Klipsch R-15M Review [Listening Impressions]

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Klipsch enjoys a great reputation for manufacturing some of the finest speakers in the market today and you don’t have to be a serious audiophile to know that.

Its attention to detail in engineering and design leads to speakers that are sophisticated in sound and elegant in aesthetics.

Recently, I stumbled upon the Klipsch R-15M bookshelf speakers and I’m excited for the opportunity to try them before giving you this in-depth review. It’s lightweight but still maintains that extreme rigidity to reproduce low frequencies without distortion.

But, does it really offer high-quality sound? Is it a steal for its price point? Are they as good as the Klipsch reputation suggests? Keep reading our Klipsch R-15M review to learn everything you need to know before you buy.

Table of Contents

TLDR: Klipsch R-15M Bookshelf Speakers Review

Product Description

User Experience

The Klipsch R-15M performs remarkably well. It sounds punchy, precise, and clean. Although its bass is something that will not amaze people who love deep bass, the Klipsch R-15M speakers still cope with the loud volumes.

It sounds without distortion, like a champ. Its driver integration may be jarring. However, the newer Klipsch R-15M version removes this problem completely. So, my recommendation is you just purchase the newer version.

Design

The Klipsch R-15M package is aesthetically pleasing and is made from quality materials used in Klipsch’s bookshelf speaker line. In fact, of the many Klipsch speakers or bookshelf speakers of other brands that I have reviewed thus far the Klipsch R-15M speakers are one of the cleanest looking I have seen.

They are small, which means they can fit into various interior layouts. It is covered with black vinyl and the added brushed polymer veneer complements the speakers’ overall design. At 10.3 pounds and 8.1x7x12.5 inches size, though, these bookshelf speakers may be a bit big for some settings.

What Makes it Stand Out

If you’ve watched the USA Network series Suits, you may have noticed that Harvey Specter has a pair of Klipsch R-15M in his office. But no, that’s not exactly the reason why these speakers stand out.

For me, these bookshelf speakers have such a classy design that they are not only meant to rest on a shelf, but also on a desktop. Another interesting aspect of this unit is the aluminum linear travel suspension tweeter with the 90 x 90 Tractrix horn.

The one-inch aluminum tweeter helps increase the audio accuracy. Also, the horn speaker design has a purpose in terms of sound quality, which I will discuss later.

A combination of these features alone is what makes these speakers worth your money and time. And they’re not even that expensive compared to other high-quality speakers in the market.

Pros

These speakers perform beautifully
Great sound, clear even at lower frequencies
Small size to fit in any room
The horn-shaped speaker gives a more efficient and higher level of audio output
Instantly recognizable Klipsch design with its dark laminate cabinets
Can be used as a side, front, and surround speakers; work great for home cinema setup
The flexible and removable grille adds a refined look to the speaker
Bass response is covered by IMG woofer
Inexpensive pair of speakers

Cons

Does not have integrated amplifiers, like other bookshelf speakers
There are not many ways to attach these speakers to different surfaces; no mounting supports

Is it worth it?

Considering its features and design, I can say that the Klipsch bookshelf speaker does offer you the best quality for its price. It is far from being the cheapest speaker in the market, but it is equipped with advanced proprietary technology.

The sound produced by these speakers remains constant and is extremely clear even at a lower frequency range where other sound systems would have distorted output sounds.

In-Depth Review of the R-15M Klipsch Speakers

Here are other important details you need to know about the Klipsch R-15M bookshelf speaker:

Specifications

Frequency response	2hz – 24khz +/- 3db
Sensitivity	94db @ 2.83v / 1m
Power handling	(cont/peak): 85w/340w
Nominal impedance	8 ohms compatible
Low-frequency extension	54hz
Crossover frequency	1800hz
High-frequency driver	1″ (2.54cm) aluminum diaphragm compression driver mated to 90° x 90° square tractrix® horn
Low-frequency driver	5.25″ (13.3cm), copper spun magnetically shielded Img woofer/ injection-molded graphite woofer
Enclosure material	MDF
Enclosure type	bass-reflex via rear-firing port
Inputs	single binding posts
Height	12.5″ (31.8 cm)
Width	7” (17.8 cm)
Depth	8.11” (20.6 cm)
Weight	10.3lbs (4.67 kg)
Finish	brushed black polymer veneer
Built from	2014

Klipsch Sound Quality and Durability

In terms of sound quality, the Klipsch R-15M is one of the most efficient speakers in the market today. Perhaps, the reason why it stands out is its horn. But what exactly is this Tractrix horn?

