Howdy, folks.
I've searched the forums a bit, but can't quite find what I'm looking for. Here's what's going on:
I built a home cinema out of a 9 x 12' bedroom, based around a 7-foot screen, under which now sit 3 SF-2s. The surrounds are SB-2, and those are as big as I can go due to space and layout constraints.
I also have a separate two-channel system made around a pair of '87 walnut Forte, and have had them for nearly 10 years. I'm well-aquainted with the sound of horns, especially horn midrange -- and that's what the SF2 lacks. It's a good little speaker, but it ain't no Forte. The Forte is voice magic, it's violin magic, it's just pure sonic bliss, and I want to give as much of that as I can to my home cinema.
I would love to go with 3 Fortes as my front speakers, but no space. There are objects d' art I display under the screen, and Fortes are just too fat. They'd chew up all the space under the screen.
So, wanting a horn midrange, and since I can't afford (who the @$@! can!) Palladium, I got to searching, and found the KLF-20. Size-wise it's as big as I can manage. The crossover points are very similar to the Forte -- 750hz and 7khz. I'm selecting speakers based on size and driver layout, not sound.. I know. Mortal sin. But it is what it is, I cannot change the cinema around. The way it is is the only way it can be. I already beat my head into the wall over this when I built it. I'm just hoping the KLF-20 has *some* of the Forte midrange magic. Even if it's "different" what I"m looking for is for the midrange to be done by horn.
My questions:
1. It's a no brainer that the KLF-20 should trump the SF2 in terms of midrange and everything else. But having never heard a pair, and not having any that I can listen to, how is their timbre? Their "sound"? Would they integrate nicely with my SB-2s that I have as surrounds? Remember I can't get a bigger speaker back there, not even by an inch.
2. Compared to the Forte (I), how's the midrange? I have heard a friend's Forte II with a Tractrix mid, and I'm not entirely sure I prefer it to my original's exponential mid. How's the rest of the sound? Does it have that same ethereal transparent nature of the Forte with similar quality of bass? Deep, tight, controlled? These KLF's will be driven by the same receivers I use with my Fortes and in the cinema -- I have a pair of Panasonic XR-55s and they do magic with the Fortes and SF2. I don't want flatulent, loose bass --- I get plenty of that at my local multiplexes, thank you. The idea here is to top even what the top-shelf theaters around here have in terms of hi-fi sound, not sheer SPL. Something like Master and Commander and Titanic I play with dialog 40 to 60 and explosion peaks to 90-95db. That's almost cinema-loud as it is. I use no dynamic range compression and don't touch the volume knob while the movie's playing.
3. I need to search this particular subject but while I"m here may as well get your input -- I hear there was a glue issue with the KLF line. Is this common enough that I have a high chance of getting a bum cabinet considering I'm looking for two pairs? I already read it's a fairly easy fix -- what I'd like to know is roughly what % have flaked out -- it's something I can use as leverage to drop the price. I need 3 minimum, ideally two pair, keeping one for spares.
4. Anything I should know? Parts availabilty is good? I had to replace my Forte tweeter diaphragms, and Klipsch *made* me a new set and mailed 'em to me, the total bill was 17 dollars per diaphragm. Does the KLF enjoy this level of support? I'm loath to ask about "upgrades" because people have different ideas on sound, but I will ask if the cabinet is decent as it came from Hope, or does it have any glaring deficiencies that most KLF owners gripe about?
5. Was the most common finish black? Whatever speakers go into this cinema have to be all black.
I have all the time in the world to find me two pairs of these. Right now this is the beginning of an idea, the very first planning steps. Any help will be appreciated.