Mike Keough Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 When I owned a nice big house and had room for a sound room I had a pair of Epics, driven by a Denon 3000. I love vinyl so the whole thing was more than satisfactory, it was freaking wonderful. Those speakers are long gone, as is the house. I now live in a third floor flat in San Francisco which I share with my Old Lady and two other people. We kinda took a vote and I have been allowed to set up the Salon as a sound room. I rebuilt my Technics turntable and am going to repair my two Beogram RX-2's, and am now looking at speakers. I have been carrying around a set of RG 1's for about 45 years and they are not sounding too damned good. I understand from Klipsch that there are no re-coning kits or anything available, which will upgrade the speakers so am looking for something smaller... and within a rather limited budget. I loved the Epic's for all of the normal resons. Warmth, clarity, how clear they sounded at either high or low volumn, and natrually they were incredibly beautiful. I am going to have to make my purchase via Craigs List or some other cheap place so am looking for suggestions as what to buy. Is it even possible to find that great sound with a smaller speaker? Thanks for reading, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 (edited) the RB series... book shelf's are a good choice for you if you want to stay with Klipsch. they are reference series speakers and can be found via CL from time to time and on eBay all the time. RB81ii's are at the top of the food chain there and are vented and quite good sounding for a little bookshelf. another choice might be to try and find a Heresy for your set up if you enjoy the heritage sound. Edited August 24, 2014 by Schu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattSER Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 I agree with the RB series. Keep an eye out for RB-5s. There are a couple pairs listed near me for around $200 each. The RB-5s are known as the warmer sounding of the Reference bookshelf series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Keough Posted August 26, 2014 Author Share Posted August 26, 2014 They look fine, but cost as much as a set of Epics. Outta my price range. Thanks tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 If it doesn't have to be klipsch, find a pair of Dynaco A25's. One of my most favorite musical pair of speakers I own. Actually own 2 pairs of them. I've sold off many others but kept these. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 not sure what your size limits are but the forte 2's would be more than half the size of cf-4's & will sound as good as them but not have the peak output level. if you need smaller the quartets are the same as the forte just a smaller 10" woofer. these arent bookshelf speakers but are very compact floor speakers. & according to some the forte is one of t he best overall sounding kipsch speakers. used value cant be beat at $300-$400 for most on craigslist. another good value for the performance is the classic kg4 or others in the mid-sized kg series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted August 31, 2014 Moderators Share Posted August 31, 2014 One very affordable, but quality sounding speaker is the KG 3.2. Can be had for less than $100. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Keough Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 I found a pair of KSB 2.1 in Rosewood for a hundred bucks. Nothing in the RB series and only one other set a KG-3 for two hundred bucks. This kinda works because I am going to send my MMC4 to be rebuilt. NOthing like getting one's system up to snuff. What da ya think about the speakers? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted September 3, 2014 Moderators Share Posted September 3, 2014 I've owned CF-4 and never have heard the KSB-2.1 but I can only imagine how much difference there would be going from CF-4 to KSB 2.1. My guess is it would be quite underwhelming from what you are used to hearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Keough Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 (edited) Any further thoughts? I need it. actually they are paper covered particle board so I'll pass on these. Now, to the KG-3??? Edited September 3, 2014 by Mike Keough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattSER Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 The KG3 would be a much better choice than those synergy bookshelf speakers. But still a much smaller sound than the CF-4s. However, the KG series has a definite sound signature which I very much enjoy. They have a lot of character, soul, and entertainment value. I view the synergy series as somewhat soulless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moray james Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 not sure what your size limits are but the forte 2's would be more than half the size of cf-4's Forte ll footprint is 16.5"x12.25" CF4 footprint is 17"x19" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) not sure what your size limits are but the forte 2's would be more than half the size of cf-4's Forte ll footprint is 16.5"x12.25" CF4 footprint is 17"x19" sorry, never said footprint. was refering to the general overall size of the speaker. should have said "almost" half the size... cf-4- 44x17x19. 