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Gentle Ben

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Everything posted by Gentle Ben

  1. Mods, please remove ad -- not sure how to -- all sold, thank you
  2. We're doing some remodeling and going with some in-wall speakers, adding an 85-inch TV, etc. and she says she's ready to start the project and it was time to start converting over and she just used the word "downsize" and I ran with it. Believe me, my music and movie enjoyment won't be affected. Plus I am getting up in age (married 50 years) and don't need quite the big sound I once loved.
  3. SOLD SOLD SOLD Wife says time to downsize. Selling four speakers for what I think are good, solid prices for equipment in excellent+plus condition. All four years old. -- 2 RF-7IIs front tower speakers (enough said) -- 1 RC-64II center channel -- 1 R-115SW 15-inch sub (with brand new power amp panel) All four speakers for $2,650 and to be picked up in the Baton Rouge region. I can deliver if not too far away or meet you halfway. Shipping these titans would cost you a good bit of cash extra. Will sell separate but I first want to sell them as an ensemble. Will not sell RF-7IIs as separates. With original boxes and owners manuals, all cloth grills in like-new condition. Additionally, I have one R-115SW ($150) that needs a new amp panel. Included separately are two RS-52IIs ($500 pair); two RS-41IIs ($200 pair) Just add $800 to original asking price if you these five extra speakers. Call or text Ben at (225) 803-9815. Will accept PayPal (F&F), USPO Money Order or certified bank check.
  4. ***SOLD*** Like new Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A3010 audio/visual 9.2 channel receiver. 150 watts per channel. Black, loaded with features and connections. Only three years old and paid $1,400+ new and is well taken care of, looks and runs like new. Includes box, both a CD owners manual and a printed manual in a binder, YPAO calibration microphone, two remote controls (main and mini), power cord. This receiver supports ARC (audio return channel); Dolby True HD and DTS Master and other Blu-ray formats. Easy, on-screen set up with most settings already dialed in; loaded with latest firmware. Weighs about 40 lbs. so it is rock steady. Selling for $400. Will accept U.S. Postal Money Order, PayPal "gift" method. Will share shipping charges depending on final sales price. Send PM if interested but better to send email to benreed@cox.net. Live in Baton Rouge. Visit (cut and paste) the following link for more specs: http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/aventage/rx-a3010_black_u/?mode=model#mode=paging&list=within
  5. Thanks for all the tips. Unfortunately they only produced modest improvement. Still a lot of dropouts. So I replaced both new AC1900 routers with a Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000 with one 2.4GHz channel and two 5GHz channels (six antennae) and it seems to have done the trick. The router is in my den and I am now getting full strength wi-fi throughout the house on both 5G channels -- without the two extenders. Wonder if this more expensive model produces a stronger signal that overpowers whatever interference that was present. Of course, will it stand the test of time and during peak usage hours in the neighborhood? All this set up was done at 1 p.m. and now it is 3 p.m. And I have not changed any SSIDs or passwords yet. Didn't want to add in more variables or conflicts. Just used the defaults. But now I have about 75 feet of loose wire I am going to have to disconnect and run up to the attic and down the wall into the den. I don't so much dread the labor as much as f#ckin up the signal! Also will keep an eye on performance of his router and report back if things change at all.
  6. Want to add that both routers tested have sent great signals via the LAN ports. No loss of Internet signals to anything hard-wired, like my receiver, TV, Blu-ray, Apple Box, etc. Just can't get or keep a wi-fi signal to iPhone 6s, iPad2s or newer Toshiba laptop ... even with extenders. They all hook up, then drop almost immediately. Any chance my Cisco DPQ3212 (Docsys. 3.0) modem could be dropping signal or producing weak signal. Cable company says its fine. And, of course, the router companies told me it was "environmental." So I'm leaning on you guys to help with the possibility of stereo equipment being involved.
