Klipsch speakers for new HT system - Need advice! (1 Viewer)

[Roy Mc]

Hi folks, newbie. Am making the jump to a HT system. After much reading I have narrowed my choices to the following.

Receiver - Denon 3803

HDTV - One of the following:
Hitachi 51SWX20B
Mitsubishi WS55411

The only speakers I have listened to were Klipsch:
KLF10B - Front
RC3IIB - Center
SS1B - Rear
KSW12 - Sub

They sounded wonderful using Pearl Harbor to demonstrate effects, and a CD. I almost bought on the spot since they sounded so great, but decided to control my emotions and ask for a few comments first. The Klipsch speakers were hooked up to a Denon 3803 for the test. Thanks in advance for your comments.

Roy

 

[Brian Johnson]

Seems like an odd combination.
The KLF are Legend Series,the RC3 is Reference, and the SS1 is from the Synergy line.
Check the klipsch website for more details on speaker matching.

 

[Frank Carter]

Klipsch speakers are great for HT. However, it's always a good idea to timbre match your speakers. Something like RF-3II, RC-3II, and RS-3II would probably come around the same price range. I got the same speakers locally for $1325.
I love Klipsch speakers but I(and many others) don't think their subs are class leaders. I owned the KSW-12 before and found it to be a boomy, one-note sub. Something like the Adire Rava, Hsu VTF-2, SVS 25-31Pci will give greater quantity and quality of bass. Another cheaper sub option that I feel doesn't get enough recognition is the Infinity IL120s. It looks great, sounds great, and can be found less than $350 from online from ebay seller: harmanaudio. It also includes Infinity's RABOS, which is an onboard single band parametric eq.

 

[Roy Mc]

Brian & Frank - Thanks for pointing out the mismatched series. I was escorted to a sound room and given a demonstration of the system at one of the most respected audio stores in Houston. TWxxxxxs is considered about the best we have. Fortunately my better judgement said to wait a bit and seek some advice. I do know that I will be like a kid wanting that new bike until I get my HT system. Going from a 32 tv and no sound system to something like I expierienced is incredible. Hope to get more comments. Thanks for taking the time guys.
Roy

 

[Mark Russ]

Frank, I agree with you 100% about the Infinity IL120 subs. They just might be the best kept secret in the whole sub industry. For the little money you can get them for, they can easily more than hold their own with subs costing at least 2 or 3 times more.

 

[Dennis Reno]

Excellent suggestions by Brian & Frank. If you are going to spend $X,XXX on speakers you really want to make certain they are timbre matched. Considering you don't currently have a pair of speakers to incorporate a center and rears with I would strongly recommend you purchase a "set" of speakers.

The Klipsch are a great choice for HT. I own the original Klipsch Reference 3 series and am very happy. The Klipsch combined with two SVS 20-39 CS+ brings a smile to my face (and family and friends) every time!

Be sure to keep us informed of your decision!

 

[RussKon]

i have what is being referred to a "mismatched" set of klipsch speakers...and it is still an awesome sound...

i have the klf30's for my mains, klf-c7 center, rs3II's surround and a velodyne ct-150 sub....

this system was built over a period of 6 months, finding a good deal when i could as well as a couple of used purchases...

the added benefit is that the klf30's do an awesome job for music

regardless of what klipsch that you decide to go with, you will have a great sound with lots of impact....you might want to check out the klipsch forum for more suggestions....klipsch.com

russ

 

[Frank Carter]

You can find great deals on used KLF-30's on ebay. If you're not that familiar w/Klipsch, this model is the predecessor to the RF-7. You mentioned you heard the KLF-10's but the KLF-30's are a completely different animal. You can also find the matching Legen series cente(KLF-C7) on ebay as well. Unfortunately there is no Legend series surrounds but Klipsch recommends the KSP-S6, which is kind of hard to find. The newer RS-7 would probably work well with KLF20/30's and RS-3's would go well with KLF-10's.
Another thing I've found about the Legend series is they can be very picky about what you power them with. I've found Denon and Harman Kardon receiver mate well w/Klipsch. Also Parsound+Klipsch= .

