HT matches for Forte II (Chorus)

[DavidJPL]

I have spent many hours reading and searching and now think I have some general thoughts on buying some rears and a center to match my Forte II's I've loved since '93. But I would still appreciate any further, specific advice from Forte (or Chorus) owners based on my specific requirements;

I really can't afford the space for another Forte as center, although I might consider a pair as rears. More realistically I'm open to some Heresy's or similar for rears - I think I would prefer a direct speaker rather than a reflecting RS-3 type. I'm also keeping my eyes out for the Academy and other K series I have now learned about (both as rears or a center?). But, is the reflecting design for rears more critical depending on source (Dolby Digital, THX, etc.), or to match room design (beside listener or behind)? And why does the Klipsch site recommend the KLF-C7 for my center but not the KSP-S6 for my surrounds? And since they recommend the RS-3 for rears, why not the RC-3 for the center?

My other problem with a center purchase is that I personally just don't care for center information that much. I much prefer a wider soundstage (front & rear) with more imaging than the heavy center info (hmm, maybe back to the reflecting surrounds). I'd be happy with a less-emphasized center just enough for the dialog info, etc. (i.e. the 95dB RC-3 instead of the 99dB C-7). Is there a "heritage type" that would fit this taste?

Sorry about the load of questions. I love my Forte II's and want to junk my other speakers for an all Klipsch home theater. Especially for strong rears. By the way, someone mentioned the 32Hz bass spec on the Forte II's - this is also the lowest Klipsch number I found which is why I bought them instead of the 39 Hz Chorus 8 yeras ago. I still haven't felt the ugency for a subwoofer. And my amp is the Yamaha 3090 (like the newer A1 but no DTS and less WPC), so in addition to the 5x80 watts, I also have 2x25 for front effects! Hmm, some old KG 1.2?

I'm budgeted and ready to spend, so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! ~Dave

[myram]

Well if you can't find an Academy for a center channel, you could always go with a KV3 or a KV4. I have the KV3 with my Quartets and it sounds great. As for rear surrounds, if you have room for another pair of Forte's then that would be your best bet......if not then you could go with a smaller pair of bookshelf speakers like the KG .5's, KG1's, KG1.2's, or KG 1.5's.

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Home Theater System:

Klipsch Quartets - mains for both systems

Klipsch KV3 - center

Klipsch KG.5's - rear surrounds

Klipsch KSW12 subwoofer

Denon AVR-1601

Music System:

Adcom GFA-555 Musical Concepts Modified

NAD 1600 Pre/Tuner

Sony C-67ES CD Player

[S2000]

If, you ever find the space for another Forte II for a center let me know. I have one that I am willing to part with.

I am currently running three Forte II's in my 5.1 set up.

BTW having a Forte as a center channel simply sounds awesome. It was the most amazing upgrade I have ever done. You can get solid sound from the center channel. It is also nice to set up the center channel as "large". I love it !

[DavidJPL]

Couldn't find any Academy's or KG's after a quick check of Ebay, Yahoo, & some others. I agree a Forte II center would be awesome, I'll just keep staring at my new room some more to see how it could work (I am moving).

I guess I'm getting more stuck on rears now. I remember when 5.1 just came out (my Yamaha actually says AC-3, not Dolby Digital), the plan was to be for 5 indentical slamming speakers (hence the amps at 5x80 or whatever). Now it seems that THX, DTS, and other things have made us consider reflecting surrounds, etc. I actually prefer the wider soundstage with more diverse imaging so I'd be up for some "wide dispersions", but I can't help feeling like I'd be giving up some power, dynamics, and specific imaging/sound placement in back.

If I decide to get reflecting rears, are the RS-3's the "best" Klipsch choice for my Forte II's up front? What about the KSP-S6? Will either be "big" enough? After all, I may end up with a trio of Forte's up front - right Jason!?!

[S2000]

Yeap, Three Forte's just like me. Honestly, if you love the way your Forte's sound now, IMO it's the only route to go for 5.1 !!

[bev]

Jason....

now you've got me thinking about using a Forte II for a center with my Chorus II's....hmmmmmmm!!!

You still have one you want to part with??? Let's talk!

Bev

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Love & kisses on your Klipsch's!!!

[DavidJPL]

Go for it Bev, I'm sorry I just cannot justify the space/size. I just picked up some brand new RC-3 and RS-3's at a good price and so far they seem great. Especially the RC-3 center, but I was coming from crap speakers, so any Klipsch would be a vast improvement. The timbre and sound levels of the RC-3 seem to match pretty well with my Forte's up front. And at less size and money than a KLF-C7!

The RS-3 rears however seem way down on sound level. I brought my amp down 10dB on the Forte's and the center level, and that seemed to fix everything to a consistent level, but I hate to give up that overall volume. I'm going to experiment some more with placement, but I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this for the RS-3 rears? For example, the 95dB of the RS-3's should sound louder than the 94dB of the KSP-S6's, shouldn't they? Or is that too close to differentiate? Any thoughts to get more volume out of the rears? Or should I go with a completely different model?

[S2000]

Bev,

You got mail !! I still have it and still don't mind in sharing the great sound of three Forte's !!