Thasp

Yeah, but then that would meann everytime I changed the volume, I'd have to do it on both and match it. I could have the music at 87 dB and the bass at 95 dB. If I'm paying that much for an audio setup, the least I could have is to not have to adjust the volume like that.. and an $800 integrated amp SHOULD have preamp outs - so I think the Cayin is crossed out.

Yes, but wouldn't that mean the cayin would be powering the subwoofer? How would a setup like this work?

I heard the three Synergy floorstanders. The SF-1 was way too tinny. Like a clock radio. The SF-2 sounded acceptable, like a floorstander should(not that horribly tinny SF-1 sound). The SF-3 sounded, just way better. A lot more vibrant and alive. It sounds like it's in a different series. brandnamez.com gets TONS of good ratings and sells the RF-35 at the same price that most authorized dealers sell the SF-3($660/pair), so you should check them out. Yet, since you can get the RF-35s from an online dealer for the same price as the SF-3s at an authorized dealer... why not give yourself the free upgrade?

I didn't see it mentioned in the specs. That is the only way of adding a sub here. Usually you'd either put a crossover inbetween the preamp or amp or plug it into the preamp's other preamp outs. If it doesn't have any preamp outs, that means no sub, and no sub expansion options means no cayin. Thanks.

---------------- On 5/23/2004 12:28:02 AM MrMcGoo wrote: Dean has it right. You can listen at 1 watt, but then a 20 db transient in the bass frequencies comes along. The 20 db peak requires 100 times the power, i.e., 100 watts. Audio amplifiers are all about headroom. Bill ---------------- So I should go with solid state? I'm looking hard for a good dealer nearby that has tube amps so I can compare side by side with {any} solid state to see if they work nicely with Klipsch RF floorstandings, since this is confusing(20 watts will blow your ears out, 60 watts won't be enough, etc..) Do any decently priced tube amps have that kind of headroom?

The Jolida stuff at audiogon is $120 above my price limit anyways.

---------------- On 5/22/2004 10:30:59 PM DeanG wrote: I used to run RB-5s with a 200 wpc .. and I had no trouble emptying that amp out. ---------------- RB-5's POWER HANDLING: 150 watts maximum continuous (400 watts peak) For some reason, I doubt one can run 96 dB/watt efficient speakers at 50 watts over their continuous power handling rating in a small room and still not have enough volume.

http://www.klipsch.com/assets/soundpressurechart.jpg According to this, 16 watts into RF-5 will be the same as about 128 watts into Paradigm Monitor or Studio speakers. Since I doubt 128 watts into those paradigms is so bad, I don't think 20 into the Klipschs would be either... Could I get it refurbished anywhere opposed to used? I guess I'd just feel better with fixed and repackaged gear with the parts replaced than just straight out used.. but I'll look into it. Thanks!

40 watts more, smaller room, and 3 dB more efficient, and still not enough volume? Uhm... I can't find a tube amp with that much power for this price, so I doubt tubing would be good idea for me now.

They'd be maybe six feet apart. The room is about 10x11, with a 2x6 closet in it that's always closed. I'm not buying just yet. The amp budget is about... um, $520 or so. It'd be connected to an M-Audio Audiophile USB external soundcard's RCA outputs. Link - http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=41cf7347b20eff77b69588578a74aa58 I'm _pretty_ sure it has enough power to drive a normal power amp and its own preamp, yet if it doesn't I'll just go with an integrated tube amp. Thanks.

Good, thanks. I was looking at a NAD refurbished 150 watt amp that was in my budget yet when I considered the efficiency of the speakers, I couldn't help thinking "what a waste, if I'm using so few watts they'd better be quality ones" so this seemed like a good way to go. I just had to make sure.

I had thought a tube amp would be a bit out of my budget. I saw a Jolida and another brand with monoblocks(both 20 watts a channel). Anything higher was a lot more money than I'd consider spending. With the Klipschorns and other heritage series speakers, people seem to be happy with watt ratings way lower with this. Since the efficiency on these speakers is about 105 dB/1 watt Would the 99 dB/1 watt efficiency of the RF-5 work with 20 watts per channel in a moderately sized room? Would I get a decent bass with this before I get a sub? 99% of the music is heavy metal(Alice In Chains, Iron Maiden). I listen to almost everything, but it has to be able to play this well with authority since it's what I listen to most. Thanks!

Uhhh.. amp power?

Nope, I'm talking about the RF-5s. I've seen those for $1500/pair RETAIL, and the RF-7s for $2200 RETAIL. Retail being J&R and some other sites with prices. I've seen deals where I can get the RF-5 for $990/pair and the RF-7 for $1500/pair. I wouldn't do any upgrades, except buy a subwoofer, for a long time(ie, a decade or so from now). This would be it for now.

Wow. I thought the retail on those was $1500? The closest authorized dealer here is in New Jersey and I'm in NY - and they sell the RF-3(old model) for $800/pair, so authorized dealers were out for me. They don't even have the whole reference series in stock, 6th Avenue Electronics. J&R has it for $1500 a pair. Where did you get such a deal?! No fair. Anyway, are they a lot better than the RF-35, or just a little?