Heresey II PGB

[gyusher]

Just bought a nice pair of Heresey II's (1985?) to go with my new Pioneer Elite TV (PRO-111) and receiver (SC-05).

Since they are finished in Piano Gloss Black I am refinishing my HII's in PGB as well.

That said however I have a couple questions for you Klipsch heads if you don't mind.

1- My HII's have more conventional stands rather than the 'riser' that we see most. I had rather have the riser. What are the dimensions of the risers or at least how much should they be tipped back?

2- The drivers and cross-overs look new but I know that doesn't mean much as far as X-overs go. Are they still available from Klipsch or should I have mine re-capped by BC??

3- Klipsch's description says MDF for enclosure materials but these are plywood. They have a piece of foam inside. I'm wondering if I should stuff it as I already have the stuffing. I know Klipsch would have stuffed them if it was needed but I'm still curious.

I attached a couple pics to show my progress which even though they are much smaller than my old La Scalas they are still time consuming.

 

[jlc76]

Mine are the same vintage and I am thinking of refinishing and updating the x-over, so keep us posted on this thread. I am away from home but can get you the measurements from my risers when i get back next week.

 

[gyusher]

. I am away from home but can get you the measurements from my risers when i get back next week.

Thanks. . .

 

[silversport]

a pic of the label may help...they look like they were H-BR or Heresy Birch Raw...these were sold unfinished Baltic Birch plywood to be stained to the owner's tastes...the others were veneered MDF...
I would get the crossover update from BECtoo (Bob Crites) as he reports they were not that good to begin with...also...there is a lot of weight on the terminal cup...Bob will remove all that from the terminal cup and place it on a piece of hickory at the bottom of your speaker...
I had Heresys and not Heresy IIs but I don't think there is supposed to be any padding inside the cabinet...this may have been added by the previous owner and is unecessary...at least in my experience with Heresys...YMMV...
Do you have any pics of the stands???...Heresys only came with slant or straight risers...I believe the IIs only with slant risers...
Good luck and very fine speakers...nice balance if a bit bass shy but I only found that when directly compared with speakers with more bass (Quartets, Cornwalls, Klipschorns to name three)
Enjoy.
Bill

 

[avguytx]

Uploading some pics of the risers on my Heresy II's now. Should have them here soon...

Ok. the dimensions are....

14" wide
12 1/8" depth
5/8" riser height at rear
2 3/8" riser height at front
Built out of 3/4" wood and veneered.

Basically they are centered in place on bottom although mine are a little "off kilter" it seems. But, about a 1/2" from the front/rear edges and around 5/8" or so from each side. It looks to be about an 8 or 9 degree angle. And, here are some pictures. Yeah, the date is wrong on the camera. Hope this helps....

 

[gyusher]

They are 1986 (8605557 & 8) and these did come with the foam pad around the woofer. I know this because of an upgrade thread over at Klipsch where Bob Crites was describing how to upgrade the II model into the III model.

One label was OK and the serial number on the other one survived. I was able to determine that they are "HE-BR" near as I can make out.

I am quite sure their finish was not a factory finish. This makes my job lots easier.


What about adding something to stiffen the cabs?? Now would be the time to do it. I will build those risers. . .

Just got the first (of many) coat of filler on them today. I'll sand them smooth then recoat, do it again till they are perfect then put on the black and clear urethane (2007 Cadillac Black/Clear coat)

 

[gyusher]

Just got a reply from BEC concerning new cross-overs. I will be buying them. Since I'm in these guys this deep and my intention is to keep them as my main HT (and stereo) speakers.

Once they are finished they should look spectacular matching the PGB finish on my new TV and new Receiver.

This new Pioneer receiver (SC-05) is one of Pioneer's flagships using what they call "ICE" amplifiers developed by B&O from what I understand. While using only 300 watts max they put out a steady 100wpc plus (all 7 channels driven at .01% distortion). I'm hoping the Heresy's won't sound harsh using this type amplifiers. I've heard rave reviews about them so far.