108lb. forte- 35x16x12. 67lb. & 32" tall without the risers. so in general the forte is "almost" half the overall size/mass when sitting next to a cf-4. Edited September 4, 2014 by klipschfancf4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moray james Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 ok if you look at the speakers front on the Forte ll is 16.5" wide and the CF4 17" wide hmmmm. The CF4 is 44" tall and the Forte ll is 35.4" tall so the CF4 is 8.6" taller, that's a hand span. The bulk of the difference between the two is that the CF4 is 6.75" deeper and the build is much more substantial but visually as the numbers show they are in the same ball park. Height being almost free space in most situations it is the foot print which most folks are concerned with and width more often is a greater concern than depth. Best regards Moray James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 ok if you look at the speakers front on the Forte ll is 16.5" wide and the CF4 17" wide hmmmm. The CF4 is 44" tall and the Forte ll is 35.4" tall so the CF4 is 8.6" taller, that's a hand span. The bulk of the difference between the two is that the CF4 is 6.75" deeper and the build is much more substantial but visually as the numbers show they are in the same ball park. Height being almost free space in most situations it is the foot print which most folks are concerned with and width more often is a greater concern than depth. Best regards Moray James. ok, im confused what your point is here.... the OP asked for suggestions on a "smaller" speaker than the cf-4. hence the sugggestion for the forte or quartet as a MUCH smaller speaker overall with quality sound to meet his needs. yes the width is about the same... but the height & depth are much smaller on the fortes. 44" vs 35" is more than the average "hand span." hmmm... sorry but i disagree that they are in the same ballpark. having owned both of these speakers at the same time, the cf-4 is a monsterous behemoth of a speaker & the forte is rather compact in comparison when sitting next to each other. especially when considering the forte's riser is almost 4" of the actual height. did you have a smaller speaker to suggest to the OP?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted September 4, 2014 Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2014 I have owned both the Forte II and the CF-4 and the Forte II have a much smaller "appearance" than the CF-4's. Not sure if the OP is wanting something less wide, less deep, shorter, all of the above. By smaller, are we thinking bookshelf? If so, you can't beat the RB-75. Absolutely amazing speaker speaker but granted it will not have anything close to the impact of the CF-4. Mike, can you give us some additional info on what you are wanting to achieve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelandKlipsch Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I think Herseys are a good option here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moray james Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 well the Heresy is an option but and I am not trying to be repetitive here but it is virtually the same footprint as a Forte. Perhaps if the OP could give a more detailed idea of what it is he or his SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) has to say as far as size shape go, floor stander stand mount or height restrictions etc. that would help to shape responses. Clearly we all have different ideas of what is twice as large and half as small and what we think does not count it is only what the OP wants that matters. RF5 pack a whack of quality into a very compact cabinet not too big not too small very same horn as the RF7 hard to go wrong with a pair of them with their ti diaphragms. Klipsch RF5 Frequency Response: 34Hz-20kHz (+-)3dB SENSITIVITY: 99dB @ 2.83 volts/1 meter POWER HANDLING: 150 w max continuous (600 w peak) NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 8 ohms TWEETER: K-119-KB 1" (2.54cm) Titanium dome compression driver HIGH FREQUENCY HORN: 8" square 90(o)x60(o) Tractrix® Horn WOOFER: Two K-1083-SB 8" (20.32cm) Cerametallic® cone / cast polymer frame CROSSOVER FREQUENCY: 2500Hz ENCLOSURE MATERIAL: MDF ENCLOSURE TYPE: Bass reflex via rear-firing port INPUT CONNECTIONS: 2 sets of binding post speaker terminals DIMENSIONS: 41.5" (106.2cm) x 9" (23cm) x 14.5" (37cm) WEIGHT: 60 lbs. (27.2kg) FINISHES: Cherry, Black wood veneer Built From: 2001 BUILT UNTIL: 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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