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Klipsch WF-35 Icon W Series Furniture-Grade Floorstanding Speaker (Espresso, Each) Review

10:20, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Klipsch WF-35 Icon W Series Furniture-Grade Floorstanding Speaker
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I purchased the entire Klipsch WF-35 surround sound 5.1 speaker package for my home theater: WF-35 floors (2), WC-24 center (1), XW-500d subwoofer (1), and WS-24 surrounds (2), and paid $2,997, plus sales tax.My receiver is a Yamaha RX-V3800.I am very pleased with my Klipsch purchase.I compared the WF-35s to the Klipsch RF-83 series, Klipsch RF-63 series, Martin Logan Source SEDC, Martin Logan Purity, and the Polk Audio RTi-A9 series.I chose the Klipsch WF-35s because they offered the best fidelity of any speaker I tested.The RF-83s were a close second with slightly superior bass, an advantage that is all but negated with a decent sub, plus the RF-83s cost several thousand dollars more.The Martin Logans only sound great when the speakers are pointed dead-center at the listener.When sitting off-center, the speakers lose most of their treble, which makes them useless for a spread-out listening audience.The Klipsch RF-63s suffered from too much of that "echo-ey" sound associated with the tractix horn, a problem not present on the RF-83s.The Polk Audios were a great overall system, but they did not surpass the Klipsch WF-35 speakers in fidelity.Let me dispel one myth about the WF-35s.The WF-35s produce a ton of deep rich bass, which defies both physics and logic, since the WF-35s contain only 5.25-inch diameter woofers.During one test, my son and I ran our new receiver in "pure direct" mode for 30 minutes, not realizing that this turned off the sub and the center channels.We did not notice the absence of the XW-500d subwoofer for over 30 minutes of testing.Once we realized the full rich sound was being produced entirely by the WF-35s alone, we switched back and forth between the 5.1 mode and the pure direct (stereo-only) modes and we could not tell the difference AT ALL.I don't know how, but Klipsch has found a way to generate powerful deep bass out of a speaker with only 5.25-inch drivers.Incredible.One the non-functional side, the WF-35s have a beautiful finish, carpet spikes for added stability, and clever magnetic grills.Regarding the subwoofer, let me say that the XW-500d produces powerful rock-bottom bass all the way down to its purported rating of 21 Hertz, all this despite having only a 10-inch driver.Once again Klipsch proves that superior sound trumps driver size and I commend their sound engineers for boldly arguing for a 10-inch driver that does the job of most 12-inch ones.I also considered two other subs: the Monitor Audio RSW-12 and the Klipsch KSW-12.The KSW-12 seemed underpowered.The Monitor Audio RSW-12 was on par with the XW-500d, but more expensive, so I decided to go with a sub that was tuned to accompany the rest of my system.I have rediscovered my CD collection, hearing subtleties that I never knew existed.On an old classical music CD of mine, I can actually hear the breathing of the musician during a 5-minute cello solo.The bottom line: if you can afford the entire WF-35 system, buy it.You won't be disappointed.

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Product Description:
Legendary Klipsch sound in a slender yet powerful, high-end furniture-grade Floor-standing speaker. Great for the most serious systems where quality and class matters.

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Yamaha RX-V2600 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel Review

05:17, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Yamaha RX-V2600 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel
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I have always been a big fan of Yamaha and never have been disappointed. When I was looking at purchasing a new receiver I looked at a few brands. I was mostly interested in the video side of things but wanted great audio as well. The HD conversion works as stated, now everything is in 1020 on my Mitsu DLP 52" screen. I used a HDMI cable from my receiver to my TV and had no problems. The only problem I had which I read many other places was the Motorola Cable box trying to use HDMI and receive a green screen from my TV. I switched to component and it worked like a charm. The auto sound MIC (Yes it comes with it) equalized all my speakers. The on-screen menu's are great and easy to use. You can customize this receiver as much as you want. I highly recommend and you will not be disappointed. One thing to keep in mind is it runs hot and you may need to turn the internal fan onto continous mode. ENJOY!!!

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Product Description:
The Outstanding A/V Receiver with It All! HDMI Audio and Video Handling, Fully Analog Video Up-Conversion, including onto HDMI, De-Interlacing and Up-Scaling to 1080i/720p, XM Satellite Radio Ready, Multi-Room Custom Installation and CINEMA DSP/THX Select2.

