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677
4.4 out of 5 stars

Klipsch R-15PM Powered Monitor (Pair)

$199.99
$499 60% off Reference Price
Condition: New
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Top positive review
10 people found this helpful
The Real Deal
By Kingboy on Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021
After disappointing trials of 2 well reviewed speakers from another manufacturer (rhymes with “Shedifier”), on the advice of friends I decided to give the Klipsch R-15PM a try. They do not disappoint! Out of the box I noticed these are definitely NOT desktop speakers, as they measure in at 12 1/2” high x 7” wide x 8” deep. Great on a bookshelf, but significantly larger than other speakers I tried. The trademark copper woofers and boxed tweeters look cool, although they lack the screw details of some of the more expensive models. Build quality seems average. The exterior finish looks kind of cheap, and some of the connectors don’t line up perfectly in their openings in the back. You also have to stick on the supplied rubber feet yourself. Not really a high-end unboxing experience. It’s obvious to me that Klipsch put the money in the speaker cones and circuitry, and the exterior appearance was lower priority at this price. Also they’ve ditched the speaker covers completely, so even if you wanted to cover the cool cones, you can’t. One primary driver of this purchase was the potential of ditching my dying receiver but still being able to use my prized 80’s Sony linear-tracking turntable. Set-up was relatively trouble-free. The R-15PMs have a built-in switchable preamp, so you don’t have to buy a separate one if your turntable needs it. If your turntable is already amplified or if you want to use a separate preamp, no worries, there is a “line” switch at the back of the speaker that disables the built-in amp. I plugged in an old subwoofer (straight RCA connector) to enhance the bass. I did have a little trouble with the initial Bluetooth connection, but after about 4 tries it’s working reliably. Some reviewers complained about the volume level resetting after the speakers shut off. This isn’t a problem for me, and honestly I didn’t even notice it. I guess if you’re far away from your music source that could be irritating. I adjust the volume at my device or using the remote with no issues.Sound is impressive for the kind of music I listen to (mostly rock and jazz). Highs are crisp and definition is great. Bass is clear and not muddy. Keep in mind these are only 5” woofers so if you want to rock the house with earth-shaking bass you’ll need to look for something bigger. I had to turn up my sub to 7/10 to even hear it, which is fine for my needs, but I think the lack of additional amplification from the receiver affects the subwoofer performance. But I’m by no means an audio expert.Although these speakers are made in China, Klipsch is an American company that’s been around a long time and has a good reputation. I like the idea of supporting an American company.Terms like “reference” and “studio monitor” are bandied about these days, but these affordable units really fit the bill. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find better speakers with these features without spending a LOT more. Looking forward to using these speakers often and hoping they will get even sweeter after a good break-in period.Pros:1. Great sound! Tremendous, sharp highs and decent bass. (A subwoofer is recommended)2. Turntable ready- really! No preamp required, which saves at least around $20, making the Klipsch an even better value.3. They look cool with the signature copper woofers4. Subwoofer input (standard RCA which is a plus)Cons:1. No bass/treble controls (not a big deal)2. Build quality is a little lacking. The quality obviously went into the internals.3. Bluetooth connectivity is a little fiddly, but reliable once it’s connected4. No covers (nice to have, but they hide the cool cones), DIY rubber feet5. Lacks some of the latest digital connectivity; not WiFi compatible. Not a deal-breaker for me.6. Remote has limited functions (and it’s NOT the one pictured!)
Top critical review
39 people found this helpful
Good sound, but the worst feature engineering I've ever seen in a high end audio product
By Billy Hollis on Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2017
Problem one: the speakers have a power-saving mode that you cannot turn off. They go off after less than an hour of inactivity.Problem two: It takes about TEN SECONDS for them to return to full operation when you start feeding them an audio signal.Notice what this means. They are useless when hooked to a computer, because they are usually powered down when system notification sounds play. They don't come back soon enough for you to hear anything. This also applies to using them with an Alexa or other device that doesn't put out sound continuously.Problem three: When they return from power saving, the volume is reset to its default, low level. So unless that low volume suits you, you have to adjust the volume EVERY TIME THEY RETURN FROM POWER SAVE.I've been buying good quality audio gear for over forty years. This is the first time I've gotten something on the high end, and was flabbergasted by the poor product engineering. I have to ask the Klipsch product engineers: What were you thinking? This product's features are rage inducing. Having good sound is fine, but there are lots of products with good sound. That doesn't overcome a user experience that must have been designed by an anti-social engineer.I saw that they had the power save in another review, and almost didn't buy them. This review is to convince you so you don't make the mistake I did. If you don't want to put up with awful user experience, don't buy these. I have returned them, and it's only my third product return in twenty years of using Amazon.

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