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Schwa

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Posts posted by Schwa

    Guesses on Klipsch's "Biggest Launch in Years" at CES on 01-06-15

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    I'm very curious as to how the new centers sound more than anything. Seems like a row of four 4" would be nice for voices.I had hoped that the new ones would be front ported.As for the RF-7ii, if the new horns are the cat's meow I can't imagine that the RF-7ii and RC-64ii wouldn't at least get upgraded to the new horns.

    I'm sure they eventually will -- along with a nice price increase.

    I think the writing is on the wall for the RF-7II, RC-64II, and RB-81II -- these speakers' replacements will comprise the Reference Super Premiere (or whatever it's called) line with rubber horns, magnetic grills, and big price increases. I'm really curious to see the Reference Premiere pricing tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised to see a pretty big jump from Reference II pricing if for no other reason that to further distance Reference Premiere from Reference "base."

    Now that Reference Premiere is out of the bag, what happens to the biggest Reference II models?

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    They changed the horn and have made the premiere and new line.  They look good.

    I get that, but the fact that they changed the horn on the Premier speakers makes me wonder whether they'll be as a good a match for the RF-7II/RC-64II as the RS-52II/RS-62II's were.

    Good thing you got 4 rs62ii already :)

    I don't care for myself; I'm just curious what someone would do if they were planning to put together a 5.1 or 7.1 system using the RF-7II and RC-64II as the front three. Maybe it's a moot point; in other words, maybe by the time the RS-62II is no longer available, the RF-7II and RC-64II will have been replaced.

    Now that Reference Premiere is out of the bag, what happens to the biggest Reference II models?

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    After perusing the new Reference Premiere speaker line, I noticed that there aren't any direct replacements for the largest speakers in the previous Reference II line. In other words, there's nothing analogous to the RF-7II, RC-64II, RB-81II, or RS-62II in the new Reference Premiere line.

    So, what happens to these big speakers? Are they carried forward or dropped?

    My personal guess is that the RF-7II and RC-64II will be carried forward since they're "special" Reference II speakers (they're made in Hope and have real wood veneers). However, if so, what will the appropriate matching surround speakers be? I hope that the RB-81II and RS-62II are also carried forward, but I don't see that happening.

    Guesses on Klipsch's "Biggest Launch in Years" at CES on 01-06-15

    in Home Theater

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    Thanks for the link, Chad!

    Evidently that big tower picture wasn't a chop -- it looks to be a new wireless Reference Premiere speaker.

    There will also apparently be an Atmos-enabled tower speaker but I didn't see any details about that speaker.

    The new Reference Premiere speakers do look to be nice updates to the Reference II line, but I didn't see any direct replacements for the RB-81II, RC-64II, RS-62II, or the RF-7II. In other words, the largest speakers in the Reference II line don't look like they've been updated. So, one wonders, will these speakers be discontinued (as is my expection for the RS-62II and the RB-81II) or carried forward (as is my expectation for the RC-64II and the RF-7II)? Or will the RF-7II / RC-64II / RB-81II / RS-62 II remain as the highest-end Reference home theater package?

    I am intrigued by the new silicone rubber horns -- what will they do to the famous Klipsch sound?

    What center matches best with old Synergy F-3 speakers?

    in Home Theater

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    You think the C3 sound quality is the same as the RC-62? Something is wrong with your setup...

    I have owned the C-3, RC-3, RC-62 and RC-64. I can tell you that I disliked the C-3, especially when I compared it to the RC-62.

    Also, timber matching is not nearly as important as it used to be. The modern receiver with auto calibration has changed that way of thinking for the most part.

    Reading is fundamental. I specifically said that I was not claiming that the RC-62II and the C-3 are equals. Besides, since I'm running the systems in my signature, and no longer the RC-62II, I can promise you there's nothing wrong with my setup.

