! My opiñion Rf-ll adds that nice mid bass and it all comes together very nice cool vid man... the threes are more punchy!! But over all nice sound..
What's up aurenell! Thank you for the kind words. All three are amazing speakers with my fav going to the RF-7 III, then RF-7 II and then RF-7. Thanks for watching!
I own a pair of RF-7 II and i can't lie i still think they sound better in this video more alive then the new RF-7 III i think it could be the setup u have going tho for some reason the RF-7 II sound for direct and more punchy then the RF-7 III do.RF-7 1 They sound good but they sound more harsher.
It’s difficult to capture in a microphone what my actual ears are hearing but the RF-7 III are definitely not harsh as the top end is more refined and slightly laid back compared to the RF-7 II. Both are amazing speakers thoughThanks for watching!
Yes the RF7's are great and I have 2 pair of them. Love them. I also dampened the horns using 1/2" stick on insulation to cut down any harshness. Original RF7's are the best. Plus I have 2 Klipsch RSW-15 Subwoofers to go with them. I feel over the years Klipsch has degraded their speakers and still sell them at high prices. Get less for more money. Sounds like that's what is happening to everything. Glad I got mine back in the 90's. They still kick great.
Love to hear they are still going strong!
I have to add the RF 7 Classics win, with me listening to the comparisons through cheap $3 speakers on my Samsung laptop. Listening through such crappy speakers makes me laugh at myself. I was a Klipsch owner for 18 years> I decided to try something different as I moved from a house to a one bedroom apartment. I have Martin Logan ELS speakers in my small living room/dining room. I have always noticed that once you get a a decent high quality level of speaker, the room has more to do with the sound than buying new speakers. I don;t have room correction on my setup and I wish I did. Oh well, that will be my next purchase :)
What I'm hearing is little to know difference between the RF7 and RF7II, maybe a slight density/increase in bass, but very faint if at all times, but upon turning the volume up on my headphone amp, it is there. With the RF7III there is a big difference in bass response from the RF7 and with the RF7III the bass is much fuller and even noticeable between the RF7II and RF7III, no difference in treble or mid range between the models. There probably is a bigger difference in person due to You Tube Compression.
The volume also gets louder between each speaker, being loudest with the RF7III, are they more efficient? On the second song the RF7 sounded louder and less loud on the RF7II. The RF7III sounded a little more composed/smoother and had a slightly wider soundstage. The second song also did the RF7 justice and showed that even though there are some differences between models, it's not mind blowing and the RF7 still held it's own and actually sounded better than the II and III on the second song with the II's and III's sounding smother overall. The RF7 was louder on the second song which could possibly be due to efficiencies between the speakers. There is something about a horn that I just never forgot after my first pair of Klipsch. Did you end up keeping all of these or were they just in your home for testing.
Hi Sid, in person, the RF-7 sound a bit "shouty" and harsh, especially at high volume levels. The RF-7 III are definitely the smoothest sounding from top to bottom but I really like the sound of the RF-7 II as well. My favorite currently is the RF-7 III (slightly) over the RF-7 II and the RF-7 being my lowest pic.
The RF-7 are 102db, RF-7 II 101db and RF-7 III are 103db but you should not be able to hear a difference between 2db. I've always been told that our ears need 5db to really hear a difference. Not sure to the validity of that but that's what I've always heard. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. As you've heard, certain parts of a song they sound very similar while other parts (vocals, various instruments etc) make their differences more apparent.
The RF-7 are in my son's bedroom, the RF-7 II are in the living room and the RF-7 III were sent to me by Klipsch for review. I'm not sure how long I have them. I won't be complaining if they say I can keep them. LOL
I’ve had the RF7i since 2006, and yes they sure can get bright and harsh if venturing past 85-90dB in my experience, even with a good quality Arcam amp. I need to hear the 7iii in person...
RF7 III are much more refined on the top end.
They're all spiritual successors, becoming more of everything with each iteration.
The RF-7 iii has more bass and is sharper in spots.
I'm emotionally attached to the all-wood sleek appearance of the RF-7 ii, but totally understand the black face of the iii.
Have you seen Klipsch's walnut finish in person? Does the grain have a tigers-eye effect to it?
The original is live sounding in a way, almost like a heritage speaker, but more.
I can see why these are made where the heritage series is made. They're very true to Klipsch's philosophy.
