kfalls

I have the GMX D5.1. The module is very "hissy", loud enough I can hear it accross the room. I found a Promedia DD5.1 processor on ebay. Can the DD5.1 be used as a replacement for the GMX D5.1 module? Is there a way to connect the Promedia DD5.1 module so I can use the sub/amp and speakers of the GMX D5.1?

Hi Fast Al, The first way to check for phase is to check the polarity of the cabling. Make sure the same color wire is on all + terminals (assuming your speaker wire is two color). If you're wire is the same color for both + and - one should have either writing or a stripe or different texture. The center is more difficult to check phase by listening. If it were the right and left speakers the way to check phase is to place them about a foot apart and play stereo music through them. Switch + and - on one speaker and place your head between them. If it sounds like the bass goes away, they're out of phase. Another possibility is the distance setting is wrong on the center and the sound isn't reaching you at the same time as the R and L. Denon has an adjustment for distance, where Yamaha has a time alignment in increments of one millisecond. If the HF driver is bad you should be able to place your ear next to it and listen. If you can't tell, place your hand over it, then remove it to see it the sound is brighter. You should also check to make sure you're not in stereo, or other non-surround mode. Do all testing in one of the DD, or DTS modes to make sure you're listening to discrete channels and not channels derived from a stereo signal such as Dolby Pro Logic. I hope this helps.

Hi Amy, I wasn't able to make it to the pilgrimage this year (new job, no vacation time yet). Is there a chance I can still get some of the cool memorabilia you usually pass out? I would even be willing to pick it up in Indy, since I live just across the state line from Terre Haute IN. Happy 60th to Klipsch, Klipsch employees and devoted Klipsch audio fans. I hope everyone has a great time at the pilgrimage. Ken

Wow! You shouldn't be running into problems with this receiver. Yamaha's are great at handling lower impedances. They are one of a very few receivers who provide power ratings in 8-6-4ohms. I have a Yamaha RX0V2095 @100W./ch. I have a pair of KG4s (4ohm) two pairs of the RS-3 surround speakers, a KV3 center and two powered subs. Even at only 100W/ch I rarely need to turn the volume up past the 9:00 position. I can see where a grounding issue would cause some problems, but if you're still having issues after the repair you need to look deeper. There was a thread awhile back about this receiver. I believe it was a Canadian version. They were having all kinds of problems and getting very little help. You may want to search for the thread, it could help you in your quest for answers.

What mods have you done to your Kg4s?

I currently have a system using the Kg4s as mains, SW8 as upper bass, RS-3 surrounds for front effects and rear. I use a KV-3 for the center and I'm very happy with it, but felt it may sound better if the center had 8" woofers like the Kg4's. I bought the KLF-C7, but I didn't like it. It sounded as though the dialogue was going over your head no matter how much you tilt it downward. Also I didn't hear any benefit with the 8" woofers. I like the look of the copper cerametallic woofer in the RS-3s and thought the RC3 II, or the RC-35 might have what I'm looking for in a center. Does anyone have opinions on any of the three centers with the Kg4 mains. I know there's some controvercy between the RC3 II and the RC-35, but I'm not trying to match a pair of RF-3 or RF-5s, just opinions on the centers listed when used with the Kg4s. Thanks.

Santana Supernatural is also well recorded video and audio. If you can find anything in DVD for AKUS (Allison Kraus and Union Station) grab it. I have their SACD and have seen their live performance on TV. It gives me goosebumps remembering how well they play their intricate mesh of country/blue grass/"old timey" tunes. Their music is in the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou".

This is a great thread. I've been a speaker freak for over 20 years and have degrees in Electronics and Computer Hardware, so I understand the electronic as well as the physics of the discussion. I'm always reading reviews about different designs and implementations. I plan one day to build my own speakers and had subscribed to Speaker Builder for a couple of years. But, after getting a position as a network administrator, I had little time to both attempt to design speakers and enjoy listening to them, so I've concentrated my efforts on the latter. All along I've read postings and white papers, but still have many questions. This posting has answered several of them. The posting was very infomational and well presented. I'll be watching for future posts.