    C'mon man its a small sealed plastic enclosure that goes down to around 70hz. There is no way it will match the large sound presence of the f3/f30. The vast majority of people unfortunately are either poorly misinformed or simply do not care, this is why klipsch markets and sells their packages. Every true enthusiast in this hobby will know the best match is 3 f3s for the front soundstage. I dont see klipsch selling that as a package, it doesnt mean it is the wrong setup. So the way I see it, the closest sonic match, not just 80hz and above, other than another f3 is an rc62ii. Sure its not perfect but will sound a lot bigger than a c3 period. By the way I replaced my rc62ii because even it sounded too small between towers, the rc64ii gives me the full sounding center I was after.

    Well, I guess you're entitled to your opinion as I am mine. I still question whether you've heard a C-3 in person. The ~70Hz spec of the C-3 is a bit of a red herring because, if crossed over to the subwoofer appropriately, the fact that it shares identical tweeters with the F-3 towers means it will blend quite well. It's not as though the RC-62II is exactly booming with bass either given its 57Hz -3dB point. As for "sound presence" and "full sounding," well, those are subjective descriptions that mean different things to different people, but I never found that my C-3 sounded less than "full."

    It's all probably a moot point anyway because the OP is going to have a tough time finding a decent-condition C-3.

    What center matches best with old Synergy F-3 speakers?

    in Home Theater

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    I said it over on AVS but it bears repeating...your best bet would be to try to find a used or NOS Klipsch Synergy C-3. It has dual 6" IMG woofers and its aluminum tweeter horn matches those in your F-3's. It would be the ideal match.

    How can it be the ideal match when it is so small? RC62II all the way. And if you are going to mention timbre matching...something tinny cannot match something the size and sound of an F30.
    What are you talking about? The C-3 has the exact same size driver complement as the RC-62II and it certainly doesn't sound tinny. I suspect you've never even heard a C-3 if you're spouting comments like that. I've used a C-3 with an F-3 / S-3 system and am currently using one with a pair of B-3's and the C-3 keeps up with all of them just fine.

    Coming from someone who's owned C-3's, RC-3's , an RC-62II, a WC-24, and an RC-64II, IMHO it's always best to match the center with the mains, especially in this case, where a C-3 can "keep up" with F-3's just as well as an RC-62II can. I'm not saying that the C-3 is as good a speaker as the RC-62II, but it will certainly better integrate with your F-3's.

    People seem to forget that Klipsch designs and markets their speakers as matched sets. There are valid reasons for that; if not, they'd only sell one center speaker!

    If you can't find a C-3 (which admittedly might be tough), the RC-62II is a fine second choice and should be considerably easier to find.

    • Like 1

    A few new Reference subs for your booty

    in Subwoofers

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    So are these new subs intended to be part of the Reference I line or the Reference II line (they do have Cerametallic woofers like the Reference II speakers)? If it's the former, it seems that there's now a confusing overlap of products within that line, and if it's the latter, then they should be broken out separately from the previously-announced Reference subs.

    • Like 1

    New Klipsch REFERENCE Speakers (link)

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    The big Synergy speakers (F-3 and F-30) were priced pretty much just like the R-28F's are; I'm not sure about the Icons.  However, then the differences between the speaker lines were pretty clear.  What's now confusing to J6P is that he sees one Reference speaker (the R-28F) for $100 less than another Reference speaker (the RF-82II) and can't tell by looking what the differences are.

     

    I could easily see the prices of the next-gen Ref II speakers going up, but if they do, I hope there's real change, not just a cosmetic update.  I remain skeptical though -- look what happened to the SB-1 relative to the R-20B.  Those soundbars are virtually identical but the R-20B costs 2x as much.

     

    Oh well -- I'll be sticking with my RF-7II system for a long while so it'll be interesting to see this shake out from the sidelines.  :)

    Reference Soundbar w/Wireless Sub

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    ^^

    Unless you gotta have Bluetooth, non-removable metal grills, or copper-colored graphics, get the Icon SB1.  I received mine today.  It has the EXACT same power supply (same model number even) and remote (literally one has silver graphics, one has copper graphics) as the R-10B.  I was playing the R-10B pretty loud last night and it wasn't distorting, per se, but it was audibly compressing.  At the same volume level, the Icon SB1 didn't do that...likely because of the bigger subwoofer and the additional drivers.  It's the same size as the R-10B too; actually I think all three of 'em are pretty much the same size.

