Klipsch R-51M

Sources split three ways. The largest block (CNET, the hifiheadphones blog, Zero Fidelity, Desktop HIFI and northazerate) hears the classic Klipsch voicing: lively and forward, with the treble tilted up. They like it that way, especially for rock and pop. A slightly smaller, more critical group hears the same traits as faults. Reddit's R-51M-vs-ELAC shoot-out found it 'very fatiguing', and several owners turn the highs down or gave up on it. A third group, led by Hi-Fi Voice's measured review, cheapaudioman (speakers aimed straight ahead) and the cd-rw.org reviewer, found it calmer and more balanced than its reputation. Aim, listening distance and volume come up again and again as the deciding variables.

Tight, clean and quick, but limited, and most sources pair it with a subwoofer. Zero Fidelity and the cd-rw.org reviewer call the bass tight and controlled. The hifiheadphones blog and Consumer Tech Review (on a desk) found it surprisingly full. CNET says it may eke out enough in a small room or near a wall, and the ELAC Debut B6.2 and Q Acoustics 3020i both go deeper. cheapaudioman calls it 'a little bit on the anemic side', Desktop HIFI says it can't do deep bass alone, and Hi-Fi Voice lists the missing bass among its few cons. Wall distance changes the result a lot (see placement).

“The R-51M might just eke out enough bass in a smaller room, and placing it close to a wall might bring enough bass fullness to satisfy some buyers.”

Ty Pendlebury, CNET (11 × 20 ft room)

“Providing they are well placed, the lows will be full without bloat, the lows are punchy and dynamic”

Oscar, hifiheadphones.co.uk

“if you want to get in that deep deep bass get a subwoofer these will not do the job all by themselves”

Desktop HIFI (YouTube)

Sources split almost evenly. Hi-Fi Voice, the hifiheadphones blog and Reddit's shoot-out hear a clean, clear midrange ('vocal clarity is absolutely amazing'), and an owner who found the treble too much still liked its clarity on vocals and brass. Others hear it as thin or scooped. CNET found it recessed and lean beside the Q Acoustics 3020i, cheapaudioman heard veiled mids on acoustic singer-songwriter material, Zero Fidelity calls it slightly thin, and several owners describe the classic 'mids sucked out' V-shape. The split tracks taste in music more than gear: rock and electronic fans are happiest.

Sources split, with the larger share hearing a lively but well-judged top end. Hi-Fi Voice, CNET, the hifiheadphones blog, Zero Fidelity and the cd-rw.org reviewer all describe it as forward or energetic but not harsh. Zero Fidelity says the horn's old sibilance is gone, and the hifiheadphones blog says it is 'always present in the mix'. A sizeable minority finds it bright and tiring: owners on Reddit call it 'sibilant and fatiguing' or 'overly agressive', a French owner found it hard going for classical music, and polypeptide147 found the highs 'very sharp'. cheapaudioman's test shows how much aim matters: too bright pointed at him, balanced pointed straight ahead.

Mostly praised as wide and bigger than the box. Zero Fidelity describes a 'pretty wide and immersive soundstage' with the speakers facing straight ahead. Desktop HIFI found it taller, wider and airier than the R-41M's. Hi-Fi Voice heard excellent depth up close, once seated in the sweet spot. The cd-rw.org reviewer calls it 'surprisingly wide' but 'perhaps not the most accurate'. One owner who moved up to the RP-600M II found the R-51M's sound 'centered' by comparison.

“They deliver a surprisingly wide soundscape, but perhaps not the most accurate one.”

cd-rw.org forum review (small apartment, Marantz NR-1403)

“i did find the sound stage to be a little better on the 51s they seem to be a bit more airy”

Desktop HIFI (YouTube; vs R-41M)

Praised by most, with a caveat about the sweet spot. Zero Fidelity heard a 'locked in' centre image even with no toe-in and the grilles on, polypeptide147 calls the imaging 'amazing', and Desktop HIFI found instruments easier to place than on the R-41M. The hifiheadphones blog finds the focus sharpest with toe-in. The dissent is about directivity: one owner on stands found the centre image vanished whenever he moved his head, and Hi-Fi Voice lists a 'tendency to directionality' among its cons.

“with these speakers again pointed directly out into the room even with the grilles on you get this locked in center image”

Zero Fidelity (YouTube; 5–6 ft, no toe-in)

“I found these speakers are so much directional.”

