shoe11

---------------- On 2/19/2003 1:08:09 PM robB wrote: And,its just a pain in the *** to start again! ROb ---------------- Well you see I haven't stopped for about a year now! I was looking forward to a Heritage setup or maybe a new flagship Reference setup (RF-9/RSW-18?), but oh well. Tweeter will be bringing in some new brands shortly, so I'm sure I'll give them a listen. Just don't like the fact that my upgrade path to better and/or future Klipsch products is gone now. Nice setup you have by the way. ~shoe

While I'm not quite ready to burn my 7's just yet, after rereading prodj's initial post I think our young friend does expose an issue that Klipsch should pay some attention to. There are going to be a fair number of people who when looking for future high end audio purchases will not consider Klipsch due to it's Synergy line being sold in Best Buy. Before Best Buy existed I bought Polk Audio as it was supposedly higher quality than whatever was sold at Sears or the other large stores at the time. When it came time to replace them, I didn't even look at Polk again even though I had read some solid reviews on them. Why did I do this? Because Polk had since gone more mainstream by being sold in Circuit City and rightly or wrongly, I associate gear sold there as of only average quality. I wanted something more hi end, more audiophile level so when I walked into Tweeter and saw and heard the Klipsch "Reference" line, that was clearly a step up the audiophile chain to me from the Polks I presently had. You can make the argument that how they sound is the only thing that matters, and that has been the logic by which I have made the majority of my purchasing decisions, but there is also a very valid point that exclusivity sells. I mean do I really need the RF-7's and an RSW-15, to listen to music at an acceptably audible volume? NO! But do I relish in the pride of ownership of having something that is larger, better and less likely to be in my buddy's house? You damn right! Also at his age, he most likely does not have anywhere near the same level of discretionary spending as many of us do. If he bought his speakers at a place with an upgrade policy (Tweeter), he may have already mapped out RF-7 or Heritage purchases for the next few years when he had more cash available. Now he might be stuck halfway through putting his system together and not have the funds to finish it before Klipsch is discontinued at his location. Besides whatever else, the kid is tireless in support of the RSW-15 subwoofer. Any "What kind of sub should I get" post in the Subwoofer forum is almost certainly going to contain multiple posts from him pushing the Klipsch products even with tons of people suggesting SVS. A bit too emotional and uphappy perhaps, but he's still a loyal Klipsch fan to me. Some slack and understanding for him I think is warranted. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/18/2003 9:27:28 AM bruinsrme wrote: See Kilpsch does have a number of loyal and concerned customers. After a mere 4.5 days there are nearly 1500 hits on this topic. The other similar post has almost 800 hits. Whew..... That is a lot of looking. scott ---------------- And I would imagine that the vast majority of us are less concerned about the entry of the Synergy line into Best Buy, than the termination of the Magnolia/Tweeter relationships that is leaving alot of Reference customers high and dry. ....But nothing we can do about it. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/17/2003 11:43:29 PM TheEAR wrote: Now take your Trabant quality sound system and try to impress your deaf dog Barkie.Maybe Barkie will agree with you ---------------- Now that's damn funny. That name just kills me.

He's probably been catching up on his Pro Media duties.

