Klipsch Reference R-15PM Powered Monitor Reviewed

Published On: October 10, 2016
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Klipsch Reference R-15PM Powered Monitor Reviewed

Sean Killebrew explores Klipsch's R-15PM powered monitor, a two-way speaker that features built-in Bluetooth and a variety of input options--including a phono input.

Klipsch Reference R-15PM Powered Monitor Reviewed

By Author: Sean Killebrew

Sean Killebrew began his writing career in the '90s, covering football for UCLA (his alma mater). His first foray into publishing was in 2000, with the below-the-line film- and TV-production guide books LA 411 and NY 411. For the past decade, Sean's passion for audio/video has been poured into writing for HomeTheaterReview.com. When not chasing A/V deals, Sean spends time skiing and losing to his son in basketball.

Klipsch-R-15PM-thumb.jpgWhen friends ask me to name an audio company that "doesn't make any crap," Klipsch is always the first name out of my mouth. From the company's lowest priced offerings to its more wallet-pinching reference line, quality and superior sound quality reign supreme. Case in point: Many moons ago, I was gifted a pair of Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 computer speakers. Roughly 15 years and multiple moves later, they're still giving. The bass response and the coherence between the sub and satellites are truly remarkable, especially given the $149 price point. But alas, we're not here to talk about computer speakers of yore; we're here to talk about a pair of powered bookshelf speakers with some fresh 2016 tech sprinkled across their feature set.

The R-15PM monitors are part of the Klipsch Reference Line and retail for $499/pair. In this day and age, and especially in this product category, manufacturers simply must innovate in order to compete. In the case of the R-15PM, Klipsch wisely listened to the marketplace in terms of the vinyl resurgence and added what I feel is the most striking feature: a phono input. I'll dive into more detail on this feature later, but I wanted to make a point of it right out of the gate.

The R-15PM measures 12.5 inches high by seven inches wide by eight inches deep and weighs 10.3 pounds. Taken directly from the Klipsch spec sheet, each monitor features a one-inch aluminum diaphragm compression driver mated to a 90-degree by 90-degree square Tractrix Horn and 5.25-inch copper spun magnetically shielded IMG woofer. The built-in amp is 50 watts per channel, and frequency response is 62 Hz to 24 kHz, +/-3 dB.

Inputs are many. In addition to the aforementioned phono input, you get optical digital, USB, 3.5mm mini-jack, and Bluetooth connectivity. Conveniently for bass junkies, Klipsch also included a sub out. Lastly, Klipsch includes a handy remote that, while small, can handle all necessary functionality. Needless to say, the company has covered the bases and then some in terms of connectivity.

Klpisch-R-15PM-rear.jpgThe Hookup
Simplicity is all the rage these days. Between the ubiquity of Bluetooth and the proliferation of soundbars and powered speakers, most people want to be up and running with as little effort as possible. Klipsch has embraced this trend, making setup of the R-15PMs very simple. The two speakers connect to each other via supplied speaker cable, and one needs to be plugged in to power the internal amplifier.

As for sources, I started by seamlessly pairing the monitors to my iPhone via Bluetooth. Next, I connected my trusty Music Hall MMF 2.2 turntable. Lastly, I connected my old-school Oppo DV-980H for CD and DVD playback. So that's three different music sources, all of which were ready to go in less than 10 minutes, including hassle-free vinyl playback. Sweet!

Klpisch-R-15PM-2.jpgPerformance
As I stated in the beginning, you won't find any weak product offerings in the Klipsch lineup, regardless of price point. As such, I'm thrilled to report that, while the quality of the sound did fluctuate based on source material, by and large I was exceedingly impressed with the R-15PM's sonic signature.

I began "critical listening" (in quotes because it's a bit of an oxymoron to say you're listening critically when streaming via Bluetooth) with Run River North's album Drinking from a Salt Pond (Nettwerk Records) via Apple Music. In my notes I wrote that it sounded simply passable; the sound was a bit thin, lacking depth and coherence. That said, I'd just as soon pin this on the inherent compression associated with Bluetooth and the possibility of a mediocre recording before pinning it on the speakers. Such are the limitations we're faced with when playing back audio from a less-than-desirable source and with less-than-desirable playback technology. What we sacrifice for convenience, eh?

Before switching to vinyl, I also streamed a couple of 311 albums via Apple Music--including their self-titled album and From Chaos (Volcano Records). Songs like "Beautiful Disaster" and "Amber" provided me with a good sense of the R-15PM's ability to provide compelling sound, even through Bluetooth. Also, if you're familiar with 311, you know their songs tend to be bass heavy, and I was impressed with the bass response on the Klipsch, especially given the fact that the low-frequency driver on the R-15PM is only 5.25 inches.

