metalmaniac

I must disagree that more output transistors is a good thing. The best SS amps ive hear usually use a single pair of output transistors. The same seems to be true of tube amps in my opinion when you start adding more and more output tubes the sound quality descreases and power increases. Are the RF-3's that much easier to drive compared to the RF-7's?? Because Ive had no problem driving the RF-3's to very loud levels with the 25w Sugden a21. I should probably mention that i will only be using the speakers for music and I dont listen at rock concert levels, i would like to have my hering for a while;) So basically you guys are saying if say i had $2k to spend and I had the choice between say a very powerful amp like a Rotel 1090 or the less powerful but higher quality amp like a Pas Aelph3, the Rotel is gonna be the better match with the RF-7's?? Part of the reason I like Klipsch is that you can go with a much higher quality but lower powered amplifier and still get plenty of volume from them, that way you are getting better sound quality. Am I all wrong in thinking this way. Also what about amps like the old Krell KSA50 or similar super high current class A 50 watt amps?? Thanks

Your right if you dont have the high quality electronics in the front end of the system then a better more revealing speaker is a waste. garbage in garbage out. Like I said, I am a Klipsch owner and fan and I love how they do rock and metal esepcially on a budget. I really dont know how describe this, but the best way i can explain it is that the more expensive and or higher end speakers are just more refined sounding. To make a quick analogy, lets say that music is a digital image, the higher end speaker seem to have more pixels, the music is more finely resolved, clearer and smoother and more natrual sounding. Its like comparing a photo scanned at 300dpi(klipsch) to one scaned at 1200dpi(high end speaker). Both photos you can see the picture but the high resolution one is nicer to look at. I think some of the people around this forum should go check out one of the truly great speakers out there, just to get an idea of how good a sytem can sound, you may be surprised to find that your beloved klipschs are not the end all best ever speakers. Again I am not putting Klipsch down in any way, i love mine, but take them for what they are, a budget speaker mainly for HT use that also does rock very well. happy listening

I dont remeber exactly what I paid for my Seimens 7308's, but i think they where in the $150 range for the pair and they where NOS. The Russian tube will cost about 10-15 a piece. For the NOS tubes it really depends who you buy from, you can find them cheaper on ebay, but from a reputable tube dealer you are paying for a matched pair that are tested and you are assured a high quality tube. Ebay is more of a crap shoot, you may get a great deal but you can also get ripped off, Id stick to the reputable dealers like Upscale audio, they are very knowledgable about tubes for this player. Just make sure if you go for the Seimens tubes, they are the W.german gold pins tube, not the steel pin, two totally differant tubes. Good Luck happy listening!

I donno, resolution to die for from the RF-3's?? I found them to be ok for the price but I wouldnt say they have resolution to die for. Im hoping the RF-7's are significantly better in the detail and clarity departments as this is where I found the RF-3's to be lacking. They dont have that open and detailed sound Ive heard from some other speaker, albeit more expensive. ?? Also do the RF-7's really need 200w + to sound thier best?? Seems like an aweful lot of power for such senstive speakers, I can see understand they need a high quality high current amp since the impeadance and phase angles are a bit difficult, but why so much power?? You mean to tll me a high quality but lower powered amp, my Naim Nap250 for example will not get the best from the RF-7's?? What amps in the $1500 new or used price range would you guys reccomend? thanks

I bought my player with all the bells and whistles from the start , it was the "super" version with the upgraded power cord and feet and the upsampler, but it came with the stock tubes, the Jan Phlips 6922. Over the past year or two Ive made quite a decent collection of 6dj8, 6922, 7308 and 6h23 tubes for the player. Ive come to the conclusion that the JAN Philips tube is pretty much the worst ive heard and the Seimens 7308 W.German gold pin tube is the best. Of course the Seimens tubes is aver 10x the price but i found it to be well worth it the upgrade was a big one, equal to the upsampler upgrade. It really is subjective though and really depends on the rest of your system as well. All I can say is that out of about 10-12 differant tubes the Seimens is the one ive stuck with, and while pricey i definitly think its worth it. On the budget enbd of thing I would reccomend the Russian "rocket logo" 6h23 tube, its a definite step up from the stock Philips tube and is very inexpensive, definitly worth a try. You got yourself one of the best bang for the buck redbook available for around $1k. What speakers and amp are you using btw?? Ive heard good things about the Prima Luna tube amps which are supposedly imported by the same people that do the Ah! Tjoeb players. The Ah! Tjoeb 4000, Prima Luna Prologue 2 and a pair of Klipsch's would make for quite a nice budget system. Happy listening!

Are the RF-7's more clear,detailed and open sounding than the RF-3?? Thats what im looking for the RF-3's arent so good in that regard compared to other speakers ive heard.

Thanks for the info guys. But a reciever?? That would be going backwards i think. Im looking more for a high end integrated or possibly seperates. Ans most likely will stick with SS, I have owned plenty of differant tube amps and I am definitly a SS guy. I like the bass control and transient speed of SS with the heavy rock and metal that i listen to. Just wondering which brands have the best synergy with Klipsch. Thanks

Thirdeye happy to hear your enjoying the ZU Cable speakers, they definitly look interesting to me. The Druid mk4 with a pair of subs seems like it would be a more economical way to go possibly? Anyways, I just find it funny how the people on this forum are so closed minded. Everyone hears differantly, so Klipsch is not gonna be the speaker for everyone. I think most of the people who will never admit that there are speakers that are better than Klipsch out there, either have never heard a truly great speaker or they have and cannot afford them so they refuse to admit they are better than Klipsch. Klipsch is a great inexpensive speaker especially for HT and rock music, but its definitly no where near accurate, take it for what it is people a fun/exciting but colored speaker that is great with some music like rock and not very good with others that is priced so that the average music lover can afford them. All that being said, I am still a huge Klipsch fan and have loved every pair that I have owned!! But I know there are lots of other speakers that are as good if not better than Klipsch. So people need to wake up and realize there are many great speakers out there. Try listening to some of then before you automatically descide that they arent any good.

I also added the upsampler to my Ah! Tjoeb 4000 and the differance was not minor. If you really want the Tjoeb 4000 to sing you need to get a pair of NOS Seimens 7308 gold pin tubes, they made as much a differance if not more than the upsampler. For about $1300 total this player comes darn close to the $5k Naim cd5x/flatcap2 in my main rig for a quarter of the price! Can you say bang for your buck! I wish Ah! made an amplifier!

My secondary basement system consists of the RF-3's driven by an Nad 320bee and Ah! Super Tjoeb 4000. Im looking to upgrade the speakers and possibly the amp and I am basically looking for an all around better sound, more detail and clarity as well as more impact and slam in the bass department. Im considering the RF-7's as they seem to be the most logical upgrade, and Im wondering if they are that much better than the RF-3 to warrant the much higher price, are they that much better in the midrange and treble detail and clarity? Also considering an amplifier upgrade, Id like to stick with an integrated, but ive read that the RF-7 is a pretty tough load, are integrateds out of the question with these speakers? What are some good matches with the RF-7? Ive been checking out some of the integrateds on the second hand market like the Sim Audio I-5, Arcam A32, Bryston b100sst and Musical Fidelity A5....etc But seperates are also a possibility. I listen mainly to all kinds of rock and the room is mid sized roughly 19x14x8ft or so. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks