audiojan

I've heard both, so I have an idea of what they sound like. The problem is of course that it was at two different dealers, in two very different rooms, with completely different surrounding equipment and on different days... lots of variables. But I do agree, the Klipsch THX inwall speakers do sound really good, especially for HT (and since I do have a dedicated stereo room, I won't be listen to music in there, except for occasional background music). I'll start another threading asking for good, online dealers.... I do appreciate your advise.

I'm leaning towards the Klipsch KL-7800/KS-7502/KL7502. It'll get quite expensive though... Compared to the Definitive Technolgy UIW setup, it's about $1500-2000 more... I did some research online, but I can't find the Klipsch for anything less than list price... Are there dealers willing to work with you, or is that what you will end up paying? The only option I've found is eBay... much, much less, but I bet those are not authorized distributors, so no warranty... Scares me a bit.

The other side of the room needs to be used as a family room, so I won't have the dedicated space for a HT, it basically needs to be a HT area and a family area. I don't want to reduce the space further by building a false wall, it's close as it is. Room will be about 11x23. The reason for in ceiling is that half of the back of the room is open to I can't put speakers behind the seating positions and I only have one wall to put side speakers on, the other side is open. In ceiling speakers would allow me to get surrounds where I need them without having to think too much about walls, or lack thereof. I will have a utility closet where I can fit the equipment so the only thing taking up space in the HT side is the 4 HT seats and the two reclining chairs that I can use as extra seating, plus the two subwoofers. I do realize that this is all an compromise, but it allows us to get better use out of the space and it will make the wife happy. She doesn't mind if we spend the money so it sounds as good as it can, but she would like to keep the space useful. Hey, I'm not complaining... I get a HT AND a dedicated stereo room, so it's all good. :-)

We're in the process of purchasing a new home. Right now, we're looking at two different options, one where the basement is unfinished, so I could do whatever I want with it, but it will take time (and money). The other option (and frankly, the one we're leaning towards) has a finished basement already. To make that work, I will need to use inwall speakers and in ceiling speakers. The entire room is 39x23, but the area for the HT would be 11x23, but open to the other side (so only one wall) and partially open to the rear. I was thinking KL-7800 for L/C/R behind my AT screen and then KS-7502 for surround and KL-7502 for back surround. Sounds like a reasonable solution? What about front height and front wide speakers? My receiver has the ability to connect all of them at once, but power 9 of them at a given time. I already have a set of subwoofers (two Epik Legend). The other opion I have looked at is Definitive Technology UIW RLS II with UIW RSS II for surrounds and backs. In our current home, I have a full Thiel HT (CS2.4 and I will keep those in a separate stereo room in the new place, MSC1 for center and surrounds, and PowerPoint for back's. All this driven by a Krell HTS7.1 and Krell amps) and I know that I will take a step back in sound quality, but I'm also splitting my HT and stereo in two separate systems, so that I'm willing to live with that for the ease of use, but I don't want it to sound like cr*p. Any input is greatly appreciated!

That sounds great! I really think that the THX U2 could be the system for me in the near future. Designer friendly and big sound is exactly what I want and expect. For 2-ch I would use the subwoofer as I do realize that the KL-650's might not have the bottom end (after all, the size limitation is also what allows them to be designer friendly). Again, thanks all for you help and input!

I wouldn't say at all that I'm set on the THX U2's... I merely stated that the Heritage line does have some WAF issues. And to build them into a customer HT does require quite a bit of space, something that I'm a bit short of. Although I'm certain they would sound fantastic, I really see no practical way to use them. This basically leaves me with THX U2's or Reference's if I'm sticking to Klipsch... Since this will be a dedicated HT space, I thought that the THX U2's might be very functional and sound great. I'm still concerned about their performance in stereo... I will try to travel to the closest dealer that has both THX and RF series set up and listen both in HT and 2-channel.

Thanks InVeNtOR, I'm certain Heritage can do both well, but they're not exactly pretty (I know, in the eyes of the beholder...) and that would be an issue for wife... This is one of the reasons why the THX U2 is so interesting... they're designed to function behind a screen wall (with an AT screen of course). Plus, most Heritage speakers would be too big to fit into my space... The Reference line are big, but in cherry wood, not too bad looking and could be a functional compromise if need be. The room will be about L=18-22' W=13-15' with 8' celing and dedicated space. I really don't know if I need to spend much on hi-end electronics since I already have my Krell HTS 7.1, Krell KAV-250a for L/R and H/K Signature 2.1 for center and surrounds (which will be upgraded to KAV-500 in the near future). I don't have an AT screen yet, but that is something that I know for a fact that I want (to put at least the center behind the screen). I tend to watch movies in waves and listen to music in waves... some months it can be 90% (or more) movies and other months can be 75-80% music... so although I want a really nice HT, I don't want to compromise the 2-channel too much. If I had the money, I would get a full Palladium HT and never look back, but that is just too much right now.

It's not so much that I don't want a seperat 2-ch, but rather that I won't have room for both, so the HT and 2-ch has to be combined. I would guesstimate that I split my time HT 70% and 30% 2-ch, but that kind of goes in waves... some months it might be 95% HT and other months it might be 70% 2-ch. What I do like about the THX U2 system is that it is very designer friendly and would allow me have a nice HT which in return would please the wife, hence allow me to spend even more money on it. But if it doesn't sound decent in 2-ch, then it's all a moot point.

I'm moving and have to combine my HT and my stereo. Until recently, I've had Magnepans and a mix of speakers for my HT. I'm really intrigued by the dynamics of the Klipsch THX U2 7.2 system, and no doubt it will be awesome for a HT, but what about in stereo? Surround equipment will be Krell HTS7.1 with Krell amplification for L/R and a H/K Signature for the other 5 channels. Krell is of couse being connected with balanced cables. Future upgrade will be a 5-ch Krell amp, but the H/K will have to do until then. Most likely, I will put the speakers behind an AT screen and build a screen wall, but that might have to wait for a bit as well. Big question remains... how's the KL650THX for stereo? ps. I posted this in 2-channel as well, but realized that I might have better luck in this forum. http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/132147.aspx

I'm moving and have to combine my HT and my stereo. Until recently, I've had Magnepans and a mix of speakers for my HT. I'm really intrigued by the dynamics of the Klipsch THX U2 7.2 system, and no doubt it will be awesome for a HT, but what about in stereo? Surround equipment will be Krell HTS7.1 with Krell amplification for L/R and a H/K Signature for the other 5 channels. Krell is of couse being connected with balanced cables. Future upgrade will be a 5-ch Krell amp, but the H/K will have to do until then. Most likely, I will put the speakers behind an AT screen and build a screen wall, but that might have to wait for a bit as well. Big question remains... how's the KL650THX for stereo?