Erukian

This is interesting. Since computer's are a major driving force for music aficionado's it only makes sense that it's spawning a new generation of audiophiles. http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=904 I'd be interested in what it sounds like on some high efficiency klipsch equipment.

Wow, diverse opinions, lol.

So I have a sub (HSU STF-2) that I'm happy with, a Receiver (Onkyo TX-SR605) that I'm pleased with, and now I just need 5 speakers to do the job. I have a new 50" Plasma that has hd-dvd/bluray/xbox and OTA HDTV running into it. Music listening is for my separate 2 channel setup (but yes i realize games/movies do play music so i want something that sounds good doing music as well) Given a budget of 2-2.5k, working with a room that's 15x25 or so, what would you guys go with. I'm also open to the wall mounting speakers but I'm not sure what sort of compromises I'm making by leaving floor-standers and going to those... Honest feedback please. Thanks, -Joe

I'm demoing the Parasound HCA-1000A right now, i notice a lot more instrumental seperation, a lot more spaciousness and a lot more stereo seperation over my teac tripath, but the highs are very solid state like, they give me a headache! the mids arent as smooth as the teac but i think they're more realistic now. my low sensitive speakers love the extra wattage and that really shows with the bass control now. Overall it's definitely an upgrade in most regards. The seller also raised the price from $220 to $280, is this still worth it? my budget is $500 so that leaves about $220 for a pre. Assuming i kept this amp, what pre's would you guys recommend? I'm still open to other amplifier options, i haven't committed yet to the Parasound. Thanks, Joe

I have two offers i've come across today. First is a Parasound HCA-1000A for $220 from a coworker. Second is a Carver Pro ZR1600 from audiogon for $540 shipped. The biggest difference being the Parasound is rated 200WPC @4ohms (John Curl designed), the Carver Pro is 600WPC @4ohms, but the carver is tripath based which has it's own positives. Ahh decisions decisions, why is it deciding on electronics is so damn hard for me ;( I have no reason to really buy a multichannel setup because if i go multichannel, i'm definitely not going to use these speakers in that setup, buying a multichannel amp is a decision for later, when i get a house. I do indeed do serious listening in my bedroom. -Joe

I'm running 4ohm 88db sensitive bookshelf speakers, so they're not exactly easy to drive, but i respect the expertise of people in this forum to give me an honest recommendation despite them not being klipsch's and all.. The speakers are for a bedroom setting and as far as I can tell, if I want something good I have to buy used. If anyone has something they believe will match up with my speakers, please let me know, i'm considering everything at this point. Tubes, SS, Tripath, integrated or power amps... The impedance curve on the speakers makes it somewhat easy to drive for a 4ohm speaker, the bass/mids are smooth and detailed, the bass is somewhat tipped up around 40-55hz (where it starts to roll off just a bit) so integrating with a sub is somewhat hard. The highs are bright and detailed for a typical soft dome tweeter, but definitely not klipschs' sharp detail. I'd say sonically, they're closest to the Polk LSi9's, but with a bit more brightness. Thanks, -Joe

just these pair of bookshelves for my bedroom. http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=23.1 -Joe

I'm looking to spend no more than $700 on a integrated tube amp, i was considering this one right here. http://onix.pbwiki.com/SP3 I found a friend who's offering $550 for it almost brand new (retails $1k), local pickup. I'm curious what other options I should think about. The thing is I no longer have Klipsch speakers so realisticaly my sensitivity is around 88dB which sort of means a SET amp is out of the picture... So i'm really just asking for advice or suggestions when deciding on a 25+W tube amp that can handle a 4ohm load. -Joe

These guys are right, a 5.1/7.1 receiver is the way to go if since a value-priced one does roughly cost the same as the DDTS-100. The disadvantage is that the ultra's subs xover is locked at 120, so find a receiver that can xover around there (because that's where the ultra sattelites roll off) and buy some ratshack converters to conver the RCA sub-out to 1/8". -Joe

the Creative DDTS-100 is a excellent choice. It can output 1/8" plugs directly to your Ultra sub amp, and can take in Coax/Optical/RCA 6-channel from any receiver/dvd player you might have. It's definitely worth the money (the device) since you can use it anywhere and hook it up to anything really. I used to have one (sold it along with my Ultras) -Joe

Klipsch's horns will give you teh resolution you want at lower listening levels that a dome tweeter can't. comon you know this by now pick up any klipsch bookshelf speaker and be happy -Joe

Heya guys, feels like around a year since i've last used this forum to converse with you guys, but I came across this gem and I _have_ to share it with you. You guys will love it. Download the audio interview here. http://www.boston-audio.com/podcast/srajan_ebaen_interview.mp3 It's an hour long, but the last half hour is golden, he covers a ton of different topics, CD being replaced by online music (ipods), high efficiency speakers, preamps, class D amplifiers, music enjoyment, audiophile mentality. It's definitely worth a half hour of your time. Enjoy, -Joe

I simply Love B&W speakers, I just never spoke up because it feels like i'd get knocked around with all the fandom in here. B&W is known in the speaker industry as the 'University of Sound' because a lot of the modern breakthroughs come from them. -- Like them using kevlar to stop resonance in the driver material, perforated ports limit port farting, and reverse horns help stop internal resonance and totally cleans up the output on the 8xx series to give you the most undistorted output possible. Oh and don't forget the diamond drivers, the only material that's been proven to give completely flat, like not even +-1dB variance to 20khz, but we can't hear above 15kHz realistically so I guess only kids would notice. They have I believe some of the most brilliant engineers alive today. My two cents. -Joe

Hey Folks, long time. Even though I left the klipsch camp last summer, I found myself looking back and thinking "what if" I went with some Heresy's instead of the decision I made. I now think I have a good grasp on what part of the industry Klipsch holds and why you guys and geezers are so loco over them. PWK really brought the horn out of crappy PA systems and made them capable for high fidelity, so we all look to him as a true pioneer in the audio scene. A no-nonsense, no-bullshit kind of guy, the kind which everyone appreciates. His speaker designs are so efficient as a result of horns that you can drive them at normal and even loud listening volumes with a 1-5W tube amp, SET amp, t-amp, or any low powered amp that would power a 4ohm-sub 90dB efficient speaker horribly. Please keep in mind here that there are great speaker brands that are designed from fantastic engineers that learned from the best, including PWK. PWK's patents aren't the 'end all be all' of hi-fi audio and you'd be a fool for thinking so. It's been around 50+ years since the heritage designs and while there is a lot of bad cheap crap out there, there is some good stuff from other manuf's that sound as good if not better than Klipsch. So I ask that just keep in mind that while you may not care about learning about all the interesting developments in the audio world over the past 50 years, the hi-fi scene in some areas has changed for the better and it shouldnt be dismissed as whole. -Joe

Go in, and ask for them to order it from their catalog, that's what i did, waited a few days, now it's mine -Joe