Polk, Klipsch, or Bose

marcb515

OK, I'm a newbee, and am not looking to start a war here, just looking for some good info

I currently have a pair of 1988 Cerwin Vega's, with a 12" woofers in them, which are excellent to include bass sound. I also have a pair of PSB's for the surrounds. I don't have a center channel, so I have the center channel split netween the Cerwin Vega's. My receiver is a 1998 Onkyo TX-DS-747, rated at 80W/ch (8ohms) and 100W/ch (6 ohms).

My wife wants me to get the Bose Acoustimass 10 system III, but I'm of the older school, and just don't believe you can get the good sound out of those small speakers. I would like to to replace the woffers in my old CW's, but she insists on new, & smaller speakers.

I mostly use the speakers for music, but also use them for HT.

To fend off my wife's Bose attack, I've been looking at the Klipsch RB 35's & RB-75's, and have just stumbled upon the Polk RTi38's, and the LSi7's.

I would like to know how good/deep the base sounds on these models, and could I get away without a subwoofer for the time being?

I aslso noticed the LSi7's are 4ohm, so would my receiver have enough power to drive them?

Thank you,....marcb

Early B.

Your receiver would not have enough power to drive the Lsi7's adequately. You're right -- stay away from Bose. You'll get much better sound quality from your other options.

I'm a bit biased, but I'd go for the Rti38s. They produce low bass for a bookshelf speaker. Of course, they won't come close to going as low as your Cerwin Vegas, but for HT you'll eventually need a sub anyway.

If your wife insists on new and smaller speakers, then it's a great opportunity for you to upgrade your system. Can you convince her that you'll need a new receiver, too? Depending upon your budget, you could upgrade the receiver and then get the Lsi7s.

Frank Z

Welcome to the forum!
Wife Acceptance Factor (aka WAF) can be a painfull part of putting together a decent system, but sometimes you just gotta put your foot down!! Bose shouldn't even be on the list!

The Polk RM series is option, small speakers with a much better sound than the Bose system. The sub is not huge, but will still perform well if a little time and patience are used. As with all speakers, proper setup and calibration with an SPL meter is critical to achieve a good surround set up.

Lsi speakers are fantastic, but they do require a receiver or amp that is rated to handle a 4ohm load. Your current receiver may not be up to the task. Since you are looking for more bass, the 9's would be a much better choice.

Rti series speakers are a great bargin as far as I'm concerned. You can build a great system with these babies.

I'm not a big klipsch fan. Don't get me wrong, I think they are decent speaker. I just find them to very fatiguing after only a few minutes. I can't imagine sitting thrue and entire movie, or even a complete CD listening to them.

Good luck with your upgrade, keep us posted!


*EDIT*
BTW, What's your budget?

dave shepard

I just recieved the new S&V magazine and the RM7600 was part of a 7 HT speaker set review and to quote the magazine "the best bargain here by a long shot." It went up against Canton, B&W, Def. Tec, Jamo, Martinlogan and Sonance wall mount speaker sets. The Bose IMO wouldn't cut the mustard against the Polk. The new RM7600 set now has the 505 (12") sub instead of the 650 (2-10") which the 505 from what I've read on this forum is Polks best yet performer (I personally have not heard either one). Just food for thought.
You might want to get the new issue of S&V to read it for yourself it is an excellant mag for reviews.

Good luck
Dave

Airplay355

http://www.roundsound.com/products/micro_adiva.html if your wife insists on small speakers, these are pretty nice for what they are. i listened to them and didnt expect what i heard. i have only heard them for movies so i cant say how nice they sounded with 2 channel music but they have a really nice surround field. you will most definitely need a subwoofer, theres no way you can get bass from those tiny speakers. these are the only small speakers i have heard that i ever liked.

DO NOT GET THE ACOUSTIMASS SYSTEM! IT WILL CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE AND STERILITY!

not really but its the worst sounding system i have ever heard in my entire life and for what they charge its insane to even think about it. much much nicer things can be found at much cheaper prices. i would go with rti38's if you have to have bookshelf speakers. i have never heard them but everyone else seems to like them so they cant be that bad, go demo them and see for urself.

the only polk bookshelf i have heard is the lsi9. its a great speaker but you will need to get a new receiver, or an pre/pro amp combo to power them.

good luck, i hope this helps

dane

ok FIRST. pls dont ask questions in a biased forum like this. second. if you are not going to replace your reciever i think you should go with the klipsch rb 75 and with their db sensitivity. you can make those speakers sing with that kind of reciever.

so my suggestion is look at klipsch models, try to buy a center channel matching the fronts you will buy and try to consider to buy a new reciever coz' dolby prologic. SUCKS bigtime

F1nut

Originally posted by dane
pls dont ask questions in a biased forum like this.

That has to be one of the silliest statements I've read here in a long time. If you think everyone here automatically recommends Polk speakers, you need to hang out awhile longer. I personally own Polk, Carver and Advent. I know people here that own many other different brands of speakers than that, including Bose. I almost bought Klipsch once, but they hurt my ears. I still think they have a place in the audio world for someone else and certainly wouldn't poo-poo someone for buying them. With only 5 posts, not really knowing the people here, you shouldn't try to tell Marc what to ask and where to ask it.

weavercr

Polk or Klipsch bookshelfs will work, The klipsch require less power to get the same spl level.