I have a Denon AVR-3300 as well as a Yamaha RX-V2095 both units have 100+W/ch (I think the Denon is 105W)and I find both to have more than sufficient bass. I'm a big Klipsch fan, but I find the Heresey's too lean in the bass region as well. Even when I heard them at the Klipsch Pilgrimage, they were my least favorite in their demo room. I know they're a good speaker and get the all-too-critical midrange right and a huge seller, but just not suited to my taste. I'm into quality, not quantity when it comes to bass, so it's not that I'm used to having multiple 12" "boomers" in my car and associated hearing loss. I have my Yamaha in a surround system driving Kg4s, KLF-C7, RS-3 surrounds (front and rear) and an SW8 sub and have plenty of bass. I find my Denon to have more detail and is more three dimensional than the Yamaha, but the Yamaha has more DSP programs, is very dynamic and very reliable. I think the Denon is more musical, but the Yamaha sounds better for movies. I wouldn't change receivers right away unless you just want the Hereseys. After assuring all is right with your connections, try demoing other speakers to see if the issue is with the receiver.

Doesn't THX specify a limited horizontal dispersion to limit the overlap of the front channels to make dialogue more intelligible and to keep the sound more coheisive? Of course with a vertical horn the possibility of ceiling and floor reflections are a possibility.

Do you mind if I ask why you chose the RF3s as surrounds instead of the RS-3 or RS-7s? I can think of few other surrounds which provide the coverage and quality of the Klipsch surounds, especially for DD with it's full-range surrounds channels.

No it's not fingers. It's more of a wrinkle, a distortion as though one edge was pulled. I've seen finger pokes and this looks completely different. I've seen many examples on ebay. Usually included with dialogue from the seller saying the speakers weren't used often. I have a theory since they're not used much, they sag and distort from not being pulled to center by playing. Look at the picture and tell me what you think.

I'm a big Klipsch fan, especially the Kg4 model. I'm always looking for good deals on ebay and noticed many times when looking at older Kg4s the dust caps on the K-8-K woofer have distortions and wrinkles in them. Is this a result of settling, moisture, what? I've had my Kg4s for over 15 years, used daily, but mine look fine. Any guesses?

I have a Pioneer DLV-700 Combo player which plays CDs, DVDs, laserdiscs. It has the AC3 RF out which I connect through a Yamaha ADP1 demodulator. I've never had any issues with the sound. It decodes AC3 just fine and has a very dynamic sound. It's connected to a Yamaha RX-V2095 with Klipsch Kg4s, KV3/KLF-C7, RS-3 and SW8. I have approximately 80+ discs including two Star Wars collector sets. I think my favorite movie on laserdisc is "The Hunt for Red October". I have the DVD, but the video and audio quality is much better on the LD. I plan to sell my Star Wars Original Collector's box set, if anyone's interested. I believe it includes the first three movies in CAV along with a book which hasn't been opened. I bought it as a collector piece and have probably only viewed each movie once. It originally sold for $250. If anyone is interested I could be persuaded to sell. The upgrade bug is biting.

This is my bedroom system. The entertainment center is from Ashley furniture. Mains Klipsch Kg4s Center Klipsch KV3, KLF-C7 (depends on mood) Surrounds Klipsch RS-3 front and rear Sub1 Klipsch Powered SW8 Sub2 Audio Concepts Saturn (Oak, custom-made, driven by Marantz M-700) TV Sony KV36XBR250 Receiver Yamaha RX-V2095 DVD Pioneer Universal DVD Laserdisc Pioneer DVL-700 combi-payer RF Mod. Yamaha ADP1 Optional speakers shown in picture: Blue Room Minipods, Genesis Genre II Cables Audioquest GR8 (speaker) Bettercables silver digital Coax, Audioquest Coral interconnects, Canare Component Video Monster Power Management Dishnetwork DVR510 satellite receiver/recorder

