RBH Sound Owner's Thread

[jalesi]

Yeah, I agree absolutely about dealers having speakers for you to actually listen. That's the whole point of having the dealers. Otherwise, as you say, might as well buy ID.

Which ID speakers have you owned?

The SX-6300 & SX-8300 should sound identical in the midrange and treble, all things being equal. Same with the F206 vs F208.

The advantage of the SX-8300 or SX-6300 is that you could actively bi-amp the bass section using a subwoofer amp (like the $300 HSU subwoofer amp) and listen in stereo 2.1 mode (LFE output).

If you think the bass of the SX-8300 or SX-6300 is too much for the room, you could easily reduce the bass like you would reduce the bass of a subwoofer by just turning down the volume knob of the subwoofer amp.

One SX-8300 tower has the bass equivalent of one SX-1010 subwoofer. For most rooms that are 18' x 20', you would not need any other subwoofer since dual SX-8300 is like having dual SX-1010 subwoofers.

Bottom line, definitely audition at least 2 different times before you buy no matter which speakers you end up buying.

From oldest to newest:
Aperion 5.1, it was bookshelf speakers a center and a 8" sub (circa 2001)--my first speaker purchase and abandoned them in divorce
Fluance--small stereo setup (circa 2003)--my brother has them now
AV123--Rocket rs850 fronts and rs450(?) fronts with the non-big foot center channel (currently in use)
AV123--x series: X-Statik, X-Voce and X-omni with MFW 15. A great set of speakers that was in use until I sold them to my uncle. Still have the mfw
PSB B6--still in boxes--purchased from Saturday audio at a really good deal

I probably shouldn't have sold the Statiks, but I know they're going to a good home, I have first dibs if he sells them, and I need the room for whatever comes next.

 

[jalesi]

Yeah, I think the SX-8300 is the best overall in terms of SQ, flexibility, and economy.



If you open a store and pay a lease and nobody buys, then you would close the store, unless you are just doing it as a hobby because you enjoy it like us.

People like us don't need monetary incentive for this hobby if we were rich. All of us would probably open a giant dealership stocked full with speakers and electronics even if it didn't sell.

But if people are doing as a primary means of income and they can't make money, they have no choice but to close.

But to be an authorized dealer of a brand, you definitely need to have some demo speakers for anyone to audition. Must be a requirement.

Amen! I know in some other industries, you have to stock x-amount to be a dealer. You should at least have to have some speakers for the consumer to listen to. I wouldn't have as big of an issue buying a $1000 car without a test drive, but I would not even consider buying a $4000+ car without driving and looking it over.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Amen! I know in some other industries, you have to stock x-amount to be a dealer. You should at least have to have some speakers for the consumer to listen to. I wouldn't have as big of an issue buying a $1000 car without a test drive, but I would not even consider buying a $4000+ car without driving and looking it over.

No substitution for actual audition for sure.

 

[slipperybidness]

Kind of odd, for everyone that already knew that EMP was RBH. But, I was just over on the EMP site and they had this posted from a couple weeks ago:

CONSUMER NOTICE: [Layton, Utah — October 30, 2014] RBH Sound is excited to announce it has acquired all of the rights, assets and management of the EMP Tek, LLC company. For EMP Tek customers, it’s business as usual, but better. While the branding and naming of the majority of EMP’s products will be changing to RBH, the excellent customer service and value EMP’s customers have come to love and enjoy remains intact. Additionally, those who have purchased EMP products will continue to enjoy the same warranty, administered by the same reliable and competent staff.

RBH Sound vows to continue EMP Tek’s mission of providing high performance audio products at an exceptional value. During the next few months while we transition the branding and product names from EMP to RBH, please know that any products ordered on the EMPTek.com web site are, in fact, genuine RBH brand products with a fully valid and supported warranty. If you have any questions regarding RBH Sound’s acquisition of EMP Tek, please contact us.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

That does seem strange since EMP, RBH, and Status Acoustics are the "same" company.

I do know that RBH is adapting and integrating into some online direct sale like KEF and more and more Brick & Mortar companies.

I think this is the way of the future. RBH will continue to have local dealerships for anyone to audition and purchase speakers. But they will now also offer direct sales of free-standing speakers and subwoofers. The exclusion for online sale is the in-wall, in-ceiling, in-floor, in-cabinet products that will only be available through local dealers.

 

[jalesi]

Perhaps they've always done it, but I noticed that they are selling their ear buds through their main domain (RBH) as well as Amazon. Since their dealers don't stock, might as well sell them directly. Thing is, you'll probably be able to get a better deal through a dealer.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Perhaps they've always done it, but I noticed that they are selling their ear buds through their main domain (RBH) as well as Amazon. Since their dealers don't stock, might as well sell them directly. Thing is, you'll probably be able to get a better deal through a dealer.

Perhaps the small items like ear buds. But RBH has never sold loudspeakers and subwoofers online; it has always been via local dealerships until now.

But as you say, you could get more discounts through your dealer.

 

[slipperybidness]

Perhaps the small items like ear buds. But RBH has never sold loudspeakers and subwoofers online; it has always been via local dealerships until now.

But as you say, you could get more discounts through your dealer.

More discounts on an inflated price!

