Klipsch Icon V Listening Tests and Conclusion
Starting off, I wanted
to see what the VF-36's could do with bass. Grabbing my trusty Rives
Test CD II, I played a few test tones to see what they could do. Klipsch
rates the speakers down to 36Hz and that seemed about right to me. I was
hearing output at 31.5Hz but it was lower than the 40Hz tone. With some corner
loading and perhaps the right room, you could do without a sub for some music.
I felt that for most music and all movies, you'd definitely benefit from a sub.
The next thing I wanted to do was to compare the VF-36 towers to the similarly priced RBH TK-5CTs. The TK's are now being sold under the EMP EF-30T brand with pretty much identical MSRP as the VF-36s. The TKs sport dual 5 ¾” fiberglass woofers which gives the VF's an additional mid-bass driver advantage, while the TK's have a side-firing 8" woofer. The TK's drivers are 5.75" versus the VF's 6.5". Of course, the Klipsch has the horn-loaded tweeter versus the TK's 1” silk dome. The Klipsch are bigger all around though I feel about the same about the styling (the Klipsch has a slight edge in my mind over the EMP version). Overall, this is a pretty fair match up.
I listened to a number of different albums during the comparison but the defining one was Yello: the eye. With its smoky female vocals, bass runs, and lots of phase shifts, it is the perfect album for head-to-head comparisons. The Klipsch definitely had a more forward sound especially in the high end. The horn-loaded tweeters were dynamic and responsive if a bit thin at times. The TK's sounded a bit more laid back (in comparison), fuller, and had a bit more bass. Imaging was excellent in both. The Klipsch had plenty of bass but it was a hair less defined than the TK's. The largest difference (which wasn't very large and only reared its head through repeated listening tests) was in the midrange. The RBHs were fuller and sounded more well rounded overall. The Klipsch high end was very dynamic though the midrange seemed to suffer as a result. At this price point, I really believe most people would be happy with either speaker.
DVD-A: Porcupine Tree: Deadwing
and In
Absentia
If you are like me,
you've heard one thing about Klipsch - they are great for rock music. Well, it
isn't like I don't have any around, so I popped in a few tracks from the DVD-A
versions of these two Porcupine Tree albums. This gave every speaker in the
system the chance to show off what it could do. The cymbals and higher notes
were well defined and lifelike. The bass was deep, if lacking that tactile
edge. The midrange sounded a little thin which made the highs seems even higher
(if that makes sense). At lower to moderate listening levels, the system
sounded very clean and enjoyable. At higher volumes, I found the tweeter to get
a bit fatiguing and harsh though it never broke up as I've heard with other
aluminum dome tweeters.
Xbox 360: Gears
of War 2, Rock
Band 2
When you are playing a
game like Gears of War 2 you aren't worried so much about sound quality - you
are too busy trying not to die. When I was playing the game with Clint DeBoer, Editor-in-Chief of Audioholics, I
found that I was easily able to determine where we were getting shot from by
the surrounds. With two horn-loaded tweeters, the VS-14s seemed like they would
be very localizable and underperforming but they weren't. Out of the entire
setup, the VS-14s were probably my favorite. With music they blended very well
and with point-of-source effects they let you know exactly where they were. They
provided an immersive experience all the while not forgetting they occasionally
needed to let you know where that sniper just hit you from.
Rock Band 2, on the other hand, doesn't really need surrounds as much as it does a good soundstage up front. The front three channels provide the music and lyrics while the back mostly just offers audience noise and a bit of wraparound. I was never want for hearing the music or knowing where I was in a song. The VC-25 center channel blended nicely with the mains and never made me feel like I had anything but a solid front presentation.
DVD: Spiderman
2
If the Icon V series
of speakers really shined anywhere it was with movies and games. I was
constantly amazed at the responsiveness of the speakers and how easily they
went from loud to soft. The VC-25 center channel did an adequate job with
movies though at times it seemed to fall behind the mains (especially at high
volumes). During playback of The
Incredible Hulk, this was particularly noticeable, though that may be
in part because of the mix of the movie. The surrounds really shined here as
well with their ability to dip in and out of my consciousness almost
effortlessly. Imaging between the rear speakers was excellent and pans were
clean and crisp. I've heard a lot of rear speakers in this room and the VS-14's
hold their own nicely.
