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Can of Worms! KLIPSCH "pecking order" ?

I just picked up a pair of Forte II's a couple months ago, and I agree, they are awesome! Especially with tubes.

In use: Fisher X-101-st tube integrated, Marantz model 125 tuner, Sonographe SG-3 TT, 1989 Klipsch Forte II speakers.
On the sidelines: Marantz 1150D Integrated, Fisher KM-60 tube tuner, Dual 721 TT, Advent 4002 speakers.
 
Obviously the answers are from opinionated users. I agree with all because of the listeners ears, budget, where the speakers have to sit. My preference puts the LaScalla at the top go figure.
 
I have the chorus 2s and don't think I am getting the most out of them . I have tried many different components and currently listening with a Harmon matron avr510 any suggestions?
 
I own the Cornwall, La Scalas and Heresy's. Cornwalls are great. La Scalas are good but not enough bass. Heresy's are in my office and I've never given them a good chance.
 
rdayton7 said:
I have the chorus 2s and don't think I am getting the most out of them . I have tried many different components and currently listening with a Harmon matron avr510 any suggestions?
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Get you a nice low powered toob amp and they will sound like completely different speakers....

Anyway, from those I have owned (Khorn,Chorus I, Cornwall, and Forte II) and those I have heard (LaScala, Heresy) my list would be as follows...

Khorn - the only ones I still have
Cornwall
Chorus I
Forte II
LaScala
Heresy

Most people would prolly place the LaScala higher, but when I heard them I was surprised by the lack of low end. Perhaps it was the venue, (HomerJSimpson's old basement) but they left me distinctly unimpressed. I would really like to hear a pair of Jubilees, but I suppose that will have to wait until I can make it to Coytee's neck of the woods....
 
kenwood61 said:
I have heard Belles, La Scala's, and Cornwalls. If I had room, I would love either the Belles or La Scala's. My college roommate had Heresy's (back in '79), and from memory, they were the best thing I had heard at that size. Being in a small dorm room with cinder block walls, may have helped.

So from what I'm seeing so far, the Forte II is right up there below the supersize speakers, for a guy like me wanting something that will work in a "normal" room (11x11).

I had some Kg3.2's which were "good", but not on par with what I like. I have thought about Heresy's, since I have a small room, but see they are ranked near the bottom of a nice lineup . . . presumably because of the lack in bass I hear some people talk about.

Anybody want to speculate which would work nicely with a warm amp, like a Sansui BA-3000?? And be under $1000 (including Bob's crossover, if necessary).

One question I do have in the pecking order is the difference mostly in crossovers? It seems I have seen some comment online, in general, that seem to favor the original lineup. In my mind, anyone buying an original set would want rebuilt crossovers, since they are so easy to get at. Right?
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I just picked up a pair of Cornwall I's and am playing them on my BA-5000/CA-3000/TU-9900 combo and enjoying them very much (no upgrades yet). I think you can find them in your budget with the upgrades if you are patient. Definitely wouldn't want to ship them, they aren't small! They are very detailed.
 
I'm just cutting my "Klipsch teeth" on very clean set of KG3.5's- to my uneducated ears they sound pretty good (first pair of Klipsch's)- where do these fit in the pecking order- were they more of a mass market offering than high end?

thanks

Eric
 
BECtoo said:
No, for dogs, my list would be:

Rank/ Breed
1 Irish Setter
2 other dogs

Bob
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I just have to reply to this.

I love Irish Setters but they are the only dog I have had to unravel from barbed wire fences 3 times, 3 different dogs.


.
 
eric.hall.mn said:
I'm just cutting my "Klipsch teeth" on very clean set of KG3.5's- to my uneducated ears they sound pretty good (first pair of Klipsch's)- where do these fit in the pecking order- were they more of a mass market offering than high end?

thanks

Eric
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The KG series were good speakers. I have only owned a few of the newer series, the Reference series. I like the older speakers from the Heritage line. If you want to move up the food chain, look for some Forte or Forte II. The smaller and bigger brother to them are the Quartet and the Chorus. For the footprint, quality and amount of sound, the Forte are hard to beat. Keep an eye/ear out for the Legend series (KLF10, KLF20, KLF30)
 
Depends alot on what you want your speakers to do and/or how you prefer to listen to your music and/or what type of music(s) you prefer.

For me my Chorus II's edge out my Cornwall II's because i like it Loud and i love my Bass tones. YMMV.
 
I couldn't agree more! For me my rebuilt KLF-30's won out over Klipschorns probably because of my listening preference. Rock, classic rock, alt. rock, etc.
 
