Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Kliscph RF-3 vs M80

I have a pair of Kliscph RF-3 which I like. Have been going crazy researching an upgrade. I checked out the Kliscph RF-83 and was not impressed. Researched Canada mfg's, internet,audio stores etc. I mean I would go to bed at night going over and over speakers in my mind. Dream about speakers. Anyone have any experience whit RF-3's or Kliscph RF' in general compared to the M-80? Mental help in general?

You could take look here and see if there is somone in your area that is willing to audition some Axioms for you.

Thanks

I auditioned the RF-83s in my home prior to the Axioms. First, I could not listen to them for more than 10 minutes. The highs pierced my skull and drove me crazy. Second, to tame their bass I had to move them 3 feet away from the front wall. This simply would not work in my room. Third (and I didn't realize this until I received the 80s), articulate details and imaging were severely lacking.

FYI, I am in a 4,000 cubic foot room and I sit 8 feet away from the 80s. After having the 80s for a year, I can only say that these are Axiom's greatest accomplishment. They are a speaker that no one should be without.

This I am greatful to hear. I could not wait. I jumped on the m-80's in High Gloss cherry. It is a relief to get that monkey off my back. I will drive them with a Denon PMA2000ivr which really opened up the RF-3's. Now I have to wait 30 days for them to be built.
I'll be 9 feet back in a room 12' by 18'. I hope they are not too much. People there said not. OH BOY. Thanks for the feedback on the 83's.

Report back with your impressions and pictures!! Mmmmm high gloss cherry....... My plain old m60's are envious.

I auditioned years ago some Klipsch RF3-II's before I had started looking at Axiom. The horn sound takes some getting used to, but me being from the 80's and liking metal, did enjoy the Klipsch sound.

However, I would say even the Axiom m60's are much better than the RF3II's were, and the 80's no question will be light years ahead. Be prepared to smile from ear to ear.

I'm working on my grin already. I will get some pictures when I receive in about 30 days. I can't stand it! Hoop de doo!

Blue Grass Man, you did the right thing by getting the High Gloss Cherry. Top of the line speakers with an exceptional finish. You're gonna be happy.

Congrats on your speaker purchase, HGC is sweet.

folks, you are making me feel real good. Only three weeks and five days until m-80's. Stay tuned to see if I make it. BGM


Go R.P.

An after thought. I am starting to seek lp's and c.d.'s. Just ordered Channel Identification,channel Phasing from Editor's Choice: Sampler and Test CD from Stereophile mag. Anyone have it or heard it?

I'm just confirming what Randy said because I also auditioned the RF3's before I ended up with the Axiom M60's. At first, I loved the forward presentation. I liked how guitar and vocals stood out...it sounded like being at a concert. However, because some sounds were so forward, tiny details were drowned out. I went and auditioned some B&W's right afterwards and could hear much more detail. With all that being said, I DID, however, enjoy the Klipsch sound in a theater setting...just not for music.

You will find Axiom speakers have a forward presentation as well. They have a sound like the musicians are in the room with you rather than everything sounding like a blaring rock concert. I have no doubt that you will enjoy them! Congratulations!

Thank you Fox. Well put and I understand. I enjoy movies via theRF-3's, the dialog is quite clear. You and the others are making me feel real good about ordering the 80's. I am impressed with the knowledge and warmth of the forum folks.

Keep in mind that the dialog comes from the Center speaker, not the 80's or RF3's, unless your using an RF3 as a center as well.

You know, I was just reading about that. I have a Denon pma2000 integrated amp., and being a two channel man, how would it run a center channel? I do nor want to get into surround for a number of reasons. Any thoughts?

Home Theater is all about the surround speakers, so not sure why your interested in a center speaker?

Keep in mind you already have a phantom center speaker if you left/right speakers are positioned correctly and voices sound like they are coming from dead center.

Many people that can't use a center speaker for whatever reason (no room), just turn off the center in the HT receiver menu, this directs the movie dialog to the left/right speakers, which in turn simulates (phantom mode) the voices coming from dead center in front of you.

So basically, you already have a phantom center. But if you have a 2 channel receiver, movie watching just won't give you the same experience as a surround receiver would.

You make good sense. Thanks. I will stick with two channel.

It appears I'm about 5 days late, but I was in your EXACT situation only a few weeks ago. My setup consisted of Klipsch RF-3 mains, Klipsch RC-3 center and Klipsch RS-3 surrounds. I enjoyed this setup for many years, but like you, was just dying for an upgrade.

