Estate Sales find: KLH 23, Sansui SP 3500

mikeNC

mikeNC

Deal of the Century
got the KLH 23's for 15 a pair, Sansui SP3500's for 30 a pair. Both sets of cabs in really nice shape, a few scuffs on the KLHs. Ive got to figure out which one Im keeping, the old Lady will be home later tonight- so I have all day to listen to them.

Any insight on either pair?
 
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You will be keeping the KLH's. The 3500's look better the 23's sound far better. I have owned both. Sold the 3500's as fast as I could, sad I sold the 23's
 
The x500 series are decent speakers. I had a pair of 1500s a few years ago. Only reason i sold mine was i needed cash and to feed my kids. My co worker enjoys them since. And he loves how they look.
 
Thanks for the input, guys.

I have been A/B-ing them all morning, after giving them a good rub down with lemon oil. Both cleaned up beautifully, however, the Sansuis are very, very clean; KLHs have a few scuffs and a water ring from what looks to be a cold Budweiser bottle after an intense investigation. The KLHs imperfections were toned down considerably with the lemon oil treatment.

Early, first impressions: Sansuis sound a bit "bright" (hope I am using that term correctly), and the KLHs sound more natural. I am definitely leaning towards the KLHs.

I arranged them into the current TV/audio setup...maybe if I am lucky, the old lady will not notice the addition of 2 pairs of speakers to the setup! The current Wharfedale W40Ds might be on the chopping block as well after hearing these KLH 23s.

edit: forgot to add that the same estate sale had a Bose Cinemate system priced @ 180 which was getting far more attention from what I picked up. I think someone was actually getting ready to buy them as I was shelling out my 45 for 2 pairs of bliss! I overheard one couple ask the estate head salesman if they worked properly, he replied that they did and that his son was a DJ- and knows a bit about speakers and music. I tried to warn the couple- I think they thought that I was trying to talk them out of them so that I could buy them!
 
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The 23s are quite nice speakers but you definitely should recap them. I've recapped a few speakers but the 23s were the only ones so far where it was really night and day difference.
 
Have you tried the sansuis up against the wall and off the floor?I think that was in mind on their design criteria. Ive seen quite a few of them with hooks to hang with...
 
budgetaudio6 said:
Have you tried the sansuis up against the wall and off the floor?I think that was in mind on their design criteria. Ive seen quite a few of them with hooks to hang with...
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no, I stacked the KLHs on top of the Sansuis though- due to size. The Sansuis seem to be growing on me actually.

The old lady noticed the new additions rather quickly, and was not as happy as I was to find them!
 
with them you can hear whether or not the singer is breathless. They will be unforgiving of bad recordings as any efficient speakers will be. Try them with blue grass. The blues.

And if you have a sub cross it over at its lowest and turn it up to where you can just about hear it. You may like em more and more.
 
mikeNC said:
no, I stacked the KLHs on top of the Sansuis though- due to size. The Sansuis seem to be growing on me actually.

The old lady noticed the new additions rather quickly, and was not as happy as I was to find them!
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Understood. I have two pairs of the 3500's and they are one of the nicest looking speakers of their era, with or without grills.

I'll be re-capping one set for sure as I know from past experience capping makes, sometimes, a huge difference opening up the speakers. Without new caps they will tend to be bright, as you accurately described. Never listened to the KLH's, though they're earlier speakers were notably good.
 
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They just scream for attention. Almost anyone, from novice to audio freak, will ask "what are those?!!"
 
vinylisfinal said:
agreed.. the 23's sound great , the 3500's look nice but sound flat.. enjoy!
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Problem is I've heard the same described of speakers I actually own, but before updating/upgrading caps. After that, new life and a very different personality. Plus I'm finding, like others, different equipment or source means different character and sound as well. On some tracks my AR3a's and my HPM-100's are very similar, and likely due to the way the tracks were engineered. But other tracks will sound bright on the HPM's and just right on the AR3a's, or, dull like on the AR3a's but just fine on the HPM's.

My Yamaha HT receiver definitely is "brighter" than either my Fisher or my RS receivers. Going from LP to CD again changes things. Not all that cut and dry to me.
 
I will be keeping the KLH's. I recapped, resealed, and 180'd the woofer tonight....the difference is amazing. The sound is great IMO.
 
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