I had aleays heard rumors that consecutive serial numbers were matched sets, cosmetically and sonically. Part of the rumor was if one of the pairs was defective, both were destroyed. I had called the plant once after purchasing my first surround system consisting of a Yamaha R9 receiver, MX35 2-4 ch amp, DSR-100PRO surround processor, Yamaha DVL-1000 CD/Laserdisc to ask if they had single Oak KG4s so I could purchase one for a center channel and was told they didn't sell single KG4s. I ended up using a "Dialogue" center speaker from Legacy with my front and rear Kg4s. I don't know if this supports the rumor, but if they're not destroyed, you'd think there would be one or two around to sell. I always look when an ebay sale says consecutive serial numbers and about 99% of the time the cabinet veneers match. I had noticed the bases on Kg4s din't always match. After looking at my own I realized, as with mine, the bases may have been removed and not re-oriented correctly when remounted.

I agree, mint condition, local dealer, Kg4s, $250, you can't go wrong. I've recommended the Kg4s to many people and bought several pairs to build systems for friends and have never been disappointmented. Although I have larger, better, more expensive speakers I'll never sell my Kg4s. The other speakers in the same line are also good (Forte, Quartet, KG2,...). I'm not a big fan of the '.' series (Kg4.2, KV2.2,...).

I went to the Klipsch Pilgrimage last weekend and asked the same question about the hissssss. I was told it's a result of an updated design decision made to increase the gain of the amplifier. When you increase the gain, you increase the noise floor as well. Apparently the increased gain is was what the consumer wanted and Klipsch complied. I bought the GMX-D5.1 hoping to get an above average to excellent multimedia speaker system. What I got was a system with more hiss than Indiana Jones heard in the Temple of Souls knee-deep in snakes! I let my son have the system as I can barely stand it to be on while I'm at the computer. So, if you're hoping to find a solution to the hissssss issue, you're out of luck. What you are hearing I'm told was by design.

Does it really matter which wire is positive since you're able to switch phase 180 degrees? Since you say it sounds like there's power to the woofer (best way to tell if the woofer is good is to touch its posts to a AA battery and see if you hear a "pop") it sounds like the problem is with the power-supply or a driver in the audio circuit. Drivers are used to amplify voltage or current to suitable levels for the output transistor. It's probably not an output or there wouldn't be sound at the woofer at all. Also since the heat sink gets warm the open/shorted driver may cause the ouput driver to max, without passing the audio signal. In essence the outputs are on with nothing to amplify. Look at the capacitors in the power-supply, I found a bad cap in the power-supply of a Promedia 2.1 sub. The only indication was the top was "bulged" a little. I replaced the cap and it started working again. The easy fix would be to replace the amp. I've found many on ebay over the years. I once replaced the amp in my SW8 with one from an SW10. Of course with its extra wattage I had to be careful how much I turned it up, but it fit and worked great. Hope this helped.

Sorry, I haven't checked back for awhile. Yes I have both KV3 and KLF-C7. I prefer the KV3 over the C7. I thought the C7 would be a better match with its 8" woofers, but it sounded as though the music/dialogue went over your head no matter how much I tilted it downward. I originally had a Legacy Dialogue (don't bother looking for the model, it was a limited European release Legacy discontinued)which was OK, but I traded it in toward a Legacy Silver Screen to go with my Legacy Focus mains. I replaced it with the KV3 and couldn't believe the difference, it matched perfectly. I would still like to get more bass to the center, but the system sounds so good now it's difficult to justify.

I have my KG4s in a home theater setup driven by a Yamaha RX-V2095. My center is a KV3. I bought a KLF-C7 a couple of years ago believing the 8" woofers would be a better match for the KG4s, but the KV3 sounds much better. For front and rear surrounds I'm using the RS3s. I hope to upgrade the surrounds to the RS7s since DTS and DD have full-range surround channels. The KG4's bass is very respectible, but I love quality bass and supplement the KG4s with an SW8 for the mid/upper bass and a custom-built ACI Titan passive sub with compound 12" woofers for the Loooow bass. I highly recommend the KG4, KV3, RS3 system. I have another system consisting of Legacy Focus, Silver Screen center and T&A P-30 3-way surrounds. The Focus are bi-amped by a Denon AVR-3300 receiver(high/mid)and a Yamaha M-65(bass). This system is probably 3 time the cost and has its own qualities, but when friends are over it's the Klipsch system they're impressed with.