     

    The best part -- the SB1 is $200 less than the R-10B...never mind the R-20B.

    Reference Soundbar w/Wireless Sub

    in Home Theater

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    Well, I found a cut sheet for the R-20B sound bar system.  If you compare this to the Klipsch Icon SB-1 system, the two appear to be virtually identical - same frequency response, same driver configurations and materials, virtually the same dimensions.  The SB-1 omits Bluetooth (which is something I'll never use) and is one pound lighter -- likely due to the fact that it has removable cloth grills versus fixed metal ones.  I actually prefer the silver logo graphics on the SB-1 to the copper-colored ones on the R-20B in this case.  The R-20B does appear to have a nicer-looking remote (not one of those crummy credit-card remotes like the SB-1 has).

     

    I'm guessing the R-20B will have an MSRP of at least $699 ($799 is probably more likely), so given the fact that the SB-1 is on closeout for $400, I think I'll go with that instead.

     

    I hate to be overly pessimistic, but this again seems to be largely a case of Klipsch re-packaging an Icon speaker and re-badging it as a Reference speaker.  Oh well - it doesn't matter to me; the Reference R-10B is great, and I expect the SB-1 (with a bigger subwoofer and four vs. two midrange drivers) to be even better.

    Reference Soundbar w/Wireless Sub

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    I just bought the R-10B to go with a plasma I have hanging over my fireplace.  For what it is I'm really quite impressed with it...the little 8" subwoofer kicks out some serious bass!  However, I just now saw that the R-20B is coming soon, so I'll be returning the R-10B and stepping up to the R-20B.  Hopefully the R-20B will be on the street by the end of August as Alex mentioned earlier!

    • Like 1

    New Klipsch REFERENCE Speakers (link)

    in Home Theater

    Posted · Edited by Schwa

    Everybody has an opinion...

    I have had the RF-3's, RF-63's the F-30's and now my current Rf-62 II's. I think the RF-62's sound better than my old RF-3's. I'd even put the F-30 over the RF-3's in terms of performance and looks.

    I also prefer the copper dust covers over the black ones, I think they look 100x's better.

    Like I said, everybody has an opinion...

    Indeed, everyone has an opinion. I thought my RF-3s sounded far better than my F-3s (which, aside from trim colors, are basically identical to F-30s). But the F-3s definitely looked better. My RF-7IIs -- well, they trump them all. :)

    However, I gotta ask...why'd you go from RF-63s to RF-62IIs? :huh:

    New Klipsch REFERENCE Speakers (link)

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    ^^

    Well, the RF-3s are the ancestors of the current RF-82IIs, so I'd expect them to sound more like the Reference II line than the newer, lower-tier Reference line.

    That said, I agree that evaluating speakers in Best Buy probably isn't the best idea, but you know this. FWIW I've always been pleased with the performance of my non-Reference II speakers (Synergy, Icon W) -- at their respective price points, they're excellent performers and great values.

    • Like 1

    New Klipsch REFERENCE Speakers (link)

    in Home Theater

    Posted

    Perhaps, but I don't think they were designed with Dolby Atmos Application in mind...

    Although some are the Pro are & are used as such...which Pros, not sure?

    I'm sure they weren't designed with Atmos in mind as they've been available long before the first appearance of Atmos.

    However, if you're using in-ceiling speakers for Atmos (and not speakers that bounce sound off of the ceiling), they don't require any sort of special "Atmos-enabled" design to function 100% correctly. The only thing I've read that in-ceiling speakers need to be to work right is monopoles...which Klipsch's in-ceiling architectural speakers most certainly are.

    I'm planning to install CDT-5800-C II speakers as my in-ceiling Atmos speakers. The wiring's already up there...just waiting on a receiver that does Atmos!

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