Skip to main content

Klipsch’s uncompromising Reference Series R-10B sound bar brings high-end sound to your home theater

klipsch reference series r 10b sound bar manual
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Klipsch set about developing its Reference Series around the idea that top-notch fidelity need not come with a top-tier price tag.  The result of the vaunted audio company’s efforts is a line of products that redefine the notion of bang-for-your buck value. Indeed, just a few short years ago, you’d have to lay down at least $1,000 to get the sort of refined, high-impact sound Klipsch’s new Reference Series sound bar delivers for just $600.

While the R-10B doesn’t include cutting-edge features like HDMI inputs and outputs (sorry, no ARC here) or a fancy digital display, it delivers where it counts in the form of potent performance. The sound bar itself is armed with Klipsch’s proprietary Tractrix Horn technology, which allows its dual 3/4-inch textile dome tweeters to put out clean, sparkling treble that’s full of detail, but never harsh, and well dispersed throughout the room for poignant stereo effects. Next to each of those horn-loaded tweeters is a 3-inch woofer that punches well above its weight. That may not sound like a lot of speakers, but what Klipsch manages to do with them is pretty remarkable. Perhaps the system’s total power rating of 250 watts has something to do with it.

Surprisingly, the real star of this sound bar show isn’t actually the sound bar itself; it’s the 8-inch wireless subwoofer included in the package. Typically, subwoofers included in all-in-one solutions like this are the weakest link, but in the case of the R-10B, the opposite is true. In all our time reviewing one-box sound solutions, we’ve never seen a subwoofer so solidly built, nor have we heard one that kept the bass tight and musical at all time. Crave that chest-pounding punch that can only come from a well-made sub? This system will deliver.

For connections, the R-10B allows a digital optical connection for a single wire solution that keeps things simple. For wireless music streaming, Klipsch has also armed the R-10B with a Bluetooth connection. One can also use a supplied pair of analog RCA inputs to accommodate nearly any other audio device. Other features for the R-10B include digital signal processing to create a 3-D surround mode, as well as the usual Dolby Digital decoding.

You can find the R-10B at most familiar electronics retailers and at Klipsch’s website. If you’d like to learn more, here’s a full review of the sound bar at Digital Trends.

The Night Agent season 2: Everything we know so far
We'll get you ready for The Night Agent season 2!
Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent may not be everyone's choice to be among the best shows on Netflix, but it's in the top ten for us! The Shield creator Shawn Ryan adapted Matthew Quirk's spy action thriller, The Night Agent, for Netflix in 2023, and it proved to be a hit out of the gate. By Netflix's internal metrics, it's the sixth-highest viewed series in the history of the platform.

Those kind of numbers mean that a second season was inevitable, and Netflix made it official just over a week after The Night Agent premiered. Since the series is back in production, the details about what's coming up on the show have started to trickle out. To help you stay on top of this series, here's everything we know about The Night Agent season 2.
What is The Night Agent about?

Read more
The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

Read more
The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Best Connecticut cigars up close and personal

Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

Read more