I have a good bit of stuffing, asphalt sheets among other things that I bought a few years back for another speaker project. I bought this stuff to upgrade my Best Buy Insignia speakers that I use for stereo in my 9x9 computer room. For cheap speakers they do fine without the mods. . .

I doubt that I add it to the Heresy's but food for thought just the same. . .

 

[silversport]

Ok...didn't know the IIs had padding...you will be very pleased with the new crossovers...your speakers should sound like they did when they left the factory...as for the original finish...just like unfinished Baltic Birch Plywood...'cuz that's what it is...my brother has a pair of '89s that he is getting around to refinish...heck it's only been 20 years......you're keeping them IIs or has Bob devised a crossover that improves the II to a III (I know Klipsch has more than crossovers to do the upgrade...never know what the Wizard of Russellville can do though)...good luck...I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them and seeing the pics...
Bill

 

[silversport]

...oh and I used to have an all Heresy Home Theater and it was grand!...these will do nicely bolstered by a sub...my older brother still has his as Mains in his Home Theater...come to think of it...my younger brother has my Heresys for his Home Theater...enjoy!
Bill

 

[fotno]

Congrats Guy - May they give you many years of enjoyment and service!

 

[gyusher]

as for the original finish...just like unfinished Baltic Birch Plywood...'cuz that's what it is...
Bill

Someone already painted these plus they looked horrible. I think you will change your mind when you see them finished. When I did my La Scalas in PGB they turned out 1000% better than anything I could imagine. Just can't get in a hurry. . . Right now I've got 150.00 in paint alone. . . 225 for the new X-Overs plus 300 I paid for the speakers. . . They better look and sound good. . . Still that's cheaper than the alternative. . .

 

[gyusher]

****!!

What was it I said about getting in a hurry?

I decided to do the backs and front baffle (motor board) with a black "Hammer Tone" finish and it looks like crap!!

Oh Well. . . I can always strip'em again if they don't turn out right after I get the gloss on them. . . I was going to use "Semi-Flat" black on the backs, bottoms and front leaving the top and two sides for the PGB. . .

 

[gunnyjoe]

Be sure to get some picks up when you get done! SOunds like you got a steal on the speakers ($300 is an awesome price for working Heresys)

 

[Brian]

So that is what my crossovers look like. Not anything like the layout of a K'horn, Cornwall, etc. If I were to redo the speakers, I'd surely redo the layout so they'd look better.

 

[gyusher]

So that is what my crossovers look like. Not anything like the layout of a K'horn, Cornwall, etc. .

The new ones I have coming are more like the ones you mention. I am far from an expert but it seems to me that only the early HII's (not sure about the I model) had the round cup with the cross over attached.

 

[gyusher]

Be sure to get some picks up when you get done! SOunds like you got a steal on the speakers ($300 is an awesome price for working Heresys)

I think the seller would have taken less but it was obvious he needed money to feed his family plus he was walking around carrying a bag for excretions coming from his gut following some major surgery.

I would have paid more if I thought it was appropiate from what the situation looked like. . .

 

[Brian]

My pair of IIs are split year. I've not looked at the codes for some time but one is very late 1985 with I think the round cup and the other is an early '86 with the rectangular cup. It may be the other way. They sound the same and I've never had them open to see if there was a difference in the crossovers though I've though about opening them to change the squawker to crossover tap to pad it down 3 db.

 

[BECtoo]

My pair of IIs are split year. I've not looked at the codes for some time but one is very late 1985 with I think the round cup and the other is an early '86 with the rectangular cup. It may be the other way. They sound the same and I've never had them open to see if there was a difference in the crossovers though I've though about opening them to change the squawker to crossover tap to pad it down 3 db.

You can't do that on the Heresy II crossover. The autotransformer used in it does not have any extra taps.

Bob Crites

 

[Brian]

Oh, that's a bummer. Guess it proves I've never opened them up.

 

[gyusher]

Black's on. . . Now for the clear coats to turn up the gloss, plus about 8 hours of color sanding and buffing out for that deep gloss look.

Funny how real black things are hard to take decent pics of. . . Had the same trouble with my La Scalas when I refinished them.

Once complete however I'll take a few 'glamour shots' to show them off. . . That is if I have something to show off. . .