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Bic Acoustech PL-89 Speakers Review

09:23, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Bic Acoustech PL-89 Speakers
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I have a pair of pl-89s that I run through a Denon AVR 590.

In short, the sound quality is utterly amazing.I cannot believe the price point these are being sold at.(And I got them even cheaper due to someones strained financial circumstances)I haven't put these through all of the paces yet, but the clarity and sound is amazing. I am using FLAAC files at the moment and these tear up any music style you throw at them.The most amazing thing is the sounds you never heard before in a recording, its like listening to songs again for the first time.I was using a pair of Cerwin-Vega RE30s(retro) previous to this.Although the CVs have a good sound, they simply lack the clarity and accent of the PL-89s.

Heres a breakdown:

Build Quality: Very STURDY.Even the covers they came with are sturdy and well made. Much higher quality than my sony ssf-6000s, and even the re30s. The banana posts are of high quality as well.They are of significant weight, and I have seen snakephoto pictures of the insides, and there is quite a bit of insulation inside these.

Aesthetics:Well they are fairly large for towers, but do not have near the footprint of the CV-re30s I had, so they are actually small for me.They are black which isnt unpleasing to me, and with the covers removed they look like decent speakers.The cone color is champagne, which Im not crazy about.Flash photos make them look like high-sheen copper (this is not the case)

Sonics and etc:They are extremely easy to drive with their insanely high sensitivity, this is great if you have a low power receiver.(Mine is only 75 watts). Highs are very present, but not overly bright like some horn tweeters, these are simply tweeters mounted in a horn which mellows the tone out.There is no dedicated mid-range woofer like with my 6000s or the re30s, but they are not lacking in midrange at all.I would say all in all they are very pleasantly balanced throughout the ranges(This may be helped significantly by my running audyssy with my receiver).

I may update the above as I spend more time with these speakers, but in short for their price range I don't think you are going to out do these speakers, or with speakers several rungs higher in the cost category.I am very impressed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bic Acoustech PL-89 Speakers

Product Description:
Design - Video shielded, two-way,three component tower.Frequency Response - 35 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 3 dB) Drivers - Dual 8" woofers, one 6 1/2" mid/high frequency horn.


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Yamaha YSP-800 82-Watt Digital Sound Projector, Black Review

04:18, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Yamaha YSP-800 82-Watt Digital Sound Projector, Black
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This unit is simply amazing!I first heard the original YSP-1 in December 2005 in a professional sound room at a local hi-end audio store.During the demo, the sound was actually coming from behind and next to me!I was in wonder.The clarity was amazing.The only thing that kept me from buying right then and there was the price tag of $1500.

So when I saw the new models online, and a price tag of nearly half the original (I actually got mine for less than half :o) I just had to put it on my list.And this one sounds even better!

Plus, no wires is key!And the look is simple elegance.Plus, to see the look on a friend's face when he hears the surround sound and can't find any speakers back there is priceless!

The cleancher for me was when I played the first "top sound quality" dvd - The Last Samurai.I almost jumped off the couch during the battle scene.This speaker rocked the house!Far surpassing the clarity of my past $400 Sony and Panasonic 6-speaker systems.And I didn't even have Yamaha's matching subwoofer yet.

Don't be dissuaded by the stringent room set up.My livingroom has one side wall of glass windows, and one broken wall with a couch.And still the sound comes from all around.With just a little thoughtfulness and tweaking (and the simple automatic microphone setup), I got full surround.

Now, I have the matching YST-FSW100 subwoofer.GET IT!This allows the speaker to focus solely on hi and midrange sounds and lets the deep base to the sub.So much better sound.

Just the idea that one speaker can do such an amazing feat is worth the purchase in my mind.And it does it so well.Five Stars Yamaha!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha YSP-800 82-Watt Digital Sound Projector, Black

