wsu99999

I haven't had a chance to hook it up as a main speaker but will do so when I get home and let you know the results.

I picked up the 863 used off ebay for 320 shipped. I must say it has been quite a suprise. I thought it would be a peice of crap, but it actually does quite well. I can't tell any difference between that and my old Flagship Harman Kardon 745.

I have a Swans Sub-250 amplifier - it's a plate amp and I think it's rated at 150w RMS. What would be a good 12" Woofer to match with it? I know I could use just about any, but I want one that will be optimal with it. The box I have is about 2.5 Cubic ft I think it's 18x18x14. What would perform best. Th anks for your help

I just picked up a single Heresy and I'm running it as a center channel between my LaScalas. The sound from the Heresy sounds like crap. For some reason, the sound just sounds dead. Like the speakers are mounted inside of the box and echoy (if that's a word). Basically, the voices are tinny and all around sub par in compairision to the LaScalas. When I had a RC-62, it did a much better job. I have checked all 3 drivers and they all work and none sound blown. The Heresy has an e-2 crossover. Does anyone have any ideas of things I could do to get this fixed? I've heard that heresy's mate well with LS. This one definately doesn't and I'm not the pickiest person in the world - something is clearly wrong. Thanks!

If you do it the way I showed you, you won't be using your DVI connection on the TV. There is a DVI connection on that video card I showed you. Get a DVI to HDMI cable and hook the DVI end to the computer and the hdmi end to the tv.

Noah, You could go HDMI into the plasma, but you would have to have a video card that has HDMI, which is going to cost you an arm and a leg. I honestly don't even know of one that does it, although I'm sure there is one. DVI has the same quality as HDMI minus the audio. The quality I get from my DVI cable is the same as my other hdmi sources

Noah, I just re- read your post. Here - Buy this sound card - it will be more than enough for what you need and it's cheap..... http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10702 I got mine off ebay for 20 bucks. For the video - your TV may have a VGA input (mine does) but, it may be a good thing to buy a new video card. Keep in mind - you DON"T HAVE TO. you can get a cable that will convert the signal but you will degrade the picture. If you want the best of the best for video, get this.... http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3478852&Sku=S15-8400&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=TBBTkwCjCVyBpAgf%20mwzygtCjCVRqCjCVRq For software, do you have Vista? most movies your probably "downloading" are divx or some other "non dvd" format. Therefore, you don't need any additional DVD Software - however, you will need to download new codecs for your system. I can point you in the right direction, but don't want to do it on the open forum. If you are trying to watch DVD's, I can show you that too. For 60-80 bucks with the HW above, you can have your HTPC. It's not the best, but it will all get the job done and would be at the point of deminishing returns if you spent much more. Oh.... The cable for the Video Card that you need is here... This cable will take the DVI signal from the video card and turn it into HDMI. This will be the best picture you can get right now... http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2661&seq=1&format=2

Noah, You can go about this a few different ways. Let me detail to you my setup and probably one of the "optimal" ways you can do this. I have a videocard that has dual DVI outputs. I have a Dvi to Hdmi cable that delivers HD Signal to my TV. Then, I have an optical output going from my sound card to my receiver. That's really all you need. Now - you can order a cable that will take your current Svga output and turn it into HDMI (or DVI) but I don't know of one that will take the SVGA and turn it into Component (although I'm sure one exists). What this will come down to for the video is the type of connections you have on your TV more than the connections on your PC. I'm confident your TV probably has HDMI and if so it's easy. Just get that cable and your set. The audio can be done in 2 ways. You can upgrade to a better sound card (probably the best option) and get one with an optical or coax output so you can get 5.1 -7.1 sound OR for a quick and easy fix (cheap) you can get a cord that has 2 RCA's on one side and a mic input on the other. This will allow you to plug mic mini into the sound card and run the rca's to your receiver. I assure you this sounds more complicated than it sounds. If you need me to explain more just ask.