  7. Are there any pieces of home stereo equipment that interfere big-time with wifi signals. Since upgrading my system my wifi signal in my den has just about come to a halt. All other rooms within range in the house seem to be fine. But the den and nearby kitchen are cutoff. I can rule out a known problem with wireless speakers, all of my equipment is hardwired, even my two subs. Could my newly installed ceiling speakers be a problem? They are the newest addition. I have tried two brand new routers -- Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 and a Linksys 1900AC. Both with same poor results. I do get an LTE cellular signal when wifi is not up and running. I have to have some major interference in that portion of the house. I have added two extenders and even used one as a LAN wired Access Point and it won't hold either. I even moved the routers into the den and sit just a few feet away and signal is none to intermittent and very weak to enable getting on the Internet. I am checking into an older microwave oven (do they interfere when not running?) and my cordless phones are older 1.9GHz Panasonics. OK, so I am checking here to learn whether the sound system might be my culprit. (The room is a standard 18 x 21 feet with 8 foot ceilings; leather couch and two recliners. Sheetrock walls and hardwood floors.) Equipment all purchased in the past year unless noted, items requiring Internet access are all supplied via wired LAN, nothing wireless, not even Bluetooth. This is set up for 7.2.4 Atmos: -- Yamaha Adventage RX-A3050 A/V receiver -- Emotiva XPA-7 external amp -- Panasonic 65VT50 plasma TV (3 years old) -- Panasonic BDP-500 blu-ray -- Onkyo CD player (7 years old) -- Denon turntable -- Cox Cable Contour box -- Klipsch RF-7ii fronts x2 -- Klipsch RC-64ii center -- Klipsch R-115SW subs x2 -- Klipsch RS-52ii side surround x2 -- Klipsch RB-41ii rear x2 -- Klipsch CDT-5800-C ii celing x4 Only the four ceiling speakers are driven by the Yamaha receiver. All other seven speakers are powered by the XPA-7. I sure hope those new ceiling speakers are not the culprit. Did putting those four big magnets in the attic to drive those 8-inch woofers form an enveloping magnetic cocoon in my den? Add in the 95-pound XPA-7 amp and two 15-inch subs to boot. No, my router is not on top or right beside the stereo equipment -- it gave the same problem when router was 30-feet away in my office. My den just seems to be a dead/weak spot. I have not read anywhere yet that wired speakers cause wi-fi interference. But I figure someone here may have a clue. Please advise or direct me to someone for help. Driving me nuts.
  8. Gentle Ben

    New TV

    OK, now follow me here. You got to get into the game and be ready to play it right. I have a nearly 3-year-old Panasonic 65-inch VT50 plasma which means two things -- it is one of the best and most accurate TVs ever made. Color accuracy and black levels are still reference quality. Unfortunately plasma has all but been phased out because of manufacturing costs and weight vs. LED and OLED, etc. And mine doesn't want to show any signs of wanting to go out on me. Good thing, it set me back $3500. Now we get to your dilemma ... What to buy now? Considering the entire industry is about to hit a sort of Renaissance of quality, and more change, play your cards and money closely to the vest. I'd say pay around $2k or less for a 65- to 75-inch Vizio or Samsung and be ready to move it to a bedroom in 3-4 years. Right now you can get an 80-inch Vizio at Costco for just over $3k and I'd bet it will be eye-popping for a few years. In three years or so you will see 4K as a new standard and Sony, Samsung, LG, et al will drop below $4000 for sets 75- to 85-inches. By that time you'll be ready to move your baby to another room or on to your kids. It is all market and R&D related. Make room for the new. Just know when it's time to get into game, when to pass and when to play. Seeing how your wife is putting up the ante now, explain to her how you are going to be frugal now but only with the understanding you are going all-in down the road in a few years. Sell it to her big now and not twice. NOTE: A lot of wives don't get new gear until you introduce them to it. But once they catch on, good luck getting it back -- think iPhones, iPads, etc.
  9. Something to consider, I found that when putting in 4 CDT-5800s in the ceiling, the RS-52iis sides and RS-42iis rears started cancelling one another out directionally, causing a totally diffuse room. I actually improved the sound by downsizing my rear speakers to RB-41iis and can better hear separate sounds in Atmos and music. Don't smother your room with wide dispersion speakers if you're putting Atmos. Just what I've found. Indeed I will also go to RB-51iis on the sides if it improves Atmos and DTX:2 later.
  10. Bought and watched the totally remastered "The Fifth Element" in Dolby Atmos and tuned up video. This classic sci-fi/comedy has been bumped up to reference quality sound and video. I was simply amazed at the improvement.
  11. LOL! Yes, RS, of course. My bad. But I do have RF-7IIs up front. By the way, I just a minute ago replaced my RS-42IIs in the rear with a pair of RB-41IIs direct firing speakers and was able to angle them even more downward. Might try to do the same with the 52IIs with a pair of RB-51Is and see if that works. Your idea of the hinges and chains sounds doable. I'm also thinking the RBs will mesh better with my ceiling Atmos speakers. The 42s and 52s were seeming to clash and fill the 18x21 room with too much diffuse sound. Even making my RC-64II center sound boxy and base-y.