In an effort to better gauge the speakers' sonic mettle, I upped the ante on source material by spinning some vinyl. The choice was simple, as I went straight for Gary Clarke Jr.'s live album (Warner Brothers). If you're unfamiliar with Gary Clarke Jr. but enjoy stellar blues-inspired guitar play and soulful rock-and-roll, I encourage you to check him out. Before I get into some detail on how the record sounded, I'll provide fair warning: I'm going to drone on and on in this review about how cool it is that Klipsch was savvy enough to include a Phono input on these speakers. I cherish my admittedly pedestrian but great-sounding Music Hall turntable, but fret over setting up a proper system--specifically, due to receivers that lack Phono inputs. To be able to simply connect a pair of adequately powered and transparent (enough) speakers to my turntable and be off to the races is a godsend for a vinyl guy. Anyway, Gary's popular "Don't Owe You a Thang," a frenetic, guitar-charged tour de force, sounded fantastic. The Klipsch captured the majority of the nuance and decay of Gary's guitar, and I ended up playing it several times. The R-15PMs captured the soulfulness of his voice and projected the visceral nature of his guitar play with a palpable edge. That said, the vocal quality was no match for my reference system, but it was certainly in line with this price point. Having recently seen Gary live at Coachella, I wasn't expecting to be blown away, whether through the Klipsch or even my reference system for that matter. Yet there I was, in a sort of blissful audio trance, unable to think of anything beyond the music.

Gary Clark Jr. - Don't Owe You A Thang [Official Music Video]

In an effort to up the ante once more in terms of resolution, I played the DVD-Audio disc of Donald Fagan's Morph the Cat (Reprise). That's right--DVD-Audio is alive and well, at least in my house. With the R-15PMs, as with most speakers, feed them well, and you'll be justly rewarded. This turned out to be the highlight of my listening experience, especially as it related to overall coherence, vocals, and bass response. Vocals were well resolved, with plenty of texture, and the horn play was bright and engaging without any noticeable etch. Overall, it was quite the showing, especially given the price point.

The Downside
Well, let's suss this out, shall we? Great sound, category-leading connectivity options, a solid price point...what downside? Well, since all of our reviews here at HomeTheaterReview.com include this section, I'll have to get nitpicky. I'd say that, if you're having a party in a large room, you might want to look at something with a beefier amp that would play a bit louder. As a matter of fact, it would be compelling if Klipsch were to offer a version with a 75-watt amp for an additional $100. This is not to say that I was unsatisfied with the power here; I'm simply stating that a large room full of people might drown out these speakers a bit.

Comparison and Competition
Here we are in the latter part of 2016, and Bluetooth speakers are ubiquitous. So how does a manufacturer stand out in a sea of products? It's actually quite simple: you make a great-sounding speaker, price it right, and include a phono input. That said, Klipsch does have some competition, and the first that comes to mind is the Polk Hampden powered speaker, which I reviewed in the latter part of 2014. The Polk speakers were a pleasure to review, although they lack the power of the Klipsch, as well as the phono input. That said, they win by a country mile on aesthetics; so, if that's your bag, check 'em out. As a matter of fact, I was so taken by their looks I gave a shout out to their designer in the review. If you're intrigued, the Hampdens can be had online for $249.

Another manufacturer worth your time in this product category is Audioengine. While I've never reviewed an Audioengine product, the general consensus is that this company is a formidable player in the powered speaker category. More specifically, the top-of-the-line HD6, which retails for $749/pair, has been well reviewed and ups the ante in terms of power, with 75-watt-per-channel A/B analog mono-block amps. They, like the Polks, are also easy on the eyes and come in walnut, cherry, and satin black finishes. While I certainly think they're worthy of consideration, a jump in price of $249 is going to be, for some, a bitter pill to swallow.

Another player in this realm is Sonos. The Sonos Play Series of speakers is worth a look, with the compelling feature of being able to connect additional Sonos speakers throughout your home and stream the same (or different) music to all of them. The Sonos PLAY:5 is the flagship in the line, and it retails for $499 each. If you're looking for a stereo pair rather than a single-speaker solution, you can mate two PLAY:1 speakers ($199 each) or up the ante with two PLAY:3 speakers ($299 each) while keeping the cost in check.

Conclusion
I'll say it again, kudos to Klipsch for respecting the resurgence of vinyl enough to include a phono stage. I cannot underestimate how fun and simplistic it is to spin vinyl with so little effort and no intermediary. What a crazy swing from my old reference setup that included a processor, an amp, and a separate phone stage. That said, maybe due to sheer laziness or a palpable lack of free time, most of my listening came straight out of my iPhone via Bluetooth...not that there's anything wrong with that.

