Klipsch HT speaker setup

[mactimbo64]

I am in the process of remodeling our family room to create a 7.1 home theater and would appreciate any input from the experts on here regarding components and speaker choices as I am a novice on the subject. I currently have 2 KG 3.5 floor standing speakers (~1997 vintage) that I will be using as my front R and L....everything else I will need to purchase. I have read that voice matching is important so I am wanting to know if the Klipsch speakers that I have tentatively selected will work well as a cohesive system. My thoughts:

Center: RC62 (Any thoughts on this versus the RC 52 appreciated)

Sub: RW10d (Any thoughts on this versus the Sub 10 or Sub 12 appreciated)

Surrounds: S-1 or RS 10. Maybe RS-42 or S-2. (This is where the budget is taking a hit as I simply cannot afford the upper end times 4. Any thoughts on surrounds in general appreciated as this is wide open.)

I plan on driving it all with a Denon 3310ci which is 100W/channel.

Thanks in advance!

~Tim

[Youthman]

Hi Tim. Welcome to the forums.

Here are a few questions for you. 1) What percentage of Movies vs. Music will your system be used for? 2) How large is your room?

If you want a seamless transition from one speaker to another during movies, having your front three speakers that are timbre matched are important. The KG and Reference series are not timbre matched with each other so that would probably not be the best match.

The RC-62 is a nice upgrade from the RC-52. When I demoed the RC-52 with the RF-82's, it was very weak and could not keep up.

I've never heard the RW10d or the Sub10/Sub12 series but many have suggested that the Sub12 is a great bang for your buck Klipsch sub and the 12 is a much better sub than the Sub10.

As for 7.1, to me, there isn't a "need" for me to go from 5.1 to a 7.1 yet. There just isn't enough 7.1 movies to make it worth the investment. Most movies are encoded as 5.1 so your receiver has to make up the information that it sends to the back two speakers. This is a matrix sound and not a true discrete 7.1 sounds. I would wire your room for 7.1 but setup a great 5.1 system. Then as technology catches up and 7.1 becomes the standard in the film industry, then add your back surrounds.

Take your time, listen to as many Klipsch setups as you can to find out what your ears like the best. Decide a budget and look for some smokin deals on Craigslist.

Good luck and ask all the questions you want.

[mactimbo64]

Thanks for the quick reply. Probably 70-30 movies to music I would guess.

14' wide x 16' deep x 7'-8 ceilings in the lower level of a trilevel.

Good point on 7.1 vs 5.1....i had no idea., that will save some bucks. .

Where might I find a good resource to figure out what center and surrounds are matched

to my existing KG 3.5s? Is this info in the technical specs somewhere perhaps?

Appreciate your help, excellent feedback!

[Stolenrs]

I agree with youthman, go 5.1 if you are a movie guy, me I am more of a music first than movie so I have a 7.1, most of the time when I watch a movie that I am excited about I will switch to a 5.1 for better effect.

As for the sub, I have owned just about every sub except for the RT series, and for the money see if you can find a Sub12, I don't think they make them anymore but are still available, or if you can find one for a good deal a rw-12d will rock your house.

Welcome and good luck!!

~ross

[Youthman]

Where might I find a good resource to figure out what center and surrounds are matched
to my existing KG 3.5s? Is this info in the technical specs somewhere perhaps?

Before Klipsch recently redesigned their website, you used to could easily see which products "belonged" to each other by looking at the "Related Products". Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The closest I found was an image of the KG 3.5 system. My guess is that is probably the KV-2 or KV-3 center, I'm not sure of the model surrounds and sub they are showing. Others familiar with that system will chime in.

[Youthman]

That's the KV-2 center channel.

And looks like it's the KG .5 surrounds.

And maybe the SW 10 sub.

So how did I do fellas?

[Youthman]

Ok, one question I have is if that is the recommended system, are those speakers actually timbre matched? they have different tweeters and drivers. Just not sure how they could sound identical if they use such different speakers.

[mactimbo64]

Awesome! Thanks for your help!

[mactimbo64]

OK...after scouring the internet, I have come across some used KG.5s and a KV2 center at what seemed like decent prices so I could setup a decent HT system for little money utilizing existing KG3.5s. Would have to pick up a sub too...either new or used. Option A: Approx. $500-$800.

Option B: I also saw several complete NEW Klipsch systems with 5yr. warranty on eBay (from authorized Klipsch dealer...or so they claim) that also seemed like good deals to my inexperienced mind and would be an upgrade to new equipment versus used. These systems were an F2 system for $1,460 or an F3 system for $1,672. Both systems contain a C2 center, 2 S2 surrounds and a PA-120 12" sub...the only difference being the F2 versus F3 fronts. I would just sell or repurpose my KG3.5s.

Any advice on pros and cons of the options appreciated. The dealer was listed as "Sound Distributors" and had a positive feedback rating. Any experience with these folks?

Thanks!

~Tim

[Stolenrs]

I haven't heard much of the synergy series speakers, I think that the C-2 is not the center of choice for the F-3's. Most of what I have read says that one should really use a C-3 center for those mains. It would IMO be undersized and not be able to keep up. Sounds like you are the way to great setup, find a deal on a sub and your set.

~ ross

[mactimbo64]

Thanks Ross. I ended up deciding to pass on the new bundled systems and opted for the less expensive setup. I am following Youthman's advice and matching my existing KG 3.5s with similar series speakers. I got a sweet KV-3 center on eBay and a pair of Kg.5 bookshelf units on Craigslist. Total spent thus far $230. Bidding on a Sub 12 that closes in a few days. We'll see. I lost an auction for a set of the KG.5s at the last second only to find a pair 2 minutes later on CL for $10 less than the winning bid on eBay. Woohoo! This system should be great for us for awhile and give me time to learn more without having spent a ton of money. This will make it easier to justify upgrading down the road once I have more HT knowledge and a better feel for what I want to get out of my system.

Thanks again for your input. ~Tim

[Youthman]

This system should be great for us for awhile and give me time to learn more without having spent a ton of money. This will make it easier to justify upgrading down the road once I have more HT knowledge and a better feel for what I want to get out of my system.
Thanks again for your input.

With not much money invested in the system, that's a great way to go. I'm all for finding great deals. That way, down the road, should you choose to sell, you can often get your money back from them.

[Stolenrs]

Good luck on the sub 12, it is a great sub, also I agree that it is more fun to shop around and find good deals, and if I decide to upgrade I don't always feel that I need to sell something first before I buy something else.

Let us know if you win the sub

post some pics to, we all like to see pics!!

~ross

[alanwescoat]

The Sub-12 rocks. For the amount of power you will be putting into your system, I think you would be doing yourself a disservice with the Sub-10. I got lucky a while back. I had ordered a Sub-10. We waite, and it didin't arrive. My wife caled the dealer who apologized for posting an out-of-stock item on his website and offered the Sub-12 for only $40 more. I jumped all over that and have no regrets. It's a beautiful piece of equipment both in terms of performance and appearance.