Kurosudo, r/Klipsch owner (stands, 30 cm from the wall)

Generally called clear and revealing for the money. Hi-Fi Voice was struck by its legibility, the hifiheadphones blog calls the top end 'open, detailed', and polypeptide147 praises the 'super detailed highs'. Some doubt how fine that detail is: the cd-rw.org reviewer felt the top lacked the finest detail and the resolution ran out on dense modern rock, and cheapaudioman heard veiled mids on acoustic material.

“The top end is very open, detailed and quite up front.”

Oscar, hifiheadphones.co.uk

“The highest frequencies may lack a little in terms of finest detail, but I did not find the sound irritating.”

cd-rw.org forum review

Its strongest suit for most sources. CNET praises its 'freewheeling dynamics' and says it plays loud without strain. The hifiheadphones blog, the cd-rw.org reviewer, northazerate and owners call it punchy, loud and clean, and several add that it stays lively at low volume. Amazon's volume mentions run 19 positive to 2 negative. The limits come with level and room size. cheapaudioman heard it 'fall apart' and turn shouty above about 85 dB, Hi-Fi Voice calls it no macro-dynamic powerhouse, and a French owner's 10 W tube amp turned it to mush when pushed.

“its low distortion and freewheeling dynamics belie its compact dimensions”

Ty Pendlebury, CNET

“One very useful feature for me is that these speakers play very well on low volumes, too.”

cd-rw.org forum review

“at 85 it started to kind of fall apart”

cheapaudioman (YouTube; measured with a phone SPL meter)

Setup matters more than usual. The rear port wants space: cheapaudioman found the best bass about 9 inches from the wall and Desktop HIFI 12–18 inches. French owners found it boomy or muddy closer in, and the cd-rw.org reviewer suggests plugging the port. Aim matters as much: several sources found it most balanced pointed straight ahead, while toe-in sharpens the focus but adds treble. It is not a natural desk speaker. Zero Fidelity wants at least 4 feet between ears and speakers, and owners and the shoot-out found it fatiguing up close. Hi-Fi Voice rates it for small rooms (under 20 m²), borderline for medium ones.

“The R-51M are rear ported so do sound best when pulled a little away from the rear wall, however with their horn waveguide the sweet spot is a little wider than normal.”

Oscar, hifiheadphones.co.uk

“you really do need to put I would say four feet or further away from your ears to the speakers in order for the driver integration to become really solid”

Zero Fidelity (YouTube, on desktop use)

“I just bought the R51M and actually set them up for desktop use, but the ear fatigue is way too strong at such a close distance.”

dailyslam1, r/BudgetAudiophile owner

Easy to drive by every account. CNET contrasts its 93 dB sensitivity with the ELAC B6.2's 87 dB. The hifiheadphones blog says a typical 50 W amp or a cheap class-D does fine. polypeptide147 filled a room from a 20 W amp, and the cd-rw.org reviewer and Desktop HIFI suggest low-powered tube amps. The one caution is measured: Hi-Fi Voice found the impedance dipping below 4 ohms around 200 Hz. Several owners suggest a warmer-sounding amplifier to offset the brightness.

“In layman terms, the B6.2 needs four times the power to play as loud as the R-51M.”

Ty Pendlebury, CNET

“With a Sensitivity of 93dB @ 2.83V/1M these are pretty easy to drive, with your typical 50wpc integrated amp doing a fine job of powering these”

Oscar, hifiheadphones.co.uk

Praised for the price. CNET calls the MDF cabinet handsomely built, the hifiheadphones blog finds it sturdy with banana-ready binding posts, and Amazon's 'quality' mentions run 190 positive to 8 negative. The copper woofer, copper fasteners and magnetic grilles draw repeated compliments on looks. Minor complaints: an Amazon owner found the terminals cheap and plastic, and Zero Fidelity warns that the tweeter's thin phase plug is easy to damage with the grilles off.

“These are well built, the MDF cabinets feel sturdy and on the back you have proper binding plugs which support 4mm banana plugs.”

Oscar, hifiheadphones.co.uk

“I also wasn't impressed by the cheap plastic speaker wire terminals.”

Amazon US verified owner (3★, returned them)

Sources split, mostly on the price paid. At its usual sale price of $125–170 a pair, Hi-Fi Voice, CNET, Zero Fidelity, cheapaudioman and most Amazon owners (value mentions 99 positive to 5 negative) call it a bargain. Near its ~$290 list price the view sours. cheapaudioman wouldn't buy it at $290, Desktop HIFI would take the R-41M instead at $200, and a Reddit regular calls it 'a horrible "deal" at $300/pair'. A critical minority thinks rivals beat it even on sale: the Polk XT20, ELAC Debut B6.2 and Wharfedale Diamond 12.0 all come up, and Klipsch fans keep recommending the step up to Reference Premiere.