Need some help/opinions on a possible upgrade to WF-35's w/ an unorthodox config

[cplreggie]

Hopefully someone here can give me some good advice. about 5 years ago I decided to buy my first home theater system, while living in Japan, and not knowing anything about home audio. I went with a pretty decent pioneer reviever and a friend-recommended bose acoustimass 10 system. After getting them, that's when I started to do some research and since have been disappointed. They do sound good when listening to a DVD-A or SACD, but they are very lacking in a lot of areas. As disappointed as I am in them they still seem to impress my friends. Anyway. I'm upgrading now. I'm getting the Yamaha rx-3900BL and I was thinking about doing an entire Klipsch system. I have a part time job at Best buy and can get an incredible discount on the WF-35 along with all the other Klipsch audio they sell. I had been thinking about upgrading the whole system, but thought if I just got the WF-35's, kept the acoustimass system and made a 7.1 system out of it I could save money. Functionally there's nothing wrong with my bose speakers. My question is, would I see that much of a difference in quality, by upgrading to all klipsch to justify the cost. I was thinking the bose would do well as surrounds while the WF-35's would be great fronts. What do you guys think?
Anyway help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[PeterWhite]

Before you read the rest of what I have to say about Bose, I'd suggest you type "Bose" into the search box on this site. You'll quickly learn all you need to know about Bose.

I've heard quite a few Bose speakers, from early 901 models around 1972 the later 901's, 301's, 501's, 601's, the Wave Radio, through several recent Acoustimass abominations. In my opinion, no other speaker manufacturer is able to charge so much money for such poor sound quality. The company is truly astonishing in its ability to market trash. If you like boomy base and screachy high frequencies, you'll love the Acoustimass speakers.

 

[cplreggie]

Before you read the rest of what I have to say about Bose, I'd suggest you type "Bose" into the search box on this site. You'll quickly learn all you need to know about Bose.

I've heard quite a few Bose speakers, from early 901 models around 1972 the later 901's, 301's, 501's, 601's, the Wave Radio, through several recent Acoustimass abominations. In my opinion, no other speaker manufacturer is able to charge so much money for such poor sound quality. The company is truly astonishing in its ability to market trash. If you like boomy base and screachy high frequencies, you'll love the Acoustimass speakers.

Thaks for your response. I have actually done a lot of research on bose in the last 5 years I've had the speakers. I hate the bass module. you can actually unplugg all the speakers and still hear the dialogue of a movie through the bass module. The speakers have little to no mids or lows. The whole set up is infinitly annoying. Anyway, I know what level of quality they're not and this is why i'm upgrading. One thing I didn't mention was that in addition to my new HT setup i'm putting together I also bought the New Samsung 55" LED, new stand, etc. I dropped almost 4 grand so far and as I keep seeing the price rack up i start to wonder if I could save myself a couple thousand just by keeping my bose, adding the Klipsch WF-35's and maybe the RW-12d. I just wouldn't plug the bass module into the reciever and use the klipsch one. I was just thinking that the surrounds just play the subtlety's and nuances of the movies and I might not notice the difference in quality. I'm just guessing though, I don't really know. that's why i'm coming here to see what others think. would it be worth it to cann the bose and spend the extra couple thousand for a full upgrade?

 

[Substance-P]

I recently replaced a Bose acoustimass 10 system that the previous owner of my new home had installed. I replaced them with a Klipsch reference system including the RC-64.

I am someone who likes the sound of the Klipsch horn, especially for HT applications, and can appreciate the discount you receive as additionally insentive to get Klipsch. Personally, I would go to a 2.1 system with the WF-35s and the RW-12d if I could not afford to go 3.1 with all three of the front speakers mathcing for timbre match. Lastly, I would add side and rear speakers as finances allowed.

While timbre match is important throughout the system, it is especially important across the front three speakers where sound including dialogue will pan across the speakers and voice matching is important.

Over time, you can easily add matching side and rear speakers. But it is important to get the front three the same out the gate.

Could you potentially go with the WF-34s instead of the 35s and save a little to direct it towards the center channel? What are the characterisitcs of the room and your listenting habits

 

[cplreggie]

Thanks for the insite *substance* that makes a lot of sense. I think the sensible side of me has a hard time just getting rid of the perfectly working speakers. My original plan was to just get everything all at once, but only do a 5.1 set up with all Klipsch. with the discount I get the price difference between the 34's and 35's is minimul. It's the reviever that's adding a lot to the end price for me. hmmmmm. The room I'm in is about 25-28' long and about 15-18' wide with 8.5' ceilings. I have hardwood floors. The acoustics in my house are actually quite good. the living room opens up into the dinning room and kitchen so there's a lot of open space and my bose aren't filling the space up like it did in my smaller house. I'm an avid movie watcher, limited gamer, and a music listener that really enjoys great sounding music.After listening to some of the DVD-A's and SACD's I have it's excruciating listening to MP3's now. lol.
So, in your opinion you really think it would be worth it to do the full upgrade and get rid of the bose. Were your klipsch really that much better sounding?