As for mini speakers both polk and klipsch make good speakers, forget BOSE.

dane

Originally posted by F1nut
That has to be one of the silliest statements I've read here in a long time.

ahem... (cough) generally speaking (cough)

about klipsch hurting your ears, i must say proper matching of the klipsch speakers with a proper amp like h/k, rotel, krell, parasound, and other neutral sounding amp will do ok to this speakers. trust me, it will outperform POLKS.

gasman

Admittedly, I have not heard any of the new polk or klipsh smaller surround, ht systems, but some time ago I did here the Bose version, AM-5 I believe. I didn't think it sounded bad at all, but it definately would require the included sub.

However, my BEST advice is to go listen to all those you are interested in. Then decide on what you want, with size, price, power requirements and wife considerations all factored in.

Good luck and enjoy ..

Airplay355

we are recommending polks because, well it was one of the 3 options. not because its the polk forum.

it all boils down to the fact that he has to go listen to speakers to decide what he likes, and buying speakers completely based on what we have said is not too smart.

so go out and get ur demo on

RuSsMaN

Originally posted by dane
trust me, it will outperform POLKS.

Based on what? Your AHEM AHEM *un biased* opinion?

You crackpot.

///everyone else///

Klipsch (and Sansui, Old Pioneers, Altecs, etc etc) can sound harsh on lower-end SS electronics. I've been forced to leave a room on MANY occasions because of a bad pairing of gear and speakers. I like *most* Klipsch (and other eff. horn designs) best with a tube compliment on the back-end, beit pre, amp, source, or a combination thereof. Do a little research on how tubes handle high frequencies compared to solid state, it's interesting to say the least.

Agreed, forget the Bose system, period (unless you REALLY perfer the way it sounds). If you HAVE to get a 'micro' system, there are TONS of offerings out there, with a much better cost/performance ratio than Bose. You can look at Polk, Tannoy, Jm Lab, Energy, Def Tech, Gallo Acoustics, Cambridge Soundworks, Atlantic Tech, KEF, and Klipsch to name a *few*.

Do go out and listen, listen until you are blue in the face - then listen some more.

Cheers,
Russ

dkg999

The only good speakers are the ones you enjoy listening to! No speaker can outperform any other speaker, in reality, because all of us hear differently and depending on hearing damage from our crazy younger days, we may not be able to take advantage of what a speaker technically offers. I happen to really like Polks! I have a pair of old Dalquist DQ10's that at one time I thought were really good! I also like Magnapans. My favorite speakers are the old Bang&Olufsen's I have in my den. They may be 30 yrs. old, but they still sound really sweet.

F1nut

Dane,

I agree totally with matching speakers and gear. I have some big Polk SDA's that I found a bit harsh (sibilance) at times until I found the right gear to tame the highs.

Outperform Polks??? Have you ever listened to the bigger SDA's? I spent 2 weeks (years ago) going back and forth between Klipsch and Polk and while I thought the Klipsch did loud R&R well, the Polks did just about everything well and a few things the Klipsch could never do. I bought the Polks, but to each their own.

My point, once again, was not your recommendation of Klipsch, but the statement that this forum is biased, it's not.

Marc needs to demo all the speakers he is interested in and I'd suggest he take his wife along so that she can hear the difference between Bose and real speakers.

F1

dane

Originally posted by Airplay355
we are recommending polks because, well it was one of the 3 options. not because its the polk forum.

well, lets see.. hmm.. what about the question is "can anyone suggest a floorstanding speaker with good looks, very nice sounding and good for the pocket?"

some of yall will answer: rti12, lsi series.
WRONG!!!!!
if not.. come on now....

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Based on what? Your AHEM AHEM *un biased* opinion?

You crackpot.

///everyone else///

Klipsch (and Sansui, Old Pioneers, Altecs, etc etc) can sound harsh on lower-end SS electronics.
Cheers,
Russ

ITS good to be TRUE right Russman. i wont bite your bait with the *naming and mocking stuff* sorry
regarding lowend SS electronics. can you pls elaborate more on what you classify as low-end. coz i classify low end recievers as $340 less. and they do match some of klipsch speakers. VERY WELL. sorry, but it DOESNT mean that if you have a high class amp or you have a very expensive amp/reciever the output will be good. the speaker plays a greater role in sound reproduction.
even a low-end cd player can play good music. this goes out to all electronic sources.

in some cases i do agree with you in matching klipsch at a tube amp. i will add pure class A amps to name something.
___________________

to that guy who is looking for a great speaker to be matched with your reciever, i must say audtion as many speakers as you can.
*note- bring a paper and a writing material to write things up (impressions, sounds like blahh..) soft ear plugs to be used when going to another set of speakers in about a distance. spl meter if possible. ohh.. never ask the salesman on how it sound. remember ALWAYS trust your ears. also think about your room where the speakers will be placed. last thing, after you bought the speakers, broke them in and you were dissappointed, do a little reading on sound treatment.

source- COF

F1nut

Must be that special tea......:rolleyes:

RuSsMaN

Spot on F1, spot on.

