So I went to demo the Klipsch RB-81 bookshelf speakers since the guy was hell bent on convincing me that HK no longer made as good receivers as the AVR70. I thought I would at least give the speakers a try. What a disappointment! What a disappointment! I had spent hours doing homework and had decided on them but I couldn't believe how disappointing the sound was. Here is what happened:
1. They plugged them with a Marantz 5003 and a JVC BD player.
2. Played Eagles Hell Freezes Over.
I was expecting exceptional vocals. Full marks on that albeit a little too harsh on the ears. But with all due respect, most computer speakers have more bass. The size and weight of those speakers I was waiting for the room to shake but boy I thought something was wrong with the drivers or they weren't even playing and the only sound was from the tweeters.
Anyway, they plug in an Onkyo 875 and change the bluray to some Celine Dion (Can't stand her). Again, the vocals were out of this world and again a little painful on the ears but no bass nothing whatsoever!
Apologies to fans of Klipsch here but back in my hometown I got some of my late father's speakers, a pair of Sony from the 70's (with wooden arches like grills) and a pair of Technics from the 80's. I won't count the Sony on the higher notes but bass wise, the RB-81s sound like the speakers on my MacBook Pro compared to those speakers. And here is the price for the Klipsch pair... around 900 US Dollars!
Still thinking something was wrong, I plug in my MacBook Pro through a TosLink and play Pink Floyd PULSE Live (.flac). This time around they add a Klipsch Sub-12 to the equation. That monster shakes the place but music wise, it was rumbling.
At this point I would like to share some history with you all.
I started listening through headphones when I was two years old. While in diapers I knew how to turn on the Tascam deck, play, rewind etc. my parents say.
Recently, thanks to the fact that there's a production house as one of our group companies, I have been listening to uncompressed music on Genelec Monitors whenever I can so to some extent, I know by heart the instruments played in PULSE Live and some of the other songs I tried on those speakers. I am by no means ANY expert AT ALL. NO! and NO I don't know all that much just sharing what I experienced.
So I am back to square one. A friend has gone to Dubai for a meeting and I have asked him to check out the Harman Kardon AVR3600 and the 7550HD. I have had the AVR70 for ages now and after listening to the Marantz and the Onkyo I have started to love the old 70 even more. If only it had HDMI and an optical input!
At the risk of being accused of blasphemy, I would add that the Bose Accoustimass 3 sounds better. If the satellites sound tinny, they don't weigh as much and are not as big as much as the RB-81s that sadly sound tinnier.
Any guidance or tips would be helpful.
Stay happy!
Shahab.
