Speaker Quandry...Has this happened to you??? ;-)

[SilverSport]

I am venturing into Home Theater after holding out for, I don't know why...anyway...Here's the quandry!

I started into this thinking I would go an easy route, get better than my TV sound and not have those darned cables everywhere...Solution...Bose 321...after hearing the Bose 321 I concluded...ingenious how they get sound coming from behind me when the speakers are in front of me but...no WOW factor...move along, these aren't the droids you're looking for!

I decide if I am going to do this, I should spend more for the better experience and the ultimate in satisfaction (right!)

I looked at receivers by DenonOnkyoSonyPioneerMarantzYamaha and decided I wanted their near 1K offerings to be "satisfied." (...but sir, if you spend just a little bit more you can buy RotelNADetc!...)

My older brother (who is plugged in to this stuff) says you have to look at Outlaw Audio...I did and in all my search efforts and contacting them I learn NO ONE has anything bad to say about them and for the money, I pretty much cannot do better than their stuff...('course now I'm up over 1.5K!)

Now I come to speakers...when I went from my old Zenith all in one in 1979 (ugh! ;-) I bought a Yamaha integrated amp (CA 610II) and Bose 301s...a great combo at that time for the money...later when the big brother had to surpass me before he became the electronics kook he has become today, I went with him to view the latest in Stereo offerings...Since the day my Dad called it Hi Fi, I had heard he always held the Klipschorns as the "Holy Grail" of speakers...not having $2,500 at the time...brother bought Heresy's and I got the KG2s...coupled with identical Nakamichi TA/2As I was pretty happy...a step above my Bose 301s and the "receiver" (Nakamichi called it a Tuner Amp) was "almost separates"...Brilliant guy I am...I got into stereo just as the market turned to home theater (It'll NEVER catch on ;-)

Now I have the Outlaw stuff pretty much wrapped up and back to speakers...my gosh there are SO many different ones but...since I have always liked Klipsch stuff, I look around and...

Best Buy sells Klipsch (albeit Synergy for good or bad) I listen to the new F-3 system but their place is NOT conducive to getting the full experience...later the same day I look and listen to Reference RF-35 system (similar in size and specs to the new Synergy F-3 system) and like it but not a lot of WOW factor here either...I mean on music alone...for Home Theater I really liked it (I thought it lacked bass without the sub BUT this was also in a LARGE room...MUCH bigger than the room I would be putting it in...ZZ Top was the material played...

I have asked some questions here AND on the Outlaw site as to compatability of the Klipsch stuff with Outlaw...I have gotten good feedback for this combo but it seems the more I look at the Klipsch, the more I seem to say..."For just a bit, I can move up to the NEXT level speakers" Before too long, my budget is shot (a long time ago, I fear) and I think I am taking myself too far up the ladder to get the "perfect" set up when logic tells me (oh yeah...I'm logical...;-) that ANY of these systems will sound GREAT compared to the Sony 36" I am viewing currently (does ANYONE Still watch a CRT screen???)

If I stay Klipsch, do I get the Synergy F-3 system at BB for a bit of money...spend more and get the Reference RF-35 system for it's better performance (is it better???) or buy more piecemeal and get something like the RB-75 "system" for my medium sized viewing area (with all its wierd walls and corners etc.?)

I should add I would like to listen to music as well as movies on this set-up if that helps...

I'm in a flat spin and headed out to sea...HELP!

Thanks, Bill

[apac020]

You really need to check out a HIFI store and decide for yourself. There is no way we can suggest one line or the other, it's a matter of personal taste.

[meuge]

We're the wrong kind of people to ask if you're having doubts about spending more money. This time last year I had a Promedia 5.1 system (if you look at my system profile you'll realize just how many steps I've made away from that).

If your choice is between the F-3s and the RF-35s, you should get the 35s -> they are great for music when powered by good electronics (such your Outlaw equipment for example), but pretty average if driven badly. The quality of reproduction is such that the old "**** in = **** out" applies quite directly.

I assure you, that unless you listened to the RF-35s in a dedicated room, with good electronics, you did not hear these speakers the way they're meant to be heard. The 'little' RF-3X speakers have a lot of potential.

P.S. CRTs are still the epitome of picture quality. A 34-36" Sony HDTV CRT tube produces the richest, crispest colors and blacks. The problem is that tubes are heavy, large, and the screen size is limited. I don't know if there are any tubes larger than 40". The next step down is DLP, which can be of almost any size. Flat TVs are generally a step below in terms of picture reproduction, but they have other advantages, such as small size, light weight, low power consumption and aesthetics.

[CECAA850]

Bill, this may help or may increase the speed of your tailspin. You need to decide what is more important to you, 2 channel or HT. If it is 2 channel, I would put more money into the L.F. and R.F. speakers. If it is H.T. then you really need to concentrate on getting the best center channel and sub you can afford. Anything else is a compromise. Unless you have a dedicated H.T. and 2 channel room your system should lean towards the type of listening you will be doing the most of. As a side note, there are few H.T.'s out there that have much of a "wow" factor (to me) that don't include a sub. Especially in a large room. Carl

[MrMcGoo]

If the RF-35 did not do it for you, you need to listen to the RF-5s and RF-7s. Klipsch's better stuff is always bigger. With good amplification, the RF-7s have ample bass. I have RF-7s with rebuilt crossovers. They are amazing with good music sources.

If Reference speakers do not float your boat, there is an extensive used market in Klipsch Heritage speakers. (The Heritage line was not video shielded.) Klipsch still makes most of the Heritage line, so you can buy new if the price does not kill the deal.

Bill

[SilverSport]

Thanks for your replies...I may disappoint a few of you but I think I must make a budget and stick to it...RIGHT!...I may be able to get a killer deal on a new set of the New Synergy F-3s they sell at BB...it will be hundreds less than a similarly sized and speced RF-35...I hate to skimp and a bit of me would rather buy USA but this IS several hundred dollars difference...If my nephew can get an accomidation for the Reference line...well I'll go that route...I have seen on here several BB employees saying they can and can't get the other lines other than Synergy.

Thanks to all for your help and guidance.

I will most likely be powering this system with Outlaw Audio 950 processor, 7100 100 watt per channel, all channels driven 7.1 amp and perhaps an outlaw sub (Hsu)

Thanks again,

Bill