I listen to music 90% of the time (99% of which is SACD). With the Klipsch's, I generally played them in Multichannel (when available).

I ended up going with the M80s, VP-150 and QS8s and I will say this: MAJOR sound upgrade. I'm not sure about how significant of a change I see with the QS8 or the VP-150 but the M80s SMOKE the RF-3s. The biggest adjustment is re-training your ears to listen to the titanium tweets instead of the Horn drivers in the Klipsch. Quite a different sound but already I have gotten used to it and am MUCH happier. And I now find myself listening more in 2-Channel than MultiChannel because the sound is just...Better :-)

I do think the M80s are more picky about placement as it took me a bit to get that "perfect" soundstage but I'm working in a narrow room (12') so I kinda figured it would take a while.

Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed in the sound of the M80s unless you just can't re-adjust to the change from Horns to Titanium.

For what it's worth, here are the specs of the rest of my exact system so you have a comparison point:

Outlaw 950 Pre/pro
Outlaw 750 Amp
Denon DVD-3910 (DVD-A, DVD-V and MC SACD)
Music Hall Maverick (2CH SACD, Redbook)
All Outlaw Audio PCA Interconnects
All Monster M-Series BiWire Speaker Cables
Monster Power HTS-1600

Also, if you have SACD playback capability, I would highly recommend the Blue Coast E.S.E. Sessions SACD. It's kinda pricey but WELL worth it in sound reproduction (especially on the M80s)

Enjoy!!!

Happy to hear it. I ordered the m-80, but have been getting nervous. I read a review on the old m-80 from 2002 which starting me wondering. I only listen to two channel so I am happy to hear that you are happy with the music portion.
What did you end up with in terms of placement? My room is also 12 feet wide. How from from back wall and how far from seating to speakers? Axiom stated six feet wide and nine feet seating.
Let me know and thanks.

Well, my room is a dedicated HT room but it functions as both an audio and video center. The room is 12' x 20' but the back opens up to a larger area. There are three couches in a U shape around the back of the room and there is a burber carpet over concrete. No other acoustical treatments (yet). I have the M80's about 8 feet apart (from center of woofer to center of woofer) and my ears are about 7 feet back from them (on a direct diagonal). I do have a 65" CRT Rear Projection TV between them which I'm sure is not helping the soundstage but for now, I have to deal with it. The speakers are about 2.75' from the wall (to front of woofer). I have a slight toe-in that targets about 4' behind my listening position

Also, I probably read the same bad review(s) that you did but I can tell you that I auditioned a number of speakers before purchase and the one I think most closely compared was the Paradim Reference Studio 100. If they were at the exact same price point, I would have gone with the Paradigm...but the difference certainly couldn't justify a $1,000 price hike...not even close. I also didn't listen to the Paradigm in MY theater, but rather on $25k worth of processing equipment/amps in a showroom so who knows how much of a difference that made.

I still play with them almost every night, making minor adjustments trying to find the "perfect" position.

Thank you for taking the time to respond in detail. I found that helpful.Kind regards.

Hi Blue Grass Man,

There's a reason that the crossover design of the M80 was revised (which altered the tonal balance in the upper midrange) shortly after I joined Axiom in late 2002 and the change implemented in the summer of 2003, so don't consider reviews of the M80 in 2002 as indicative of the M80 v2's tonal balance.

Incidentally, I play 5-string banjo and guitar and I think you'll be thrilled with the accuracy of the M80s with well-recorded bluegrass music, especially the sound of 5-string banjo, mandolin, dobro, and guitar, not to mention the "high and lonesome" vocals.

Regards,

Thanks Alan,
Good to hear. I have too much time to think out here. Three weeks to go before the M-80s.

The 80s are incredible!

Were you on VH1's I Love the 80's [sic] or what?

Hey Alan,

If you'd like to hear an interesting alternative on Banjo playing, check out The John Butler Trio, Grand National. You may already be familiar but they are three guys who incorporate an amazing number of different instruments from strings to horns. There are a couple of blue grass influenced tunes mixed with a slightly more modern sound. If you don't like that, they change genres and instruments about 5 times through out the CD so it's hard not to find a song you like.

Really nice quality sound too. The stand up bass really vibrates nicely.


Hijack over. Sorry, just not often I get to talk banjo.

It's a sin to mention the banjo without also mentioning Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Uncle Dave Macon.

Murph,

Thanks for the recommendation. I shall check them out.
And Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are amazing. His bass player (Victor. . .) is right up there with the best.

I think I have a photo of Uncle Dave Macon in an old banjo instruction book. . .

Regards,