 

[Roy Mc]

What a lot of great advice. Thank you all. Asking for someone to make the right choice for an individual would require a bit of black magic and the ability to read into a persons soul. Ultimately, there is obviously no substitution for auditioning enough systems to better understand speaker system characteristics and sound preferences. After spending the better part of two weeks reading so many comments on so many boards I have came to the conclusion that only I will be able to choose what I like. Over the weekend it seemed like I went from preparing to purchase KLF-10 to KLF-30 to RF-3II to finally deciding that I should be safe and just bite the bullet and go for the RF-7 system. Then Monday morning, reality set in. I am just not quite ready to drop that much money on a system without a few more auditions. Going from a simple tv to an HT system seems more complex than the last home I had built. All I know at this point is that when I set in that chair last week at tweet's, and was given my first taste of a true HT system, I was hooked and gotta git one soon. I'll update you all on my journey, and would still be grateful for all your comments if you have more.
Roy

 

[Haris Ellahi]

Klipsch + Parasound = Heaven.

 

[Roy Mc]

Well today for lunch I had a Klipsch appetite, so I took another visit to listen to more selections. I listened to 3 mains all using the RC-3IIB center, SS-1B rears and KSW-12 subwoofer. The KLF-10s again sounded great. RF-3IIs sounded as good to me, possibly a bit better. The RF-5s were noticeably an improvement, but not enough for the cost difference. Looks like it's down to the KLF-10s or RF-3IIs. Do the KLF-10s 10" woofers have any advantage over RF-3IIs 8" woofers? I realize bigger is not always better, but it is in many ways LOL!

Roy

 

[Roy Mc]

I need to add a comment to the previous post, but have not found any tools here to edit, if this board has the function available.

There were no KLF-30s to audition. Assuming these are in my price range, would it be wise to purchase these even if I have not listened to them? If they were predecessor to the RF-7s they must be quite an improovement over the KLF-10s and RF-3IIB.

Roy

 

[Frank Carter]

KLF-30's are a HUGE step up from the KLF-10/RF-3II. The difference between KLF-10 and KLF-30 is as dramatic as the difference between the RF-3II and RF-7. Just listen to the two and you see what I mean. Here's my take on the KLF-30/RF-7. KLF-30's play with more "slam", this is kind of hard to describe but it's like they're a more dynamicly than the RF-7's. The RF-7's sound a little more refined and play with more finesse. They both have the big, bold Klipsch sound but they each produce it in their own way. I'm sure you've A/B'd the KLF-10 and RF-3II's already so you've seen the difference in the Legend and Referencesound. If you can find a deal on the KLF-30's and KLF-C7 center and some surrounds to go with it, I'd say go for that. If you feel you'd rather buy stuff new than on ebay, I'd get the R*-3II package and dump more money into the sub. Have you decided what direction you're going with for the sub?

 

[Roy Mc]

Frank - the only subs I have listened to are KSW-12. Based on info read, if I don't go with the KSWs, it will be SVS, or possibly the Infinity you and Mark mentioned.

As far as the speaker system, at any given moment it seems to go from the RF-3s to the RF-7s. When I am in my right mind and consider economics, the RF-3s are the winner, but when the little voice in my head says "what-the-heck", the RF-7s scream out "buy me - you wont regret it"!

My room is 216SF (12x18). The system will go at one of the 12' ends, with sofa about 12' from the HDTV. Would the RF-3s still be a good choice? I guess since the sound room where I auditioned them was larger than that, they would. I remember some customers came into the demo room and had to hold their ears when the planes were attacking during the Pearl Harbor scene.

Decisions, decisions, decisions!

 

[T r o y]

Roy,

I think you will be very satisfied with Klipsch speakers if that is what you decide on. I have the Klipsch KLF-20's for my fronts, KLF-C7 center, and the KSP-S6 surrounds.
For my sub, I went with the Klipsch KSW15 sub. It was too boomy for my taste and bottomed out too much. So I took it back and used the money to buy a Velodyne F1800-XR.

I love my Klipsch speakers for HT ! They are tight and very dynamic.

In comparing the KLF-10s with the KLF-20's , I noticed a huge difference between the two. The 20's being a 3 way design and the 10's being a two way design, I noticed the 20's opened up the soundstage so much more. Also the mids just came out at you. I AB'd the two type of Klipsch towers and went with the 20's. The 30's were a little more than I wanted to spend.

I've been very pleased with the Klipsch's and good luck choosing which ones to go with . Hard decision! They are all great !!

Regards,
Troy

 

[RussKon]

i had the rf-3's and klf30 in my listening room at the same time..the klf30's were much better in depth, range and overall sound...

i ended up seeliing the rf-3's to a friend...my klf30's are simply the best speakers i have ever heard....(my humble opinion)...for music ...(classical, jazz, and 70's, 80's rock) as well as home theatre...

russ

 

[Craig Ball]

Roy Mc, I know this is a long shot but if your ever around Oklahoma City, I'd be glad to demonstrate my KLF-30, C7, S6 & dual SVS system for you.

Craig