KLH 17 speakers and power?

[gearhound]

Hello people!!
Some on this forum feels that the KLH 17 speakers need 30+ watts to sing.
Since the speakers were designed during the tube-era, it would seem to me that these speakers should sound just fine with 10-15 watts?
Why would they like to see additional power, since they weren't designed for in the first place?
THANKS!!!

Steve :scratch2:

 

[winters860]

They were designed during the tube era, but the development of power-hungry acoustic suspension designs fueled the development of powerful solid state amplifiers and vice versa.

If you like 'em with tubes, have at it.

 

[Urizen]

I tried Seventeens with a 5 WPC single-ended pentode amp with decent results. No earthshaking volume, but nice for low level listening.

They sounded even better driven by a Fisher 400 receiver rated at 27 WPC.

SS wise, they sounded best, so far, with both a Sherwood S-8900A and an Adcom GFA-535. The 60 WPC range seems to be a good fit for this model, IMHO.

Be careful with too much volume with those old KLH tweets. They can fry pretty readily.

Enjoy!

 

[gearhound]

I really TRIED to like my 65wpc Optonica SA-4141 receiver.
Big....beautiful....and powerful.
But the KLH 17's sounded too bright and two dimensional.
A MUCH better match was my 20wpc Superscope R-340 receiver.
Warm & lush....with almost 3-D imaging.....go figure?

Steve

 

[winters860]

I will say that I liked the Seventeens better on the big 150wpc 'shiba SA-7150 receiver than on the 20wpc Marantz 2220 (not sure if it's the same as the Superscope).

On the SA-7150, they sounded very good, but they seemed to me to have too prominent an upper mid-range, the same thing that causes me to have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude about Large Advents (another Kloss design).

The 2220 provides a better overall tonal balance, but lacks... uh... balls. The bass isn't nearly the tight wonder I remembered and overall presence was reduced greatly. This combo might work better in a smaller room.

 

[Punker X]

Have a pair of 17's that have been in the family since 69. Bought new with a Sansui 2000. Was never all that impressed with them until I hooked them up to some tube equipment. Fisher 500, MAC 240, and others.. sound absolutely woderful. They really like tubes. 20 watts plus.

 

[gearhound]

Oh the Optonica SA-4141 could certainly drive them harder....but with a bright and in-your face presentation. The bass was powerful...but seemed slightly blurred?
With the little Superscope R-340, every bass note was clearly defined and distinct. Combined with a very wide and deep sound-stage, and a clean (but not shrill) top end....that 20wpc Superscope gives one hell of a presentation.

Steve

 

[gearhound]

Sorry, I forgot.
I'm using a Magnavox DCB460 CD player as a source.
With it's Burr-Brown IC....it's very dynamic & powerful sounding.
I have Denon and ADC CD players at home, but the Magnavox trounces them.

Steve

 

[Tim Welsh]

KLH 17s

I have used a pair of KLH model 17s with most of the receivers I own, and they sound best to me with a sansui 2000. I think the sansui is 20 odd watts per. I am amazed at the quality of these ratty little speakers that I nearly turned down for $20 when buying a pair of Pioneer 722s from a local I met on Ebay. I like them much better than the 722s. The Kenwood 4070 sounded well with them too, and a Nikko 8085 did a fine job as well, but the old as hell sansui 200 is by far the better match.

 

[Wolverine]

My KLH's more than any of my other "New England" sound speakers seems has SQ that varies depending on the power source. On my Kenwood Basic series and Sansui 7900Z (both at rated 100 wpc) they sounded good but on an older Pioneer SX-9000 they sounded better. I moved them upstairs and play them through a Kenwood KM-209 and they sound the best yet. I don't own any tube gear yet but would love to see what everyone is talking about there especially I have pretty much gone to owning only vintage speakers.

 

[Thespeakerdude8]

I have used them with my 4 wpch SEP magnavox, and they don't get quite as loud as my RS nova 6's. They do work wonderfully with 10-20 watts of power, and can even kick you a little when you reach 35w. I like the lower efficiency with higher powered amps because you get better bass at lower volumes, which leads to a more balanced sound at low volume.

 

[Mortsnets]

My KLH 17s sound very good with a vintage tube integrated Scott 299(A) but I do not play them very loud. Sound quality was not nearly as good with solid state.

 

[Ron13a]

I just picked up a pair of KLH Seventeens tonight at Goodwill for $7.99. I spent 30 minutes cleaning them up, then hooked them up to my SX-1280. I'm impressed! I think they sound really good. Of course I didn't push them too hard, I don't want to kill the tweeters. I took them to 10 o'clock on the dial. Very nice. I have no tube equipment to test them with, but they sound fine with solid state. Personally, I think tube gear is over rated. You want warm sound? Buy a Marantz 2325 or something Marantz in that range and use the rest of your money to buy some really good speakers! I'm not kidding. I would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather spend the money on high quality speakers than tube gear.
That's my two cents anyway.

 

[portnoy]

resurrection thread - I'm listening to my KLH 17s right now pushing them with a sansui G-5700 rated at about 60wpc. I've listened to them with my maggie 9300 EL84 14wpc console amp too. But for the sake of convenience I stick primarily with the Sansui.

 

[audiojones]

...Buy a Marantz 2325 or something Marantz in that range and use the rest of your money to buy some really good speakers! I'm not kidding. I would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather spend the money on high quality speakers than tube gear.
That's my two cents anyway.

No offense, but if you buy a Marantz 2325 you probably ain't gonna have much left in the old audio budget to buy anything with. One was just up on flea-bay for something like $3000 plus. Granted that's not typical, but the big ones like that usually go for some serious money.

I do agree that some of the classic Marantz receivers have a warmth and lushness to them. I really like my 2245 and old AR2a speakers - a great combination for whatever reason

I'd imagine a pair of KLH Seventeens would sound really nice with a 2245 also. I really love that New England sound.

 

[Rob-F]

KLH 17 with tube amps? I've had some experience. With the Dynakit SCA-35 (17.5WPC) they sounded very good. With the McIntosh MA230 (30WPC) they sounded better.

The biggest amp I ever tried them on was my Marantz 15 (60WPC). Good control over the woofer, tighter bass. But generally unnecessary.

I would say 20 watts is a good minimum to shoot for. 30 watts is not wasted on them. I don't think 40 would be wasted on them, either. I don't think they need any more than that.