Krosya
Well-Known Member
I know, this one of the most controversial speakers out there. And no – this is not THAT kind of post. Not trying to start and wars here – I know that Many like them, many hate them. Me – I was always curious about them, as well as other speakers in Klipsch Heritage line.
My introduction to the Klipsch speakers was with a pair of KG4, which I still have and like very much. After having them for a while I grew to have interest and appreciation for the Klipsch speakers. I have heard more modern models, - some I liked and some not so much. Later I got another set of Klipsch – KG 4.5, which is also one of my often used sets.
Now, I am not a Klipsch fan-boy. I have (had) lots of different speakers. To give you some idea what my reference points are – Boston, Advent, ADS, JBL, AR, Phase Tech, Mirage, Athena, Jensen, Synergistics, Epicure, Pioneer HPM, Realistic/Olympus, Becker, Definitive Technology and maybe some others that I don’t recall now. Nothing that one would call a “High End”, but many well respected speakers and in some cased close to top of the line in that category. As you can see – I like to try different speakers – many of us here does. Doesn’t make my wife too happy at times that I junk up the house with so many speakers, but she is pretty patient with me in most cases.
Anyway, for the longest time I kept wondering about the higher end (or more expensive if you wish) Klipsch speakers than those I already have. I came across Heresy a couple of times, but those were older versions and probably not in the best shape. Nor were they set up in a way to make them sound good. And to tell you the truth – each time I was unimpressed. At all. I had an opportunity to listen to the Fortes, not sure which version, but I think older ones. Better, but I still felt that my KG 4 were a better speaker to my ears. Yet, something just kept nagging me about the Heritage line, - I felt I was missing something.
I am pretty happy with the other speakers I currently have, after all some of them are well respected here – ADS L710, Definitive Technology, etc, yet every so often I just kept reading reviews for Heresy and other Heritage line speakers. And finally I came across a couple of reviews that really got my juices boiling.
One - http://blog.son-video.com/en/2016/06/review-klipsch-heresy-iii/
And another is from Steve Huff - http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/klipsch-heresy-iii-speaker-review-im-floored-and-here-is-why/
I have no connection to either reviewer, but being an avid photographer, I often read Steve’s photo reviews and they usually were pretty right on the money and matched my experiences as well. So, a review of a speaker from him – to me was trustworthy enough to convince me to give them a try.
Well, I have had my Heresy III speakers for a couple of weeks now and all I can say is – WOW! They sound nothing like I heard older Heresy’s nor like some people that claim Heresys to be a terrible speaker. In short – they are my best speakers, no question about it. I am not as eloquent as reviewers in above links, but I agree with at least 90% of their comments of these speakers. My Heresys sound fantastic – and I don’t have anywhere near the equipment that Steve Huff uses. I have mine hooked up to a Denon DRA series receiver, as well as I tried them with Akai AM 2200 (20WPC), and a couple of other small vintage receivers and with all of them they sounded great!
The clarity, the soundstage – the whole feeling of presence – like sitting in a front row at the concert or performer singing/playing right in my room – its just something I never had before with any of the other speakers I have/had. Low end – its gooood. Clean, precise, what I would call – “quality” bass. Sure, they will not be “stumpers” but lows with these Heresys are FAR FAR better than most people tend to think. I don’t know – maybe it my room, or I just hear things differently, but these speakers sound absolutely AMAZING. I listen to just about anything – and so far I tried several different genres:
From Deep Purple and Queen ( I’d close my eyes and it was as if Freddie is right in front of me singing “Barcelona”), to Steely Dan, to Dire Straits, to Pink Floyd, to Camel, to B.B. King, to J.M. Jarre, to Kitaro, to Jethro Tull, to Rainbow, to Eagles, to Norah Jones. Miles Davis’ TUTU brought tears to my eyes- it was THAT good.
So, why do I hate these Heresys? (Well, of course I don’t hate them), but Ever since I got them, I don’t want to listen to any other speaker I have! And its sad as I have some very nice ones. I still listen to a couple of others that are in my Home theatre systems, but for music – It has to be Heresys. This is first time I have such connection with a particular speaker. I don’t know what makes other people not like these – be that a different version, or condition of the speaker itself keeping it from best performance or location/placement – I don’t know. But all I can tell you is – for me, with my pretty simple and inexpensive setup these sound absolutely brilliant. So, if you have a chance to at least try Heresy III – do yourself a favor and give them a chance – you may never want to try another speaker.
