tomlinmgt
Lunatic Member
I currently have the 5.5's (w/ Crites Ti diaphragms and all walls lined with loose fiberglass) and have an opportunity to acquire the other two models in the title. Listening space is 30Lx20W with 12' vaulted ceiling. Placement is restricted to 18" or less (preferably less than 12") from front wall with 8' spread between speakers (center to center) and listening position 12' from speakers. I do have multiple subs (with room correction filters) for LF reinforcement. Needless to say, with the 5.5's and subs the reproduction of LF is not an issue. These are used as mains for 2-channel listening and watching TV (which is mostly watching live musical performances on YouTube...so recording quality is all over the map). Electronics in this rig currently consist of Pioneer Elite AVR, but I'll switch to a nice pre/pro soon and have a large selection of amplification including PP (KT-88/77) and 300B SET, Pass F5 clone and White Oak modded PL700B (so passive multi-amping is an option).
What I'm looking for is sweeter, bolder upper bass and mid range reproduction, better image/sound stage resolution and a larger sense of scale from the overall reproduction....like I enjoyed from my Altec 19's (which simply don't fit in the location I have in this room). The Crites Ti tweeter is pretty nice, and the 10" drivers in the 5.5's get the job done, but I've certainly heard better, and feel like even with additional mods to the 5.5's the drivers will still be a weak link.
The Epic series intrigues me because I like the MTM design concept for its single driver like dispersion characteristics and two-way simplicity. Some of the best speakers I've heard in terms of imaging and sound stage resolution, tonality, transients and mid-bass-HF dynamics were MTM's using 8" mid bass drivers and ring radiator tweeters...so I'm a believer in the merits of a properly executed D'Apollito design. My understanding is that the CF-2's neo magnet mid bass drivers and 2" aluminum driver in the Tractrix horn are of high quality, so I'm inclined to think their general reproduction characteristics would best the 5.5's drivers...which to me seem somewhat cheap. What I don't want to give up is any sense of dynamics and the effortless, visceral and tactile reproduction one gets from a large or multiple large-ish mid bass drivers. I have a feeling four 8" drivers of high build quality should be able to pull this off, but there are lots of variables at play that will determine success or otherwise. The downside to this particular pair of CF-2's is they're about two hours away...and I'm not a person with much free time.
The Chorus II's interest me because, well, they're Chorus II's...and everyone seems to speak highly of Chorus II's. The downside to these is the seller is asking more than I've ever seen for a pair of Chorus...and more than what I typically see Cornwalls go for. And they're finished in light oak, which I'm not crazy about. But, they are Chorus II's and are about the only 15" driver equipped speaker I can fit where I need them to fit...plus, those simply don't pop up often in these parts.
I'm not afraid of doing mods, but only like putting money into modding speakers if I got into them at a good price to begin with...so not likely that I'll want to put any more money into the Chorus II's unless the seller is willing to come WAY off of his asking price (which I won't give). I'm even willing to perform additional mods to my 5.5's if there's more to be gained....I'd even pondered the idea of cutting a new front baffle for a MTM configuration like the CF-4 and adding a lot of internal bracing, but even with that I'm still left with the seemingly cheap 10" drivers.
So what say you, resident Klipsch fans and freaks???
What I'm looking for is sweeter, bolder upper bass and mid range reproduction, better image/sound stage resolution and a larger sense of scale from the overall reproduction....like I enjoyed from my Altec 19's (which simply don't fit in the location I have in this room). The Crites Ti tweeter is pretty nice, and the 10" drivers in the 5.5's get the job done, but I've certainly heard better, and feel like even with additional mods to the 5.5's the drivers will still be a weak link.
The Epic series intrigues me because I like the MTM design concept for its single driver like dispersion characteristics and two-way simplicity. Some of the best speakers I've heard in terms of imaging and sound stage resolution, tonality, transients and mid-bass-HF dynamics were MTM's using 8" mid bass drivers and ring radiator tweeters...so I'm a believer in the merits of a properly executed D'Apollito design. My understanding is that the CF-2's neo magnet mid bass drivers and 2" aluminum driver in the Tractrix horn are of high quality, so I'm inclined to think their general reproduction characteristics would best the 5.5's drivers...which to me seem somewhat cheap. What I don't want to give up is any sense of dynamics and the effortless, visceral and tactile reproduction one gets from a large or multiple large-ish mid bass drivers. I have a feeling four 8" drivers of high build quality should be able to pull this off, but there are lots of variables at play that will determine success or otherwise. The downside to this particular pair of CF-2's is they're about two hours away...and I'm not a person with much free time.
The Chorus II's interest me because, well, they're Chorus II's...and everyone seems to speak highly of Chorus II's. The downside to these is the seller is asking more than I've ever seen for a pair of Chorus...and more than what I typically see Cornwalls go for. And they're finished in light oak, which I'm not crazy about. But, they are Chorus II's and are about the only 15" driver equipped speaker I can fit where I need them to fit...plus, those simply don't pop up often in these parts.
I'm not afraid of doing mods, but only like putting money into modding speakers if I got into them at a good price to begin with...so not likely that I'll want to put any more money into the Chorus II's unless the seller is willing to come WAY off of his asking price (which I won't give). I'm even willing to perform additional mods to my 5.5's if there's more to be gained....I'd even pondered the idea of cutting a new front baffle for a MTM configuration like the CF-4 and adding a lot of internal bracing, but even with that I'm still left with the seemingly cheap 10" drivers.
So what say you, resident Klipsch fans and freaks???