cip4465

Hey all! I currently have a 5.1 setup using all Klipsch Reference from the 3 series (RF-3, RC-3, RS-3). If I swapped out the RC-3 for the RC-7 - would I have some serious matching issues? the horns are my concern - because I know they are different. Thoughts?

Thanks for the response. Here is my situation, I am currently running my reference 3 series with a Denon AVR-5700 receiver. I currently have it setup so that all speakers are set to small, and I have an adequate (which will soon be more than adequate) sub taking up the low end. This is the THX recommended way of doing things according to my receivers manual (which is loyal to THX as well). That being said, Im really not hurting for my RF-3s to crank out more low bass. What I would like is a more potent center channel speaker (something that the RC-7 will give me), and more potent and also stronger surround speakers that can take the power of a very healthy amp (something that the RS-7 will give me. I wont upgrade the center and surrounds without doing the fronts though as I want the same horn in all channels. Plus, Im sure the RF-7 have an all together sound than the RF-3. So, I would have the RF-7s set to smalland it just seems that it would be such a waste. However, they would probably sound better in this frequency range than the RF-3s Im sure, and thats what I was trying to determine. From your response, it sounds like this is the case. Am I crazy to run RF-7s as small? Am I crazy to follow THX & Denon recommendations for speaker setup? Thats a whole other topic right there!

Well, I can't really comment on those exact components. However, I have related components, so Ill throw my opinion out there! I have the Denon AVR-5700 receiver paired with the Klipsch reference 3 series all around (RF-3s, RC-3, and RS-3s). I love the sound these two provide. Denon is known for having "warm" sound. The warm sounding amp teamed with what some (not me) think is overly bright Klipsch speakers makes an absolutely perfect match! I'm pretty sure you will find the same with your 5600. Denon is a highly respected manufacturer. When it comes to receivers, Denon is always one of the best out there. In my receiver's day, it was known as one of the best receivers on the market. The major magazines held it and the Marantz flagship as the best you could buy. the 5700's successor - the 5800/5803 are currently held as one of the best receivers money can buy today. I don't know too much about the 5600, however, judging from the numbering, I would assume it received the same level of respect in its day. As far as problems go, I have never had an issue with my 5700. I will soon be upgrading my system again. I plan on upgrading my set of reference 3 series up to the 7 series all around. I will also be buying a heavy duty amp in my move to seperates. However, I'll probably keep my 5700 for another year or two after that, using it as a pre/pro with the new amp - its that good of a unit! Anyhow, I searched Denon's webpage, but couldn't find anything on the 5600. However, just on my experience with Denon, and their awesome reputation....I would feel pretty confident. And if the price was right...sounds like a solid foundation to your Home Theater (or home theater to be).

To those that have had both RF-3s & RF-7s, or any that have demoed them both.. How is the mid-range of the RF-7s compared to that of the RF-3s. I ask because the size of the drivers (10s vs 8s). I may be way off here, but I had thought that smaller drivers gave better results in the mid-range. What are you alls perception of the mid-range between the two? I know the RF-7s will kill the RF-3s in lower bass, but I was curious if the mid-range suffered at all? Thanks in advance for any infoI currently have a full set of Reference 3 series (the original series I version). Im contemplating upgrading all of them up to the 7 series.

Thanks for the information guys! Keep your thoughts comming...this is a great forum! So, I was thinking that by having my speakers set to small, it would help out a bit (if I had a situation of having more amp power than a speaker is rated for). Not really sure why I thought that, but I figured bass was the harshest most violent thing to a speaker, and if I wasn't letting any get to the 5 channels, the extra amp power wouldn't be *AS* brutal. But...sounds like you all think it might be ok. I would definitely take it easy - I'm not one to just crank the heck out of my system as it is. The 140 x 5 amp in my Denon is strong enough to be scoled by significant others! Is there any damage that this could do to the amp (having a 200 x 5 amp power a speaker that is marked as being rated at 110 watts)? I'm sure the amp could do major damage to the speaker if turned up to unbelievable levels...just not sure if damage could be done to the other side. I suppose it could really! I recal some of my more deviant, younger days...when I hooked up the tweeter portion of my old 1980 Honda car speaker to a 100 watt amp - and watched smoke come from that tweeter. I had just replaced the speakers in the car, and thought it might be fun to "dispose" of the old speakers. I just wouldn't want to recreate that scene in a much larger...more expensive manner! thanks for the thoughts guys!

This is a crazy question...but I gotta ask! I know the wattage requirements for my speakers as they are posted on the back of them...oh, and they are: RF-3 Series I (fronts) - 225 watts RC-3 Series I (center) - 150 watts RS-3 Series I (surrounds) - 110 watts (all 8 ohm) I'm just curious how many watts I could safely send them. You know how come manufacturers underate their speakers, so they can actually handle more. This is what I currently have feeding these guys: Denon AVR-5700.....feeding 140 Watts (8 ohms) to all 5 channels. all speakers set to SMALL with a very good sub to support them (the THX recommended setting for this receiver). I love my setup, and feel completely safe with this kind of power (even the surrounds). However, In an eventual move to seperates....I will be purchasing a power amplifier and using the 5700 as a pre/pro (for a little while). Many of the amps I'm looking at are 200 watts (8 ohms) x 5 (such as the Rotel 1095 and a Krell). Anyhow, I'm just curious if this bump will immediately fry my speakers (my surrounds are probably most in danger). However, even looking at the RS-7s...they are only rated at 150 watts. You can't find to many surround speakers that are rated to handle 200 watts....so how do people use these monster amps? Anyhow, let me know your thoughts!