Product Description:
Do away with bulky surround sound speaker systems while still bringing your movies and music to life with the Yamaha YSP-800 digital sound projector. Housed in a single bar-shaped body but equipped with 23 speaker drivers--each with its own digital amplifier--the YSP-800 delivers full-bodied, multichannel sound through a single elegant component. The device works by focusing the sound into "beams," and then projecting them at optical angles into the room via the analytical IntelliBeam function. At the same time, the YSP-800 controls the driver delay times and optimizes the level and frequency response of each beam. The resulting sound waves--both direct and reflected--create a soundscape that seems to be coming from speakers placed throughout the room, but in reality is playing through the digital sound projector.
The YSP-800 isn't just about sound, though. Its slim, contemporary design is also wildly convenient, as listeners no longer have to find complementary locations for five satellite speakers and a subwoofer, nor do they have to fuss with extra-long speaker cables running all through the house. Rather, listeners can place the YSP-800 next to or on top of their video display, or they can purchase an optional wall-mount bracket and hang it securely on the wall. The latter option is particularly handy for owners of moderate-sized flat-panel TVs and monitors, as it both saves space and visually complements the display. The projector is even versatile enough to work in corners or other unusual room configurations.
The projector's versatility extends to its variety of sound modes, which include a five-beam mode, a three-beam mode, a stereo mode, a stereo + three-beam mode, and a target mode. Each mode produces a unique effect that varies depending on the shape of the room, the orientation of the projector, and other factors. Meanwhile, a subtle blue LCD on the projector's base keeps listeners informed of the current surround setting and volume level.
Listeners will also dig the YSP-800's built-in 82-watt digital amplifier, which connects directly to A/V components. The amp offers a host of valuable features, including Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS Neo:6 decoding and a trio of Cinema Digital Sound Processing (DSP) programs (Movie, Music, and Sports). Connectivity stems from the three digital audio inputs (one coaxial and two optical) and two analog audio RCA inputs. The device also offers a subwoofer output terminal for listeners who want to enjoy a more robust bass performance.
The YSP-800, which is outfitted with twenty-one 1.62-inch tweeter/midrange drivers and a pair of 3.94-inch woofers, measures 31.5 by 6 by 4.5 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
YSP-800 digital sound projector, remote control, IntelliBeam microphone, user's manual.

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Sony Bravia EX700 Series 60-Inch LED HDTV (KDL-60EX700) Review

17:43, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Sony Bravia EX700 Series 60 inch LED HDTV
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I got my 60ex700 yesterday and I am really happy with it. It is a great TV. There was a little flashlighting and uniformity is not perfect but it seems you can tune it quite a bit. There are an amazing amount of settings and I have it set to be more than acceptable for me. Great price on a great TV. Contrast is great with deep blacks and white whites. The motionflow is great also.

Furthermore, the sound is acceptable for normal viewing and much better than I expected due to all the people dissing it. I have a nice theater 5.1 setup but I don't want to use that for everything and the sony sound is just fine.

Netflix and internet stuff is great, the remote is fine. This technology is getting so good we are really picking nits at this point. I just hope it is engineered to be reliable and long lasting because I intend on having this in my living room for the next 6-10 years.

I am sure you can spend a lot more and buy a better TV with better picture quality but for this price... killer TV.

The only downside is the TV is so damn thin and light that I feel nervous holding the bezel when I have to put in the inputs. It is solidly built but it just looks so fragile.

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Product Description:
Enjoy Full HD 1080p, incredible contrast and smooth motion performance with the slim Edge LED backlit Sony BRAVIA EX700-Series LCD HDTV. Connect to the internet and instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV shows, videos and music using apps from Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Slacker and more

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Energy CF-30 Floorstanding/Tower Speaker (Black), Each Review

08:29, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Energy CF-30 Floorstanding/Tower Speaker, Each
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I recently purchased a surround system for my son, consisting of Energy's CF series of loudspeakers. The models were the floor-standing CF-70 for the fronts, the CF-30's for the rears, and the CC5 for the center channel.I bought him a Velodyne Impact Mini subwoofer instead of an Energy sub as I believe it is vastly superior to the SW10. I coupled the speakers to a Denon AVR-3310ci (he loves the internet radio and PC hook-ups). I have the AVR-4810ci myself and set up the new system in a snap. Using the floor-standing speakers for both fronts and rears was incredible! The visceral feel of extensive mid-bass through-out the medium-size room was a welcome change from the thin feeling there was before with a sub-sat system. It had palpable weight to it and I appreciated the dynamics that were exhibited, especially as compared to my much more expensive Vienna Acoustics speakers.I put the system through its paces with many DVDs and CDs, the bulk of it being recent releases of Jazz from The Rippingtons and David Benoit. The timbre was impressive, where the guitar on the "Northern Lights" track from Kilimanjaro resonated without grain or harshness. Nice! Even seven channel surround was more impressive than I expected given the cost of the system. (I used my trusty Electronics Expo coupon WS901X3807 that has served me so well with other purchases, coming out under $1500 with shipping included.) Movies were so good, as paired with the Impact Mini, that I thought that I was listening to a full blown THX system for thousands more.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Energy CF-30 Floorstanding/Tower Speaker (Black), Each

Product Description:
Slender 2.5 way floorstanding speaker in Black Ash with a High Gloss Black front baffle delivers pure, no-compromise performance in a compact package.

