Newbie need helps

 

New member
Username: Alsolia

Post Number: 1
Registered: Nov-05
After having said to myself too many times that I needed a audio system, i finally decided to go for it and would love to hear from your expert advices.

Fact:
- audio system for music only
- i am more of a "brighter" speaker: Klipsch ones (RF15 or F-2) w/ NO subwoofer.
Which ones of these 2 are the best ones? I am more like an easy listener (normal to low volume)
Any other suggestion regarding speakers?
- for the receiver, I was thinking of the new Pioneer VSX-1015TX. How does it match w/ Klipsch? is it not too "bright"

Any suggestions or tips are welcome

thanks

Alex
 

Silver Member
Username: Cheapskate

Post Number: 532
Registered: Mar-04
even if you're looking for a stereo only system, check the panasonic SA-XR threads out here. i own one and it walks all over my onkyo and NAD recievers. i'm positive it's the class-d amps.

so far, EVERY review i've read for class-d from $30 sonic impact 15wpc battery powered amps all the way up to $20,000 halcro amps which were being called "the best in the world" has been positive.

i didn't buy mine for sound quality, i bought it because i wanted a cheap way to power magnepan MMGs that i wanted, but as soon as i turned my unit on... my jaw dropped.

the female vocal track i played 1st immediately gave me goosebumps. my eyes bugged and i said wow!

some people say the panasonic recievers are bright, but listening at low volumes, my onkyo is brighter while the panny is way more detailed.

if you like "bright" sound... you might have similar tastes to me as i'm a treble freak of sorts. i don't like excessive brightness, but i demand speed, detail and extension.

i'm not really a fan of klipsh speakers but the last time i heard them, they were the big lascalas with their hooty horn tweeters which sounded unrefined in the hifi shop and downright crappy on the porch of the frathouse i walked by once.

i'm looking the ones you mention up. i didn't find them, but the RF models that i did see had horn tweeters. i've never liked to sound of horns.

i don't even know what your budget is, but if you want speakers that have alot of treble speed and extension, try looking into metal dome tweetered speakers like paradigm or B&W. paradigm offers great value and in the long run will have a more natural treble than a horn.

not only that, but you'll get better imaging from speakers with wider dispersion.

i think of klipsch speakers more for being "party rockers" than real hi-fi speakers. if you're planning on low volume listening (all i ever do too) then low level resolution becomes even more important.

axiom audio also makes some really highly rated metal dome tweetered models as does pinnacle.

try wandering around the editorial reviews secction here at ecoustics. if you want serious bang for the buck, magnepan MMGs are a steal at $550. i originally bought my panny to get them but it breathed alot of life in my NHTs.

here's some homework for you that i save for these situations:
value speaker brands:
canadian:
............................................
axiom
athena
paradigm
psb
energy
mirage
............................................
aperion
NHT
epos
celestion
wharfdale
infinity
polk
boston acoustics
cambridge sound works
magnepan
ascend
definative technology
pinnacle
triangle

specific models & reviews at different prices:

Athena AS-B1 $150 minimonitors get thumbs up
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/athena_asb1.htm
they're available at audio advisor for just $100 a pair.

The Celestion F15 $220 bookshelf speakers get a favorable review
http://www.stereotimes.com/speak033005.shtm

Axiom Audio Millennia M40Ti $275 floorstander
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/axiom_millenniam40ti.htm

Epos ELS-3 $320 minimonitors. Stereophile magazine really liked these minimonitors and rated them "class-c" over speakers 3 times their price in their buyer's guide issue.
http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/104epos/

Paradigm Esprit v.3 $400 floor stander RAVE
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/paradigm_esprit_v3.htm

Magnepan MMG $550 factory direct planar speakers are probably the best "bang for the buck" speakers which are capable of embarassing speakers 10 times their price. they're just fussy about amplification at 4 ohms and require 100 watts minimum too. now that panasonic is selling 100wpc class-d recievers (SA-XR series) it's possible to get a quality maggie friendly amp for $300 or less.
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/magnepan_mmg.htm

Wharfdale Diamond 9.6 $800 tower gets a rave
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter/153/wharfedale.html

Pinnacle Classic Gold Reference $900 list wins a shootout vs. B&W, Monitor Audio & Paradigm
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/faceoff2.php

if you want to tweak your tone, you might be interested in a behringer room correction digital EQ too. (the next item on my upgrade list, i'm looking for a flat response though)
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0705/behringerultracurve2496.htm

hope something here helps.

 

Gold Member
Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala The Occupation

Post Number: 3090
Registered: Mar-05
Alex,

are those Klipsch speakers you're set on bi-wireable (have 2 pairs of binding posts each)?

If so, the Panny 55 can bi-amp them and when bi-amped, you can do phase correction PLUS you can adjust how much power is going to the high frequency drivers vs. how much is going to the low frequency drivers. That way you can feed more power to the woofs and less power to the tweets if you need to tame any speaker brightness. Finally, it looks like in this bi-amp stereo mode, your mains will be powered by a total of SIX of the Panny's onboard amps...gobs of power!

I just bi-amped my Ascend 340s last night and am very happy with the results. The phase correction and H/L balancing are really amazing features at such a jaw-dropping pricepoint.
 

Silver Member
Username: Cheapskate

Post Number: 536
Registered: Mar-04
phase correction?

huh. i didn't know that panny does that. now THERE'S a really great feature! i bet your midrange improved a whole bunch now that you have a time aligned system. i wish i could do that with my superzeros. the only way i ever time aligned them was when i used to tilt them back. after i get a behringer DEQ2496 room correction unit, i might tilt them back again and compensate for the EQ change.

some day, i might give my mission M71s a second try in biamp mode and time align them for kicks. i'll still never get past their skimpy 1/2" MDF cabinets though.

time aligning... wow... that would be a REALLY handy feature for anyone with those huge avangarde horns with drivers a foot or two out of phase with each other. eh... those folks like flea powered tubes anyways.

 

Silver Member
Username: Rysa4

Post Number: 145
Registered: Jul-05
Hi Alex- Budget Minded has given you quite the list and some nice links too.

IF you like Klipsch I am wondering how you might like the RB-25s over the Rf-15s?
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