RBH Sound Signature SE/R System Review

[shamus]

one more thing.... if you had a choice between the 661ser and a good sub(s) or a pair of rbh floorstanding speakers.... which one would you pick?????

 

[nova]

Without a doubt, or second thought, a pr. of 1266SE or SE/R.
I disagree with the vast majority that believe bookshelf and a sub are just as good as floor standers. Sure, for value / bang for the buck it is a good compromise. I have done some testing (my room, my ears) and find there is just no way quality bookshelfs and sub can compete with quality floor standing towers. There just seems to be something missing from the bookshelfs,....fullness, richness,... whatever you want to call it.
Some of the bookshelfs I "tested" against my 1266's; Monitor Audio silver 5i , RBH MC-4C, RBH MC-616C, RBH 661SE, Mitsubishi (can't remember model) and a few other long forgotten speakers

 

[shamus]

Nova, I agree with the fullness and richness part... I have a set of powertowers now. The problem is with the left speaker, it has to be jammed into a corner which makes the low end overwhelming. Thats why I thought the sub/sat would be a better alternative????

 

[shamus]

The 661 and 1266 seem to be identical(minus the built in sub). I thought using a seperate sub(s) would give me a little more play room.

 

[nova]

No, not identical. The 661 depth is 10 3/4" to the 1266 depth of 15 3/4", 661 has dual rear ports, the 1266 has a single rear port, that I think only vents the 12" woofer....dunno about internal differences, I have never taken them apart. Looking at it I would guess there is an internal enclosure in the 1266 that is the same as the 661 external,.... don't know though.
Maybe Shane will pop back in and explain any differences.

 

[shamus]

Shane.............where are ya Shane.................

 

[Sheep]

No, not identical. The 661 depth is 10 3/4" to the 1266 depth of 15 3/4", 661 has dual rear ports, the 1266 has a single rear port, that I think only vents the 12" woofer....dunno about internal differences, I have never taken them apart. Looking at it I would guess there is an internal enclosure in the 1266 that is the same as the 661 external,.... don't know though.
Maybe Shane will pop back in and explain any differences.

I highly doubt a speaker like the 1266 would have its mids and woofer sharing an enclosure.

Its funny you mention this sub sat deely. I just got rid of towers for bookshelfs becuase I didn't like the excessive "bloat" in the mid bass region.

SheepStar

 

[shamus]

Sheep, Thats what I mean about the big towers....at least in my setup. I cant tame the lows and it muddys the middles!!!! You think the sub/sat is the way to go????

 

[Sheep]

Sheep, Thats what I mean about the big towers....at least in my setup. I cant tame the lows and it muddys the middles!!!! You think the sub/sat is the way to go????

Personally, yes. Others disagree.

SheepStar

 

[gene]

one more thing.... if you had a choice between the 661ser and a good sub(s) or a pair of rbh floorstanding speakers.... which one would you pick?????

If you are setting up a home theater system, I would suggest going with 661-SE/R's with 2 subs over 1266-SE/R's. It is difficult to properly integrate a full range speaker such as a 1266 with additional subs.

The reason most people don't think a good bookshelf speaker with subs can compete with towers is b/c they never get the splice correct between the subwoofers and speakers or the bookshelf speakers are dynamically limited. The 661-SE/R have no issues with dynamic range, especially if bass managed.

 

[gene]

No, not identical. The 661 depth is 10 3/4" to the 1266 depth of 15 3/4", 661 has dual rear ports, the 1266 has a single rear port, that I think only vents the 12" woofer....dunno about internal differences, I have never taken them apart. Looking at it I would guess there is an internal enclosure in the 1266 that is the same as the 661 external,.... don't know though.
Maybe Shane will pop back in and explain any differences.

The 1266 has a separate enclosure for the mids/tweets and is about the same volume as a 661-SE/R, though the 661-SE/R is a ported design and a bit more efficienct since it isn't padded down to match sensitivity of the 12" side firing woofer.

 

[nova]

If you are setting up a home theater system, I would suggest going with 661-SE/R's with 2 subs over 1266-SE/R's. It is difficult to properly integrate a full range speaker such as a 1266 with additional subs.

Hey now, no changing the rules,... the choice was
"if you had a choice between the 661ser and a good sub(s) or a pair of rbh floorstanding speakers" not 1266 with sub
For mostly HT I too would lean toward the 661 SE/R and two subs, but in general, for music and HT or leaning more toward music 1266SE all the way.

I cannot dispute Gene's words of wisdom, I have no professional training or equipment (other than RS SPL and AVIA) to get bookshelfs and sub perfect,... but in my experience Bookshelfs and sub could not compete with the floorstanders with music like Copeland's - Fanfare for the Common Man.