 

[Substance-P]

Thanks for the insite *substance* that makes a lot of sense. I think the sensible side of me has a hard time just getting rid of the perfectly working speakers. My original plan was to just get everything all at once, but only do a 5.1 set up with all Klipsch. with the discount I get the price difference between the 34's and 35's is minimul. It's the reviever that's adding a lot to the end price for me. hmmmmm. The room I'm in is about 25-28' long and about 15-18' wide with 8.5' ceilings. I have hardwood floors. The acoustics in my house are actually quite good. the living room opens up into the dinning room and kitchen so there's a lot of open space and my bose aren't filling the space up like it did in my smaller house. I'm an avid movie watcher, limited gamer, and a music listener that really enjoys great sounding music.After listening to some of the DVD-A's and SACD's I have it's excruciating listening to MP3's now. lol.
So, in your opinion you really think it would be worth it to do the full upgrade and get rid of the bose. Were your klipsch really that much better sounding?

I would go with the WF-35s (2), the WC-24, the RW 12, and then see if you need to add the additional rear speakers. In terms of the yamaha, it looks like a great receiver, but also a pricey one at that. I don't know how much of a discount you get on it; however, you are trying to get a system together on a budget, you may want to consider a used receiver (like an Onkyo 805 or 875 which can be had for 450-600).

And yes, there is a significant difference in the sound of the system since replacing the bose. At a certain point, you can't fight physics and having a center channel that is larger than the previous 5.1 system combined reflects how much a difference I can tell.

Good luck with the upgrade and remember, you can always do it in stages to put together what you really want.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The beauty with BOSE is that it's easy to sell on ebay.

The Klipsch will blow it away if you like the sound of them (I don't). Listen to everything you have at your store and decide what sounds the best to you.

Get a SVS sub or better. DIY is the best option here.

 

[Substance-P]

The beauty with BOSE is that it's easy to sell on ebay.

The Klipsch will blow it away if you like the sound of them (I don't). Listen to everything you have at your store and decide what sounds the best to you.

Get a SVS sub or better. DIY is the best option here.

Very true. I was able to sell the 10 year old system that was missing the proprietary wires the early generation acoustimasses used (they were drywalled over) on craig's list in just a couple of hours.

To the OP, it's hard to know exactly what to suggest without knowing how much of a discount you are getting on the system through BB, but it sounds like you are the track towards a nice upgrade.

 

[cplreggie]

ok, man. I think you talked me into it. lol. I appreciate your insite. I Priced it out, and if I put it on my credit card it won't be so bad. I was hoping to pay for the whole thing in cash, that way I wouldn't have to pay anything back. You'd be sick if you found out what I get that reciever for. lol $800. i can't pass that deal up. I think it retails for around 1900. Anyway..... we actually don't carry the Klipsch speakers at my store so I've never heard them. we have the vf serious which honestly I wasn't impressed with. the Polk Audio ones sound much better, but I've heard these WF's sound a lot better. It's debatable how they compare to the Refrence series, which I really wanted, I just can't get them anymore. I waited too long. I heard the Refrence series a long time ago and was blown away and ever since wanted a set of Klipsch. I know that brands like Paradigm and B&W are just as good, if not better, but I don't get the discount on those. lol one more question. I get a great discount on Polk Audio. do you think that a Polk audio set up would be better the the Klisch one I was looking at getting?

 

[Substance-P]

ok, man. I think you talked me into it. lol. I appreciate your insite. I Priced it out, and if I put it on my credit card it won't be so bad. I was hoping to pay for the whole thing in cash, that way I wouldn't have to pay anything back. You'd be sick if you found out what I get that reciever for. lol $800. i can't pass that deal up. I think it retails for around 1900. Anyway..... we actually don't carry the Klipsch speakers at my store so I've never heard them. we have the vf serious which honestly I wasn't impressed with. the Polk Audio ones sound much better, but I've heard these WF's sound a lot better. It's debatable how they compare to the Refrence series, which I really wanted, I just can't get them anymore. I waited too long. I heard the Refrence series a long time ago and was blown away and ever since wanted a set of Klipsch. I know that brands like Paradigm and B&W are just as good, if not better, but I don't get the discount on those. lol one more question. I get a great discount on Polk Audio. do you think that a Polk audio set up would be better the the Klisch one I was looking at getting?

It really depends on two things:
1) If you like the sounds of Klipsch horns
2) Which Polks you would be looking at.

I personally really like horns for HT applications (I've always had klipsch in my home theaters) but I like other speakers just as well or better for music.

Over on the forums.klipsch.com there are folks who have heard the WF series and were really impressed by them. I have a feeling that if you liked the sound of the horns in the reference series you listened to, you will likely enjoy the sound of the WF series as well.

I am not sure which Polk you have access to; however, my guess is that you will be better off with the WF over the polk.

But with all of this, let your ears be your guide and go with what you like.

 

[Quickley17]

I actually listened to 3 songs the other day on the WF-35 and 34. I was very impressed with the clarity of the highs that the speakers produced, and considering the size of the room I listened in, the bass response was nothing to laugh at. I think they could benefit from having a dedicated sub, but certainly dont need one. As for the 34, I found the highs very disappointing. They were very muddled and unimpressive, no clarity at all.

They were connected to a Denon 3809 Ci which I understand is a pretty good reciever, so I think they were getting enough power, but your room sounds somewhat large, and if your intention with these speakers is to entertain a lot of guests and people talking, doors open to a patio/deck and things like that, the sound from these may not be able to compete with everything else, but this is true of a lot of speakers.

I think for movies and music though, you can really enjoy these speakers. I hope you get a chance to listen to them before you buy them.