John
Klipsch has announced updates to its R-41PM and R-51PM 2-way standmounts in the form of the R-40PM and R-50PM. And you can strike that amplifier or AV/ receiver from your shopping list — these are powered loudspeakers.
The two-channel amplification sitting inside the primary loudspeaker – 35wpc in the R-40PM and 60wpc in the R-50PM – connects to the secondary loudspeaker over standard speaker wire (supplied) to remind us that these new Klipsches are powered but they also rely on a passive crossover to split the signal between the two drivers. Ergo, they are not active.
Talking of drivers. The R-40PM marries a 2.5cm LTS aluminium tweeter to a 10cm TCP spun copper mid/bass unit. The R-50PM uses the same tweeter but adds 3cm to the mid-bass’s diameter. The newer models’ cabinets are 28% deeper than their predecessors. Why? For improved bass reach: the R-40PM goes down to 60Hz and the R-50PM to 55Hz.
The Klipsch engineering team has also added its Dynamic Bass EQ that proportionally lifts the bass level as the volume level heads south. This compensates for our hearing’s lower sensitivity to low (and high) frequencies at lower SPLs. Should you want more low-end reach, a subwoofer can be connected to the primary loudspeaker’s single RCA socket.
Also internalised in the main loudspeaker are an internal DAC – with USB (for a PC or Mac), TOSLINK (for a TV or games console) and Bluetooth – plus an MM phono input (for a turntable) that’s switchable to line-level (for a legacy streamer or CD player). A remote control is also provided.
In other words, Klipsch’s R-40PM (£499/€549/US$499) and R-50PM (£599/€649/US$599) look like two solid takes on the system-in-a-box-on-a-budget genre. They’re quite the proposition for newcomers with not a lot to spend looking to sidestep the anxiety of hi-fi system compilation.
Further information: Klipsch