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Sanus Systems Ffmf2A-Sb1 Platinum Furniture Series Medium Flat Panel Tv Stand (Black) Review

11:51, Posted by alucasm, No Comment

Sanus Systems Ffmf2A-Sb1 Platinum Furniture Series Medium Flat Panel Tv Stand
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This is a robust and carefully designed stand over all.The heavy black base is some sort of dense plastic so far as I can tell, with a sturdy aluminum frame hidden beneath to which the aluminum mast attaches with bolts.(By the way, the Amazon illustration makes it look as if that mast is black or dark gray; it is instead a silver, matte aluminum, at least in my stand--a very solid extrusion.)

There were a couple of issues.1)The ball mounting between mast and the bracket that attached to the back of the tv didn't provide enough friction to keep my 32" LCD TV level, even with its thumb screw tightened down.This may have been because my TV includes a built-in DVD player and thus is heavier on one side.However, the TV also tended to tilt forward. The fix for the unwanted tilting cost me $0.72 for hardware plus the time for a little figuring and drilling.2)While the two shelves and the TV mount adjust up or down by about 6" via slots in the mast, I wanted the TV mount and one shelf to be lower.Cost was a little time to drill a couple of holes in the mast and relocate the items.The shelves are tempered, smoked glass.They and the bolts & brackets that anchor them are quite sturdy, with the shelves cushioned in flexible, clear plastic to avoid cracking.

The assembly diagrams are simple but clear.All the possible brackets, bolts, nuts, etc. for various permutations of mountings are included, packed in clear plastic sleeves with numbers corresponding to the numbers in the assembly instuctions.One bolt was misnumbered, but there was no real confusion since the assembly diagrams include full-scale drawings of each nut, bolt and washer.When standard assembly is completed the TV will tilt and pan by maybe 30 degrees (my modification reduced this). The TV is positively attached to a stand that would be quite difficult to overturn, even if one tried.

The wire guides are heavy cardboard that one bows and then fits into slots in the back of the mast extrusion.I would say that the jury is out on their durability.Customer photos that I have seen of Sanus's larger stand show dangling cords, which suggests to me that the guides are not of the best.I may replace them with plastic sheet cut to size--or just use duct tape, which would fit within the wire slot and match the mast.Update: I have tried the wire guides out some more, including a lot of pulling on them, and they actually seem secure.It may be that users are not willing to flex the guides as much as required to install them. It seems like they should crease permanently, but they do not and so work well.

This is Sanus's medium size stand, according to the box, and I would recommend paying attention to weight limits and upsizing to the large stand if you have a really big tv or even one near the upper limit.Any reasonably handy person should have no trouble assembling the stand, especially if they don't have the off-balance TV problem that I mentioned.Even standard assembly will take a while, but that is because of the care taken to make the stand sturdy.A non-handy person probably should avoid or find a handy friend.

To sum up, I am quite happy with the stand.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sanus Systems Ffmf2A-Sb1 Platinum Furniture Series Medium Flat Panel Tv Stand (Black)

Product Description:
The Sanus Flat Panel AV Foundations FFMF2A is a TV pedestal for medium flat-panel TVs up to 60 lbs. Its sleek lines and custom-blended finish are a stylish alternative to wall mounting. Features include open architecture, a large wire management channel and two durable smoked-glass shelves to hold components weighing up to 25 lbs. Sanus Systems' Virtual Axis 3D- technology allows mount to tilt and swivel with fluid motion in every direction possible while adjustment knob maintains tension for the perfect viewing angle. Keyholes on faceplate slide onto TV and into place for effortless bracket alignment and easy installation. Includes two VESA-compatible mounting brackets to accommodate virtually any flat-panel TV up to 40": large bracket fits 200 x 200, 200 x 100 and 100 x 100; small bracket fits 100 x 100 and 75 x 75.

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