aaron here

Roger, it's not a done deal yet, but it would take a small miracle to sway her from the one she has her heart set on, but please do post a photo. Aaron

Yes, the 81 will fit the opening for the center channel speaker with about an inch of space to spare around each of the 3 sides of the 81. As the living room is our only area for AV enjoyment, we will definitely be listenting to music as we have a large CD (& LP) collection. I would say that there will be a 50-50 mix of music listening and home theater, and in that regard the entertainment center will accomodate up to a 52" flat-panel HDTV (which is also in our near-term plans). So since you would advise me to go for a pair of narrow towers (using the 81 as the center-channel), what would you recommend that would retain a timbre-match to the RB-81 center?

Carl, thanks a lot for that constructive post. I can go with the 81's and after re-measuring the cubicle for the center channel I find that while the width is only 17" it can accomodate an 81 as well. However, I'm really concerned about the negative comments (from others here) re placing those speakers inside the entertainment center cubicles - since (based on your photo) you seem to doing something similar, what's your take on that? If doing that truly will impact their openess, presence and staging, perhaps I should 'campaign' for a couple of narrow towers to place on both sides of the entertainent center. However, the center speaker would still be inside a cubicle and as you say that's the 'key' speaker in a 5.1 home-theater setup! And even if I can sell my wife on a pair of narrow towers for the fronts instead of the 81's, there certainly would be more of a timbre-matching issue with the RB 81 center-channel! [*-)] As for my Forte's, there is no other place in our house (single floor plan and no basement) for them, not even in our 2-car garage. Actually, I feel pretty good about giving them to my son (who recently got his own 'pad'). He has always loved the Forte's and while his and my taste in music aren't the same, he nevertheless has 'an ear' that appreciates those speakers. Aaron

I'm giving them to our son (with the strict condition that I have visitation rights). []

Oh no, please tell me you're joking! - I can kind of understand that when speakers are ported to the rear, but both the 81's and 61's are front-ported, so why would that be? [:^)]

Oh well, they have served me well for 22 years... My wife is redecorating our living room and has already found an entertainment center (furniture only). The good news is that I can pick whichever speakers I like (to replace my Forte's) that will fit into her chosen entertainment center. She is even suggesting we take this opportunity to put a Home Theater together (being an old stereo addict, that got my juices flowing)! Wishing to stay within the Klipsch line, either RB-81's or RB-61's will fit the areas slotted for front speakers inside the entertainment center, but the problem is that the designer of this piece of furniture only allocated an area 17" wide for the center-channel speaker so none the 'matching' Klipsch centers will fit. However, an RB-61 will fit (and fwiw I'm considering a pair of RB-51's for my surrounds and an RW-10d sub - to make a 5.1 system). Given all of this, would you guys advise me to go with the RB-81's or RB-61's for my front main speakers??? Oh yeah, I should tell you that our living room is 18' x 16'. Please let me know if you need any more info...