My introduction to the Klipsch speakers was with a pair of KG4, which I still have and like very much. After having them for a while I grew to have interest and appreciation for the Klipsch speakers. I have heard more modern models, - some I liked and some not so much. Later I got another set of Klipsch – KG 4.5, which is also one of my often used sets.
Now, I am not a Klipsch fan-boy. I have (had) lots of different speakers. To give you some idea what my reference points are – Boston, Advent, ADS, JBL, AR, Phase Tech, Mirage, Athena, Jensen, Synergistics, Epicure, Pioneer HPM, Realistic/Olympus, Becker, Definitive Technology and maybe some others that I don’t recall now. Nothing that one would call a “High End”, but many well respected speakers and in some cased close to top of the line in that category. As you can see – I like to try different speakers – many of us here does. Doesn’t make my wife too happy at times that I junk up the house with so many speakers, but she is pretty patient with me in most cases.
Anyway, for the longest time I kept wondering about the higher end (or more expensive if you wish) Klipsch speakers than those I already have. I came across Heresy a couple of times, but those were older versions and probably not in the best shape. Nor were they set up in a way to make them sound good. And to tell you the truth – each time I was unimpressed. At all. I had an opportunity to listen to the Fortes, not sure which version, but I think older ones. Better, but I still felt that my KG 4 were a better speaker to my ears. Yet, something just kept nagging me about the Heritage line, - I felt I was missing something.
I am pretty happy with the other speakers I currently have, after all some of them are well respected here – ADS L710, Definitive Technology, etc, yet every so often I just kept reading reviews for Heresy and other Heritage line speakers. And finally I came across a couple of reviews that really got my juices boiling.
One - http://blog.son-video.com/en/2016/06/review-klipsch-heresy-iii/
And another is from Steve Huff - http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/klipsch-heresy-iii-speaker-review-im-floored-and-here-is-why/
I have no connection to either reviewer, but being an avid photographer, I often read Steve’s photo reviews and they usually were pretty right on the money and matched my experiences as well. So, a review of a speaker from him – to me was trustworthy enough to convince me to give them a try.
Well, I have had my Heresy III speakers for a couple of weeks now and all I can say is – WOW! They sound nothing like I heard older Heresy’s nor like some people that claim Heresys to be a terrible speaker. In short – they are my best speakers, no question about it. I am not as eloquent as reviewers in above links, but I agree with at least 90% of their comments of these speakers. My Heresys sound fantastic – and I don’t have anywhere near the equipment that Steve Huff uses. I have mine hooked up to a Denon DRA series receiver, as well as I tried them with Akai AM 2200 (20WPC), and a couple of other small vintage receivers and with all of them they sounded great!
The clarity, the soundstage – the whole feeling of presence – like sitting in a front row at the concert or performer singing/playing right in my room – its just something I never had before with any of the other speakers I have/had. Low end – its gooood. Clean, precise, what I would call – “quality” bass. Sure, they will not be “stumpers” but lows with these Heresys are FAR FAR better than most people tend to think. I don’t know – maybe it my room, or I just hear things differently, but these speakers sound absolutely AMAZING. I listen to just about anything – and so far I tried several different genres:
From Deep Purple and Queen ( I’d close my eyes and it was as if Freddie is right in front of me singing “Barcelona”), to Steely Dan, to Dire Straits, to Pink Floyd, to Camel, to B.B. King, to J.M. Jarre, to Kitaro, to Jethro Tull, to Rainbow, to Eagles, to Norah Jones. Miles Davis’ TUTU brought tears to my eyes- it was THAT good.
So, why do I hate these Heresys? (Well, of course I don’t hate them), but Ever since I got them, I don’t want to listen to any other speaker I have! And its sad as I have some very nice ones. I still listen to a couple of others that are in my Home theatre systems, but for music – It has to be Heresys. This is first time I have such connection with a particular speaker. I don’t know what makes other people not like these – be that a different version, or condition of the speaker itself keeping it from best performance or location/placement – I don’t know. But all I can tell you is – for me, with my pretty simple and inexpensive setup these sound absolutely brilliant. So, if you have a chance to at least try Heresy III – do yourself a favor and give them a chance – you may never want to try another speaker.