My 2 cents! I have had 2 sets of Cornwalls, one set from 1978 the other which I have now from 1976. I sold the 78 set and a pair of 1980 Heresy's to a guy in Yakima, Wa. I delivered them out to him for a $100 fee and on the way back I noticed on CL in Portland that somebody had a set for sale that was from 1976, in factory finished birch with factory added bull nose edges. He had replaced the tweeter diaphragms from Simply Speakers and changed the xover caps with sonic caps. I bought them and brought them home that night. I guess I didn't want to be without Cornwall's.
My rating of those I have and had.
1976 Upgraded Cornwalls- have currently
1978 Stock Cornwalls
Forte 2
Forte
Heresy
KG 4
Old but fun thread!
 
Yay! KG4's made the list! lol
Sorry, Klipsh Noob here, just got my first pair a couple weeks ago.
KG4s with Bob Crites titanium tweeter upgrade, Paired with Sansui 517 amp, Yamaha YP-700 TT, and Sony CD player, still lookin for the 517 Tuner.
Anyway, I like em! I got them from a pawn shop for a Sansui 771 and some big a$$ Audiosphere Reflex 18L speakers, good deal for me I think! They belonged to a friend of mine who traded them for Fortes (unupgraded so far) but parts on the way!
 
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You might want to stray a little bit from the fold and look at some of the JBL or Altec speakers being produced in the 70's and 80's if Klipsch doesn't have the answer. JBL L300's have a great reputation as a Klipsch competitor. Altec model 19 and 604 in Home style enclosures are another choice. Tannoy might fit in your options, too. My only issues ever with a Cornwall were how narrow the horizontal dispersion was and the fact the woofer was operated one to 1 and 1/2 octaves, to high; all the fault of the midrange horn.
 
twiiii said:
You might want to stray a little bit from the fold and look at some of the JBL or Altec speakers being produced in the 70's and 80's if Klipsch doesn't have the answer. JBL L300's have a great reputation as a Klipsch competitor. Altec model 19 and 604 in Home style enclosures are another choice. Tannoy might fit in your options, too. My only issues ever with a Cornwall were how narrow the horizontal dispersion was and the fact the woofer was operated one to 1 and 1/2 octaves, to high; all the fault of the midrange horn.
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LOL
What part of this rates the hierarchy of the Klipsch line? :stupid::bash::D
Let's start a thread in the speaker section about Altec 19 and JBL L300 and let's throw in the EV Sentry 3 into the mix. I like them all and would like to know how the Chorus II or KLF30 would sound compared to the L300 and others.
 
I had and loved a pair of JBL L300 Summits...didn't consider ever needing updates ie. crossovers, horn wrapping or critical placement. They were non- demanding and always sounded excellent to my ears. It seems now their going price is approx 3k to 4.5k. I recently bought 1977 decorator khorns for $700 although I like them alot I would happily trade 2 1/2 pairs of the khorns to get another clean pair of the JBL300's. Test at length and let your ears make the decision.
 
panhead said:
My opinion on the line up is a tad different,IMO the cornwall is the best all around speaker in the heritage line up,they give up very little to the k-horn & they are so much easier to deal with.

You should be able to pick up some cornwalls easily as they are constantly for sale.
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Hear Hear! :thmbsp: Listening to my clear coat 81' Cornwall's right now. I have tried two different vintage pairs of Heresy's and 81' La Scalla's, they were too nasally for my likes. Cornwall's = just right :yes: - for my listening space anyhow. I should also mention I had a pair of CF-4's for about 7 months, I tried to like them, I dampened the horn and added some additional wool, still, not to my liking (neat speakers though).
 
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Cornwalls

I've owned,

KG3
Heresys
Forte 1's
and now my first pair of Cornwall 2's from 1976.

I am blown away by the Cornwalls. Simply no comparison with the others. I've found their depth of sound and presence to be remarkable. Now I am wondering, whats next, Belles???
 
Paukenguy said:
I've owned,

KG3
Heresys
Forte 1's
and now my first pair of Cornwall 2's from 1976.

I am blown away by the Cornwalls. Simply no comparison with the others. I've found their depth of sound and presence to be remarkable. Now I am wondering, whats next, Belles???
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try a set of Chorus ll with the hybrid conical tractrix mid horn much better than the K600 of the CW/CWll and a much better woofer than the K33. The Chorus replaced the Cornwall for just over ten years. if you want better than that look to the Epic series CF4 or CF3 if your space is limited the largest wide band horn Klipsch ever released in a home speaker and I think the best Klipsch ever especially with upgrades a very fine design by Roy Delgado. I consider the horn inn the CF3&4 to be the poor mans K510. Best regards Moray James.
 
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