The RF-7 III is Klipsch’s Reference floorstander, and as the sole floorstander here there is no sibling to compare it against, so the figures speak for themselves: a large horn-loaded two-way with dual 10-inch woofers and very high sensitivity.

The RF-7 III is the flagship of Klipsch’s Reference series, a large horn-loaded floorstander built for scale and efficiency. It pairs a 1.75-inch titanium compression tweeter on a 90 by 90 degree Tractrix horn with two 10-inch Cerametallic woofers in a bass-reflex cabinet vented by dual rear-firing Tractrix ports. At 100dB sensitivity it is one of the most efficient floorstanders you will find, which means it plays very loud on modest power and reveals everything the amplifier and source put in front of it. At roughly 44kg each this is a big speaker for a big room, and it makes no pretence of being anything smaller.

Brief product overview

A two-way horn-loaded floorstander using a 1.75-inch titanium diaphragm compression tweeter on a 90 by 90 degree Tractrix horn, with dual 10-inch Cerametallic cone woofers on cast aluminium frames, in a bass-reflex cabinet with dual rear-firing Tractrix ports. Sensitivity is a very high 100dB at 2.83V/1m, with an 8-ohm nominal impedance, and power handling is 250 watts continuous and 1000 watts peak. Frequency response is quoted at 32Hz to 25kHz, plus or minus 3dB. It weighs roughly 44kg each, a large floorstander on its own plinth.

How it sounds

The horn-loaded design gives the RF-7 III the dynamic, immediate and effortless presentation Klipsch is known for, with a directness and an ease at high volume that dome tweeters do not match, and the dual 10-inch woofers move real air for weight and slam. The 100dB sensitivity is the defining trait: it comes alive on very little power and plays loud without strain, so the amplifier is chosen for quality rather than watts. The honest limits are the ones a big horn speaker sets: the presentation is forward and vivid rather than laid back, which is a matter of taste, and the high sensitivity makes any hiss or hum in the source or amplifier more audible, so clean partners matter. It wants a large room to breathe, and in a small space it will overwhelm it.

What we’d partner it with

The RF-7 III’s 100dB sensitivity and 8-ohm load mean the amplifier is chosen for quality and low noise rather than power. The Atoll MS120 and AM300 are a natural pairing: the MS120 is a streamer, DAC and preamplifier in one, with a Class A preamp stage and network streaming covering Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and Roon, and the AM300 is a 150-watt power amplifier it drives directly, ample and composed against a speaker this efficient. As alternatives, stock permitting, an Atoll IN300 integrated amplifier folds pre and power into one box, and for valve character a Fezz Audio Titania suits the high-sensitivity load.

The MS120 is the streaming hub, so no separate streamer is needed for digital; it carries the DAC and the preamplifier as well.

For vinyl, the MS120 has line inputs but no phono stage, so one is added. The Atoll PH100 is a moving-magnet and moving-coil phono stage, and the Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10 is supplied with a Pick it PRO B moving-magnet cartridge, so the deck feeds the PH100 on the moving-magnet setting and the PH100’s line output goes into the MS120. As alternative decks, stock permitting, a Rega Planar 6 or a Technics SL-1500C, with a suitable cartridge, are worth a stock check.

On cabling, use a well-made speaker cable of appropriate gauge. AudioQuest and Chord are the cable brands we stock.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If your room is medium-sized or smaller, the RF-7 III is more speaker than the space can use, and its scale and bass will dominate; a smaller Klipsch floorstander suits a more modest room. If you want a gentler, more laid-back presentation, a horn-loaded speaker is not the natural choice. And if you want amplification and streaming built into the speaker, Klipsch’s powered models are a one-box alternative, where the RF-7 III is a passive speaker that needs an amplifier. Match it to a large room and clean, quiet electronics.

The RF-7 III is a large floorstander and ships with its plinth and spikes to be fitted; give it room to breathe, keep it clear of the rear wall since the ports fire backwards, and toe it in towards the listening seat. Set the Atoll MS120 up on the network, ideally wired, and connect its variable output to the AM300 power amplifier. For vinyl, connect the Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10 to the Atoll PH100, set it to moving-magnet for the Pick it PRO B cartridge, and run the PH100 into a line input on the MS120, fitting the earth lead to the ground terminal. Because the RF-7 III is so sensitive, keep interconnects tidy and away from mains cables to avoid picking up hum.