Rob~ I'm lucky to have already finished my Reference line system, but I was also already looking ahead to the Heritage line. Whether I keep what I presently have or not, unfortunately I know I've made my last Klipsch purchase. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/17/2003 8:33:26 PM RayCanales wrote: well I have not heard either the SVS or the HSU but have heard from all you folks that they are great subs. I currently own a Velodyne HGS 18 and it does a decent job in setup but Im thinking about upgrading to something a little faster all the subs that I have heard sound like farting underwater. just my opinion I have a pair of Belles up front and want to place them on top of 2 of these boys. I want to drive them with a 1000W Per Channel PA Amp Peavey, or something like that and I want your ideas. anyway here is what Im thinking of getting for the belles http://www.decware.com/wicked1.htm ---------------- RayCanalas is a salesman for Hsu, SVS, Velodyne and a DIY dealer!!!!! Sorry Ray I couldn't help myself. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/17/2003 9:16:28 PM minn_male42 wrote: so, is the promedia series junk??? from what i have heard and read, the promedias are considered the best computer speaker systems available.... ---------------- Russ~ As a Pro Media 2.1 and 5.1 owner while the line is not really junk, there have been quality issues with the series. If you check the promedia boards you'll see people on their 3rd or even 4th sets of promedia's. Not to mention we even get misposts by people in the home audio forums reporting promedia troubles. After buying the 5.1 and reading the posts, I'd hoped that I'd gotten a good set, but I'm already on my 2nd set. At one time I would say they were considered the best computer speaker system available, but now their are other brands with at least as equal performance. I don't share the sentiments of our newbie poster regarding his desire for Klipsch's demise, but I do believe that many people who have bought their promedia's through Best Buy and have had major troubles with them, aren't going to be especially interested in further Klipsch purchases. I look forward to your continued role as Klipsch forum interrogator and newbie drill sergeant. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/17/2003 4:04:20 PM confuseddude wrote: What does Klipsch mean by a difference in philosophy and brand strategy? This is cited as the reason for ending your long relationship with Tweeter. Tweeter is noted for their excellent, highly trained sales-staff. They have stores that are designed to give the customer a great audition of home audio products...including Klipsch speakers. Something just does not add-up here. I have a good friend who bought their Klipsch speakers from Tweeter a couple of weeks ago (on my recomendation) and he was so blown away by the shopping experience that he has since told a number of his friends about it. So please tell me what a difference in philosophy and brand strategy means? When I made an inquiry to someone at Tweeter about this they told me that Tweeter was blind-sided by this decision. I suppose I feel betrayed because I told my friend that Tweeter is a great place to shop and told him to check out the Klipsch speakers. He also was told that Tweeter has a 1 year speaker trade-up policy where they get full value of their purchase towards any other speaker in their store. He wanted to trade up to a more powerful subwoofer. Please make more sense of this to me...I do not get it. ---------------- Though I doubt Joshua can provide this type of information, as a loyal Klipsch customer, I've had a great sales relationship severed at least with respect to Klipsch products at Tweeter and I'd like to know why as well. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/17/2003 2:43:17 PM swells wrote: I hope in the marketing change that I might see an increase in Klipsch speakers locally. We use to have a relatively decent representation in the mid 80's, i.e. the kg2, kg4, heresy, forte, and cornwalls. All of these were in a decent audition room. I have been looking to audition the Klipsch line and found a local dealer 4km away. They have the sb1, sf1 and ksw 10, all on an isle shelf. sure is great for acoustics eh! Ha ha I did get a descent audition of a pair of RF5 and only had to travel some 640+km round trip. Very impressive, I just wish that I could pop in on a whim; I could use a little more listening time. I have to say, the local store would order in what ever I wanted for only 20% down. I find it hard to buy and/or do a side by side comparison with only the sales pamphlet. ---------------- Well given the news of the Synergy line being sold at Best Buy, there will definitely be increased exposure of at least that line, but the point that you raise about the inavailability of the Reference line for auditioning is one that Klipsch really needs to pay attention to. Up until about this time last year I was in the same boat.. No one around here carried them. My understanding is that by moving the Synergy line into Best Buy more customers will then be inclined to pursue Klipsch's higher end lines. That's going to be harder to do now that Klipsch has ended it's relationship with Tweeter. My concern is the termination of the Reference/Heritage lines with Tweeter. As fellow member Justin has commented on in another post: "I still don't understand why Klipsch would pull out of a very successful relationship (as I understand it to have been) for another venture when you could keep Tweeter and just add on Best Buy." Sure would be interested to know why Tweeter couldn't have been held on to. Still looking for one buyer from Best Buy.

---------------- On 2/17/2003 2:00:13 PM swells wrote: "...almost no one who is interested enough in Klipsch to participate on this forum has ever bought home audio there. After 300 hits, I'm amazed not a single member has replied to say they bought main speakers from Best Buy." Have Best But sold Klipsch before? ---------------- My implied association above was not the best choice of words. I'm assuming your question is rhetorical, but if not, only the Pro Media computer series is presently sold at Best Buy. While it's true that Klipsch has not previously been sold at Best Buy, that does not preclude people who own Klipsch now from previously having made a home audio speaker purchase at Best Buy of some other brand. The fact at least so far from the responses received is that no one on here has.

This thread has been on 2 1/2 days, almost 300 hits and all we have so far is one member who bought a sub from them a few years ago and another member's friend bought a Sony set. Not a single member has bought a pair of main speakers from them? I created this thread because I suspected that even with the expanded visibility Klipsch will get from going to Best Buy, almost no one who is interested enough in Klipsch to participate on this forum has ever bought home audio there. After 300 hits, I'm amazed not a single member has replied to say they bought main speakers from Best Buy. I thought there would at least be a few anyway. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/16/2003 7:19:23 AM swells wrote: Here's to Klipsch producing the quality and excellence that we haw all enjoyed long into the future. ---------------- Regardless of where Klipsch are sold, our Canadian friend clearly summarized I think the sentiments of all of us who are concerned about Klipsch's business decisions. All great replies, but still no one with a Best Buy purchase. Hasn't at least one person on this board purchased home speakers there? ~shoe

Well I decided on a set of RB-5's. I'm much more music than HT oriented, so I wanted a standard direct speaker that could provide surround for the occasional movie, but also be stolen away for use in a bedroom system. Somehow the idea of lugging a set of RF-7's back and forth just wasn't very appealing. ~shoe

Granted that the Reference line will not be sold at Best Buy, but the simple question remains.... who on here has ever bought a pair of home audio speakers from Best Buy? This has been on for a day now and no one so far has said they have.

