Finally found a center channel speaker that sounds amazing with my 10b's

BigMac

I have tried all kinds of different brands including Polk for my center channel. I wanted something that would compliment my 10b's. I always felt like something was missing with all the centers I had previously auditioned (including lots of Polks). I went over to a friends house and saw he had a speaker sitting all by itself. Low and behold it was a center channel.....the biggest I have seen. I thought it was a small floorstander for a minute till I looked it up. This center is the heaviest I have tried yet. It is the Klipsch KLF-C7. Needless to say I got it and now it is going to be my center channel for a long time. It is super clear and reproduces everything with ease. I am amazed at how well everything sounds now. The only downside if you can call it one is this center is BIG. A very lucky find if I do say-so myself.

Hobbyguy

Did you try Polk CSi-A6?
How does it compare?

BigMac

Hobbyguy wrote: »

Did you try Polk CSi-A6?
How does it compare?

I have not tried the CSi-A6 center channel. The ones from Polk that I did try were the 245i,CSi5,CSi30,CS400i,and the CS350. Also tried out the Infinity CC3,Boston Acoustics VR10,and a few other centers. My 10's are laid back and this center is "kinda" laid back (for Klipsch anyway) as well but with lots more detail than other centers I have tried. The center I had hooked up as of this morning was the CSi30 (not really fair to compare this to the Klipsch-different class and price range). Once I hooked up the Klipsch I was amazed at how much I was missing with the smaller center. I always seem to use the lobby scene from The Matrix as a reference point. Everything now is very crisp,lifelike,and feels real; No feeling like you need to adjust something. With the Polks I had to increase the center to +2 or +4 for them to blend in ok with the 10b's. With this center it was hook it up and leave it. Don't get me wrong, the higher end Polks did great and dug a little deeper in the bass department but I wanted more clarity and detail and that is what I got with this Klipsch center. I am sure if I went to the center you mentioned it would have been a awesome choice but I did not have the pleasure of trying one out (plus almost $500.00 was outside my budget for a center).

Hobbyguy

Gotta say...it is a georgeous looking center.

BigMac

Hobbyguy wrote: »

Gotta say...it is a georgeous looking center.

It is in ok condition, does have a small scratch here and there. The grill cloth was torn but I went to a fabric store and bought some replacement fabric. I got enough to do my 10b's as well. When I have a few hours to devote to pulling out all those staples I will replace the cloth on my 10b's as well. I am going to get a friend of mine to re-veneer the center so it will match my current main speakers. Heck, I may just get him to do the 10b's as well. I asked him yesterday how much he would charge and he said about $100.00. I explained everything to him about these speakers and maybe it can be done for $100.00 but I am thinking for materials and labor it will cost more.....time will tell. Here is a pic of the new grill cloth after I just finished.

BigMac

Here is a pic with my 10b's so you can see just how big this center channel is,lol.

Conradicles

Very nice. I love big speakers. My 1st pair of Klipsch back in the day were KG4's. Fantastic speakers.

Nice center speaker and if you get them to match the 10b's, that would be sweet.
Congrats and enjoy.

woodsman10b

BigMac wrote: »

Here is a pic with my 10b's so you can see just how big this center channel is,lol.

OMG! That thing IS huge! couldnt tell from the first pics you posted cuz there was nothing to compare it too, BUT then in the last pic I couldnt believe what i was seeing! Its like you got a tower laying across the top of your tv. I bet that thing can handle some power, and it prolly sounds awesome. Nice Find!

BigMac

woodsman10b wrote: »

OMG! That thing IS huge! couldnt tell from the first pics you posted cuz there was nothing to compare it too, BUT then in the last pic I couldnt believe what i was seeing! Its like you got a tower laying across the top of your tv. I bet that thing can handle some power, and it prolly sounds awesome. Nice Find!

I was hesitant to set it on top of my tv but the tv held up fine. It is rated at 150 watts maximum continous (600 watts peak). This center is VERY effecient and I am guessing that is why I didn't need to boost the center level like I did with the other centers I tried out. I fired up Transformers and it sounded amazing. When they transform I heard new sounds in there that I have not heard before plus a whole lot of other goodies. Pretty happy but I am sure I will find something I like better down the road. The WAF sucks but she is cool with it so far.;)

Marty913

This is about the 3rd or 4th mention (here and elsewhere) of relatively newer Klipsch centers and surrounds matching up pretty well with older Polk mains. I also heard the RC and RS 10's do a pretty fair job. Must be the horns. Pretty good effieciency match also. Nice to hear about alternatives. Congrats on the find.