  12. I have a pair of RF-52IIs as side surrounds and a pair of RF-42IIs as rears. Both pairs had to be mounted near the ceiling at 8 feet so I angled them down as much as possible using the keyhole bracket, about 15-20 degrees. It works but I've now added four CDT-5800Cs into the ceiling for Atmos and now I think I need to angle them down even more. Any strong brackets out there that might help with more angle with these big suckers?
  13. Dude, you need to see the movie. All joking aside, even Keanu acts well in this. Yes, it is a love story told from multiple perspectives, but the dialogue and flow of the story and the building of tension from Dracula's manipulation is superb. I imagine the ATMOS track will add atmosphere (fancy that huh) to the dread the movie's tone sets. Crap man, I will buy it for you and ship it. You need to see this. The Fifth Element & Leon The Professional are day-one purchases. Looking forward to remastered Atmos version of both. I guess I'll make it a Gary Oldman trifecta.... & pick up Dracula with Atmos. I've never seen it (or even part of it) in the theater, DVD, or cable. One could argue I'll be seeing the best version with my 1st viewing. Thanks for the recommendation ! Picked up Fifth Element because it had been totally remastered in Atmos and video. Wow! Kicked *** in both ways. Amazed and pleased. Reference quality for sure. Indulge yourself with this classic.
  14. New Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A3050 and four Klipsch CDT-5800-C II coming in next week. Set up and installation of a 7.2.4 system is going to take the boredom out of January. Already have Gravity and American Sniper on hand for testing; Mad Max and San Andreas ordered from Netflix blu-ray rental. Will probably buy Ex Machina because Yamaha 3050 comes with DTS-X either installed or ready for immediate download. The A-3050 will be routed out to an Emotiva XPA-7 so it will only be driving my four 5800s in the ceiling. Should convert nicely from my current 9.2 system -- two RF-7IIs, one RC-64II, two RS-52IIs, four RS-42IIs and dual R-115 subs. Also, since I am going to an Atmos setup, should I replace my RS-52IIs currently used as side surrounds with a new pair of RB-51IIs for more direction, and same for my two RS-42IIs used for the rears with a new pair of RS-41IIs? (Not much sound seems to be sent to the rears anymore.) And I can always move my 52IIs and a 42IIs to the bedroom. I have a Yamaha A-3010 now so setting up should be familiar. If I can keep from stepping through the ceiling, all should be well. Where can I go for recommended ceiling speaker placements? This is a conventional den area (17x21x8) with big leather sofa and recliners, etc. -- not a truly dedicated home theater with wall accoustics and bass traps, etc. I am still dumbfounded that my wife let me install the big RF-7IIs and a pair of huge R-115s in our den. So I'm not going to push it.
  15. Thanks fellas -- yes, I can paint -- should have asked about prep up front. Concern is about surface needing certain type or brand of paint and then more importantly the grille. Where do I get grille cloth? From Klipsch? Hobby Lobby? As for those with ceiling speakers -- I have not yet actually picked up the CDT-5800 II C pair, just gotten "permission" to add this everything I have received, installed or have on order. So, anything else that would go well with my Klipsch RF setup. 5800s are pricy if I need to get two more. Something that will "match" Klipsch sound, timbre, etc? Thanks again.
  16. My wife is a champ and has allowed me to upgrade to a 9.2.2 Atmos system as an anniversary/Christmas present. Included purchasing new RF-7 IIs fronts, RC-64 II center, a pair of R-115SW subs, a pair of CDT-5800 C II ceilings, and a pair of small RS-41 IIs for front heights; and a Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A3050 receiver. (Already had very good Reference series II sides and rears, as well as an Emotiva XPA-7.) I said all this because she has a stern request to go along with her generosity and I'm not old enough to go celibate: She wants the small, black RS-41s painted white to match her newly done light gray walls and white ceiling. Flat or pearl white would be fine. Can I spray paint these speakers with success? Automotive paint or regular paint store spray paint? Bring them to a body shop or other pro? Biggest question: The black grilles? Yes, she wants the grilles on them, and painted white or light gray. Is this possible? Does Klipsch sell white grilles? Only other choice would be me trying to convince her I need to spend another $400 for a pair of white ceiling speakers. (Location would be difficult in attic.) Any suggestion appreciated!
