KG3 and KG4

[poppachubby]

Hey all. First post in this room. I am looking at my first foray into Klipsch. I don't want this post to get moved to dollars and sense, so I'll try to be poignant.

I had a brilliant experience while auditioning LaScalas. A local DJ was selling a well used pair for a song. They were amazing to say the least, but much too large and "needy" in terms of placement. This wet my appetite for Klipsch. BobInOKC, a member here, also put me onto the RB-61 some time ago, which has had Klipsch in the back of my mind for some time.

A local seller has both mint KG3 and KG4. I haven't heard either but he has welcomed me to come and listen at his home. Specs wise, and I only put so much faith in specs, the KG4 appears to have more power handling. Aside from this and the obvious speaker differences I am wondering about sound quality, and any comparisons anyone may have.

Is the KG4 worth the extra cake? Without crapping my own thread, and having it relegated to D/S, I will say that the KG4 cost twice as much as the KG3. My sig contains all the gear I would be running into them.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Just for kicks, here are the specs...

KG3

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 36Hz-20kHz(+-)3dB
POWER HANDLING 65 watts maximum continuous (325 watts peak)
SENSITIVITY 94dB @ 1watt/1meter
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 8 ohms
TWEETER K-84-K 1" (2.54cm) Phenolic diaphragm compression driver
HIGH FREQUENCY HORN 90(o)x40(o) Exponential Horn
WOOFER K-2-K 8" (20.32cm) Poly ICG cone active / KD-11 10" (25.4cm) Fiber-composite cone passive
ENCLOSURE MATERIAL Medium density fiberboard construction (MDF)
ENCLOSURE TYPE Bass reflex via passive radiator
DIMENSIONS 24.25" (61.6cm) x 12.9" (32.8cm) x 10.75" (27.3cm)
WEIGHT 32 lbs. (14.5kg)
FINISHES Walnut Oil, Oak Oil, Finished Black
BUILT FROM 1990
BUILT UNTIL 1992


KG4

FREQUENCY RESPONSE 38Hz-20kHz(+-)3dB
POWER HANDLING 100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak)
SENSITIVITY 94dB @ 1watt/1meter
NOMINAL IMPEDANCE 6 ohms
TWEETER K-74-K 1" (2.54cm) Phenolic dome compression driver
HIGH FREQUENCY HORN 90(o)x40(o) Exponential Horn
WOOFER Two K-8-K 8" (20.32cm) Poly ICG cone active / KD-12 12" (30.48cm) Fiber-composite cone passive
ENCLOSURE MATERIAL Medium density fiberboard construction (MDF)
ENCLOSURE TYPE Bass reflex via passive radiator
DIMENSIONS 24.25" (61.6cm) x 15.75" (40cm) x 10.75" (27.3cm)
WEIGHT 40 lbs. (18.2kg)
FINISHES Walnut Oil, Oak Oil, Finished Black
BUILT FROM 1985
BUILT UNTIL 1992

 

[JonL]

Get the La Scalas.

 

[Dale A B]

I would opt for the KG3 if the KG4 are quite a bit more $ wise. I also like the idea of having all three drivers on the front of the baffle, which means you can have them up against the wall. Looks like they go slightly lower in bass also.

Good luck !

NP - Pat Travers - Hot Shot

 

[babeba67]

I have a pair of KG4's that I bought new in 1985 and still listen to them today. These are one of the best pair of speakers that I own and I currently have about 25 pairs in the house. I love the bass response and believe that the 12" passive sub on the back helps with the "punch" and tightness. Plan on running a clean amp with a 80-100wpc for best sound. I started off with an older Denon rated at 55wpc, and when I switched to a Yamaha receiver of the same era at 85wpc I noticed a difference in the amp running cooler.

I will add that I have not heard the KG3's. If placement is an issue like you mentioned then I will say also that my KG4's sound best on an elevated platform of 16" off the ground, and away from the back wall at least 12".

25 years of listening pleasure from the KG4's! I paid 6 C-notes new just as a reference point.

