Tower speakers that deliver cinema-quality sound
I've always loved Klipsch's Reference Premiere line, so much so that its speakers make up my entire home theater system. Their dynamic sound has always gripped me, bringing the pulse-pounding soundtracks of blockbuster films to life. The new RP-8060FA II continues this trend, but with a twist.
You might notice this tower looks a little different than others in the line, and you'd be correct. The 8060FA II has an upward-firing Dolby Atmos®-enabled speaker built-into the top of its cabinet. That upward-firing speaker bounces sound off your ceiling and down onto your listening position, giving you lifelike overhead sound effects without the need for in-ceiling speakers.
This is the second generation of the 8060FA speaker, and Klipsch gave its dual 8" woofers and 1" horn-loaded tweeter some noticeable sound upgrades.
Revamped Tractrix® horn and tweeter
The 1" LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) tweeter on the tower speaker and built-in Atmos speaker features a vented housing to reduce standing waves that can compromise sound quality. Klipsch's hallmark Tractrix horn surrounds the tweeter, this time using a widened mouth for better soundstaging and directivity. That means a wider "sweet spot" and better imaging within that sweet spot. The horn also sports a soft silicone face and a unique phase plug to keep the highs smooth and non-fatiguing.
Under-the-hood driver upgrades
Metallic drivers aren't anything new for Klipsch speakers, but the company has made significant improvements to the motor structures behind the cones. Each 8" woofer has a 70% larger voice coil for greater control, speed, and accuracy. The woofers also have new aluminum shorting rings that help reduce distortion and let the drivers handle some extra power.
A new cabinet for better sound
Klipsch also upgraded the RP-8060FA II's cabinet. This go-around, they added extra bracing throughout and divided the cabinet into sections. That helps to reduce sound-altering cabinet resonance and vibration and improves clarity.
The cabinet has two rear-firing Tractrix ports that help deepen the speaker's bass response. Their unique horn shape promotes more efficient airflow in and out of the cabinet, minimizing port noise and low-frequency distortion.
Since this speaker uses a ported cabinet, you don't want to place it up against a wall. Instead, I recommend giving the speaker some "breathing room" by pulling it away from your wall a little. Its bass response will thank you.
Bi-amp or bi-wire for even better sound
There are two sets of binding posts on the back of the RP-8060FA II for its main drivers. These binding posts let you bi-amp or bi-wire your speaker to get the best sound out of it. The third set of binding posts is for the built-in Atmos speaker.