The bottom line is that Klipsch has engineered a purpose-built product that's easy and flexible to connect, sounds great, and has a solid price-to-performance ratio. I can envision many a scenario in which the R-15PMs would fit quite nicely: a college dorm, a man cave, a dedicated listening space in a den, etc. Imagine these as a gift for your parents (or even grandparents) who have hung on to their vinyl collections. What a great excuse to blow the dust off one of the old Dean Martin records while at the same time negating the hassle and expense of a full-blown vinyl playback system.

My point is that, at this level of quality and simplicity, the R-15PMs should have as much appeal for a 65-year-old as they do for a 20-year-old. This is an easy product to recommend: whether you're an audiophile or a casual listener, these will put a smile on your face time and again.

Additional Resources
• Check out our Bookshelf Speakers category page to read similar reviews.
Klipsch Introduces the R-15PM Powered Monitor at HomeTheaterReview.com.
Klipsch Debuts $400 R-4B Soundbar at HomeTheaterReview.com.

  • jim brunsman
    2020-03-06 21:48:59

    I own these speakers mated to an older Def Tech subwoofer and the combination is excellent. The speakers are well balanced and have good dynamics. I use them as my desktop system

  • Sheila Trudzik
    2017-12-18 17:25:10

    what is recommended for a professional sound room/studio? input is welcome please

  • Erinn Krauss
    2017-05-09 09:25:50

    This Klipsch is great. I used it myself!

  • JoeUSA
    2016-10-17 18:06:09

    How about an article comparing these to the JBL LSR305 Professional Studio Monitors?

  • Joe Herosandwich
    2016-10-15 11:03:01

    Yea, just what every audiophile wants..another piece of Chinese crap that'll be worthless before you even open the box...

  • Brian Zheng
    2016-10-12 03:27:10

    I would not have mentioned niche connectivity like DTS-Fi or Wi-Fi if the reviewer didn't use such strong words to describe the connectivity options on this speaker. When you refer to something as "category-leading connectivity options", it better have more than any other speaker out there. I agree the new Klipsch Reference line is a huge improvement over the older horns. They are much less harsh to the point I'd even call them smooth. But again, using such strong words to say no Klipsch product is crap warrants this kind of scrutiny. I wouldn't have problems or mention these points if the reviewer didn't word them with such absolutes. The other point I wanted to mention, but wouldn't be fair to make without actually listening to the speaker was the use of a traditional crossover instead of a superior DSP or line level active crossover. I'm 99% sure a DSP based active crossover would sound much better because at this price, it will not have a proper passive crossover because it would cost more (likely much more) than the drivers themselves. Since it is certainly a budget driver in there, it is very likely to have large frequency response anomalies. The DSP can correct many of such problems and allow for an optimal crossover design when it would be extremely expensive and usually impossible to do with the same level of accuracy on a passive crossover. The 1% is if Klipsch actually put a proper crossover for the drivers, who knows?

  • DefTechFan
    2016-10-12 02:24:40

    Calling it a joke seems harsh. Consider this - CNET and Steve Guttenburg had similar comments in their review regarding connectivity options as did Mark Henninger of AVS Forums. The fact it has multiple connection options, Bluetooth and a built in phono preamp certainly makes it an attractive option in the category. I do agree that the reviewer's passion for all Klipsch products seems a little excessive. Connectivity includes USB, RCA stereo analog, 3.5mm analog and Optical which is more common than Coaxial for everyday consumers which, when you think about it, is Klipsch's target segment. As an enthusiast, I agree Coaxial would be nice to have but most people who buy Klipsch are walking into Best Buy rather than their local Hi-Fi dealers. The deal breaker for me if I was in the market for a bedroom system is the older tweeter housing used on these speakers. Their newest and the one used on the passive Reference line isn't as harsh as the horns of the past.

  • Norman Cerveny
    2016-10-11 14:59:22

    I have to agree with Mr. Zheng. Having worked on several pairs of Klipsch of different levels, it saddens me to see what is considered quality today.

  • Brian Zheng
    2016-10-11 12:18:30

    This review is a joke. You lost all your credibility with the first sentence of the review. Lots of people will tell you Klipsch's entry level line up is unbearable. Class leading connectivity? Really? There's no Wi-Fi, Coaxial, AirPlay, or DTS-Fi. The difference between 75W and 50W is about 1dB. You will unlikely notice this difference. The speaker most likely cannot handle more than 50W either.

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