New here, considering A7 or A9 to replace Klipsch...opinions sought

WVJon

Hello everyone, I have been a long time Klipsch owner and honestly have never been 100% happy with the horn sound. I have a pair of older RF 3's in my home theater (similar to RF82's) and KLF 20's in my living room for a music only setup. The Rf3 are great for home theater so I'm happy there. Plus I am much less concerned with home theater than music. I am considering replacing the KLF 20's in my living room music ONLY set up with either the rti A7 or 9. I listen to a wide variety of music and on much of it the KLF's sound really good albiet a bit forward at times.
Sade, Cake, Miles Davis, any well recorded acoustic music and yes even the occaisional rap sound really good on the KLF's with thier dual 10 inch woofers. The problem I am having is with hard rock or metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas priest, bad Religion, Metallica etc., the mids get too harsh and forward and the vocals and shrill guitar notes can blend into one smeared uncomfortable sound.
I am looking for a speaker that is a bit more agreeable to all genres including harsher material. Something that may add a bit of warmth whie retaining the good, crisp detail that I like about the Klipsch. I would prefer to stay with a 2.0 system without a sub for the sake of simplicity and I wonder how the bass response would be in the A7 with good power running to it. Or would the A9 be the only feasable replacement for the KLF 20?
I am almost 40 but I still have good hearing and I believe it to be a bit on the sensitive side hence the occaisional disagreement with the horns. I have read lots of reviews on the Polks and they seam to garner more consistant praise than the Klipsch which ppl tend to love or hate. Plus I really like the looks of the Cherry finish in the Rti series. Are they as nice in person as they look in pics? My problem is that I really have to go on reviews and feedback online because living in WV I have nowhere to try before i buy. I was considering even ordering just one speaker to A/B vs mine which I know is a poor way to do it but it would be less hassle and expense to return that way and i would get a good idea of the speaker's sound.
Do any of you have experience with the KLF series of heritage Klipsch like the Chorus or fortes? So for 100% music how do the Rti's compare?
Anyway, I'd love hear your thoughts.

BTW my living/ dining room area is a appoximatly 15x25 with vaulted ceiling that go from 8ft to 10ft in the middle.

Thanks so much

Jon

1Locoweed

Many internet dealers will let you try speakers & return them if you don't like them.

zane77

The A7’s and A9's are really designed for home theater (Reference Theater improved) and tend to be a little on the bright side. That said, they can be tamed somewhat with a decent amplifier that is on the warm side (B&K or Parasound). The LSiM line are excellanr for music so you may want to look into that line

F1nut

I think you'd be happier with the LSiM series. Regardless, you will need a nice amp as an AVR isn't going to cut it.

Inspector 24

I rather enjoy my A9's with Parasound power, more relaxed to my ear than Klipsch, though For Pure music I'd drop them in a heartbeat for the lsim which to my ear is much more relaxed, like one more step away from the harshness of the Klipsch.

But, with power they do have some great attack and slam from those three 7" drivers per side, makes Audioslave quite enjoyable!

tonyb

Lsim's are geared more to the musical side. Add a decent amp and your golden. Also, you complain of harshness, whats your source ? If your simply plugging an IPOD into a receiver, that's the worst way to get quality sound regardless of speakers.

WVJon

Thanks for all of the replies. Unfortunately the new Lsi series is out of my budget but I've seen some of the Lsi15 around the net used that i could buy. I had read great things about them.