Alpha Lima
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Posts posted by Alpha Lima
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lotech,
Depending on your budget, there are plenty of moderately used options for upgrading from your very entry-level receiver.
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Well, the closest I come to that criterion is powering my Klipsch Epic CF-4s with a Peachtree iNova, later replacing it with a Bel Canto e.One S300iD (the short-lived twin of the S300iU, differing only in type of DAC input).
Pros for the iNova:
- great ESS Sabre DAC
- variety of DAC and line inputs
- switchable tube preamp buffer (not on the Nova 150)
- fixed output for use as standalone DAC
- general ease of use
Cons for the iNova:
- amplifier threw out a rather shallow and sometimes ill-defined soundstage, with not enough bass slam and definition.
- amplifier section reliability
Pros for the S300iD:
- exemplary amplifier, with excellent dynamics, detail and expansive soundstage
- lots of reserve power
- higher quality, more precise and adjustable volume control and numbered display
- Good DAC (if not quite the iNova's caliber)
- compact and cool running design
Cons:
- one DAC input
- clean, simple facade comes at the cost of ease of use
Both have variable pre-outs and selectable HT-bypass.
Anyway, the Nova 150 looks to be an excellent amp, far more refined than the iNova.
But you should also consider Bel Canto and their well reviewed C5i, C7R or even separates. They might prove to be superior alternatives.
Hope my two cents helps. Good luck!
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1 hour ago, nola said:
dkalsi,
I am in Bethesda too. I checked out our local very expensive audio place in dntn Bethesda and another in No VA.
Are there any get togethers in the D M V area?
NOLA
If so, I'd be interested!
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A good place to get info on the Epic series. Helped me find my CF-4 v1 babies. Bringing the tweeters up to ear level fleshes out the sound a lot.
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27 minutes ago, wvu80 said:
The horns with the more black looking resin (not painted) started with version 2 and continued with v3. The shorter 2.5" ports were also versions 2 & 3. The gray looking horns were version 1, only, there is no such thing as a Version 2 with a gray horn.
I give plenty of leeway because photography can be deceiving. The color can be tough to interpret, and so does looking into the port to see the length. My CF-4 version 1 1994 pics below.
Indeed, the serial numbers are most important, here.
The photos are of too poor quality to determine true color or port length.
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1
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3 hours ago, wvu80 said:
The horns look black, which would make them version 2 or 3. Version 1's are more gray looking.
Actually, those horns are gray, but the ports look shorter (from what I can tell).
Probably makes them version 2, but we need to see the serial numbers to absolutely sure.
The black painted horns came in version 3, according to this:
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They do look nice, but I can't quite tell what versions they are.
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Very nice.
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Would this go well with my version 1 CF-4s? And how much to ship to 22030?
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4 minutes ago, daryls said:
You're supposed to hook these up without an amplifier.
Genius!
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Whar versions are they? If they're version 1 or 2, very nice score!
Eh, version 3s are nice, in my book, too.
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Ooh, they're loud speakers. As opposed to quiet speakers.
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Whilst perusing the Bay for a center speaker to go with my CF-4 fronts (the prime candidates are the KV-4 and KLF-C7), I happened across this interesting item.
Apparently, in addition to upgrading to a Crites crossover, someone replaced this Academy's stock front baffle to one that mounts the tweeter horn horizontally for wider dispersion.
Personally, the horn should've been oriented that way, to begin with, but whatever. Probably not as much of an issue for the larger-horned ones I'm going after.
I guess the mods warrant the high price. Not a bad look, either.
Local pick-up in the Toledo, OH, area only. Definitely don't have the time or money to drive all the way out there.
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On 1/15/2017 at 8:19 PM, sabeous said:
Good call on sharing a few of the differences - I might start a thread and share a few thoughts. Here are the CF-4's, 3 and 2 side by side. The 4 is sitting on a 2" isolation lift.
Pics with the grilles off, please! Love looking at the drivers, horns and ports on my CF-3s & CF-4s!
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Yeah, my version 1s are in Cherry, as well. The exterior is decent, but not as nice as the ones in the ad.
$800 to $900 for this - if it has new caps - would be far more reasonable.
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They look legit, and pretty nice. Not mine, of course.
