BobG2

Though I was not able to be present, I understand the visit to Hope was a good time. Speaking for Klipsch, we thank all who made this pilgrimage and we promise to welcome you again. We would be willing to make this an annual event. Please provide feedback as to how we can provide the most enjoyable and worthwhile experience. We love all of you.

Shielding is accomplished sometimes with only a reverse polarity magnet added to the driver. this is called a 'bucking' magnet. Other times, a shield cup is added over the complete motor assembly of primary magnet plus bucking magnet. This adds additional shielding. To make a woofer very high efficiency, large magnets are used. Thus it is possible to have more problems with a Klipsch speaker than another brand when placed at the same distance from a TV. Magnetic force decreases as the square of the distance. Twice as far equals 1/4th the magnetic force. Any increase in distance is a benefit. Sometimes one inch will make all the difference.

Tell the old bobster what you want to do regarding refinishing and I'll get you the info you need. Just remember that wood veneer is thin stuff. typically 1/32 or 1/24 in thick. You can scuff sand and refinish these speakers to your hearts content.

Well, since nobody unbiased replied, let me tell you how a paid soldier of the Klipsch army feels about the SB-3: Really good bass for a bookshelf speaker. The new SB series and all new Klipsch models make use of very large ports to offer improved bass dynamics and reduced distortion. It really works and it is easy to compare by listening to last series of 8" 2-way Klipsch bookshelf which had same size box and woofer with smaller port diameter. Sounded good at lower levels but at peaks or higher average levels, the bass thinned out. SB-3 solves this one. The HF driver in the Synergy series is very nice in quality and uses an aluminum dome. Generally speaking, the SB-3 is just not as revealing / resolving as the Reference RB-5 of similar size but double price. That speaker competes nicely with well regarded bookshelf speakers in the $2000 price range. If you're looking for a laid-back, kinda ambient sound, Klipsch SB-3 (or other Klipsch) is probably not the best choice. If you want front row center type presentation and wish to be highly involved in the music or movie, this hired gun can think of nothing better anywhere near the price. Now, any body NOT paid by Klipsch want to offer opinion? I know this bulletin board is more populated by fanatics who dabble only in our upper end models, but surely some one has input. I promise to stop calling you surely.

Are we having fun yet? The show was great and it was a gas showing off what we've been workign on for the last months. More work to do before springing all these new beauties on the world, so I hope you'll be patient with us while we cross the T's and dot the I's. I'll tell you something YOU can do in the meantime. Get thee to your nearest Klipsch dealer and tell them they have to display ALL these new models. Seems some may pass on the King of Klipsch Subs because it isn't dainty. Fer cryin' out loud, you want dainty or kick butt sound? Yeah, I thought so. Make that clear to your friendly neighborhood dealer. They complain that "people don't buy 15" subs". Well, not if they don't sound great they won't. Folks, you will NOT be disappointed with the new stuff. A point of clarification beyond what Deon offered. Those new RF-7's make use of a very sophisitcated compression driver which can cover a really wide range of frequencies. Go lower than the mid in the Legend line and higher than the Legend tweeter. Thus, while it costs us a ton, we were able to provide better sound with a 2.5 way design (tapered array in RF-5 and RF-7 is easiest thought of as 2.5 way) and use less components. Heck, we still feel that ONE way would be best but we cannot execute. Some day maybe. Now, to tease all of you who have Incredible Patience, Klipsch has not forsaken the Truly High End. The project was back-burnered to get all these new models done, but you will eventually (and if you ask me when I will come and wire your systems out of phase) see product from Klipsch that is prepared to take on all commers. Not much has been said about the Jubilee (different that mentioned in last paragraph) either. It is moving slowly, but steadily. Don't have price or intro date cause we are taking our (PWK's) sweet time on it. It'sa commin' though and for the fortunate few, it will be sweet. Nice to meet a few of you "boarders" at the show. Thanks again for your incredible enthusiasm for Klipsch. Wait'll you see what we have in mind now that we own a top-flight electronics company...oops, I don't think I was supposed to say that. BobG