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Klipsch Reference Series speakers offer clean looks and better sound at CES 2022

Ty Pendlebury , , , , ,


    
    Klipsch
    


    This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most incredible tech coming soon.
    


    At CES 2022, Klipsch has pulled the covers off a brand-new range of Reference speakers that feature updated Tractrix horns and an understated aesthetic.
    The line consists of three new floorstanders — the R-605FA (Atmos), R-600F and R-800F — and two new bookshelves, the R-50M and R-40M. In addition there are two centers, the R-30C and the R-50C, plus an R-40SA effects speaker and the R-121SW and R-101SW subwoofers.
    One of the most striking things about the new loudspeakers is the 1-inch copper-anodized aluminum tweeter, and this sits inside an edge-to-edge Tractrix horn. Klipsch says this design offers a “more accurate sound stage and larger listening area.” ?
    
    The Tractrix horn of the R-605FA.
    Klipsch
    The loudspeakers also benefit from a new woofer material called Spun-copper Thermoformed Crystalline Polymer, and an improved crossover that the company says delivers better accuracy and transparency.?
    The three flagship models are as follows:

  • The?R-605FA?floorstander features two 6.5-inch woofers and an integrated, up-firing Atmos driver. The company says it has refined the Atmos connectors and the built-in wire management from previous models.?
  • The Klipsch Reference R-30C center channel is a wide center channel which features four 3.5-inch IMG woofers plus that 1-inch aluminum tweeter.
  • The Klipsch Reference R-121SW subwoofer is an active design that includes a 12-inch driver. ?


    The new R-50M bookshelves boast a cleaner look.
    Klipsch
    Unlike the copper fasteners of the previous versions, this time they’re hidden, which results in a cleaner look. In additio,n the rubber bumpers on the bottom of the speakers have been replaced with cork.
    In previous years Klipsch Reference speakers have performed very well, and I look forward to testing the update to the R-51M, which got an 8.1 from me back in 2018.
    The new speakers are coming in spring 2022 with pricing yet to be announced. However, I would expect the pricing to be similar to the existing Reference models — for example, around $1,660 for the R-605FA floorstanders, $500 for the R-30C center and $300 for the R-50M.