Actually I believe humans can detect 1db of difference and most frequency specs are given at -3db because they are the half power points. I have both a Denon (AVR-3300) and a Yamaha (RX-V2095). My Denon is connected to my Legacy Focus(mains)/Silver Screen(center), T&A P-30(surrounds) speakers which sounds very impressive. I have Klipsch KG4 (mains), KV3/KLF-C7 (center), RS-3 (front and rear surounds), SW8 upeer sub, ACI Saturn lower sub connected to my Yamaha. Most people who listen to the Yamaha/Klipsch system which is about half the cost of the Denon/Legacy system are just as impressed. The Denon is a more refined system, better for music and is more 3D than the Yamaha. The Yamaha is very dynamic and is great on home theater media. I can't say I hear the harshness everyone talks about, but the Yamaha doesn't project as much into the room as the Denon. I plan to purchase a new receiver within the next month and I've looked at the Yamaha 1400/2400 as well as the Denon 3803. The specs are impressive on both, but I believe I'm going to go with the Yamaha 2400 because of the video upconversion, YPAO, bass management and their user adjustable formats. As far as reliability, I've owned Yamaha gear for 30+ years and have never had to repair any of it. The Denon had a known fan problem which would whine when the amp heated enough to make it go into high-cooling mode. After the fix I didn't have any other problems. One thing you might check with the Harmon is if they have discrete outputs and not ICs. The discrete outputs are better able to dissipate the heat and have better separation specs than ICs. My trhee top mid-fi line would be Denon, Yamaha, and Onkyo. My $.02, go with the Yamaha and don't concern yourself about the harshness. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I have a pair, but I'm not certain if they are the black, or the brown. They were in perfect condition when I stored them. I had two pairs of KG4s, one with black grilles one set brown. I purchased new set so both would match, but I don't remember if I bought black or brown. Let me know if you're interested and I'll dig them out.

The picture still looked dark. Let's see how this looks. ---------------- On 1/29/2004 8:13:50 AM kfalls wrote: This is my bedroom system. I hope the picture comes out, I tried to lighten it up a bit. Speakers: Surround System Mains Klipsch Kg4 Centers Klipsch KLF-C7, or KV3 Surrounds Klipsch RS-3 (front and rear) Sub-Woofer Klipsch SW8 (upper bass), ACI Saturn (lower bass) Other speakers traded out for 2-channel listening. Genesis Genre II BlueRoom Minipods Klipsch 2.1 T&A P-30 Receiver Yamaha RX-V2095 Saturn Sub Amp Marantz M-700 DVD Sony 755 SACD DVD/CD/LD Pioneer CLV-700 Combi-Player RF Demodulator Yamaha ADP-1 TV Sony 36XBR450 Satellite DishNetwork 811 HD Receiver Wall Unit Ashley Furniture Millenium Series Apollo ----------------

This is my bedroom system. I hope the picture comes out, I tried to lighten it up a bit. Speakers: Surround System Mains Klipsch Kg4 Centers Klipsch KLF-C7, or KV3 Surrounds Klipsch RS-3 (front and rear) Sub-Woofer Klipsch SW8 (upper bass), ACI Saturn (lower bass) Other speakers traded out for 2-channel listening. Genesis Genre II BlueRoom Minipods Klipsch 2.1 T&A P-30 Receiver Yamaha RX-V2095 Saturn Sub Amp Marantz M-700 DVD Sony 755 SACD DVD/CD/LD Pioneer CLV-700 Combi-Player RF Demodulator Yamaha ADP-1 TV Sony 36XBR450 Satellite DishNetwork 811 HD Receiver Wall Unit Ashley Furniture Millenium Series Apollo