  17. Almost sounds like you would be well served by some room correction software and some quality calibration time. Have you messed with the Audessey-like "YPAO" on your Yamaha? That kind of sounds like your gain is maxed out which typically isn't a good thing but maybe you mean the LFE output in the receiver. Still, that's usually not normal. Seems like there's a bunch of guys just running mono nowadays even though they paid good money to have the top-tier Audessey with SubEQ which is supposed to help smooth things out with two subs. So, different people will likely give you different answers here. You're in luck, I've probably got some demos laying around. 270-556-8427 Thank you for answering my questions and taking care of things.
  18. Interesting. What instruments are now improved? What you just did would make me think that midbass would be improved more than upper midrange and brilliance. Subs up front and mains crossed over lower at 60 instead of 80 would normally change the way things like bass guitar, floor toms, and male voices sound. Can't say really as to specific instruments but vocals (Cat Stevens and Carly Simon) are better and not as muffled. I'll try 80Hz for the front mains as well, I used 60Hz simply to utilize some of the woofer power of the 82s. Not so sure I will notice the difference. My system has always had good treble and highs, it just seemed something was missing in the middle -- muddied and muffled. So far I have found some significant improvement thanks to all of you. Next step is to get my brother to help me move the R-115SW across the room to the left front position where the space issue is a hindrance to buying a second R-115SW. It would impede foot traffic flow a good bit. But if it passes the wife-test on that left side, then I may be in business. Otherwise it would have to be a R-112SW or keep my SW-112. What do people do without two subs?
  19. Amazing what a little rearranging and tweaks can do. My situation is now much better but that is not to say I'm not still looking to upgrade components. Here is what I did. Moved the SW-112 to the left front position. Turned both subs (SW-112 and R-115SW) all the way up to the LFE setting (to at least 125Hz) and set the gains (volume) to about halfway. In the Yamaha settings, I changed my RF-82ii fronts to "small 60Hz" and all other speakers to "small 80Hz." Also have both the subs at mono for now. These adjustments alone definitely brought out the midrange or what I call brilliance of the speakers ... almost too much. I also must confess, and was remiss in not saying this before, that today was the first time I had the chance to really crank up my system since installing the Emotiva XPA-7 external amp. Wow! I was able to play both music and blu-ray at much much louder levels without any harshness or distortion. Blu-ray War Horse was awesome as ever except the explosions, thundering horses, etc. were more balanced in the room. With CD, Cat Stevens' Hard Headed Woman really produced both intense highs and thundering kick drums, especially from the 115SW. Even the CD of Tom Jones (don't laugh, its got great orchestral background) jumped out of my speakers when he sang Delilah. Will try some Vivaldi and Beethoven next ... at both high and low levels. I have used the YPAO in the past but it wants to nearly hush my system entirely, forcing me to have to crank up the volume to suit me. Thus I had to manually increase the gains on several speakers quite a bit. Perhaps with the Emotiva power in play now, YPAO might give me a different result, expecially with moving that sub. I'm also not beyond hiring someone to professionally calibrate my system but I would want to hold off on that until I have all my future pieces in play. Until I upgrade speakers, I must thank all of you who have helped so much in getting my current system up to expectations.
  20. I am down in Baton Rouge so a trip up to Hope, Ark., in April would not be a big problem. When in April? And what are the specifics of the arrangement? Who do I contact to get in on the gathering? Today I was able to move my SW-112 from the right rear up to the left front position. After testing the tones, I raised the gain on the SW-112 to just a bit higher than the R-115SW. Both are at the the full LFE setting. My RF-82iis are set to large and all others set to small at 80Hz (though I am experimenting with my RC-62ii at 60Hz and 80Hz). Will soon be testing a blu-ray (probably War Horse) and a Cat Stevens CD. Will let you know soon if it made a difference. By the way, should my subwoofer arrangement on my Yamaha setup be set to "left and right" or to "monoaural" for both? Will probably keep the Yamaha 3010 another year or two and spend my money this fall on an RF-7ii pair and an RC-64ii but it will require some reworking of my entertainment center to fit the larger 64ii. Can you get a better deal on those speakers if you drive up to Hope, Ark., and deal with the factory direct? Me and my dog would be up to that trip to save a few bucks. Best price on a new RF-7ii I can find is at Amazon at $1,398 each shipped. Any better places? Finding good, used RF-7iis is pretty damn difficult. Sorry, I just can't fit a second R-115SW but an R-112SW will fit. Would that help, or just a waste of money.
