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New purchase for main HT and it wasn't Klipsch...my confession.


fabulousfrankie

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As big a Klipsch fan as I am I just preordered some Martin Logans fronts and bought the center. How could I do this...well it was a deal that I just couldn't pass up. I work for Tweeter and I got the soon to be released Vistas(MSRP of $3695) and the CinemaI center(MSRP $1795) for an incredible price.

This all came about because I was getting the upgrade bug and decided to lug my KLF20's into work to do some comparisons. The 1st comparison I did was next to the new Martin Logan Vantage(one step up from what I got, mine's not released yet) my Klipsch sounded like garbage to put it simply. I could definitely tell the cabinet needed some more bracing during the comparison and doubted owning Klipsch. Both sounded dynamic but the Vantages really brought out the fact that there is a cabinet resonance in the Klipsch. I realised I needed to put things in perspective because the Vantages sell for $5k. FYI, this was being driven of a Krell CD player and Krell integrated amp.

After realising that I was doing an unfair comparison I moved my Klipsch to the main speaker listening room where we have Polk's mid and high end, Sapphire, Martin Logan's lower priced offerings, and Focal's Cobalt and Profile series. After comparing to pretty much everything in that room I couldn't be prouder to own my Legends. They blew away the Polk LSi, Sapphire, and the lower priced ML's sounded very compressed compared to the KLF20's. I then compared them to the $4k Focal Profile towers and to my surprise, I(and 2 other associates) thought the Klipsch sounded fuller with roughly equal amounts of detail. I was initially thinking the Focal's were going to be a much better speaker. At higher volumes the Focals started to compress, the Klipsch have their limits too but it was at a much higher level than anything else in that room.

I now couldn't be happier with my Klipsch, especially since I had to go to a $5k speaker before I got what I thought was a better speaker.

So there's my confession.

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First off Congrats..

The ML's will sound different in your house. And it is ok to like the sound coming from things "not" Klipsch too. I would have a hard time believing they are more dynamic that your Klipsch, the horns just excell at that better than what the ML's use too.

Enjoy what you have, that is what really matters anyhow!

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Congrats,variety is the spice of life.I know from the first day I

hooked up my 20's I was more than satisfied in the bang for buck

department.I had some 2k Polks that could never compare to the 20's.

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I've made a request to get frank banned [;)][:P]

I like the ML's I've heard as well... Even though they add their own

character to the music by using room reflections, the final effect is

very pleasing esp on vocals and acoustic guitars. They would be

on my short list for 2ch if I had an appropriate room.

I would have a hard time believing they

are more dynamic that your Klipsch, the horns just excell at that

better than what the ML's use too.

I understand what frank is tring to say as they "seem" more full and

detailed in that vocal region... but I wouldn't be surprised if

your assumption is correct if someone were to measure the speaker's

capacity over the full frequency range.

Electrostatics' are renowned for their inefficiencies and limited SPL

capabilitys. Makes a Krell and a 20amp circuit look reasonable.

Like already mentioned, it's also important to note the price difference...

Still, many horn fans seem to also be closet electrostatic fans. Congrats and enjoy... [:)]

ROb

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Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck.[:)]

What i found, there were many great sounding speakers but none that came close to the livliness of Klipsch. That is what I missed most about the Klipsch. Now, I sit back and enjoy. Occassionaly I kick myself for buying, selling and rebuying but sometimes one must learn the hard way.

Scott

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Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck.Smile [<img src='https://community.klipsch.com/uploads/emoticons/default_smile.png' alt=':)'>]

I'm not going to be in that situation because the Klipsch are moving to the bedroom.

Maybe you'll find yourself spending alot more time in bed.[;)]

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I like MLs too. BUT, I have found that you must look at the top of the line speakers to compare to Klipsch. You need a ton of power (I'd look at 400 watts per channel) and a willingness to abuse the speakers to really have fun with Home Theater. They will work, but you need a nice sub. The Klipsch, RF 5 and 7 series sound just as good and do not need the major power requirement. All in all though, the MLs sound good for normal listening levels. I'd buy them if I could get them for Klipsch prices.....

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I sell ML, and while they are cool speakers, you need a VERY good amp

to even make them worth your while. With the Clarity's, you hear

a HUGE difference between a Denon 3806 and 4806 (thats $1300 vs. $3000+

for the amp), and even better amps make them sound better. These

are their CHEAPEST electrostatic floorstanders!

Also, the placement can be a PITA and not give a nice wide sweetspot

like some other brands (I would not use ML for a 'family' HT system

unless it was something with ATF drivers).

They are good speakers, but for me, they just don't do it.

What are you driving them with?

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I sell ML, and while they are cool speakers, you need a VERY good amp to even make them worth your while. With the Clarity's, you hear a HUGE difference between a Denon 3806 and 4806 (thats $1300 vs. $3000+ for the amp), and even better amps make them sound better. These are their CHEAPEST electrostatic floorstanders!

Also, the placement can be a PITA and not give a nice wide sweetspot like some other brands (I would not use ML for a 'family' HT system unless it was something with ATF drivers).

They are good speakers, but for me, they just don't do it.

What are you driving them with?

Right now I have two small 5 ch Parasounds...but so far I'm leaning towards this:

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=processors&product=18.1

I know about how finicky dipole speakers can be and I think I can properly place them.

I've also always thought that ML's lack dynamics until I've heard the latest panel in the Vantage's, what I'm getting is going to have the same panel as the Vantage I heard but a passive woofer vs a powered woofer(I got the bass covered). If I didn't do an A/B test I wouldn't have believed it. Even if you can't afford them, I recommend everyone take a listen to the ML Vantage. I heard the Clarity's right next to my KLF20's and the Vantages and the Clarity's sufferred terribly from dynamic compression.

Kenratboy,

Have you heard anything with the new panel...the Vantage or Summit?

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