RBH Sound TK-5C Bookshelf Speaker System Review

Slashdot It!

by Gene DellaSala — last modified February 06, 2008

Summary

Product Name: RBH Sound TK-5C Bookshelf Speaker System Review
Manufacturer: RBH Sound
Performance Rating:
Value Rating:
Review Date: December 05, 2007 16:52
MSRP: $ 499/pr

Specifications: Frequency range +/- 3 dB                       60Hz - 20kHz±3dB
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m)                            86.0 dB
Nominal impedance                               8 ohms
Recommended amp power                     50– 100watts
Crossover frequency                              3kHz
Tweeter driver                                        1” Silk Dome
Low frequency driver(s)                           5 ¼” Fiberglass cone
Enclosure type                                      Ported
Connection input(s)                                Single Wire
Recommended placement                      Bookshelf or Standmount
Dimensions (H x W x D)                         7 1/4" W x 12 3/4" H x 8 1/2" D
Weight                                                  19.5 lbs/ea
Video Shielded:                                     Yes
Grill:                                                     Black cloth
Finish                                                   Black/Rosewood (gloss black accents)

Pros

Bold dynamic sound from a small package
Easy amplifier load
Rounds out the TK series as an all around top notch high value speaker system

Cons

A bit of lower midrange coloration present depending on source material
Ho hum aesthetics and finish

Introduction

The RBH Sound TK-5Cs were top notch performers, sounding BIGGER than they looked without faltering at high SPL levels. If you can't find an RBH dealer in your area, check out the EMP EF30s which are similar in performance but almost $150 cheaper through the Audioholics online store.

RBH Sound TK-5CT Floorstanding Speaker Review

Recent Forum Posts:

Read the Complete Thread

Post Reply

Clint DeBoer posts on February 02, 2008 18:27

silversurfer;368922
Depending on source material? It either colorizes the signal or it doesn't.

No, he means you can't always hear the coloration.

zhimbo posts on February 02, 2008 09:03

Josuah;368602
I have a hard time reconciling a 4.5 performance rating with the individual scores which never exceed 4....

Something with no weaknesses is darn good to have.

The overall scores aren't mathematically derived, they're subjective, but even if mathematically derived it wouldn't have to work by simple averaging. If you did something like percentile rank within a price range for all the sub-scores, then converted to a star score, 4.5 is probably about dead on (90th percentile).

silversurfer posts on February 01, 2008 22:24

This comment in the "cons" puzzles me:

A bit of lower midrange coloration present depending on source material

Depending on source material? It either colorizes the signal or it doesn't.

Josuah posts on February 01, 2008 12:17

I have a hard time reconciling a 4.5 performance rating with the individual scores which never exceed 4....

gene posts on December 06, 2007 21:12

Was that a typo in the review or just a mistake in pricing? I'm curious to know if that would effect the ratings considering that the costs were off by 25% ....

It was an error on RBH's part as I was originally told they were $400/pair. I was on the fence about giving them a 4.25 for value but since we only rate in 1/2 point scales now, I rounded down to 4 stars. The price adder would drop them to 3.75 but in that case I round up to 4 so it stays around the same.

While I believe you can find speakers at $500/pair that blow these away in aesthetics, I am still confident they perform up to par with some of the best speakers in their price class.