The sad thing is I use HDMI for almost everything and I still have more wires than carter has liver pills.

I too am sorry for your loss. I still have my parents, but I dread the day I inherit anything. If I were in your shoes, I would put the RB-81's, RC-7, and RS-7's on ebay. The pair of RS-7's on ebay have ranged from 575 - 450, the RC-7 hasn't sold in 30 days but I would assume a minimum of 350-450 and the RB-81s went for 535-410. If everything sold on the high end, you would have a little over 1500 bucks to play with. I would reinvest, of course, into Klipsch. With your K-horns, you really want Heritage speakers matching them. The good thing is you can find Heritage for really cheap and I guarentee you can get at a minimum a 5 ch setup w/ the 1500. You could get 4 heresy's in the back for 6-700 bucks if you shop Craigslist (or the forum). I always see Heresy's going for really cheap with some body damage - I just picked up a single for 40 bucks on Saturday. So let's say you spend 700 on Heresy's that leaves you with around 800 for a Center. You can EASILY get a single LaScala for that - heck, you could even get a pair. I would recomend you at least get Heresy's for the rear surrounds, but you could always get Lascalas - although I think that would be a bit overkill for the back. If you had 2x Khorns, a LaScala Center and 4 Heresy's in the back, you would probably have one of the best home theaters in your county. You would even have some money left over to buy a new receiver (which I would highly recomend as well) Good luck and if you have any questions, just ask.

I wanted to ask everyones opinion on hiding wires. As most on the forum, I'm an electronics geek. I have about 10 components hooked up to my tv, 5 speakers, computer, etc all in the same area. It looks like a nightmare! I have big balls of wire everywhere. It looks like Im a cat with more yarn then I know what to do with. How do you all combat the wire situation at your home:? Any good items from Parts Express you use to help? Any ideas are appreciated.

To help answer your question, I saw no difference when I changed the caps in my 1976 LS's. I did hear a difference when I removed the magnetic screw. Weather it was psychological or not I don't k now. I am in the process of mailing my old caps to bob to see if they were bad and when I hear from him I can let you know more. Thanks bob for offering that to me - I really appreciate it.

I put the old screws back in. I couldn't tell an immediate difference, but the next day (with the screw's back in) the sound was a little degreaded in the Left channel compaired to the right. Upon taking the screw out, immediately no difference but several hours later they were both the same again. I think the difference is from the screws not the caps. I could be wrong. I had someone sending me some sonicaps but I haven't seen em yet. I think I will just save up and buy some new ones. I still haven't sent the old caps to bob just haven't had time. I am going to package em up tonight and ship em out. I'm curious to see.

You said your room size is 18x2? That can't be right. If you don't have a wife, and your room is 18x20 OR 18x12, I would recomend picking up some used Heresy's or Forte II's. Even if you just got a pair of those, in my opinion it would be better than an entire quintet setup. You could pick up a used pair on Criagslist in your area for something around 400 bucks. Try em, give it a week, and if you aren't impressed, resell em. They will NOT loose any value as long as they are in good shape. Typically a range on Heresy's on my local CL is 200-450 and for the Forte IIs typically 350-550. If I were you I would give it a shot. I will leave you with this... When I first joined this forum, I was asking the same questions as you. Everyone told me go heritage or go home. I went with a reference set. Liked em, but then I heard a pair of LaScalas. Needless to say, If I would have just listened to the forum members, I would have found my current setup a lot sooner than I did and saved a bit of money. The bottom line is you have nothing to loose because they will retain their value if purchased used.

