RC-64/RF-82 & DENON AVR-3312CI

[JavaIsRobust]

That's what I thought and I don't have that problem.

Correction by the way. My receiver goes up to a max of 18db.

[cornfedksboy]

I feel like with my current setup there isn't a lot of clarity.

Good info, but I'm not sure how to fix it so I'll put that one on the back burner and move forward.

My receiver plays between -80ish db to over 30db I think. I have never really gone over 10db on the receiver. I feel like between -10db to 10db, there is not a big difference in loudness.

Those are decibles from the reference level. Generally, reference level is considered 75-85 db (we'll call it 80 for simplicity) so at -10 you should be at 70 db and at +10 you should be at 90 db when sitting 1 meter from your speaker. 90 db should be 200% louder than 70 db. Would you agree with that, or is it not making much difference in volume? At +10 db you should be slightly uncomfortable in the room. If not I think you have a receiver issue.

Before you spend any more money please answer some of these questions:

1) How is your BRD player hooked up (analog/HDMI)? Are you using your BRD or your AVR to decode the source material?

2) What settings are you using to listen? Direct, Stereo, PLIIX, Opera?

3) How are your speakers set-up on the AVR? Did you set the front L/R to "full" or "large?" Is the AVR set to sub-woofer = "none" and no crossover point? Is the LFE channel set to Front L/R? Have you done any equalizing either manually or using an auto mic?

4) Where are your front L/R speakers set-up in relation to the rear and side wall?

5) Is your lack of clarity in the bass, treble, or mid-range section, or all of the above? When listening to Opera, to the brass instruments come thru clear? What about precussion, strings, and vocals? That can help to isolate what you aren't hearing.

The only speakers that did impress me, and I hope I don't upset anyone here, were $1500 each B&W floorstanding speakers. I don't even remeber what I was listening to. It was at BestBuy a few months ago. They are the speakers with the Kevlar woofers. I felt like whatever I was listening just sounded nice, impressive, and had a real distinct and clear difference in the different sounds.

It is quite possible that you prefer B&W speakers to Klipsch. They are designed completely different. We, here on this board, prefer Klipsch for it's effortless dynamics, huge room filling sound stage, and fast bass/treble response. Others prefer B&W for it's polite, flat response and airy string reproduction. They are different breeds, neither being uniquely correct. I will tell you this, however, if you want to experience an Opera at Opera levels, you are going to get into some significant coin with B&W as they require a lot of juice to get going in the high and low end. On the other hand, Klipsch will handle full range dynamics with ease and really sparkle for HT (such as Starwars).

Your system isn't quite set-up right. Don't give up on it until you've experienced as it should sound. If you find you are still dissatisfied, sell the Klipsch and buy some B&Ws.

[SuBXeRo]

B&W make fantastic speakers. Most of us wont get offended by you saying that, a lot of us have owned many types and brands of gear over the years. I love B&W and Energy Speakers (the higher end Energy), mirage, KEF, Paradigm. These are all great brands. Klipsch has a niche market, clean sounding speakers that perform and sound as good as speakers thousands more. They also have some of the most sophisticated testing facilities for audio research in the world. It was Paul Klipsch's idea that everyone should be able to afford good quality speakers and his ideaology still exists today in the speakers we all own. Klipschs are said to lack midrange in the non 3-way speakers, i do tend to agree with this. The heritage versus the rest are completely different stories. I will say that i clearly notice the difference and if music with heavy vocal like your sig-o then the heritage would blow your mind, its warmer but clean and clear, just amazing. For my next 2 channel setup i will most likely be choosing a brand outside of klipsch as i want to try something different.

as for listening to her opera blu rays, i would make sure to put your receiver into stereo mode and i want you to make the frequency cutoff at around 60hz, this should alleviate some stress on the receiver and allow the speakers to produce a much cleaner sound. As far as movie vocals go and using the center channel, i actually up my centers by about 2db over the left and right channels and i usually up the surrounds about 4-5db as i like it when they are more pronounced.

I found that my center channel gets muddy/harsh/echoey sounding when it comes to vocal if i leave it on full range, i have it set at 50db about 5hz higher then its bottom end per klipsch specs and it removed my issue. I have had this problem with several other centers and upping the crossover always fixes my problem.

Also check your receiver out for settings, make sure that something funky isnt messed up, if in doubt do a unit rest to factory default. Also check your bluray player too for settings. Sometimes changing the HDMI cord too. There are so many variables that can mess things up and you just have to be methodical about it all.

I love my emo combo, i would only buy something else just to try it and see if i like it better or worse, its a fantastic value, i highly recommend the xpa-5 with it. ANd to answer your question, if the denon is acting as a processor only it will affect how the sound is produced. Believe me, an external amp is so incredibly beneficial with larger speakers.

[robc1976]

Also, for music you may want to try the Audyssey flat curve, I like this alot more for music...but again my room is treated also...but I did prefer this when it wasn't. I used to use this for movies as well but realized the Audyssey curve is better for movies/games INMHO! Also make sure dynamic volume is NOT set to "evening"...if it is it will sound very weak compared to the "day setting" I turn mine off.