Klipsch RB81 BLACK BOOKSHELF SINGLE 2-Way Black Reference Series Bookshelf Speaker

The Klipsch Sound Experience

The Klipsch Reference Series RB-81 has captured all the thrills and intensity of a floorstanding loudspeaker in a new, attractive bookshelf model. The RB-81 may be compact, but it packs a dynamite sound -- full of power, detail, and emotion. This bookshelf model is one of the highest performing and most affordable loudspeakers Klipsch has ever introduced.

What's Inside

The new, compact RB-81 bookshelf loudspeaker can fill a room with brilliant, soulful sound because it incorporates Klipsch's flagship technology, and it does it at an affordable price that everyone can appreciate. At the heart of these speakers is the same compression driver technology used in Klipsch professional cinema speakers. Their extraordinary design, featuring a Tractrix Horn and Cerametallic Cones, delivers clarity, efficiency, power handling, freedom from distortion, and reliability that sets new standards for home speaker systems. High-quality internal wiring is used to ensure superior connection from the voice coils all the way to the electronics. The RB-81 is a loudspeaker that truly lets you hear through to the original performance, to experience every detail and feel all the emotion.

Tractrix What?

Molded into a sculpted, low-diffraction baffle, the RB-81's 6 inch Tractrix Horn tweeter delivers effortlessly detailed midrange and treble. The Tractrix Horn's carefully calculated flare dramatically increases driver efficiency, allowing production of very high sound levels with minimal amplifier power and no strain or distortion. It also controls the sound's directivity (90 degrees horizontal x 60 degrees vertical dispersion), ensuring excellent coverage of the listening area while minimizing detail-obscuring reflections off of walls, floor, and ceiling. Fed by a smooth, accurate titanium-dome tweeter, the Tractrix Horn is the key to the vibrantly realistic, emotionally compelling Klipsch Sound Experience.

Bass To Brag About

So much more than just a pretty face, the RB-81's rugged Cerametallic Cone woofer with its massive, video-shielded magnet generates deep, powerful bass. Its distinctive anodized-aluminum -- and oh-so-pretty --copper-colored cone exhibits a very high stiffness-to-mass ratio and superb damping characteristics that translate to outstanding responsiveness and near-total absence of resonance and breakup. The result is quick, clean, articulate low-frequency reproduction. A rigid cast frame -- far superior to conventional stamped-steel baskets -- maintains perfect alignment of the large, high-temperature voice coil. Beauty and beast, all in one speaker, yes!

Better Heard And Seen

These bookshelf speakers are finished in luxurious hardwood veneers and constructed, like all Reference Series models, to the highest standard throughout. From the drivers to the cabinets to the crossovers, cabling, and electronics, everything is built to deliver maximum performance for many years to come. Capable of filling any room with rich, full-range sound, the elegant, wood-veneered RB-81 is a tasteful complement to other furniture. It stands out in performance and blends in to your decor.

Simple Set Up

Installing the RB-81 is a breeze. It has a front-mounted, flared port to facilitate placement in a cabinet or against a wall. The RB-81 also has a back-panel keyhole for flush mounting to a wall and a threaded insert for attachment to popular adjustable wall and ceiling brackets. You won't have to worry; you won't even have to read the instructions.

Write A Review

Big, Bold, Sweet and the Best (March 28, 2010)

Ease of Use		(5/5.0)
Value		(5/5.0)
Performance		(5/5.0)
Overall Rating		(5/5.0)

Reviewed By: Saurabh A. - La Jolla, CA

This is my 5th different Klipsch Speaker Gone through Klipschs quintet II and SL, RB-51, RVX-42, RS-42 the best and for sure the last one. It is not compact and looks more like a small floorstander rather than a bookshelf. So first check you space but if you have some for these fat babies, you are in for a treat. Also, if you are not single, get their size approved by your significant other!!!
I was wary of buying a speaker with an 8 woofer as I was scared of loosing out on midrange, but recommendations and reviews made me buy these as my fronts and I am glad I did. It seems like Klipsch pays special attention to their 8 woofer, Just perfect. I would have tried RF-82 or RF-83 if I had the space but as I already had an awesome subwoofer in Mirage Omni S10, I did not need to. The port at the front makes it possible to put them very close to the front wall so that is a serious positive over floorstanders which need at least a foot or two of space behind them. And also a single woofer means no vertical lobbing effect.
This is arguably, the best speaker I have ever heard, music movies or blast, they mind nothing. If you like chesty male dialogues, you just need to crossover a little lower around 60Hz. They are very sensitive and I use them at only 25 of my 90Wchannel onkyo reciever and they are deafening loud.
Since the woofer is very strong and sensitive, they do not sound harsh or bright at all as other horn speaker might be.
Klipsch says that these use ceramic motor magnet better than a neodynium magnet.
Breaking-in say around 30-50 hours is a must as these have huge woofers. Do not evaluate them right out of the box.

About Vanns, only if I got a penny for each time I recommended Vanns to everybody!!! My Favourite Shop for audio video gear. This was like my 8th purchase from Vanns.

Comparison Specifications

Power Handling: 150 W Maximum Continuous (600 W Peak)
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms Compatible
Tweeter: 1 Inch Titanium Diaphragm Compression Driver
High Frequency Horn: 6-Inch Square Tractrix Horn (90 Degree Horizontal x 60 Degree Vertical Dispersion)
Woofer: One 8-Inch Cerametallic Cone/Cast Polymer Frame
Crossover Frequency: 1800Hz
Frequency Response: 46Hz-23kHz +/-3dB
Sensitivity: 97 dB @ 2.83 Volts/1 Meter
Enclosure: Bass Reflex Via Front-Firing Port, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
Input Connections: 2 Sets Of Binding Post Speaker Terminals (Connected Via Brass Strap Jumpers)