I’m In the Big Leagues Now!
- Thread starter MrZero63
- Start date
MrZero63
Well-Known Member
Well, I got back from the trip late last night, checked my email this morning, and see that Mr. Crites did a quick turn on the network rebuild - shipped it back to me on Wednesday. It should be in the mailbox today (the USPS said Saturday but that normally means Monday in Alaska 
)! He also answered some questions that I had in less than 24 hours. Truly awesome customer service and top-rate products - thanks Bob! :tresbon:
I'll let everyone know how it sounds after I swap the Heresy II networks out. I will attempt an A/B test, although I feel too much time would have elapsed between network swaps to get a good idea of how much change there was. I also need to swap the tops because I got them mixed up during setup (I was in sort of a hurry to get them together and in place). The tops are slightly skewed/toed in a bit, which is evidence of their hand-made nature. I believe the HF box's front should fit parallel to the bass bin's front, giving it a more furniture-like appearance. My wife actually likes the way they look, even if they dwarf everything around them! :thmbsp:
-Dave
)! He also answered some questions that I had in less than 24 hours. Truly awesome customer service and top-rate products - thanks Bob! :tresbon: I'll let everyone know how it sounds after I swap the Heresy II networks out. I will attempt an A/B test, although I feel too much time would have elapsed between network swaps to get a good idea of how much change there was. I also need to swap the tops because I got them mixed up during setup (I was in sort of a hurry to get them together and in place). The tops are slightly skewed/toed in a bit, which is evidence of their hand-made nature. I believe the HF box's front should fit parallel to the bass bin's front, giving it a more furniture-like appearance. My wife actually likes the way they look, even if they dwarf everything around them! :thmbsp:
-Dave
MrZero63
Well-Known Member
I swapped out the networks, replacing the H2s with Bob Crites’ rebuilt AA networks. I hooked the Khorns to my little flea-powered SET amp (2.5 watts/side) and was not pleased at all. The right speaker’s bass bin quit again, so I looked in the shadows and saw the speaker wire connecting the bin to the network had some dark tape on it (not sure how I didn’t notice that). Seems the tape was hiding a nice gash, which sometimes broke the connection between the bass bin and the network. A quick replacement with some old speaker wire fixed that. I also had a peek inside the bin to make sure the woofer was okay. I tightened the connections there and closed her up, the tar tape getting all over my fingers. It’s still a nice, tight seal!
But I still was unhappy with the sound. It was bright and brash. The bass was overpowering. Moving the bass and treble tone controls to flatten the sound dropped a veil upon it. It was even worse now. I then tried my McIntosh 225, whose smooth sound had never let me down. Wrong. It let me down.
I used my CD player and tried different CDs that sounded well with my previous speakers, but the Khorns were having none of it. I then tried some 200-gram records, all clean and ready to make nice with the Scout’s JMW-9 Signature tonearm. Donald Fagen’s ‘Morph the Cat’ sure had that overpowering bass sound coupled with sparkly highs that shimmered metallically, nearly blinding me. Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ didn’t make the cut, either. What to do next?
I bet the room is too small, so I’ll have to wait until we move next year – and then I’ll enjoy these beautiful monsters! Or perhaps I’ll just sell them. It took me a long time to find these beautiful cabinets, though. I’m not sure I want to lose them yet. Then I got to thinking - all the hype over Khorns for nothing! The Heresy IIs sound much better! Everyone has their own opinion and I respect that, but how could so many people be so wrong?!! But wait! I haven’t tried everything (short of upgrading components). Moving the McIntosh C20’s record compensators from ‘Tape’ to ‘RIAA’ tamed those shrill highs without any veiling. It was back to the magical sound I knew the Khorns could produce – even in a small room without a 6-foot-long wall on one of its sides. It now sounds great in near-field listening and far away (about 20 feet away, where the reflections bounce to). It has great presence that requires me to listen for many, many hours. I put more oil on them, prettying them up to maintain the WAF. I can now hardly wait for the weekend! Maybe I’ll play something the neighbors like, but then again…
-Dave
But I still was unhappy with the sound. It was bright and brash. The bass was overpowering. Moving the bass and treble tone controls to flatten the sound dropped a veil upon it. It was even worse now. I then tried my McIntosh 225, whose smooth sound had never let me down. Wrong. It let me down.
I used my CD player and tried different CDs that sounded well with my previous speakers, but the Khorns were having none of it. I then tried some 200-gram records, all clean and ready to make nice with the Scout’s JMW-9 Signature tonearm. Donald Fagen’s ‘Morph the Cat’ sure had that overpowering bass sound coupled with sparkly highs that shimmered metallically, nearly blinding me. Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ didn’t make the cut, either. What to do next?
I bet the room is too small, so I’ll have to wait until we move next year – and then I’ll enjoy these beautiful monsters! Or perhaps I’ll just sell them. It took me a long time to find these beautiful cabinets, though. I’m not sure I want to lose them yet. Then I got to thinking - all the hype over Khorns for nothing! The Heresy IIs sound much better! Everyone has their own opinion and I respect that, but how could so many people be so wrong?!! But wait! I haven’t tried everything (short of upgrading components). Moving the McIntosh C20’s record compensators from ‘Tape’ to ‘RIAA’ tamed those shrill highs without any veiling. It was back to the magical sound I knew the Khorns could produce – even in a small room without a 6-foot-long wall on one of its sides. It now sounds great in near-field listening and far away (about 20 feet away, where the reflections bounce to). It has great presence that requires me to listen for many, many hours. I put more oil on them, prettying them up to maintain the WAF. I can now hardly wait for the weekend! Maybe I’ll play something the neighbors like, but then again…
-Dave
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MrZero63
Well-Known Member
The walnut is gorgeous - especially after being oiled. It took me a few years to find them, but I was truly surprised to find them on Craigslist in Fairbanks, Alaska of all places. I figured I would have to wait until retirement (in the lower 48) to get a pair, but lo and behold... I also thought that if I found some Khorns, they would be of the oak variety. I really wanted the walnut and am very happy with it. Now I have the upgrade path to look forward to. I can't say I am 100% satisified with them at this point, but I have lots of options once I get situated. I first have to find a room that is truly large enough for them. I can figure where I want to take them after that (ALK upgrades or Crites diaphragms - when available - or whatever). I'm sure a sweet pair will turn up for you when you least expect it! They may even be a less popular wood (teak, zebra, cherry, mohogany, etc.). I can't wait to see them!
Thank you all for the kind comments.
-Dave