 

[RichB]

And when I say inventory, I consider as most businesses, speakers that are on a showroom, so auditions can happen. I'm not saying they should have an Amazon warehouse full of speakers. I'm not that impatient. I'm trying to step away from ID, I've never purchased a speaker where I was able to audition it first. Now that I'm wanting to upgrade, I'm hoping that this will be my last speakers. I'm getting too old to wrestle them around. Spending a multiple thousands of dollars on speakers, I would like to hear them first. I'm wanting to hear the SX 6300, SX 8300 and the Revel F206 and F208. I've done a little bit of searching in Atlanta and Charlotte and haven't found anyone that has a showroom. If I wanted an automated house, I'd be in luck! And while I'm on the soap box, if I can't listen before I buy, I'd rather buy direct.

There is a good review of the F206, center and sub here:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/surround-sound-speaker-systems/surround-sound-speaker-systems-reviews/revel-performa3-series-speaker-system-review.html

This does not speak to linearity and dynamics but the the F206's are below 1% distortion at 90 DB from 40Hz up.
The work well in a smaller room and an accompanying sub.

- Rich

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

More discounts on an inflated price!

You could say that about anyone who wants to make a profit.

 

[slipperybidness]

You could say that about anyone who wants to make a profit.

How dare anyone want to make a profit

I simply meant that the B&M dealers have more wiggle room because they have more margin built into the price.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

How dare anyone want to make a profit

I simply meant that the B&M dealers have more wiggle room because they have more margin built into the price.

Well, it's a can of worms debating price and margin between ID & B&M. Being able to get big discounts on B&M (street price) levels the playing fields because you can't get discounts with ID.

I think with many speakers offering similar features and great sound, you have to look at what really separates them. Saying one type of tweeter or midrange sounds better than the others is cliché.

You should buy speakers that suit your needs at the price you want regardless of whether they are ID or B&M.

If you are willing to pay $3-4K only if you can audition the speakers, then you can eliminate the other speakers you can't audition.

If you only want towers that can sound great and produce bass that rivals some subwoofers in terms of SQ and functionality, then you can eliminate most towers.

 

[herbu]

If you only want towers that can sound great and produce bass that rivals some subwoofers in terms of SQ and functionality, then you can eliminate most towers.

And if you only want towers you can actively bi-amp, you can eliminate even more.
See, ADTG, if you ever need to take a break, I can cover for you.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

And if you only want towers you can actively bi-amp, you can eliminate even more.
See, ADTG, if you ever need to take a break, I can cover for you.

Thanks. I need a break once in a while.

Most speakers are passive and that's perfectly fine for probably 99% of people. My Orion are 100% active, but I only adjust the bass because I don't like to mess with anything above 500Hz. Yeah, that seems to be the magic number.

Being able to actively bi-amp the bass of the towers allows you to control the bass like you would a subwoofer. IOW, you could increase or decrease the bass by 1dB, 2dB, 3dB, etc., without messing with any tones, EQ, or anything above 500Hz.

But it's a specific requirement that maybe only 1% of people want.

 

[1livingston]

Looking for a little help with these SI-10 subs. I just found the subwoofer amp for them (2) subs, can I use the one SA-250 DSP amp to run both of these subs? The receiver is the sr7007 marantz

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Looking for a little help with these SI-10 subs. I just found the subwoofer amp for them (2) subs, can I use the one SA-250 DSP amp to run both of these subs? The receiver is the sr7007 marantz

You can use one SA-250DSP sub amp for 2 subs by wiring the 2 subs in series.

Connect the (-) negative post of the amp to the (-) negative post of sub#1, connect the (+) positive post of the amp to the (+) positive post of sub#2, then connect the (+) post of sub#1 to the (-) negative post of sub#2.

 

[1livingston]

Awesome,

Thanks

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Awesome,

Thanks

You're welcome.

I love passive subs, both free standing and in-wall/in-floor/in-ceiling.

For people who must hide their subs, I think the RBH SI in-floor/in-ceiling subs are great because they are only 9" deep. This means you could hide the SI subs behind a large screen TV or cabinet or furniture.

Let us know how your dual SI-10 in-wall subs sound.

 

[gene]

You're welcome.

I love passive subs, both free standing and in-wall/in-floor/in-ceiling.

For people who must hide their subs, I think the RBH SI in-floor/in-ceiling subs are great because they are only 9" deep. This means you could hide the SI subs behind a large screen TV or cabinet or furniture.

Let us know how your dual SI-10 in-wall subs sound.

Actually with single driver subs he can wire them in parallel. I do this with an older RBH amp with my bedroom dual SI-10's and it works great. More power than connecting in series and the amp is stable.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Actually with single driver subs he can wire them in parallel. I do this with an older RBH amp with my bedroom dual SI-10's and it works great. More power than connecting in series and the amp is stable.

I guess the key word is "the amp is stable".

Most amps should be stable into 2 ohms.

As long as the amp can handle 2 ohms load, the amp could output more power into 2 ohms. But if the amp can't handle 2 ohms load, then it would be in trouble.

Thinking out loud here:

Two 4-ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohm/2 = 2 ohm
Three 4-ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohm/3 = 1.33 ohm
Four 4-ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohm/4 = 1 ohm

Two 4-ohm in series = 4 + 4 = 8 ohm
Three 4-ohm in series = 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 ohm
Four 4-ohm in series = 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16 ohm

My POV on this - wiring in parallel may get you more power output if your amp is stable, but wiring in series is probably safer and easier for your amp to handle, assuming you don't listen to crazy volume that would require too much power.

Yeah, I am kind of a chicken.