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/5911212524.html
I have a set of these, already, and I love them.
The seller is inflating some of the specs, here.
And I'm not sure about that price.
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Howdy, y'all.
I use a pair of KG 1.5s for my office system, powered by an NAD 7240PE receiver. A pair of sealed CSW Ensemble subs are crossed in at about 55 Hz to handle the lower frequencies. The KGs sit on swing-out platforms mounted to an IKEA Jerker desk, with the tweeters at around ear level, 4 feet away and about 5 feet apart.
The sound is nice - in fact, the 1.5s are what turned me on to Klipsch and eventually the Epic line. While it's vastly superior to the Logitech computer speakers they replaced, and the imaging is pretty accurate, the sound field is a tad shallow.
Recently, Amazon and some other reputable retailers have been offering a pair of Klipsch R-14M speakers for only $100!
Would these be a good choice, or should I go with more dedicated nearfield monitors? Or are the speakers not the problem, here?
Your advice is most appreciated.
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12 hours ago, Frzninvt said:
The best center is the one that is designed to go with them, the KV-4, be patient and get the correct one. Don't waste money on a compromise. None of the other's recommended will be a timbre' match to your CF-4's.
Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you. I guess the Polk CS2 will have to suffice until I can snag a KV-4.
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12 hours ago, Lost240 said:
I am currently selling a KV-4 in the Garage sale forum if you are interested.
Yeah, I remember, and it looks lovely. Normally, I'd be all over it, but a drive up to New England from Northern Virginia is not really in the cards for me, right now (even though the autumn foliage must be starting to arrive). Way too much on my plate to spend all that time on the road.
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Howdy, folks. For the longest time, I had stereo in my bedroom/office for music, and surround sound in my living room for TV and movies. But I've always wanted to have a good music system in the living room, too, where I'm not forced to use something more geared to near-field listening.
However, my Pioneer Elite VSX-84tsxi, a great home theatre receiver, is less accomplished in stereo mode. So I was forced to set up a separate system. In my quest to populate it, I fell in love with the Epic line, specifically the version 1 CF-4, resulting in the crowded photo, seen above.
I paired them with all sorts of amps/receivers, ranging from the late 1970s to the early 2010s, and they all fell short of expectations. So, after a lot of research, I finally bought a lightly used Peachtree Audio iNova integrated amplifier. It sounds amazing! Plus, one of its aux inputs has a bypass circuit so it can be integrated into a home theatre!
A few years ago, the wall in the accompanying photo was a lot less crowded. I can now remove the Polk Monitor70 mkIIs (the ones cowering between the Epics and the TV). However, I bought the CS2 center channel because it's “voice matched” to the 70s.
I know the best center channel replacement to go with my CF-4s would be the hard-to-find KV-4. Any decent alternatives? The KV-3? Something more recent, like the RP-25C or RP-250C?
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And I'm only interested in the KV-4, since I already have Version 1 CF-4s.
My current HT system has Polk Monitor 70v.II fronts and CS2 center - decent but not nearly as fun as my Epics, which flank (and dwarf) them.
The latter would make for killer fronts in that system (or I might use a spare pair of Version 3 CF-3s I have).
Regardless, the KV-4 would be perfect for such a setup.
The only problem, Lost240, is that you're up in CT, and I'm in the VA suburbs of DC - 6 hours away.
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iiwc...
(if I were closer...)
Same, here.
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1
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Lemme get this straight: They want someone to plunk down three grand based on what's in two grainy photos.
Sure...
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Give them to someone (exactly like me) who at least knows how to stack them properly.
Lol. I can't see that argument working often, but it's worth a try.
Klipsch Epic CF-2 - underwhelming?
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
A surprising lack of lower bass in not unheard of, in the Epic line.
I bought my CF-4 version 1s from a fellow forum member. They had been recapped, filled with fiber-fill and had silicone-damped horns.
Love the sound - dynamism, detail and effortless power. Certainly smoother than my CF-3 version 3s (which I consider pretty decent speakers).
However, the CF-4's one shortcoming is a steep LF roll-off, as one approaches 30Hz. Perhaps it's my oddly shaped living room with high ceilings.
Adding a pair of sealed 12" SVS subs, crossed over at about 60Hz, definitely remedied the sound, which is now truly full-range.