Rustolemite,
How easy is it for you to get down to LaFayatte?
One thing that intrigues me on many of these forums are when people are looking at (what I feel to be) the wrong end of the spectrum.
I've glanced thorugh the thread but admit, haven't read every post.
You're interested in a 5 way HT setup, I think I got that.... however, do you need to buy it all "today"? Could you piece it together over a bit of time?
You might do yourself a huge favor if you can get down to LaFayatte and swing by a friends house and hear some larger Klipsch.
To be frank, he's probably now using things that are distinctly over your budget and distinctly outside your visual desires however, what it would do is show you what you CAN do if you are willing to broaden your choices to larger horns.
What I'd suggest you do is (over time) buy some LaScalas and if appropriate for yourself, a pair of Khorns (they are SO damn space efficient).
I know a guy in Indinapolis who's got a 7.?? LaScala setup and it is unfrigging believable.
The key to me is, if you want "X" db's at your listening position do you need speakers that are capable of "X+20" db's at your listening position?
My quick answer is, I'd prefer them YES and here's why.
If I use speakers that are 89 db/watt and am forced to feed them 200 watts to get "X" db's at my listening position, all parts of the equation are pumping pretty hard and I'm going to presume there will be some sound artifacts introduced in there because of that.
Compare that to some speakers that are 104 db/watt and now you can reach the same "X" db's at listening position with only say, 20 watts. now all the sudden, you are not stressing the speakers nor are you stressing the amp(s) and everthing has extra headroom that you may never ever need/use BUT, you are in the sweet spot for what you have.
I tried to send you a PM and you're not setup for them it would seem. If you want to hear a treat in LaFayatte, send me an email at
ralbright@nxs.net and I'll pass the mesage on.
Just be prepared to leave that experience with more confusion and clairity at the same time. Clarity will be what larger horns can do for you, confusion will be which ones will you be able to sneak into your place and still have a bed to sleep in.