Codyred

Will, I just posted it. Thanks

Just wanted to update everyone who participated in my "RF-7II's And Krell S-300i Integrated" thread and provided me with helpful insight. I finally purchased a Krell S-300i to pair with the RF7II. It turned out to be a great purchase. I looked everywhere online for every post I could find about the integrated. I found a fellow at Audiogon who participates on several audio forums and owns the S-300i paired with the Wilson Sasha's. The Sasha is a true high end speaker with a retail price of $30k. He really liked the sound quality of this pairing and praised the S-300i. He knows high end gear and high end sound, based on the level of gear he is accustomed to. That pretty much clinched it for me. I also messaged another audiophile that owns the S-300i who characterized the S-300i as very close to having monoblocks. His description was convincing. The Krell brings the RF7 II's sound to a higher level, more than any integrated I used before. It has brought more of their transparency, clarity and much improved the bass as well. The RF7II's have become more resolving. Just for context, I have owned a number of integrateds with these speakers. I went back over old emails to put together the history. That history surprised me. Had the NAD M2, Yamaha AS2000, Harmon Kardon HK990, NAD C375BEE (still have), Anthem 225 (still have) and now the S-300i. I didn't realize there have been six of them since I bought the RF 7II's. The Krell has been a revelation. The folks in the past who wrote that similar amplifiers all sound the same just did not know. Also getting into fuses now which is a new frontier for me and they matter too and do affect the sound quality of components.

Going to start a new thread

I listen mostly to jazz.

Thanks Metropolis, a Klipsch dealer I spoke to by phone also recommended the Hint 6 with the RF-7 II's

I'm using RF 7 II's in stereo, most of the time with a subwoofer, lately trying them without the sub to see what they can do alone. In the past I've had the NAD C375bee, and while it was fuller and had pretty good bass, it was not refined enough and lacked a little in the clarity department. Used to have the Yamaha AS 2000 driving them. This was a much more refined sound . The first unit I had to return after it stopped working. It had pretty good bass heft (with a sub), though on the leaner side of the spectrum. I replaced it with another AS2000 and it didn't have as much bass impact-even with a sub as the first one. I eventually sold the AS 2000. Anyone heard the RF7II's with any of these quality integrateds and what did you think? Vincent SV-237mk Musical Fidelity M6si Yamaha A-S1100 Parasound Hint 6 or Halo Krell S-300i Musical Fidelity A5 Thanks

Wow Robert, what a post! Thanks for taking the time! No, I don't want bass that hits me in the chest. I have attended live jazz performances before, but not lately. I simply used a comment from another owner who made that statement as an example that the RF7II's can produce significant bass. I do want to hear the bass that happen in the music. I never expect to hear hard hitting bass with the music I listen to. Mostly I'm hearing an upright acoustic bass in my music. But things with the Anthem 225 are improving. Now I'm wondering if the aftermarket caps previously installed in the amp will continue to improve the bass and smooth things out in the highs from the horn. I have been trying to hear what the bass will do sans sub with a new amp, but what others have said is true, they will produce more bass than I heard before! I will eventually connect my subwoofer.

The Anthem 225 I've been trying out has started to come around! Had it here for a week and its been powered on most of the time. Now the sound of the RF 7II's has begun to fill in along with some bass. In fact, it's more fullness from the RF7II's than I've heard from them in the 5 years I've owned them. I purchased the Anthem used and the previous owner had a set of Mundorf AG caps installed to replace the stock Nichicon caps. In discussions with the previous owner, apparently those Mundorf caps only had about 75 hours on them, so it seems that may have not been enough time for them to fully form and settle. All I know, is that between yesterday and today, suddenly a new weight to the sound has appeared from the RF7II's that I never heard before. And I've had a lot of different and integrateds in front of those speakers before. NAD M2, Yamaha AS2000, HK 990, NAD C375BEE. But this Anthem has the most power and current. The control it has is there. Now I'm experiencing some listener fatigue from the horn-- geez! there's always something! By the way Zen, I looked at the link you posted, and you have a beautiful home and fabulous speakers!

JefDC, the effect of a high current amp is overlooked frequently and sometimes dismissed by folks that post in audio forums. I saw in one thread where a guy stated that the idea of "high current" was audiophile pig slop, or something like that. When speaker impedance dips below 4 ohms in the bass region, I firmly believe that's something to consider.

So maybe my room is not the bass challenge I always thought. The arrangement of this family room leaves no options. Re-arrangement is likely the solution. Matching amps and speakers for optimum performance is a challenge unless you get lucky or replicate another setup in a similar room.

glens, I guess because producing stronger bass has been a struggle in this room over several speakers and systems, and more than one person has stated in audio forums that a concrete slab makes for a tough room. In my case, the wall behind the speakers is brick. To add to the issue, my speakers are on a short wall rather than a long wall. So maybe, its all these things added together. Bottom line, others have stated that a room with a concrete slab as a floor is not good for bass.