I have not seen the walnut finish yet. Did you see the announcement of the Jubilees? www.klipsch.com/ces-2021
@@Youthman Yeah. About 4 days ago. Sure, you can buy the Jubilee right now as the KPT-535-B, but they changed the driver for the tweeter on the Heritage Jubilee, and added the fantastic veneer. I love that about Klipsch. Always will.
A thing that amazes me is the rest of the division. The KPT 684 SW, and the KPT 1802 HLS. I wonder if some day, they'll dress those things up as Heritage units for Roy, or any of the fine creators over there. Trey got me into Klipsch in 2009, and I've been hooked ever since. RB-61ii's, RF-82ii's, RF7-ii's.
You have a great setup
funny how i have recently developed this strange hobby of spending alot of time surfing the net and reading customer and media reviews of klipsch speakers,the newer models in particular.
You and me both. LOL There is no cure for this addiction.
When switching between the two and the 3's the drums are much more scarp on the 3's like they lost there bass and only have treble. Or like there standing in a empty room.. Don't know for sure but in this video I would go for the mk2
It’s going to be difficult to hear differences from the video. I didn’t hear any difference in the bottom end between the three speakers.
I agree on the second song the drums sounded a bit sharp in this video on the RF7 III, less body (thinner) than the other 2's. The other 2's have more dynamic in that single element. Is it maybe only the video or does it really sound like that ? We don't talk about the bass qualities but only about those drum comparison in the middle frequency section.
Is it maybe the reason that the RF7 III Crossover has a different setting ( more linear) compared to the other 2 Speakers? Just a thought.
Seems like the speaker choice would be mostly determined by the acoustics of the room, sound dampening, etc. Say, could you compare them with some different music? For instance Rush - La Villa Strangiato? Or Rush - Circumstances? Both are from the Hemispheres album (1978). The studio recordings, if you can. This music is so classic and from my teenage years, so I know it very well. It would be a great way for me to really size up the differences between the speakers calibrated by the specific music experience of my own ear; i.e. some of the music I know best. Anything from the first four Black Sabbath albums would be great as well, though I'd prefer the Rush. I think La Villa Strangiato would be awesome through these Klipschs! Do it! Do it! Do it! You won't regret it ;-)
Thanks for the suggestions but they were setup during an Audio Get Together I had. Currently I have the SVS Ultra in the living room, the RF-7 II in my sons room and the RFA-83 in the theater room
You said it yourself. The room plays a major role. Best to tune the room to your speakers instead of the other way around. Funny you should mention Rush. I always use what I refer to as “The Hemispheres Test” when demoing speakers too. The biggest Rush I ever had was when I once owned a pair of Altec A7 Voice of the Theater speakers and was driving them with a Peavey 50/50 tube amplifier of all things!! Unfortunately I eventually ended up selling them when we moved and I no longer had the room for them. I now own a pair of Klipsch RP-280F combined with a pair of RP-150M on the front end, an RP-450C center, RVX-54 for surrounds and 3 Emotiva subwoofers. I don’t quite reach the sound pressure levels of the Altec VOT but the Klipsch’s are very accurate and smooth. The system also gets very loud! 🥂 Cheers!
When they turn the pages of history....
Awesome video! Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video. I have lots of other Klipsch videos as well as some SVS, Parasound etc as well
love to see the III vs 83... ik I'm in the minority but I love the 83's..lol
Thanks for the comparisons.
Glad you enjoyed them
RF III is great, more rounded sound, we feel envelop in.
I agree
This comparison could be more exact if you would record the two songs on each pair in the same position as the previous set (for the youtube audience) and A/B/C them in post. For you guys sitting in the room not that awesome if you want to switch between the speakers. Thanks anyways for the “generation” demo. Did you try some room correction in this room (Dirac for example) since no treatment is possible in the living room?
No I didn't try that. I figured staggering the speakers would yield very close results. To switch speakers every time I switch songs isn't very practical. My HK Receiver is a stereo receiver so it does not have any room correction software.
Was that Bonnie Raitt you were playing? If this type of music is really your thing, check out Vaya Con Dios. They're a Belgian trio around vocalist Dani Klein. You'll love 'm
Honestly....I'm not a big fan of Bonnie. I played it since someone suggested it as a quality recording. I mostly listen to Pop music (top 40 kind of music) or anything with a beat (NF, Lecrae etc). I do like Tracy Chapman though but when I uploaded it with her audio, the video was blocked Worldwide due to copyright. LOL. So I removed her track and re-uploaded. I'll check out Vaya Con DIos through. Thanks for watching!
