Home > Consumer Reviews > Klipsch SB-2 Synergy Bookshelf Loudspeakers (Pair, Black)

I've owned Klipsches in the past and have been quite happy with them except that the older Heritage series: the big Forte's and the small Heresy 'end table' like floors did not like the big bright amps that I was using the idea being that when these were developed most of the decent equipment out there was low-power tubes. A friend of mine also had the same brightness problem with his Forte's and got rid of his which is what I reluctantly did too and it was another 10 years before I ventured rather successfully back into the realm of horn speakers with this model. I do miss my Forte's though.

The SB-2's have horn-coupled aluminum mid-tweeters and graphite-injected 6.5 in woofers and like their hyper-efficient ancestors run on little power (100W. should be enough for average-sized rooms) and seem well mated to average receivers sold by mass-market retailers one of which belongs to me. The receiver not the retailer only don't I wish!
These solid, well built speakers are only 15 inches high but I was surprised at all the sound that came out of these boxes in my smallish living room. Not everyone has room for columns, and though I like them they really don't go over well with people of the female persuasion. The next level up in Klipsch is the Reference Series and I can't even imagine how good they sound. The SB-2's really do justice to all kinds of music (and movies), not just the loud stuff. Everything is distinct and clear, yet warm and easy to listen to and they image so well that with your eyes closed you swear that these are floor-standers and there is a center channel speaker sitting uptop the TV. With music, individual instruments are well-defined yet not edgy and vocals are very clear as well. They do sound a bit different than conventional speakers so one may want to give the Synergy Series an audition at the local BestBuy, but I don't think much out there will provide the live performance impact that these can. The SB-2's are discontinued and have been replaced by the B-3's which are supposed to have extended high-frequency capability. So give the Klipsches a listen if you can, then go search the SB-2's out on the web and get a really good deal. You'll probably like them if your tastes are like mine. Enjoy!

Klipsch is the best manufacturer of speakers ever... period. Anyway, these speakers are absolutely amazing. They produce perfect, clean sound through all volumes and most frequencies. They work very well with a entire system, but would also work well just by themselves. They produce quite a bit of bass for their size, but also can produce very high, clear frequencies. These are the best speakers for the money... hands down!

I replaced a pair of Sony bookshelf speakers which were descent sounding. These Klipsch are at a whole different level of quality, you really get what you pay for! It has a fuller, warmer sound and amazing clarity. The sound never gets harsh and the vocals are very distinct as well as other instruments. My old Sony's sound somewhat muddy and less defined in comparison. Also, the Klipsch's play loud without distortion at high levels, a nice smooth transition throughout the volume range. Overall I would give my old Sony's a 6 and the Klipsch's a 9 on a scale of 1-10. I am very satisfied with my Klipsch, in fact I love them!

I decided that it was time to replace some old Optimus 77 speakers used for a satelite location in my bedroom. I was very impressed after listening to the speakers at the local big box store and comparing them with 5 or 6 brands of bookshelf speakers with prices up to $800 per pair. My ears could not tell the difference between the B-2 and the more expensive and larger B-3. After I took them home and hooked them up I was very pleased with what I heard! The sound was full and rich without the high pitched twang that came from the old speakers. I actually laid in bed for about 30 minues just listening to an XM station. These are perfect for that spare room! My bedroom is 15 X 20 with a 12 foot ceiling and I set the speakers on a dresser. The produced a complete room full of sound! I kept the old speakers, but now I am not sure that they even qualify for the garage.