 

[gene]

I cannot dispute Gene's words of wisdom, I have no professional training or equipment (other than RS SPL and AVIA) to get bookshelfs and sub perfect,... but in my experience Bookshelfs and sub could not compete with the floorstanders with music like Copeland's - Fanfare for the Common Man.

The 1266-SE/R top half is virtually identical to the 661-SE/R except the former is crossed over higher (for good reason too) than I would recommend should one consider running 661-SE/R's with self powered subwoofers.

Given the following choice when assembling a HT System:
1) 1266-SE/R and no self powered subs
2) 661-SE/R's and 2 self powered subs such as 12-SE's or 1010-SEP's

I choose system #2 almost any given day of the week. The only way I would pick #1 is if I were setting up a 2CH rig, was tight on space and decided to biamp them.

System #1 can work with self powered subs provided that you set the subs up properly though you would most likely have to bass manage the 1266's to avoid excessive bass boost at common frequencies between them assuming you plan on running the subs with music. Trust me, I ran System #1 with subs for years and it was a challenge to integrate them since the 1266's have such good bass extension. I also had the advantage of an FFT analyzer and LMS measurement system at my disposal which is much more accurate than Avia and a Rat Shack Meter

 

[shamus]

Its settled then.... I will give RBH another call and try to find a dealer (surprising a company with nothing but rave reviews is so hard to find). Thanks all!

 

[nova]

Gene,....
Didn't you guys have a reference system of 1266SE, 661SE, 61SE, and 1212SE at one time? Just wondered why there is not a review of that system?
I also seem to recall a review of the 1212SE was coming soon?

 

[gene]

Gene,....
Didn't you guys have a reference system of 1266SE, 661SE, 61SE, and 1212SE at one time? Just wondered why there is not a review of that system?
I also seem to recall a review of the 1212SE was coming soon?

Both myself and Clint had a reference system comprised of the 1266's, 661's and 61'se's though mine were all LSE versions I later traded up the 1266-LSE's to the T2p system. I shed a few tears when I let the 1266's go. They were the first full range speaker system that I would consider to be a reference. I am now once again upgrading to my final speaker system - the new Status Acoustics Titus. These I vow to take to my grave

If you want to read a review of the 1266-LSE, simply read my T2p review since I compared the two speakers directly in the review.

RBH was making some design changes to the 1212SE so we never conducted a formal review. They have a new sub coming out soon which we plan on reviewing so stay tuned...

 

[Sheep]

RBH was making some design changes to the 1212SE so we never conducted a formal review. They have a new sub coming out soon which we plan on reviewing so stay tuned...

Do you have any info on this sub? Will it compete with SVS and Hsu offerings or will it follow the same lines as the older RBH subs.

SheepStar

 

[gene]

Do you have any info on this sub? Will it compete with SVS and Hsu offerings or will it follow the same lines as the older RBH subs.

I am not sure what you mean by the "same lines" as the older RBH subs. RBH is not a direct to consumer retailer and thus not a direct competitor of HSU/SVS.

Their new subs will be very impressive to say the least. But I cannot get into any further details until the official press release.

 

[shamus]

Gene, Any big differences between the 44 and 66 for surround sound?????
(i know the woofers are different sizes, but does that matter when being used for surround?????) and second....in a 7.1 surround configuration, what would you use for the back channels????? another pair of the above mentioned or a direct speakers like the 61se????? In your recommended system I think you suggested the 61's, but in your review of the 44's you had in ceiling speakers and didnt say if the 44's could be used for the rears???????

 

[gene]

Gene, Any big differences between the 44 and 66 for surround sound?????
(i know the woofers are different sizes, but does that matter when being used for surround?????) and second....in a 7.1 surround configuration, what would you use for the back channels????? another pair of the above mentioned or a direct speakers like the 61se????? In your recommended system I think you suggested the 61's, but in your review of the 44's you had in ceiling speakers and didnt say if the 44's could be used for the rears???????

The difference between the 44-Se and 66-SE is a matter of output and dynamics. In medium sized rooms the 44-SE is likely all you will ever need. I am using them in a family room which is about 15 x 20 but opens to the kitchen and they work just fine. IF you are going with a 6 series Signature system, you can get by with either one, though the 66-SE's will be able to better match the output of a 661.

In my review, I used MC-615 inceiling speakers. I didnt have a backwall in that particular system. I would prefer using either 41 or 61-SE's but they are usually too deep for rear wall installation and also need to have a few inches of breathing room for the rear firing ports unless you plan to stuff them.

Personally if you are considering 44-SE for side channels, go with the 41-SE for rears, if you are considering 66-SE for side channels, go with the 61-SE for rears. If you cannot accommodate a box speaker in the rear, go with inceiling ones such as the MC-615 as I indicated in my review. I hope this helps.