Heritage is definately the way to go. You don't know what that is, but if you research the Klipsch site, you will figure it out. In my opinion, you could get 5x Heresys or Forte II's or similar - but like a lot of people today, they want small and cheap. Heritage products are large, to some ugly, and to many wifes, unacceptable. If that is your case, Heritage may be a no go. In my opinion, with a good receiver, the Quintet should be around the equilivent of Bose. Before I got into Klipsch, I had a bose setup and once I got my very first Klipsch product, I never looked back. Now, I have a heritage setup and don't think I will ever need to upgrade again (except for small modifications). They truly are the best thing out there for the money. If you want a quick fix, the quintets will be cheap, small, and sound pretty decent. They serve a good purpose in my opinion and will sound as good if not better than Bose and will cost a LOT less. When I owned the bose, I thought they were awesome, but they truly aren't anything special as I've found out. Only thing special about them is the cost!

I know these aren't Klipsch speakers, b ut they look to be horn woofers. Does anyone know anything more about em? http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/828080099.html

Thanks, I saw that one and I'm watchin it

Well, it's definately something to do with the plate amp. I don't know what the deal is, but it's like the amp is only going at about 50% power or so. Does anyone know anywhere to get a dirt cheap 50wpc plate amp? I'm talking 25-50 bucks? I really can't spend much more than that because I just can't justify it to myself. If I were to pay more than that, I would just get a 500w one and start from scratch. Let me know -I've already looked at parts express and wanted to see if there was somewhere I could go used - Ebay is no help. Thansk,

Can someone explain to me which capicators go to which speaker? Does the 13uf handle the woofer and the 2uf's the mid and tweet? Or do they all operate together to do everything?

50 dollar max - not that great!

I just had a similar thing occur. I sold my Harman Kardon AVR-745 for $1,054 on Ebay. The buyer paid right away. I shipped the item and the day after he received it, he did a chargeback. This not only really scared me because that money was to help support my family, but it also really discouraged me from doing business on Ebay. All in all, just yesterday in fact, I got an email from Paypal stating that they were going to cover my end of the transaction and paid me the $1,054. That was really reassuring that sellers are covered. I was really afraid that they were just going to let me take a large loss - let's face it - I don't care who you are, a grand is a big chunk of change. I mean, I make pretty good cash in my line of work, but no one want's to look a k. I am now contacting the police and trying to get this guy arrested and such. Does anyone know if doing what he did is mail fraud? There was no reason for the chargeback.

Here is the bottom line. You do NOT need an expensive receiver with your current setup. If I were you, I would go out, do some research, and find the cheapest receiver you can find that will satisify your needs. I think with your setup, one of the new Onkyo's would do well. They are cheap, handle all new audio codecs, and will be more than you need. If you want to spend a bunch of money on a receiver, WAIT! About 6 months from now, you are going to want to upgrade your speakers - trust me. This is addictive and will take over your life! The bottom line is the most important part of your setup is the speakers - it's way more important to have good speakers than good electronics. I think there are plenty of budget receivers that will work just fine for you. Just go out there, look at what's availible and come back to us with a receiver around or under 500 bucks. My advice.

The RS-42s should be just fine. I had the rs-62's with the same setup for a while and they were ok. Truthfully, the surround speakers don't really make that big of a diff to me. I think as long as you have something good back there you will be ok. Truth be told - you can get a WAY better deal on those RF-82's man - I would return everything and get em from an online dealer. You can still get the warranty if you go somewhere like sound distributors. The owner will work with you too. Also, you may wanna check out those RF-35's. They are basically the same thing as the 82s and should be about 3/5th's the price. And still, I would recomend if you are going to spend a grand on speakers, you could EASILY get a pair of LaScalas for that price and have about 20x better sound. If you have never heard them, hold off and be patient. The LS's sound like they are from a completely different company and in a completely different class.

Yeah, if you got them that cheap, fix em up. Well worth the investment. I would sand the enitre surface (be careful, it is only a veneer) and start from scratch. For that price, they must be in pretty bad shape. If one is completed, and the other is messed up - I would use chem stripper on the one to remove the stain, and sand and prep the other for the oil. Then you can oil both. What are the drivers and crossovers (what do they look like)?

I haven't tried putting the old one back in. I'm actually going to do that tonight. Good call.