Klipsch Reference Premiere Review – RP-280F, RP-450C, RP-250S, R-115SW

Among the many speaker brands, Klipsch has always played a very special role for generations of enthusiastic music lovers with their striking design and the systematic use of horn-loaded speaker drivers. The Reference Premiere series is the latest product from Klipsch to enter our listening room.

The American hi-fi pioneer Paul Wilbur Klipsch founded the company in 1946, and the namesake and acoustic conscience of Klipsch unfortunately passed away in 2002. No less than 18 patents goes to Paul W. Klipsch, and his name can be found, along with other technology icons like Graham Bell or Thomas Edison, in the "Engineering Hall of Fame."

​The current models from Klipsch uses a specifically shaped horn on the tweeters, the so-called Tractrix horn. This increases the efficiency of the 25 mm dome driver (and thus also the maximum dynamic range of the tweeter) and allow for a more defined sound dispersion with an angle of approximately 90° in the horizontal and 90° in the vertical plane. This ensures that the sound energy is primarily aimed at the listening position and not (as with conventional speakers) reflected off walls, floor and ceiling. This room acoustical phenomena is thereby effectively minimized.

Reference Premiere RP-280F Floorstanding Speakers

​Directly at a first glance you can see that this is a Klipsch speaker! In addition to the Tractrix horns, the typical copper-colored Klipsch drivers catches the eye. Nevertheless, the Reference Premiere series is an all-new speaker line, and while keeping with the classic Klipsch virtues, still manages to look living room friendly in form and style.

For a deep, dynamic bass, the RP-280F utilizes a bass reflex design, and air flow noise from the rectangular bass reflex port is minimized.

R-115SW Subwoofer

​Our two front speakers, RP-280F, already deliver powerful bass, and therefore it´s only logical to go for the "large" subwoofer in the Reference series (as there is no subwoofer in the Reference Premiere series. Yet.) to take over when the 280's cannot dig any deeper.

Klipsch has made no compromises with the R-115SW. Large driver area, plenty of space for it to move, and a powerful amplifier makes for ideal conditions for dry, dynamic and extremely deep bass. The R-115SW has a bass reflex port, which in this case isn´t a tube, but rather a large sized slot opening on the front - flow noise at high volume levels and massive driver excursions are not likely heard.

Measurements and Reference Premiere In Use

Our measurements verify that all of the speakers in the Reference Premiere series have a remarkably high efficiency. With an average 96dB @ 2.83V / 1m for the entire 5.1 set - it´s very remarkable! No less impressive is the balanced frequency response of the RP-280F, apart from a slight increase in high frequencies, there are no disturbing dips or peaks. The transient response of the RP-280F is also impeccable and both the cabinet and baffle are virtually free of resonances and vibrations. A real highlight in the measurement charts is the large R-115SW subwoofer. The lower limit frequency is a fabulous 15 Hz, and even at high levels this bass demon doesn´t sound sluggish.

With seemingly unlimited energy and power in the lowest bass, the Klipsch subwoofer shakes loose and dry and can turn on a dime. At the other end, dialogs taking place in the middle of all the action cuts through beautifully thanks to the RP-450C, and the entire 5.1 setup plays as one cohesive unit and puts the audience, not least thanks to the RP250S, in the acoustic middle of the action - total immersion!