Need some advise on speakers

[RyanEch]

Hello all,

I am interested in setting up my first personal home theater set up for my apartment. I have included my current set-up, it will show two (2) receiver's because I am not sure on which one I will be using yet, one will go to my second TV with the soundbar.

Here is my thoughts:
Center Channel:
Klipsch RC-62 II or
Klipsch RC-52 II
*Klipsch RC-64 II (I would love to have this one but it is too wide to fit in my entertainment center)

Front Speakers:
Klipsch R-15M or
Klipsch RB-61 II

Rear Speakers:
Klipsch RP-250S or
Klipsch RS-62 II

Subwoofer:
Klipsch R-115SW (This one is the one I am 100% sure that I want to have in the set)

I do like the sound of Klipsch, I am more hung up on if these are the best value, I have heard some of the speakers at Best Buy and HHGregg around my house and I liked them, but I have never heard them in a home which I know changes drastically. Looking to see if anyone on here has them in their home and what they think. The reason I do not have any of the Klipsch towers on here is because they will not work with what I have currently. I have no space on either end of my entertainment center to put a speaker let alone a tower, so I had to scratch those out of my plans which was a sad day.

Current Set-up:
TV: Sony 65 inch XBR65HX929
Receiver 1: Yamaha RX-V777BT
Receiver 2: Sony STR-DA2800ES
Speakers: Klipsch Soundbar SB3

 

[shadyJ]

I would get the RB-61 speakers, they will be more matching for whatever center speaker you get. Likewise I would get the RS-62 surrounds from your choice, although I would prefer monopole surrounds and urge you to use bookshelf speakers as surrounds and not dipole speakers. I would skip the Klipsch subwoofer unless you are getting a serious discount on it. I would go for the Hsu VTF3 mk5 while there is a discount on it, it will be far more powerful than the Klipsch sub.

 

[RyanEch]

To Shady,

Thanks for the input, as for your Sub idea. I am able to get the Klipsch sub for about $500 right now. That is the reason I was very confident on going with that one. Now, I am not as familiar with HSU's sub as I am with the Klipsch, and notice they are around the same price point MSRP. Doing just some very fast research they have all said that at that price point the HSU is the better sub. So is the HSU worth the $250 more than what I can get a Klipsch one for?

*Edit:
Also you mentioned to just go with the RB-61's as the rear speakers as well over the RS-62's. If I was to go with a 7.1 system what would you use for the side speakers?

 

[everettT]

Your discount on the sub doesn't equal performance. Don't fool yourself

 

[RyanEch]

Your discount on the sub doesn't equal performance. Don't fool yourself

Very Valid Point.

Then why would I not want to go with the VTF-15?

 

[shadyJ]

To Shady,

Thanks for the input, as for your Sub idea. I am able to get the Klipsch sub for about $500 right now. That is the reason I was very confident on going with that one. Now, I am not as familiar with HSU's sub as I am with the Klipsch, and notice they are around the same price point MSRP. Doing just some very fast research they have all said that at that price point the HSU is the better sub. So is the HSU worth the $250 more than what I can get a Klipsch one for?

*Edit:
Also you mentioned to just go with the RB-61's as the rear speakers as well over the RS-62's. If I was to go with a 7.1 system what would you use for the side speakers?

I think RB-51s would do just as well for surround speakers as RB-61s. For a surround system I would get bookshelf speakers for all the surround channels. The truth is dipole and bipole style surround speakers are not really 'compatible' with the new object oriented sound mixes like Atmos and DTS:X. Dipole and bipole speakers were never a good idea for 7 channel sound either, because the surround channels were already moving toward discrete surround mixes, where is something that bipoles and dipoles are not good at.

As for the Hsu vs Klipsch subs, $500 is a good deal for the 15" Klipsch. However, if you understood the difference between the Hsu and the Klipsch, you would think the extra cost well worth it. The Hsu VTF3 mk5 will wreck the Klipsch sub easily, they can barely be compared- and I don't think the R-115sw is a bad sub really, it's just that the Hsu 15" subs are much better. By the way, the VTF3 will cost about $350 more when shipping is included. Still well worth it.

 

[everettT]

Very Valid Point.

Then why would I not want to go with the VTF-15?

Klipsch subs , in their mid to upper lines, will perform descent above 40hz, but the can't compete overall in the entire HT range. HSU is primarily a sub manufacturer, with them supplying a few OEMs , so they tend to be better bang for the buck. Apples to apples most ID companies far outperform their retail counterparts. If you want home theater slam the Klipsch speakers you have chosen work well( not my choice for music) But their subs are average at best.

Here is an interesting subwoofer test page http://www.data-bass.com/systems
No Klipsch in there but gives you an idea on performance v's price

 

[RyanEch]

Well that definitely changed my mind about the subs. I would not use the Klipsch for music as my first choice, but where this system will be it will only be for a Home Theater set up to play movies and watch TV.

 

[ski2xblack]

If you're considering Hsu subs, take a look at their HB-1 speakers while you're at it. Similar in style to the various Klipsch you're considering, only voiced a bit more on the neutral side, and dressed in real wood veneers, I think they may be worth a look/listen.