TheFactor

External amp will do that External amp adds better separation of sound and musical instruments as well as adds a solid bottom end Totaly agree 100%

Totall agree. One thing to keep in mind is that when you add two additional speakers, your will be significantly reducing the wattage per speaker. I found this out with the receiver in my signature. It's a 130w/ch but when you have 7.1, it drops down to a measly 55w/ch. The Yamaha website says it is 130w/ch with all channels driven but that's just not true. According to actual bench tests, each time you add a pair of speakers, the wattage was reduced. Take a look at my comment here regarding this as well as the link to the test results. Very good point !!

If your saying XPA-3 or RF7II's well my answer is 7's hands down but if your saying going from 5.1 to 7.1 with just adding rs62's or its little brothers I'd say add a amp the xpa-3 is a great performer with many options to build upon with other amp combos later.Going from 5.1 to 7.1 isnt going to give you a wow but upgrading your front stage speakers will . The 7's will sound outstanding with or without a seperate amp but of course will improve with a amp . I say get a pair of 7II's and dont look back thats my 2 cents ; )

x2 [:@][][:^)]

I know that sucks man

I really like Emotvia amps also and my XPA-3 has kept me very happy its a performer and I can only imagine how good the XPA-1 SOUNDS THATS A MONSTER !! I agree with you thats highly possible about more presence being perceived as being bright also I truly believe people can hear the same sound and hear something totally different whether its speakers, a dragster or what ever . I think my Paradigm Studio's were bright in comparison to my 7's and sometimes fatiguing after hours of listening and not the case with my new Klipsch speakers I can listen to them all day and there very smooth, detailed and full having the best of both worlds without being over powering in any area . I know when I auditioned the 7II's they sounded great on just a Denon AVR at the dealer I mean great enough for me to want them bad !! Well when I got them home and hooked the them up threw my gear just a XPA-3 and my Pio elite 94 AVR I was so happy I could of done flips threw out my HT : ) It sounded so good beyond words can explain . So I agree again with you that the gear you run can make a huge difference with Klipsch and im guessing most speakers . Hey did I mention how happy and much I love my 7's : )

Tube amps are cool though and would love to have one some day : )

ouch! that is some endorsement for tubes. i thought i was going to someday get some for these speakers but now i'm not sure. Maybe what Trey is saying is you have to acquire a taste for them like a fine wine [] I know my 7's love my XPA-3 "non tube amp" : ) i've heard tube amps before and its for sure a different flaver of sound but it grew on me but dont think i'd want a full time one just one for another setup as a conversational peice and a different flaver of sound plus they look cool lol .

Dude! I am glad you are enjoying your new RF-7IIs because that was funny as Hell. LOL Thanks man !!! I am and Salute

Great advice wuzzer

LMAO you guys are killing me [] But if your lucky she'll be the one delivering them for you

Great find and excellent Idea Jackson !!

Stephen you have a very nice room and setup and I think most would be greatful to have such nice gear and dedticated room for it including myself . Some of these comments are way out there from left field somewere . and its not even friday night yet lol . Thanks for posting and sharing your HT and will talk to you soon My Friend : )

Black Hamster always remember to puff puff then pass []

Im sure they did sound good together !!

Unfortunately, any amplifier can be pushed to its limits and beyond with the simple turn of a knob or push of a button. I'll have to disagree with TheFactor here and say IMO upgrading the amplifier wouldn't be the best use of funds. You should already have a very dynamic system, and switching from a really really powerful amplifier to a really really really powerful amplifier is only going to give you so much. There are a couple areas I'd look to. 1. The subwoofer(s): What is handling the low end of your system? 2. The room itself: What is the noise floor of the room? What can do you to reduce it? Have you done any room treatments to deal with early reflections? I dont know from experience Stephen but from owners reviews the xpa-1 is a huge step up in dynamics and on paper it looks like a animal but again i've never owned a xpa-1 .

Your very Welcome it makes me very happy to hear that and to give my personal review and thoughts of the beautiful RF7II's makes me even happier to know it inspired you and hopefully others to enjoy what I have been that brought my HT experience to a whole new level with these new Klipsch reference line speakers . Thanks for making my night ! : ) I think 2400 is a great price to ! What finish are you leaning towards ? There both beautiful I wish I could have two of each lol

I was only really playing it that loud to test the limits of the xpa5...with 200 watts/ch, I figured it should be able to handle it.... Trust me....the last thing I want to do is damage my speakers...I'm looking for more dynamics(and low-end) than volume level. I usually listen to movies at only 75dbs(calibrated). I never had a problem with movies(than again, I never tried pushing it much louder than that)... I'd go with 2 XPA-1's if I were you they will give you what your looking for imo and thats what I would do , I noticed a huge improvement with a xpa-3 on the bottom end with clarity seperation, dynamics and so on . I havent tryed my my RF7II's with out my xpa-3 and feel no need to they sound so good but my before and after comparison with my Paradigm Studio setup it was huge. But this I do know switching to the 7's was a blessing even though the studios were very nice the 7's and the amp = Heaven Although there so effecient they would im sure sound good without seperates I feel no need to take a step back . But yes back to the amps of your choice xpa-1's FTW ; )

Thanks [] as most of you know I love my 7's but yes I've read a lot of good things about the Fortes also and the more I looked at them the looks even starting growing on me but I think I'll let it go for now and again concentrate on my main HT and maybe down the road work on a separate 2 channel setup with Fortes just for fun . I think im falling in love With Klipsch and after getting my 7's realising what i've been missing all these years ! BTW Great choice in gear you have there !!!!!!!!

Those would be at the top of my list also great choices !

I agree with everyone here your surrounds dont have to be matched and not nearly as important as your front stage but I bet it would still sound outstanding with the 7's and a center of your choice and rears .

I would give it a try because its something that can be removed easily but I bet it would work and if not I would start looking for a stain to match . Is the cherry actually sealed with a clear coat finish or is just stained ? If it it just stained it would be much easier to touch but if its under the clear coat or lacquer you might have to try and remove the clear coat so the stain can absorb into the wood either way looks like a easy fix . Good luck and let us know how it turns out and sorry to hear of the blemish .

Looks very nice Stephen !

Yeah I don't think that should be the sole factor but I understand where he's coming from. I don't know how many watts a circuit can handle but I wouldn't want his breaker tripping when he turned it up, lol. But I am still curious what does things draw under load. Some people were throwing out numbers and saying that the amps draw like 2 watts in standby and 60 watts idle but no one could throw out in use numbers. But I digress. Good luck in whatever path you choose. And know that the sound will improve with either path. Very true to all the above and one thing that should be considered that I failed to mention is how big is your HT and how hard you'll be pushing everything because that could be a contributing factor if your going have power issues tripping your breakers. These guys with power house amps like the xpa-1 might not be listening at reference levels or not often for long periods .

edit ....