MrMcGoo

This thread was about RF-7 v. the KLF-30, not the RSW-15. The RSW-15 that I've owned since the earliest days of its manufacture has performed flawlessly within its design specs. As far as Klipsch support is concerned, it is one of the main reasons that I buy Klipsch. First, I'm not likely to need it unless I abuse my gear. Second, Klipsch support is some of the best support available for ANY consumer product. Bill

Home theater PCs use video cards with an HDMI port built in. Windows 7 SP1 fixed problems with the audio drivers over the HDMI port. The video cards are not terribly expensive for blu-ray. The big advantage to an HTPC is that it can run a huge (many terabytes) amount of storage for video. Since a single blu-ray can run up to 50Gb, the storage can be used up rapidly. The problem with an HTPC is that blu-rays are subject to as many as two layers of encryption and that the OS was originally designed to enforce the copy protection. There are software workarounds, but they are not worth the trouble IMO. A blu-ray carosel is a better solution IMO. On the other hand, blu-rays are sold with digital rights to download the DVD level of software. This is where an HTPC can shine as a server, but the resolution is lower in both video and especially the sound. Any good DVD player ot TV will upconvert video to 1080p that usually looks good on TVs up to 60 inches. There is no upgrade on the sound though. I buy blu-rays for the sound more than the picture. Folks with giant screens and projectors probably want the best picture that blu-ray has to offer. Bill

Tweeter, Room acoustics and speaker positioning and aiming are at least as important as amplification. Flat screen TVs cause problems with the need to place center channel speakers beneath the TV. The center need to be aimed upward toward the listener's ears and protrude a little beyond the front of the stand. Floors should have carpet or rugs to reduce reflections and so on. Once you have done the best you can with the room and speaker setup, then worry about amplification and room correction. Bill

Both the RC-7 and RC-64 are much better than the RC-3. The center channel is over used by the mixers so it is by far the most important speaker. Seamless pans across the front are also important. The RF-7s that I used the RC-64 with were modded. The 7s had more presence than my RF-63 array, but the 63s have a better attack are more neutral and are more seamless. Bill

The RC-7 has two threaded internal bolts at the rear to allow legs to be added to raise the rear of the RC-7 to aim it at the ears of the listener. The RC-64 has a single bolt toward the front to use a leg to raise the front to aim it at the listenrs ears. An owner can always find other ways to aim the speaker, but most folks do not want to bother to reinvent the wheel. These two speakers are about the transition from RPTVs to flat panel TVs. Both are good speakers, but I'd give the edge to the RC-64. However, dialog is better from above than below even if the speakers are well aimed. The RC-64 is a better match to the RF-83 and 63 series. It did well with the RF-7s, but the four RF-63s disappear better with the RC-64 than the Rf-7s could. Bill

There are fundamental design differences between the RC-7 and the RC-64. The 7 is a vented box design intended to be used above your video display. The 64 is a sealed design intended to be used below your display. The sealed design eliminates echos from your cabinet and the smaller woofers fit in a narrower but longer shelf. The 64 does not go quite as low as the 7, but works well with the crossover in your processor. Both speakers need to be angled up or down at the ear level of the listener to get a seamless front sound stage. The down side to the 64 is that you may later want to upgrade to RF-83s. With room correction processors that are properly run, both speakers will work well. Make your pick based upon whether it will go above or below the display is my advice. I have owned both systems. Bill

The ugly duckling, colloquially known as the Caspian Sea Monster, flew a few feet above the water. It used ground effect to fly low to avoid radar detection. It carried 6 anti-ship missles. I thought the US military was inefficient, but this thing takes the cake. A $1,000 hammer is nothing in comparison to the Sea Monster. Bill

daddy, I have sent the picture (url) to a friend that is super fluent in Russian. His father was a red air force general, so he has some interest in these things. I will report back with his comments. Bill

This year we have had one snowfall that needed clearing with a snow blower. Last year we had a record 97 inches which is a 100 year record. The year before last was the second highest snow year on record, but the climate is not changing. The last two years it was very difficult to find a snow blower to buy. In preparation for another bad year, I went out and bought a tracked 28 inch Honda and a wheeled 24 inch Husquvarna with power steering. This did not stop me from buying four RF-63s and a RC-64. After all, when you finish clearing the snow, a home theater is a great way to relax. Bill

Be advised that some drivers have been known to lose a wire during shipping due to vibration. Hence, if only one wire is properly attached, merely attach the secon wire with correct polarity and your problem may be solved. Bill

Welcome to the forum! My educated guess is that Klipsch is freshening up the Reference line. The first step is to discontinue products that do not move enough volume. The second step is to clear out excess inventory in the discontinued items. Next they will introduce the new items, probably starting with the new subwoofers. The only question is whether they will go from the Reference IV line to a Reference V line. Historically, the new Reference speakers were fully compatable with the prior series in both appearance and voice. Discontinued products usually sell at a deep discount, which means that it is a buyers' opportunity. Klipsch is the best in the business with continuity in their product lines. Klipsch evolves and refines thier products, but keeps the winners updated. Bill

The sound of the information seems to be that the industry is building machines to limit analog output quality to make it harder to copy. It was originally planned to use and Image Constraint Token in the software to tell the player to limit analog video qiality. Software is easily defeated, so now it will be done in hardware. The deal with HDMI is that v. 1.4 is already upon us. Next will be 1.5? Large conduits should be used for inwall installations so new cable can be pulled. Bill