Conclusion
For music I wasn't in love with the
Icon V series of speakers. The midrange was a little thin and the high end
fatiguing - especially at higher volumes. For movies, TV, and games, however,
the Klipsch Icon V's are a sure ticket to a great experience. Responsive and
dynamic, the group as a whole performs well. The VS-14 surrounds, in
particular, did an excellent job with both ambience and point -source effects.
The VC-25 center was adequate, if not as impressive as the rest of the speakers
in the group. The VF-36 main speakers are built like tanks. If you are
listening at low to moderate volume levels, you're going to be very happy with
the Klipsch Icon V series speakers. If you like it loud, you might want to
stick with movies and games.
Klipsch Icon V Speaker System
$2059.97
Klipsch Group, Inc.
3502
Woodview Trace, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone: 317-860-8100
Toll Free: 800-544-1482
About Klipsch
Founded in 1946 by Paul W. Klipsch,
one of America’s most celebrated audio pioneers, Klipsch® has long been a
high-end name in loudspeaker design. Today, the brand continues its success as
a leading global manufacturer of premium sound solutions for home, personal and
commercial use. From massive professional cinema speakers to tiny headphones,
Klipsch remains committed to delivering the most powerful, detailed and
emotional sound experiences. Family owned and operated, chairman Fred Klipsch
and vice chairman Judy Klipsch set the vision and strategy for the brand as
well as the entire Klipsch Group, Inc. organization.
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
— Excellent
- — Very Good
- — Good
- — Fair
- — Poor
| Metric | Rating |
|---|---|
| Build Quality | |
| Appearance | |
| Treble Extension | |
| Treble Smoothness | |
| Midrange Accuracy | |
| Bass Extension | |
| Bass Accuracy | |
| Imaging | |
| Soundstage | |
| Dynamic Range | |
| Fit and Finish | |
| Performance | |
| Value | |
Recent Forum Posts:
Matt34;497873
That's what I don't understand, are they going to be reference replacements? Because you can get RF-82 for just about the same price and even less if you shop ebay.
I would have no qualms about having a set of Ref in my HT setup.
They are not the replacements for the Ref series, those are the Icon W's, which perform far better than the V. I just find it interesting that they are at the same price point and there is such a very pointed difference between two in quality. For my money, I'd be all over the Ref.
Matt34;497873
That's what I don't understand, are they going to be reference replacements? Because you can get RF-82 for just about the same price and even less if you shop ebay.
It is peculiar to say the least. You can't blame Klipsch as a company though for pairing with best buy to put out a speaker line. In fact its quit genius. Companies like Paradigm, B&W, and other require a visit to the specialty shop where as Klipsch is positioning themselves to be in the face of anyone shopping for electronics because lets face I say "electronics" most people think "Best Buy".
My only hunch would be that in the push to capture huge market share that BB can deliver Klipsch does not want to put its own Reference line out to be smeared. Most audiophiles will likely dismiss any speakers available in a big box store as high profit low quality knock offs for the mass public. IMHO the RF series can hold its own (I own RF-82's) The possible poor rap the company's premier line could get for just being perceived as cheap just for being on the big chains shelf is worth making a whole new line to prevent.
Just my thoughts.
Now maybe a mediocre speaker is adequate for reproducing the car crashes and bombastic surround sound of the latest "hero outrunning an explosion" movie but not for reproducing the sublime work of Rozsa, North, Elmer Bernstein, Tiomkin, Newman, Rogers & Hammerstein and others.
The reviewer also thought that the speakers in question would need a subwoofer with "all" movies. All? Do we need subwoofers for "Gone With the Wind" and "Sunset Blvd"?
mudrummer99;497804
For the price point, however, I am a bit disappointed in their performance compared to the Reference series at nearly the exact same retail. Overall I like these speakers well enough, and for BB, they are a decent improvement over the synergy series that they are replacing.
Mike
That's what I don't understand, are they going to be reference replacements? Because you can get RF-82 for just about the same price and even less if you shop ebay.
I would have no qualms about having a set of Ref in my HT setup.
