Heideana Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 I just purchased a pair of RF-5's and was a bit surprised that the bass response isn't as loud and house shaking as my old KG 3's which are less efficient and have less of a bass response spec. wise. Tech support told me that I needed to use more then the 90-watts I'm currently using with the RF 5's to get that kind of bass response, but couldn't give me a very good reason why I get better (house-shaking bass) with the KG 3's only using 50 watts. The RF-5's seem plenty loud with 90-watts and I'm wondering if the Reference series just differs from the KG series in bass response in general...perhaps the Reference series was designed always have subwoofer support? Much appreciation to anyone who can comment...Hopkins Stanley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 Tell us a little more about your setup and equipment. Did the Rf5's directly replace the KG3's in the same room? Try moving the speakers near the corners, if possible, if not already. Lastly, are you 100% sure that they are hooked up in phase? If you have the speaker wires backwards on one speaker compared to the other, you will have little bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 My KG 3's are powered by an old Carver 50-watt amp and I recently put them on pedestles to elevate them 22 inches off the floor. I recently moved the KG's upstairs to a bedroom and purchased the RF-5's to replace them in the living room. I'm also using a Rogue T-II amp to power the RF's. I checked my wiring and everything is in phase...also, I've got the Rf's bi-wired. Hands down the KG's shake the house at half-volume compared to the RF's at 3/4 volume... Thanks for the questions and response...Hopkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 You are comparing them on the same amplifier, or a different amplifier? Any boost ( bass control ) or loudness engaged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 More power with the Rogue on RF-5's. The Rogue has no tone controls and the Carver is set for tone/loudness bypass for cleaner signal. I'm really beginning to think the KG series were designed for more robust bass while the RF series is cleaner and tighter. I'm also wondering if the RF's need to be broken in a bit...I've been using the KG's since 1992. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 ---------------- I'm also wondering if the RF's need to be broken in a bit... ---------------- I was wondering if they had some break-in time. I've read that a minimum of 40-50 hours is needed. Please let us know if that makes a difference. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMcGoo Posted April 25, 2005 Share Posted April 25, 2005 The Reference series have a different impedance curve than your KG series. Also a change in amplifiers is involved. Amplifiers are not rated the same between different brands. The Reference series are capable of copious bass. If possible try better amps. Also, 12 awg zip cord may help. The suggestion to use corners is a very good one. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 Not to mention, if used with an outboard pre-amplifier, the relative input sensitivity of the amplifiers may differ. So, in fact, you may have to turn the preamp up more to get the same amount of power out of the second amplifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 I have a pair of RF-5's in my bedroom. I have to turn the bass down on my pre-amp. of course corner loading has a lot to do with it, but in their last location, I never felt them lacking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 I would try straight up swapping the KGs in for your RF-5's and do a comparison. It's possible that the RF-5 has a more forward mid-range which would correspondingly make the bass seem weaker. A side by side comparison should make it more clear as to what is happening. Are we talking a huge difference here or a minor one btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted April 26, 2005 Author Share Posted April 26, 2005 Best and thanks to all who responded. It appears that I've got a bit of work to sort out the bass difference. I'm beginning to think its' a question of source material. White Stripes "elephant" album from an atrac source sounds really clear with house shaking bass with the Rogue T-II in triode mode, while a lot of other material doesn't have as much of a "shaking" to it with it in 90-watt mode. I've put them on 1 foot risers and moved them out into the room so that their 2 feet from the wall which seems to help. I'm also thinking the KG's have a bit of a more pronounced response in the upper bass range while the RF-s is a lot tighter and clearer. For the record, I'm using some LyricSG cable from Evidence Audio. The owner made some special bi-wire cables with spade connections for me as a favor. I think I'm also going to have to use the cable for awhile, as I'd forgot that the cable sounds better over time when I use it for guitars. Again thanks to all for all the suggestions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 a cable sounds better over time????... that's your problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spkrdctr Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 ---------------- On 4/25/2005 4:26:08 PM Heideana wrote: My KG 3's are powered by an old Carver 50-watt amp and I recently put them on pedestles to elevate them 22 inches off the floor. I recently moved the KG's upstairs to a bedroom and purchased the RF-5's to replace them in the living room. I'm also using a Rogue T-II amp to power the RF's. I checked my wiring and everything is in phase...also, I've got the Rf's bi-wired. Hands down the KG's shake the house at half-volume compared to the RF's at 3/4 volume... Thanks for the questions and response...Hopkins ---------------- You need to power the new speakers with the Carver to do a direct comparison. Anything else is a waste of time. You must have them set up EXACTLY the same to compare them. Bringing your Carver down and hooking it up is minimal work, I would duplicate you old set up (EXACTLY!)and the new speakers will most likely have plenty of bass. The tech line really dropped the ball on this one, it is audio 101........ Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted April 27, 2005 Share Posted April 27, 2005 I'd say what you're hearing is mostly just the difference in what you're used to hearing.The rf5's while capable are not bass monsters,and benefit greatly by having a sub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted April 28, 2005 Share Posted April 28, 2005 What's your experiencing maybe. Is that the kg's if they have a bigger woofer in them is a much fuller sound. The bigger woofer will effortlessly produce musical bass much better. They will flood a room quick with bass compared to smaller woofers that play deeper. This holds true in my living room when comparing different speakers I have owned over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heideana Posted May 4, 2005 Author Share Posted May 4, 2005 Thanks for all the advice. I'm swapping out for RF-7's to get the 10-inch woofer, even though the RF-5's are waking up. I couldn't get the carver down for comparison, secondary to some recent back surgery, but I changed the Rogue's impedence to 4-ohms after chasing a few other questions on the forum and it's like the RF-5's woke up and found religion. Deep solid bass and enough volume to drive me out of the room in the Rogue's triode mode which I think is about 6wpc. Best and thanks again for the advice...Hopkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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