Good Luck choosing

 

[JonL]

I had KG3.2s before my La Scala's. The KG3.2s are very nice but IMO have a bit of a hole in the lower midrange. The frequencies that give a piano a sense of mass, or that let you hear the wood of an acoustic guitar just aren't prevalent enough and I found myself trying to compensate with volume. I've not heard the KG4s but they are very well regarded.

I think you should find a way to fit the La Scalas. I've got them in a 12x12 room, one room of a two room apartment. Compromised placement? Yep. Use up way more precious floor space than I can afford? Yep. In my way getting into the closet? Yep. People think I'm nuts when they come over? Only 'till they hear those big boys sing. I listen LOUD when my neighbors in the house are away, and I listen so quietly you can barely hear them 15 feet away at night when folks are sleeping. They sound great either way, and every way in between.

 

[poppachubby]

Thanks for the input guys. Jon the LaScalas came and went some time ago. With 2 kids and a wife also living with me, it just wasn't going to happen. A real shame, I know what I missed out on.

As for the KG4, I think babes post puts me in the "no" camp. I only have 40 wpc, clean class A power mind you, but I got the impression from the specs that these would do better with more direct power.

So thinking strictly of the KG3, you think I should pass Jon? I have read opinions similar to yours, and others who just rave and rave about them. The price is safe enough i suppose, but then again I'd be roughly halfway to a wonderful pair of Tektons.

I think I'll arrange to go and hear them. He runs his Klipsch with SS, and I think he said he is now using a pair of KG 5.2. I could always drag my amp over there...

 

[JonL]

First off I think you should listen to the speakers if you have the opportunity and trust your own ears. I'd think 40 WPC would be plenty for the KG4s, I'm surprised about the comment about feeding them with 80 - 100 WPC. I ran my KG3.2s with a Dynaco SCA-35, 17 wpc, they got plenty loud enough. I then ran them for a little while with a Conrad Johnson 200 wpc MOSFET beast, and the difference was surprisingly not staggering. In the end I went back to the Dynaco. I'm not sure that the KG3s or 4s have all that much different an appetite for power.

 

[gatorvrx]

I've run my fortes, the heresy's and the kg 4's with a pioneer sx 780. Klipsch are efficient. Not saying that more power is not better, but I don't think you will be disappointed running the KG4's with your 40 wpc amp. Just my opinion. Right now I'm running the heresys and the KG4's with 100 and 75 wpc recievers respectively. The fortes and 5.2's are sitting idle. Yes bigger power is nice, but I truly believe you'll like the 4's.

 

[mfhale]

FWIW, until recently I ran my KG4 pair with a Sansui 771 (40 wpc) and it sounded great to me. They also sound very nice with an EL84 PP at about 10 wpc.

YMMV

 

[solarol]

FWIW, until recently I ran my KG4 pair with a Sansui 771 (40 wpc) and it sounded great to me. They also sound very nice with an EL84 PP at about 10 wpc.

YMMV

I ran them with Sansui 771 and now with Yaqin Mc-10l tube amp. The difference is huge. Klipsch sound much better with tube amps (IMHO).

 

[mfhale]

I ran them with Sansui 771 and now with Yaqin Mc-10l tube amp. The difference is huge. Klipsch sound much better with tube amps (IMHO).

I suspect you're correct. Unfortunately, we're in the middle of a move so I only got about an hour with the combo before I had to tear everything down and pack it.

In the meantime, I picked up a pair of Cornwalls so the KG4s may never really get the tube time they deserve.

 

[solarol]

I suspect you're correct. Unfortunately, we're in the middle of a move so I only got about an hour with the combo before I had to tear everything down and pack it.

In the meantime, I picked up a pair of Cornwalls so the KG4s may never really get the tube time they deserve.

Well done!!! I am looking for an upgrade too...

 

[JBCobra]

My KG4's sound sweet using just 10watts per channel. Gets quite loud too.
With good quality caps and tweeters the KG4 is hard to beat.
Room placement, speaker angle etc... is Really important. But the rewards are well worth the experimentation in your room.
Dollar for Dollar, excellent speakers.