Tractrix Horn’s role in delivering natural sound

The Tractrix horn technology that is seen in some Klipsch products is highly efficient in that it provides more accurate sound with less distortion and less power. As a result, it creates cleaner and louder audio.

And to achieve that clean, natural sound, Klipsch’s law is that efficiency is inversely proportional to sound distortion.

Additional Features

IMG Woofer– Another great feature that Klipsch passive speakers have is the IMG Woofer. They provide a good low-frequency response and, at the same time, minimize distortion.
Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) – This feature minimizes cone breakup and distortion to ensure detailed and enhanced performance.

Rear-Firing Port – This matches the dark laminate cabinets and woofer. The purpose of this feature is to minimize turbulence regardless of sound frequency.

Who is it best for?

These Klipsch speakers are ideal for those who don’t have enough space at home for a floor-standing speaker. Because of its compact size, it can be placed in a medium-sized room.

Best Alternatives

The best alternatives to Klipsch speakers would be the Polk Audio Rti A3 that also has a distinct sound like the Klipsch. The size is slightly larger but the features don’t go too far with the R-15M.

Another speaker that I would recommend in terms of high-quality stand would be the JBL Arena 130. With its HDI waveguide technology, it is able to spread the sound around the room or you get a flexible sweet spot.

R-15m Review: What Do People Say About it?

Amazon

With an above-average rating on Amazon, plenty of online buyers left positive feedback on Klipsch speakers, particularly the Klipsch R 15m bookshelf model.

One customer said, “These are great speakers. They look awesome. They come with screens, but I don’t use them. They have a balanced sound. I was afraid the tweeters would be too sharp. But I use an automatic Audyssey setup so it’s possible it’s compensating.”

However, there were a few who were not so happy with their purchase. One wrote, “I won’t lie and say that I’m not fairly disappointed by their harsh sound. But at this price point, I wouldn’t know that any other brand would be any different. I got a fantastic price during their ‘black Friday in April’ sale.

Klipsch has a big horn at the top. It looks more like a loudspeaker you’d see at a stadium designed to move a lot of air and broadcast a loud sound. Even at 1/4 volume, these will bounce off the walls in my fairly big living room. The room is filled with sound and unfortunately not in a great way.”

YouTube

HomeTheatre101 shared on YouTube that the Klipsch R-15M speakers “sound good [and] look good. Klipsch, you’ve done a great job. For those looking for bookshelf speakers, the Klipsch R-15M, they’re gonna be a great choice for anyone. Really, they got great bass, nice horn load fixture (a feature that increases the overall efficiency of the speaker’s driving elements), and the thing produces a beautiful treble.”

Leona197 also reviewed the R-15M Klipsch speakers. “They are relatively bigger than the Corsair SP2500 (previous speakers he owned), they sound really nice, and they don’t take a lot of space on your desktop. They have the control unit [that is] about the size of the mouse. It’s pretty neat, but I needed more power or better sound. So, my next option was bigger bookshelf speakers with a receiver and a bigger subwoofer. So, I [also] bought the KLIPSCH KSW 10 Speaker Subwoofer.”

Meanwhile, an audiophile shared his Klipsch R 15m bookshelf set up at home. “ I’m just in the mood for sharing my music listening devices… It’s been a little over a year since I first compiled the speakers, amp, and sound card. I recently added the subwoofer a few months back. The Klipsch speakers sounded bright and beautiful from the moment I powered them up. Paired with the Sound Blaster, the speakers became even more vibrant and clear. I love the Sound Blaster control panel and its EQ adjuster.”

Bottom line: Should You Buy It?

With the many features of the Klipsch R-15M speakers, I can say that they are worth buying. They have a well-balanced and rich sound and it gives all the frequencies the speakers need to shine. Even at higher volumes, there’s a pleasing accuracy when listening to these speakers.

They are also budget-friendly, which is a plus point to me when looking for a speaker to buy. Rather than investing in a combination of a subwoofer and a soundbar, the Klipsch R-15M would make a good alternative.

The powerful dynamics and high-end response of these speakers are impressive and the aluminum linear travel suspension tweeter does what it was designed for: it keeps the distortion level at least to a minimum.

At times, however, the mids of R-15M speakers can sound thin. Nevertheless, since these speakers can function through a receiver and are considered passive speakers, this issue is something that can be rectified easily.