I've owned the full 5-channel set for 3 years. A digital room analizer miked through my processor helped set-up very much. Many experienced high end audiophiles in editor positions swear by digital room acoustic and speaker analizers. This feature on my Yamaha equalizes the frequency's, volumes, distances, etc. separately for all five speakers.
Moving the calibration mike slightly and rerunning the set-up eventually hits the perfect calibration to flatten out all five Klipsch speakers together. In two-channel or other music settings (PL II, DTS, direct stereo, straight, multi-channel), the RF-7's sound very balanced.
For mid-bass punch, I added two HSU MBM-12's in stereo. Why? Simply extra mid-bass authority. Looking at all the equipment on a live stage, it really makes sense to have similiar speakers for reproduction. I have one MBM-12 next to my favorite seated location and adjust the punch and crossover when lisening to certain songs on the RF-7's. It's very nice. They are adjustable from 50-150 Hz and have 350 watt built-in amps. Up close, they add alot to nearly any set-up. See Craigsublist or HSU's site.
The MBM's run off the RF-7'speaker leads with a REL Storm II musical subwoofer. The front RF-7's, MBM's and REL all get the same "amplifier signatures" for sound reproduction.
For HT, my separate thumper sub takes its' "Q" from the SLE output.
I taped a very thin piece of dampening foam material over the RF-7 horns to soften them slightly and replaced the grills. I read about this in a recording engineers reference, and it works well. When I had them spread out further, they sounded great without the dampening. Now, they're in a 16 foot equalateral triangle with the main seating. They're huge for a 16 foot triangle and sound great!
The RF-7's bass is best when placed in corners or next to large furnature because they're rear-ported. More bass can be brought out in any placement through the individual crossover volume controls (manually) inside the Yamaha's processor after a automatic digital set-up.
With the right room placement and calibration, they sound very balanced, linear and smooth. I don't have to say a word of introduction - visitor's usually stop when the sound envelopes them and make very positive comments.
These speakers can play elegently at very low volumes - piano and floor bass, acoustics, etc. At "speed" like live concerts, they can sound truely "live" and clean. I play piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitars and basses. I prefer RF-7 sound reproduction to a stuffy "living room" parlour sound. There is a big difference. Parlour speakers sound too tame for my preferences.
I've listened to live performances (the best way to develop a critical ear) and listen to the same type of recorded performance on parlour speakers. Critically, I follow each instrument and voice carefully and as a group. Parlour speakers sound stuffy or closed-in to me. I like the clearer and leaner sound of RF-7's. They sound brand new today. I can't speak for any other Klipsch lines. Technical suport has been good.
I'm sure many other speakers sound great, too. Set-up is critical. I have mine set-up and adjusted correctly for my room acoustics and musical/HT tastes. I went with a REL Storm II sub because of its' accurate musical reproduction.
Hope this helps someone.