 

[solarol]

My KG4's sound sweet using just 10watts per channel. Gets quite loud too.
With good quality caps and tweeters the KG4 is hard to beat.
Room placement, speaker angle etc... is Really important. But the rewards are well worth the experimentation in your room.
Dollar for Dollar, excellent speakers.

I like them too, but how does the KG4's midrange compare to higher end Klipsch models?

 

[JBCobra]

Can't answer that
But i do know this:
A couple really hardcore audiophile types came over for a listen and I expected them to tell me they sucked. They were amazed.
Good enough for me

 

[bradleyc]

I've owned KG-3's since the early-90's purchased new for $550/pr and they still look and sound brand new since they never got much usage due to all my larger Klipsch speakers. When I purchased my La Scala II's a couple years ago a Klipsch tech that spoke with me on the phone about speaker preferences told me his favorite speaker in the whole lineup over the years was the KG-3, he preferred their particular sound above all others. He never did tell me what equipment was being used, but that's still a pretty nice compliment. As far as that big Klipsch punch, slam, dynamics, etc... they're okay IMO, they're definitely a very nice sounding pair of speakers and just as efficient as the KG-4's with more flexibility for placement options, and the KG-4's are 6ohms and more expensive, the KG-3's are 8ohms and half the price so go for it :thmbsp:

 

[poppachubby]

I've owned KG-3's since the early-90's purchased new for $550/pr and they still look and sound brand new since they never got much usage due to all my larger Klipsch speakers. When I purchased my La Scala II's a couple years ago a Klipsch tech that spoke with me on the phone about speaker preferences told me his favorite speaker in the whole lineup over the years was the KG-3, he preferred their particular sound above all others. He never did tell me what equipment was being used, but that's still a pretty nice compliment. As far as that big Klipsch punch, slam, dynamics, etc... they're okay IMO, they're definitely a very nice sounding pair of speakers and just as efficient as the KG-4's with more flexibility for placement options, and the KG-4's are 6ohms and more expensive, the KG-3's are 8ohms and half the price so go for it :thmbsp:

Thanks alot Bradley. I think I will! I'll post back once I've picked them up. Seller lives out of town so may be a week or 2.

I'm still interested in any comparisons that can be made between the KG3 and 4. How much difference in sound, etc.

 

[kfalls]

I can't provide a comparison, but have been a Kg4 lover for over 20 yrs. I just installed the Crites tweeter and they sound even more amazing than before. The xover upgrades are next.

To me the Kg4 has an excellent tonal balance. The highs (Crites tweeters) are extended and sweet, midrange very good and plenty of low-end. Imaging is also excellent. I never understood the "ear-bleeding horn" comments I see frequently referenced to Klipsch. I've never experienced this with Kg4s or Kg2 which I've also owned. The retail for the Kg4s was around $600, the Kg2s $400, so the Kg3s should have been in the $500 range (MSRP). Unless Klipsch made some terrible design decisions on the Kg3s, they should sound very good as well.

With the tweeter and xover upgrades available the Kg4 could still be around for decades. There may be some issues finder the K-8-K mid/woofers, since they are no longer manufactured. Klipsch has a replacement, but I've not heard any comments about them for or against. Maybe I'll post the question to the group.

 

[elusive]

I own KG4's and have listened to KG3's. IMHO the KG4's have more bass output if placed PERFECTLY. They are very sensitive to spacing from the backwall. 12" out may sound great - while 3" away you will lose a lot of bass.

Either are a great speaker. Get them at a good price and you can not lose money.

I've run my KG4's on Carver, Sansui and many tube amps. For everyday listening the tube amp rules. For much louder play, the Sansui AU-999 is a great match.

I say pull the trigger on the KG4's. You'll get to play with speaker placement - a lot.

 

[kconnor]

I’m always rotating amps and at one point I used a NAD 2100 amplifier to drive my KG4 These amps are rated at 60 wpc continuous and something like 200 to 330 watts per channel peak (depending on speaker impedance). The level of clean volume this combination produced was unbelievable. The KG4 never lost their composure. It brought a smile to my face that’s how good it was. There was more to go too.