  21. Thanks so much for all of your prompt replies, welcomes and appreciation. I had no idea a forum like this could be so responsive. It sure does convince me that I at least have the right brand of speakers with Klipsch. Then again, I've always had Klipsch. I just need to get the right ones, get 'em in synch ... and then pay for them. I like the idea of a second R-115SW but space would be a problem. It's a monster but I found a good place for the first sub at front right. A few inches always makes a difference in shooting, football, sex and speakers. Is there a specific problem with my SW-112 or does it just under perform, like I think it does? Would an R-112SW help? I know the magic is in that 15-inch woofer, but is the 12-inch woofer in the R-112SW much better than in the SW-112? If the R-112SW would be an improvement, I may be able to work it into a left front position rather than the rear right where the current one is now. Also, is my Yamaha Aventage 3010 adequate and compatible with Klipsch. My ears say a big yes for blu-ray but not so much for music but I might be missing out on something in the pairing -- like maybe the speakers and not the receiver. I had heard that the Aventage series had ironed out some of its problems with Klipsch. I paid $1,700 for the 3010 a few years ago and I now have $2,100 or so for a replacement if called for. If I can wait another year and put the money into other components, so much the better. Is Marantz or Denon a better fit with Klipsch than Yamaha Aventage? Sorry, hate to be a bother but in some endeavors sage advice still trumps blind research.
  22. I'm a newbee to the board but a strong 65 years and love both my oldies on CD and Blu-ray action. I'm a Marine combat vet of Vietnam so I like it LOUD. (But clear and nuanced. I can still hear and appreciate quality.) So I have a lot of questions. My current set up is only a year or two old and I thought I had something really nice until I started reading these forums. LOL! Currently I have a 9.2 home theater system set up in my main living area/den = 21'x18'x8' ceilings (popcorn removed). NOTE: Remoivng the popcorn made my wife happy and it looks nice, but I think that in doing so I screwed up my accoustics. Speakers: A pair of RF-82II fronts, RC-62II center, two RS-52II surrounds, two RS-42II rears and two RS-42II front presence. Subwoofers: A new R-115SW in the right front and an SW-112 in the right rear. Not much room to maneuver subs. External amp: A new Emotiva XPA-7 (driving fronts, center, surrounds and rears) Receiver/pre-amp: Yamaha Adventage RX-3010 (driving front presence speakers only) TV: 65" Panasonic Plasma VT50 (damn you Panasonic for discontinuing plasma) Blu-ray player: Panasonic DMP-BDT500 CD Changer: Onkyo DX-C370 (6 disc) hooked to Yamaha via optical, old but reliable Turntable: Basic Audio-Technica automatic $100 thing that plays my "records." Upgrade is a must but I don't listen to vinyl that often for it to be a priority. I realize my setup is neither that backwaterish nor is it surfing the high quality world. Hell, there are turntable cartridges that cost more than my system. I'm not sure I can even afford to read this forum. What would I notice most in sound quality if I upgraded from the RF-82IIs to RF-7IIs, and the RC-62II to an RC-64II? Would I have to change out all my surrounds and rears etc. as well? Is the RF-7 that much better than the 82s for so much more money? Or should I consider the less expensive RP-280F? Is the RP-280F much better sonically than the 82s? I know it adds Atmos. I have read where Yamaha does not play well with Klipsch speakers. Why not? What's the problem? Emotiva people are also not that crazy about a Yamaha/Klipsch marriage. Go Marantz? Or Denon? I do not like Pioneers, had some bad experiences in the past. I also owned Onkyo receivers in the past and did not care for their dull tone. I am looking for more mid tones or brilliance while watching TV. My current setup has a lot of bass and plenty highs. Blu-rays sound awesome, thanks a lot to the R-115SW. (Guess I should have never listened to the B&W demos at the Magnolia Store. Sheesh!) Considering my setup, what should be my next step? Speakers? Receiver? Both? Sorry, a lot of questions ... but I warned you. Fire away, I know how to duck.
  23. Decibel/time exposure chart is quite revealing. Now I know why I need more volume: Vietnam combat veteran and 40 years of attending LSU football games! Thank you Klipsch.
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