---------------- On 2/15/2003 2:12:51 AM MrMcGoo wrote: I get the impression that Klipsch is having growing pains and that this is the latest symptom. I wonder how much market research went into this decision and how much excecutive guessing went into the decision. ---------------- Clearly growing pains. If you read the other audio forums many audio enthusiasts label Klipsch as good, but not great. This has always pissed me off given the wonderful sounds that my current setup provides, but now I'm not so sure that those same people don't have a point. In the future I would love to see strong reviews for new Klipsch products in Stereophile, The Absolute Sound, etc that are truly "Reference" quality, but it seems to me that Klipsch is set on relegating their brand name to the weekly Best Buy circular.....pictured right next to the washing machines and refrigerators. ~shoe

Well I went ahead and finished off my Klipsch setup today with Tweeter due to this upcoming change. Sadly I had wanted to look into the new 75 series bookshelf, but that's now not going to be possible. I was looking forward to being continually able to take advantage of Tweeter's 12 month speaker upgrade policy so that I could hopefully keep the newest Klipsch gear in my home. It was cool to know that they could at least order KHorns and other Heritage models available even if it would take forever to get them. So no RF-8, 9's or whatever they'll be called. I had planned to continually support Klipsch with new upgrade purchases, but I can't anymore. I understand that Klipsch is in the business to make money and by allowing Best Buy to carry the Synergy line I'm sure this will help the company's bottom line, but I think the disheartening thing for the dedicated Klipsch customer is that this is seen as a cheapening of the brand. My pride in ownership has taken a hit. In retrospect, I should have seen this coming. Look at the flood of 14 bastardized Synergy models dressed up with the Reference name affixed to them. The only model that would even remotely interest me would be the 75 bookshelf model. I really want the Klipsch brand to improve and while this will bring in more money for the company, to many dedicated Klipsch owners I think this is a step in the wrong direction. When I went to get my RF-7's, I came very close to buying the Sonus Grand Pianos, but I stayed with Klipsch as I felt loyalty towards the brand. I don't anymore. I love my current Klipsch speakers, and I don't know that I'll ever get rid of them, but I am disappointed with this decision. Some of my comments will come off poorly and for that I apologize. I can't upgrade my Klipsch anymore and I'm unhappy about it. ~shoe

Who among us has ever purchased or even considered purchasing home audio speakers from them? My guess is that the majority of this forum never has. Perhaps of interest for the marketing folks at Klipsch. As for me the only thing Best Buy or Circuit City is good for is CD's, DVD's and video games. Next....

I heard that for a fact. Word is that Klipsch dumped Tweeter not the other way around. Word round the campfire is that Klipsch is going to Circuit City. Tweeter is picking up Martin Logan and perhaps others. ~shoe

---------------- On 2/13/2003 3:17:46 PM garyzab wrote: Crazy Poster, which Tweeter do you shop at? I am the In Home Specialist for the Tweeter in Fairfax and am the proud owner of a Rsw15 myself. ---------------- I started off buying in Fairfax, then switched to the store in Manassas. A shorter trip makes a difference when hauling RF-7's and RSW-15's. The guys at Fairfax told me that they knew one guy who has a 15. Guess that's you. I think I'm the only one who has ordered one from Manassas. Nice to have you on the forum. ~shoe

Anyone besides the Ear using RF-7's for surrounds? Anyone using RC-7's? I know the wide dispersion would be lost with either case, but using either would allow the same tweeter driver to be used for all 5 channels. Additionally, I don't watch alot of movies, but I am interested in DVD/A and SACD when it finally matures. I've upgraded the rest of my pieces. Just not sure what to go with for the rear surrounds. Any thoughts on these two models for the rear would be appreciated. ~shoe

Being a retail shop it's $1799. I know they can be had for less online, but I understand you don't get the warranty and I prefer to have a dealer I can speak with in person. Also with Tweeter they allow you a 12 month speaker upgrade which I've been using and I've had excellent customer service from my local store. ~shoe

Ice~ Well just yesterday my RSW-15 arrived and I traded in my RSW-12. First thing is how much larger it is. It makes my RF-7's not nearly as imposing as they used to appear. In terms of setup/operation it's the same. In terms of performance the 15 is going to go a bit lower and louder as compared to the 12. I usually keep mine low-pass enabled and cut at 40hz. While mine is brand new and I'm just starting to get it broke in I have audibly noticed a bit more low end extension already. Not a huge difference, but it is audible. Honestly if you can handle the larger physical dimensions of the 15, then there is no reason to go with the 12. If you went with the 12, the 15 will just tempt the hell out of you until you upgrade anyway. I'm in the DC area as well. I got mine from my local Tweeter. They do not carry the 15 normally. It is a special order from them. It took about a month to get mine in. It was the only one they had on order for the Eastern region. ~shoe

Good to hear you're getting better. ~shoe

Ok now I own hundreds of CD's, but have never heard of a CD in this format. Can someone give me the details on what exactly this means? Thanks ~shoe