A common side affect of TOO much tea is gottaberightus.

Cheers,
Russ

PhantomOG

ok FIRST. pls dont ask questions in a biased forum like this.

i guess that means he shouldn't listen to anything you say.

sounds good to me.

scornful

marcb515...

I was at HiFi Buys (tweeter.com) a few nights ago and noticed they had a nice pair of Boston towers for $350/pair. You didnt say you had budget concerns, but if you do, this may be a good foundation to build a surround system on. Cant remember the model, but they had 5.25" x 2 and 1 tweet. If your old school (12" CV...), I cant be of much help. Most of my tastes are HT oriented. Just remember you are most likely going to want a sub with most anything you get NOT designed for 2 channel listening.


check this out as well... http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14721
of course I havent heard em but they do intrigue me..

dane

Originally posted by F1nut
Must be that special tea......:rolleyes:

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Spot on F1, spot on.

A common side affect of TOO much tea is gottaberightus.

Cheers,
Russ

Russ, its EFFECT and not affect.

sorry, i dont drink tea except for the so called iced tea.
so Russ, elaborate more on your so called low end elec. i wanted to hear more about your opinion.

Originally posted by PhantomOG
i guess that means he shouldn't listen to anything you say.

sounds good to me.

and in what sense?

dan t

Russ, its EFFECT and not affect.

You almost come across as a some what educated person except you must capitalize the "I" as in speaking of one self. Your punctuation also needs some work.

Dan

scornful

Dane... cant you leave well enough alone? If you didn't come across so harshly, even if you had a differing opinion, no one would have said anything to you. blah

dane

Originally posted by dan t
You almost come across as a some what educated person except you must capitalize the "I" as in speaking of one self. Your punctuation also needs some work.

Dan

sorry, this is a board/forum.

you're somewhat right that i had a mistake, but the mistake that you've said is wrong.

"russ, its EFFECT not affect."

and it should be "Russ, it's EFFECT not affect."

i'm sorry if i Mocked someone with a polk gear, but it's just SO good to be TRUE.

scornful

"russ, its EFFECT not affect."

and it should be "Russ, it's EFFECT not affect."


Check your spec's slick. You had it right the first time.... Seems as though you're arguing just to argue. When you grow some hair on those ****, we'll oblige you. Kids these days!

dane

Originally posted by scornful


Check your spec's slick. You had it right the first time.... Seems as though you're arguing just to argue. When you grow some hair on those ****, we'll oblige you. Kids these days!

who has the some BIG child ego now? ^^^^^
pls.
compare your statements to mine.

Frank Z

Dane, I've been reading your responses and wonder why you are posting on this site to begin with? It seems to me that you are more interested in starting a pissing contest and hijacking this thread than you are in contributing something valid.

If I'm mistaken, please enlighten me, if not please take your attitude elsewhere.

RuSsMaN

Frank, he's probably a child, and no doubt a troll. Shame is, if he actually had a valid point or two to make, it would be lost in the delivery.

I've seen his type MANY times over the years, on various forums. It's really worth the effort to even try to discuss anything with a user like this. They manage to type alot, yet fail to actually say anything in the process.

We could sit here, and pick his posts apart, but basic logic would still escape him. That, and quite frankly, I and everyone else is just plain not interested.

Chalk another one up to the 'ignore' list, and keep moving.

Hopefully Marcb will come back, and let us know what he's narrowed his selection down to, or what he went ahead and purchased.

Cheers,
Russ

dane

Originally posted by Frank Z
Dane, I've been reading your responses and wonder why you are posting on this site to begin with? It seems to me that you are more interested in starting a pissing contest and hijacking this thread than you are in contributing something valid.

If I'm mistaken, please enlighten me, if not please take your attitude elsewhere.

you do have a point.
regarding my first post, as i have said i am sorry. 50/50 or what ever, i say this room is biased, now i think you all now can agree.
i am here to help out and you can read some of my post helpful. as you may say "then why the harsh comment" read my 1st sentence. regarding pissing someone<< read 1st sent.
contributing valid << i say i am

hope that enlightens you.
ty

dane

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Frank, he's probably a child, and no doubt a troll. Shame is, if he actually had a valid point or two to make, it would be lost in the delivery.

I've seen his type MANY times over the years, on various forums. It's really worth the effort to even try to discuss anything with a user like this. They manage to type alot, yet fail to actually say anything in the process.

We could sit here, and pick his posts apart, but basic logic would still escape him. That, and quite frankly, I and everyone else is just plain not interested.

Chalk another one up to the 'ignore' list, and keep moving.


Cheers,
Russ

NO comment about your mock.

i am knowledgeable enough russ .
my only suggestion is pls. read < no offense, but you are taking it way too seriously.

on the otherhand, i want to know more about your post about low end elec. as you may help me, and i can even help you.

again.. sorry for the misunderstanding here, TY for the nice mocks even though my only mock is *biased thing*

and i appreciate all of the guys who posted bout' this