Receiver/Amp Recommendations for Klipsch RF-7 II System

Given the (very) high sensitivity of your speakers, you don't need much power at all (fraction of a watt per channel to take your head off). Pick any competent receiver that has suitable features for your tastes and be done with it; something like the Denon 4311 or Yamaha A2000 will be no problem at all (and drive probably just as much power as the 7055). If you like Marantz, the SR7005 would be fine. You can really get away with even less expensive componentry than that, if you'd like.

The speakers you've picked are very sensitive, which means they get very loud with very little input power. That means you don't need as much amplifier grunt.

Honestly I'm not really sold on a 200wpc amplifier - a quality AVR can give you 100wpc (and 3 dB is nothing to write home about, even 6 dB is not a lot to write home about), and 1000wpc is expensive and most speakers can't survive it. Where larger amplifiers tend to make sense though, as a general rule, is with insensitive speakers (some of the "audiophile" models that are 83 or 85 dB/W), very large rooms/spaces (but again, 3 dB is nothing to write home about), or speakers that have very low impedance dips (which doesn't require a powerful amplifier, it just requires an amplifier that can deliver enough current; something like the XPA-5 can, many receivers cannot).

Your speakers don't fit into that, even if your room is large-ish, because they're so sensitive. 1wpc input into those mains is going to be loud enough to cause hearing damage, and easily exceed reference level, unless you're sitting quite a ways back (like 20 ft).

Have some reading:
http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~guymoo.../lecture11.pdf
http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~guymoo.../lecture13.pdf
http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58829
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/loud-music-sucks
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...ards&p_id=9735
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_..._auditory.html

I have the marantz sr7005 and the rf7 ll and rf64ll center, great combo! The rf 7 ll's just keep getting better, I only have about 20 hours on them, just got them yesterday:D

I have a XPA3 that I plan on running my RF-7's and RC-64 with. Will that be too much power for the speakers?

The RF-7 II are rated 250w continuous, with peak at 1000w and the RC-64 II are rated 200w with peak of 800w and the XPA-3 is rated 200w continuous. You're good.

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Edited by BeeMan458 - 8/29/12 at 9:22am

Good to know, thanks for the reply. After reading about some RF-7 hissing/static issues, I got a little nervous!

I'm running an SR5007 into a set of Klipsch, Epic, CF-3's which are the older brother to the RF-7 II's. The CF-3's have a stated sensitivity of 100dB 1w/m, 250w continuous/1000w peak. Yes, your stated combination would be a good match but my opinion, price wise, you'd be equally well served getting a basic receiver like a Marantz SR5007 with a full set of 7.1 pre-outs and an Emotiva XPA-5. I would recommend using the money saved to buy a second sub.

As to what choice in an AVR, it depends on the size of the room and what your stated listening levels are going be. Are you going be listening to what one might consider to be "NORMAL" loud listening levels or are you trying to reach THX "reference" listening levels?

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Edited by BeeMan458 - 8/29/12 at 4:28pm

You still may have some hissing/static issues, but it isn't the RF-7s or that you are overpowering them with the XPA-3.

I know, I have read about others with these problems and I hope I do not come across the hissing. I will find out next week when the speakers arrive.