I tried a 140 watt 2 channel B&K amp with RF-7s in place of a 140 watt Ultra2 receiver. There was a small, but noticeable improvement. An upgrade to a 200 wpc Sunfire amp was much more noticeable. The speakers that you have are an easier load than RF-7s by most accounts, but they do have excellent bass. No matter how you slice it, bass takes more power. In your place, I'd skip the 2 channel 125 watt amp and move up to the 3 channel 200 watt amp. The fronts would be a better match and the power increase would be more likely to get improved results. I would also wait for someone that has Fortes and has experimented to give their view. Much depends on the actual impedance curve of the Fortes and how the speaker actually interacts with a bigger amp. Bill

There are two critical points to keeping the RC-7. First, it needs to be angled up toward the listenrs' ears. The sound stage will not be what you are used to without aiming the horn at ear level of the listeners. Second, the RC-7 is vented to the rear. The noise from the vent can create echos, if the RC-7 is enclosed. Bill

Thanks for the review. Good movies for the whole family are rare these days. Even then, not all Pixars are created equally. Hence the review helps as this brand tends to be a bit more expensive. Bill

For $820 you will be very happy as long as the sub is in good condition. The RSW-15 is rock solid down to 25 Hz and drops like a rock below 19 Hz. Dual subs will give better coverage in most rooms and make setup easier for even coverage. The idea that we need subs to go into the subsonic levels below 20 Hz is counterproductive. Better sub 20 Hz output reduces output in audible bass output. Buttkickers are better at sub 20 Hz output IMO. Bill

I am SO happy that I purchased my RC-64 and RF-63s from a local dealer. They do compete on price within reason, so the deal was very comparable to Internet sales. The sales tax is a small price to pay to have a local solution to any problem. Sales tax savings are reduced further if you have to pay shipping, especially if it is both ways. I'll bet money Thump can fix or reduce the problem on the next design. Bill

In addition to the European goodies add a small box of See's. I have yet to meet a chocolate lover that does not like See's. Warren Buffet bought the company for a reason: It has a sustainable competitive advantage, i.e., he bet big money that their product will be extremely hard to beat. I agree with Buffet. Bill

Modern goods fail way too frequently due to planned obsolescence.....except Klipsch speakers. My last range lasted 15 years; this one was good for 2 years and 4 months. Every time I upgrade my Klipsch speakers, it's because I want a better model for my circumstances. It's not because on any failure or major design flaw. The service guy that booked my repair appointment said that it is normal to need a new heating element in 4 to 6 years. If my speaker drivers routinely needed replacement in 4 years, it would be time to change brands. When they last indefinitely and sound great, you stay with that brand. Bill

tigerwoodsKhorns, It is funny that my machine is also a stainles double oven GE Profile as well. My deal was not nearly as good as your however. The yellow crud on the inside of the window makes me wonder what it is. Chromium oxide has the same color, but the racks are porcelain. When this puppy gets fixed, it will get donated to Habitat or Goodwill. Bill

We baked a pizza last night and then set the oven to self-clean and sat down to dinner. My wife looked up and observed an electrical fire inside the oven. It gave off a bright blue-green and yellow glow that brightly lit up the entire oven-door's window. A quick trip to the breaker panel killed the light show, but toxic smoke came out of the oven's vents for another ten minutes. We opend the windows wide, but there was very little breeze. The range is covered by an extended warranty, but this oven, when fixed etc. will go to charity. It was two years and four months old. The moral to the story is to avoid scratch and dent sales on self-cleaning ovens. Has anyone seen such a light show when you have attempted to clean your oven? Bill

Colin, The place to ask this question is hvac-talk.com. The pros tend to recommend 5 inch deep pleated filter boxes. These boxes get it all above mthe micron level that you install, but they need to be changed mothly to quaterly, depending. The advantage is lower initial cost, less to go wrong and easire maintenance, but spare elements must be kept on hand. I went with a low ozone eletronic filter. It has a pre-filter that I vacuum every three weeks along with the collectors. My first annual service showed no buildup on the blower wheel. We did not look at the evaporator coil, but the system was barely a year old. My system is a 3 ton heat pump which is to say that the air must move up to 1400 CFM to run right. The variable spped air handlers add rpm to get the needed cfm. Bill Bill

A center sitting on the floor will only work well if its front is aimed up toward the listener's ears. The other important factor for a center channel is that it be timbre matched to the mains. The KLF-C7 matches the KLF-30 andd 20 etc. for main speakers. I have an RC-64 that is huge. It is nearly on the floor, but it is aimed upward and integrates well. Another reason that it integrates well is that it has matching drivers with the mains and acoustic calibration. Bill

My second pair of Rf-63s were installed mid-week as side surrounds. The difference has surpassed my wildest espectations with 7.1 material. Surround backs are RS-7s as floor standers will not fit. The RF-63s all around are cleaner than my prior setup not to count better balanced and seamless. New details are showing up in movies that I've watched many times. There is no way small surrounds can keep up with the big boys IMO. I'm using a crossover of 50 Hz on Thump's recommendation and after tweaking to get tighter bass, the setup is excellent. The RF-7s still have a better presence, but the RF-63s do have a better attack, more detail and are generally cleaner. I suspect that the identical drivers add to the cleaner sound. The small amount of coloration in each speaker is identical instead of different coloration with each speaker. Now I have to watch and listen to all my reference movies again. As I watch more movies I will add to my findings. Bill

Prof. Thump, The blued 1911 is a WW I model as it lacks the dished out trigger opening. It has the shorter grip safety charateristic of the 1911. The 1911A1 issued after WW I extended the grip saftey to avoid hammer bite, added the short trigger, dished the trigger opening and arched the mainspring housing. I'm not a fan of WW I metal as it may crystalize due to age. The nickle plated 1970 Gold Cup is nice, very nice, but nickle plate can have issues. It reflcts sun light, can tell folks where you are and may wear in a holster or even peel. I loved my 1911s, but they are a bit obsolete. Bill