Speaker Search

[rramacha]

Hello All

As some of you may know I have started looking for new speakers to replace my existing Front Left, Right and Center. I current have Cambridge T200 speakers and MC300 for fronts and use Cambridge (not sure of model) dipole speakers for surrounds.

My current set up is Marantz AV8003 Preamp, Sherbourn 7/2100 A Amp and Oppo 93.

I auditioned Golden ears for the second time this week and came out thinking Center Channel as very week and too much bass of the towers.

I did audition Studio 100 with CC690 as center for the second time as well and it sounded really good. Second time my wife was there and she also felt the vocals being very clear. Pricing I got so far on this is $3300.

I am planning to audition Klipsch Ref 7II and matching Center 64II ( I guess) today. This I am quoted $2750. I am looking to see what you guys thoughts are. I am sure Klipsch will sound different, but need to experience first hand whether or not i will like it.

I just want to buy some thing at $3K budget that I would love for quite some time. This bug to keep changing costs a lot.

Cheers

 

[ski2xblack]

I auditioned Golden ears for the second time this week and came out thinking Center Channel as very week and too much bass of the towers.

Can't speak of the weak center, but the subs on the Tritons are adjustable, and were probably run too hot for 'wow' factor by the store. Set properly, they are very balanced. It sounds like you liked some others anyway...

I did audition Studio 100 with CC690 as center for the second time as well and it sounded really good. Second time my wife was there and she also felt the vocals being very clear. Pricing I got so far on this is $3300.

I am planning to audition Klipsch Ref 7II and matching Center 64II ( I guess) today. This I am quoted $2750. I am looking to see what you guys thoughts are. I am sure Klipsch will sound different, but need to experience first hand whether or not i will like it.

You bet it will sound different! I'm kind of a Klipsch Heritage fanboy, but those RF7II are about as close as you'll get with the non-Heritage stuff. Unrestricted dynamics are quite habit forming, but some object to the edge or shrill-ness of horns. I have no idea if the RF7's are among the kinder or more vicious of the horns. They sure are good looking speakers. Please post your thoughts once you hear them.

I just want to buy some thing at $3K budget that I would love for quite some time. This bug to keep changing costs a lot.

Cheers

Do it right the first time, particularly with speakers, and you'll be happy for years. You're doing it the right way. Keep auditioning as much as you can and posting your thoughts. Others can help with their experinces w/ the ID brands compared to what you've actually heard.

Oh, and once you've actually bought something, don't second guess it, just dig deep into your music collection. New speakers makes it like hearing it all again for the first time.

 

[rramacha]

Thanks

Thanks again for all the feed back. I even tried to convince my wife about JTR Qunitupule (even though beyond budget), but just the aesthetics part played a major role in rejection.

I will def post my opinion once i hear Klipsch.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

it sounded really good.

They didn't sound GREAT?

> $3K is a lot of money for speakers that just sound "really good".

Audition the Klipsch and as many other speakers as you can.

 

[rramacha]

Correct

They did sound great. I have to be more generous.

 

[jostenmeat]

A few of the recently popular suggestions at your price point may include:

Salk Song Towers + matching center
Aperion Verus towers + matching center
PSB Imagine towers + matching center

My guess is that 99 out of every 100 people would be happy with any* of those three, and I haven't heard any of them.

 

[rramacha]

I agree

My inner child likes playing movies louder and some how Klipsch seems to be one that can do it very well.

Paradigm which I did hear was awesome as to how musical it was. I can play that louder as well, I guess.

I just don't want to settle unless I look at all of them

 

[jostenmeat]

My inner child likes playing movies louder and some how Klipsch seems to be one that can do it very well.

Ah, hence the Quintuples. How about instead the Triple 8s, but with custom finish + grilles. Maybe you can pay more for fancier finishes, maybe even roundovers on the rest of the box outside of the baffle or something, I dunno.

You've seen this video yes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWznxY4CmI4

 

[rramacha]

Budget stretch

I can stretch the budget and make it work for Quintuples. Unfortunately even with nicer finish my wife thinks aesthetically they don't look good.

If that was possible I would get Left and Right Quintuple. Wait a couple of months and get a center.

 

[ski2xblack]

jostenmeat, I just love that JTR promo video. Those venerred JTR's are sharp looking, too. Who'd a thunk pro monitors would dress up so well?

rramacha, if you dig the Klipsch at all, you would just love the JTR's, even if you're not using them in a 2 acre field. The high efficiency approach pays dividends even at normal listening levels. Even the most modest of amps can get screaming loud. Dynamic contrasts are exposed that less efficient designs just don't resolve quite as well (think fingers on the fretboard, sliding against strings, the actual pick striking the string, the resonant decay from the body of the instrument, all resolved in full glory on each and every note). It typically takes a lot more money to get the same results using a high power/less efficient speaker approach.

 

[rramacha]

Agreed

I totally get that part. Unfortunately JTR's are out. I am unable to even find a dealer to demo RF 7 II's locally.

I am not sure how I can audition them

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My inner child likes playing movies louder and some how Klipsch seems to be one that can do it very well.

Paradigm which I did hear was awesome as to how musical it was. I can play that louder as well, I guess.

I just don't want to settle unless I look at all of them

You have the right idea. Just keep on listening to as many speakers as possible. It may take some time.

 

[rramacha]

Fail

Mega Fail
I don't have any store close to 95051 that carry Klipsch Reference Line Speakers.

So may have to skip that.

 

[rramacha]

Klipsch wins

Hello All

I think inner child in me is planning to settle on Klipsch. I will make up my mind after three hour cooling period to see if anything else hits my head.

Thanks all