JoshT

Hockey gear, eh HipCheck? I agree with your assessment of NAD vs. Rotel entirely. I would lean towards NAD for any Klipsch speaker. I do have one possible variation that might still fall under $600, and will give you a bit more power and better FM sound. You might try the NAD C340 integrated amplifier and a Rotel tuner (I forget the number, but the tuner retails for $300). The C340 is even more powerful than the C740. Though the additional power may not be necessary, the Rotel tuner sounds wonderful for the price (I own one). It is better than the tuner built into the NAD receiver, and better, I've read, than the NAD separate tuner. Of course, if you only plan to listen to the communist sympathizers on NPR . . . I AM ONLY JOKING The C740 would be $500 retail, often discounted as low as $400-$420. The C340 would be $400 retail, plus $300 for the Rotel tuner. I betcha, though, that you could get the two for just about $600 if your dealer give the "standard" 15% discount. That would be a very muscial combination! More power and better FM fidelity. In my bedroom (non-Klipsch) system, I listen to WGBH in Boston (jazz and blues and, gasp, NPR news) on the Rotel tuner, a Krell integrated amp, and B&W speakers, and it sounds sweet and smooth on a system that can be bright. Regards! --JoshT P.S. I am very happy, HipCheck, that Boston College beat Boston University in the Bean Pot!

I would go with the NAD C740. I think it is one of the true bargains in audio. High end sound at a budget. I have heard it with two very different types of speakers -- B&W CDM1 SEs and Klipsch SB3s. It sounded excellent with both. Great bass, great umpf, smooth mids and highs (ever so slightly rolled of highs, which can be a plus with horn loaded speakers). Rotel is excellent too, but I think you would end up having to spend more, and I think the Rotel products are not quite as warm sounding as NAD.

Oh yeah! The 18-2 BC Eagles are ranked number 9 in the AP poll and number 11 in the coaches poll! So there! Errr . . . oh, right, um, Klipsch rules!

This may be a stupid question, but can you use the pronto for two systems? In other words, can I set it up for both my HT system in the living room and my two channel only system in the bedroom, and then just carry it back and forth? After all, I'm never listening to both at the same time! Oh, and how big is this thing?

Oh yeah, I should point out what I compared them to when I auditioned them: Boston Accoustic C9 (I think that's the right designation -- it's their best bookshelf and pretty close in price). I like the Klipsch sound more, but depending on whether you like a more laid back or more forward sound they were both nice). Mission bookshelf (don't know the designation, but close in price) -- the Klipsch won hands down. Klipsch RB5 -- the winner, but more $$$. The SB3 still sounded good side by side I thought. Sonus Faber Concertino -- very nice, but very different, and more than twice as expensive. I have not compared them side by side with my B&W CDMSEs, but it wouldn't be a good comparison because (1) the sound is very different and (2) the Krell would most likely sound AWFUL through a horn loaded speaker, and (3) the B&W would sound slowish through a less powerful, lower current amplifier. This is a fun hobby, eh?

I LOVE the SB3s. I really, really did NOT like the 3.1 predecessor. The SB3s are an entirely different speaker. I have listened to them at Tweeter and at a friend's house and never thought the bass sounded boomy at all. In fact, I think they come pretty darn close to the RB-5s! If you check the archives on the BB, though perhaps in a different forum, you'll see an earlier rave by me about this speaker. Let me make a confession: For my main, living room system, I still have the KLF20s, C-7s and S-6s, driven by a five channel rotel power amp and Sherwood Newcastle pre/pro. I love this system for music and for movies (primarily music), using a Sony S7700 DVD player for DVDs and CDs and a Rega Planar 3 for LPs and a Nakamichi tape deck for fun. But in my bedroom, I have a, *gasp*, "high end" non-Klipsch set-up (if you check the archives you'll see I was struggling with this decision a while ago -- I've been reluctant to report what I bought). Anyway, my bedroom system is a Rotel RCD971 CDP, NAD 533 TT with Creek phonostage, Nakamichi tape deck (er, yes, I have two), running through a Krell KAV300i integrated amp, which is driving B&WCDMSEs. Expensive, but fun, and I really do like the way it sounds (that little Krell monster makes the B&Ws explosively dynamic -- really, you'll have to believe me). But, as I already said, this is an expensive system! So, the point of my confession is that a good friend of mine bought as his main system an NAD C740 receiver, NAD C540 CDP driving a pair of Klipsch SB3s. It sounds AWESOME, WONDERFUL, MUSICAL AND DYNAMIC. It cost him about one third of what I paid for my amp, cdp and speakers. For me this is a fun hobby, and the market has been good for me over the past few years, and I like the Klipsch system in one room and Krell/B&W system in the other. They both sound great. But if you want an amazing pair of bargain speakers, get the SB3s. You cannot lose. They remind me in a way of the KLH and Advent speakers of the 1970s, NOT because they sound at all alike, but because they are so much better than the should be for the price. I had a similar reaction to the Cambridge Soundworks Model 6s, which are an old fashioned accoustic suspension design two-way bookshelf for under $300 these days. But the little Klipsch stomps it. A gem. Now, if you have more $$$, I would go for the RB-5s, which I love even more and which are also a bargain. If you have even a bit more $$$ and quite a bit of room, go for the KLF20s, which are still one of my favorite speakers out there. I'm keeping mine until the new high end series of Klipsch speaker comes out (soon, I hope, eh Bob?). But if you are on a budget and short on space . . . well I've made my point enough already!

Hey John, Nope, though I'd been there too. I bought these at the Tech HiFi in Framingham on Rt. 9 -- next to the Strawberry's and right near Fun & Games (both of which businesses survived the collapse of Tech HiFi to this day). I bought my first real stereo (or rather my parents bought it as a present for me) in 1979 or 1980 at the Tech HiFi in Waltham (which sold used/demo models at a discount). That sure was a long time ago, huh? --JoshT

I had a pair of JVC three way speakers for a few weeks that I bought at Tech HiFi in 1981 or 1982. They looked impressive with a 12 inch ported woofer. They sounded flabby and flat -- just terrible. I returned them for a pair of KLH 150s, which were actually quite wonderful (this was soon after KLH was bought be a California company and their stuff was still quite nice). I owned the little KLHs for about 16 years until the foam was completely rotted away. I replaced them with my KLF 20s, finally joining the Klipsch family There are an awful lot of bad speakers out there, huh?

Steve, Wow, awesome, cool!! Man, that is great. If I am seeing it correctly, you seem to have false corners for the KHorns that are out a bit from the rear wall, and then the TV and stereo rack are recessed a bit so that they are even with the front of the KHorns? Am I seeing it right? I love the Heresy sitting ontop of the TV. O.K., I'm still happy with my Legend system . . . really I am . . . I AM, O.K.? John, thanks for posting that for Steve and the rest of us to drool over! --JoshT