Yes, a high current integrated has been the goal to maximize the bass capability of the 4 woofers. I have purposely not connected my subwoofer while evaluating the Anthem 225 because the speakers alone should produce significant bass, thus I continue to consider the Krell S-300i because it's high current. Since the RF7 II's need power and current in the region below 4 ohms, high current seems necessary. I'm considering one other integrated that is known for its bass capability, (Vincent SV-237 mk).

mimalmo, that's a coincidence; On Friday I was talking to a dealer on the phone who carries Krell and Klipsch, asking if he'd ever heard the Krell S-300i with the Klipsch RF7II's (he hadn't). He mentioned that one of his customers had the Krell 300i (not the S-300i), and it was a great match with the Martin Logan speakers. I still wonder if the S-300i would be smooth enough in the highs for the Klipsch horn. Some say this newer Krell is smoother than previous integrateds. The one I've been considering buying has a Synergistic Research fuse, replacing the stock fuse (suppose to smooth the sound more).

Thanks Bill. You can always be counted on to add perspective to the SQ conversations.

The RF7II are a litter more than 1ft from the wall (brick) behind them. The bass is fuller in the powder room connected to the family room and also behind my seated position. I have not played any bass heavy music since getting the Anthem. I have always known I have a tough room (carpet over concrete slab). I still expect more from those 10 in woofers.

Thanks for hanging in there with me Zen! I will likely do just that today!. Just disconnected it when I got the 225.

I listen to mostly classic jazz from the 50's and I do have an Earthquake Supernova IV subwoofer that I've been using. Since I'm trying an Anthem 225 integrated now, I have yet to hook up the sub because I hoped for more performance in the low end with this powerful integrated. It appears that the integrated is not the perfect match for the RF7II's, although pretty good sonically so far. Been thinking that a true (actual) high current integrated might bring more bass weight, since high current means the ability of an amp to double its power as the speaker impedance dips from 8 ohms to 4 ohms (sometimes even to 2 ohms in very expensive amps).. The Krell S-300i is high current not just high wattage, which made me interested. I have heard some say they get plenty of bass from the RF7II's and some say you they need a sub, but I do have a tough room that may be a big part of my problem--(concrete slab with the wall behind the speakers being brick with FR7II's on the short wall -and no ability to rearrange the family room for a better setup.

Thanks Zen! I have a good sub (Earthquake supernova), just don't want to have to use it to hear (feel) satisfying low end. The quotes I posted are not the only ones who have commented on the good bass extension of the RF7II's on their own.

Thanks Zen, but some here and at other forums have posted about strong bass from the RF7II's without a subwoofer. From their reports, I believe the potential of the speakers exists. Chuck Hawks: "I am very pleased with the RF-7 II's. Good detail and a nice stereo sound stage, extended bass," One fellow here said: The high end is crystal clear with zero harshness the midrange is very clean large and real sounding (not artificial sounding like so many speakers are) the bass even with no sub will kick your chest!

Due to the fact that I haven't gotten the bass I expect from my RF7 II's and had to use a subwoofer in my family room, I have been on the hunt for an integrated amplifier with more grunt. I've been looking for a high current integrated (not just high power): one that doubles it's power as the impedance lowers. Came across the Krell S-300i which is a high current integrated. Trying out an Anthem 225 integrated right now, which is very powerful, but this pairing without the addition of a sub doesn't quite have me convinced to stop looking at a better matching integrated amp yet. From my reading here, with the RF7II's at 120hz the speaker's impedance drops to 2.8 - 3 ohms, which explains why although they are efficient speakers they still require current to get the woofers moving. The Krell S-300i by many accounts is smoother than traditional old school Krell, but still has the Krell sound and bass. This amp will also have a Synergistic Research Quantum fuse installed which is also known for smoothing the sound signature. I know some frown on pairing Krell with Klipsch. Have you heard this pairing? Do you think it has potential? Thanks for sharing.

I had another pair of jumpers that I had yet to try. These are Canare 4S11 (11 gauge). Replacing the Mogami jumpers with the Canare brought on more clarity and refinement to the presentation of the RF7II's. That is an improvement to my ears.

Ha! No, I remember reading about that in a post, but I tend to listen with my eyes open and ears!

Hi All, Just want to inform you of a nice tweak for the RF7II's. I have changed the jumpers on my speakers a few times, abandoning the stock brass metal jumpers a few years ago. I have used solid core (JW Audio Cryo Nova), no name aftermarket jumpers, and bare cable (Audioquest sliver plated copper jumpers). But the ones that have really beefed up and opened up the midrange have been Mogami 10 gauge. These jumpers have made the midrange and highs have a presence I have not heard in the previous years I owned the RF7II's. I highly recommend them. By the way, a respected audiophile, Duster, at Audio Asylum posted in the past recommending that for speaker jumpers to get the heaviest gauge possible, as low as 9 gauge. The fact that I am getting improvement in the midrange presence from these 10 gauge jumpers, backs up his recommendation. Your mileage may vary, but worth trying. Quote from Duster at Audio Asylum: "Believe it or not, a jumper really needs a rather massive aggregate gauge in order to provide any body. High conductivity is very important for a bi-wire jumper (bridging from either direction). I tested one 20 AWG solid core conductor at a time and found that at least an 11 AWG aggregate gauge per leg was needed. 9 AWG is not uncommon in commercial products."

I live in Columbus OH. A vintage tube amp or integrated is fine but one has to know the refurbishment of that gear has been done well.

Wiiland,I will sell the AS 2000 if I go with different amplification. Also I missed answering an earlier question you asked. I like listening at not too loud volumes, sometime low level too. With these metal dome tweeters they will pierce your ears out if you play them very loud in a smaller room. Has anyone experienced the RF7 II's with an amp that brought more bass weight, in spite of the room they were in?