You have GOT to listen to Sabrina Claudio. She has an amazing voice and her music is perfect for demo'ing the capability of your speakers as it is mixed masterfully, has striking vocals, and dancing bass lines to represent the low end. She is kind of a mix between Sade and Alica Keys.
My vote is for the RF-7 II's!
Can't go wrong with the RF-7 II or RF-7 III. They both are incredible speakers. It really comes down to preference. Thanks for watching!
very close to getting myself a pair of RF-7 II's :-)
They are great speakers for sure
Looks like the RF7 II are now on sale too - amzn.to/2EglgiC
Das ist ganz klar zu hoeren dass die rf7 klarer spielt und beim Schlagzeug hat lauterer Beat.
Is that all you do? Unboxings and play the speakers?
I'm not sure what your question is Karl. I have a full time job, a home business and a family of 6 and make TH-cam videos as a hobby. Does that help?
RF 7 classic👌🤘✌🙏clear Sound.
Hello,kann you tell me Please is really RF7 sound clear er than RF7ll&RF7lll ?Thank you 🙏.Sorry i can not good englisch🙂
The RF7 are the brightest sounding of the three but all three have amazing clarity and detail
Вторая версия RF-7 - лучшая, это отмечают многие знатоки фирмы. Первая детальна, но верха явно перегреты. Третья звучит с рупорным окрасом на средних частотах. Вторая имеет самый сбалансированный звук из представленных, кмк...
Do you find the RF-7 III a bit more muted or rolled off on the top end compared to the others? Perhaps due to the redesigned tweeter or rubber material around the tweeter? Seems high frequencies are more dampened. I prefer the RF-7 IIS.
The RF7 III have the smoothest tip end out of the three speakers and IMO sounds the most refined. I share my thoughts between the three here - th-cam.com/video/J3ZTAI9-06s/w-d-xo.html
Hey Youthman, have you ever compared the Klipsch with any of B&W's top speakers?
I would go with RF 7 ii
Rf7 gen1 with deanG upgrade is hard to beat. I closed my eyes and couldn't tell a difference, maybe the III had a little more bass. I power mine with 650 watts each with two emotiva mono blocks. More power wakes them up no doubt. Here in the future a pair of 3's are now $4000, hard pass. Spend your money on amps. If i did grab a new speaker, something like a KEF R11 meta, id just keep them
dude i go back to the fortes.....klipsch is the only thing i buy .....i have the RF7 for 15 years....and realize they dont make speakers like they used to
The 7II's sound the best through my Bose companion pc speakers lol. Good vid though Michael!
Thank you mrCChunter!. I see you have some sweet copper in your profile photo. Headed to see if you have any videos on your channel. ;)
Ok really? Your last post was 5 years ago with the RF-42 II? LOL. Get to posting bro. You have a KILLER upgrade since then.
Hey those were the 52II's! hee hee
Oh my bad. You still have some major updates that that the world needs to see. :)
Very interesting and thanks for great videos, what is the song playing?
Shazam doesn't recognize it
I typically add the songs in the drip toon below the video
RF- 7 Expensive
RF-7II More expensive
RF-7III Most Expensive
ESS AMT Awesome
To each his own
A good video, but so much is lost by the time it's recorded, uploaded and played on my system I would have appreciated some commentary on what stood out to you in person. From what I can tell the III sounds the best, but cosmetically the II is by far the best looking, especially in Cherry. I wish I could get the III with the Cherry finish of the II and with the veneer front. I'm rocking some original RF-7s now. For me the big question for when I upgrade if whether to go Heritage or not.
No worries, the Audio Demos typically do not include much, if any, commentary. Check out this video - th-cam.com/video/J3ZTAI9-06s/w-d-xo.html for my thoughts on the three.
Here are my thoughts on Forte III vs RF7 II - th-cam.com/video/7iCXOeniom0/w-d-xo.html
And my thoughts on Heresy III vs RF7 II - th-cam.com/video/9Vu8RWJK8KE/w-d-xo.html
@@Youthman Thanks! I just found your channel, so I'll do some catching up. :)
There’s plenty to keep you busy for quite some time. Enjoy