Learning experience today:
Yesterday, I found a pair of Klipsch Forte ii's for sale for $500. They were also selling the Academy Center speaker (still in my car) for $150. Both listed as neg. so I thought I'd try. A text or two later, I was getting all three speakers for $450. (!) I "didn't have the money for it" (wasn't going to tell the wife) but I felt I cannot pass this up.
I'm new to moving back to vintage life. All I know is that my dad had (still has) a pair of JBL's Century speakers and one of my earliest memories was picking the foam from the grill - and I think I used to put it in my mouth! lol. So, I've been looking for that sound - my Rosebud, perhaps - seemingly my entire adult life (I'll be 50, this year).
I found that sound recently with KLH 6's and a Luxman R-1050 and I feel like I'm listening to every song over again for the first time. Love it. Ever since I got back into 70's vintage (I tricked myself during the digital craze thinking I needed wireless speakers, and to listen on/through my computer, etc), I'm really enjoying looking for that beautiful "special" speaker or receiver - at insanely inexpensive prices.
About 20 years ago, I had a pair of KLH 5's that I bought at a garage sale for $50. Those speakers were amazing - and there wasn't any Audio Karma around to advise me on changing caps! Those 5's were lost after my brother sold his house (which was where they were being stored) so, originally, I was on the hunt for another pair of 5's. When I checked AK to see which speaker members thought were the best, there was so much love for the 6's and their warm sound (perhaps moreso than the 5's), that when a pair showed up on CL, I made the leap for $80. Changed all the caps, switched out a tweeter, hooked it up to a Luxman R-1050 (which I found at around the same time for $150 on an auction) and I found my golden sound. For cheap! (The Luxman is indeed incredible, btw. After trying out a HK 430 and a Sansui 2000a, which are also great, it's all Luxman for the moment).
When I was looking for that "best" speaker, I also saw a lot of excitement for the Klipsch Forte ii's. I didn't read into them too too much, because I knew I wasn't paying for speakers at their cost. I never owned Klipsch speakers because their price point was always too intimidating for me. I'm married now, two kids, and expensive hobbies don't really jive...
So, cut to yesterday with these Forte's. I go to pick them up today and they're in spectacular condition, but (there's a tiny puncture in the passive radiator in back and I wasn't sure what kind of influence that would have on the sound and what it may cost to fix. Now, that whole time driving the 1.5 hours to meet him, I thought to myself, "what am I doing" I can't spend $450 on speakers right now. Then I thought, if I can get these three speakers for $450, it would be the steal of the century, if not a really great score. How could I not; I haven't seen a pair yet for sale, anywhere. I really didn't know what was going to happen, but if I wasn't buying it now, I was going to lose my chance. ""Can you do any better than $450?" I asked. "$400?" he answers? $400 (for all three speakers). I gave him the money. Still didn't tell my wife.
I get home, I lug the Fortes upstairs in my barn (my Luxman/6's are in my living room), and I set them next to the Wharfdale W70's that I bought a couple months back, for $120. Four feet from the wall, about 10 feet apart. I like the Wharfdale's a lot (I'm a big The Who fan, and the Wharfdales excite me when I listen to them). The speakers are getting driven by an B&K AVR 507, which seems to have no decibel limit. I bought the B&K about 5 years ago for $200 (it's a complicated receiver, still don't know much about it, but it's an anvil I respect very much).
I hook up the Forte ii's, I put on 5:15 by The Who, and I literally **** my pants. I played it loud. It was as if I was at a concert. It felt so close, so huge. I heard things in the song I had never heard before, every instrument clear and separate from the other. It was inspiring. My wife came in, asked me where I was for 5 hours, and I pointed to my ears. "The speakers," she knew. She added, "They sound really good. Really really good." It's cost rolled off her back. Not only that, we ended up listening to the rest of the album at a very loud volume and she didn't complain once about "the noise" or to turn t down. THAT'S how amazing these are.
Later, I sit on my couch, waiting for my kids to come out from the gaming holes to finish off the day with some TV, and I put on some music. I think to myself, "Let's see how this sounds compared to the Forte's." I knew it wasn't a fair fight because I'm not listening side by side, with the same driver, but I thought I'd dare the 6's and the Luxman to impress me more that what I had just heard in the barn.
I was shocked. It was that golden sound; that warmth, that fullness, that balance. I was in love, but I was in love with 2 speakers. But how? How could they be so different and so incredible? What was it about them that was so different?... The Fortes are in the barn for a reason. It's where I GO to "listen" to music; to play it loud, to feel like I'm at a concert or in a studio. The 6's are home; a place to relax, to hang out and to love. For now, it makes sense and I'm really excited to listen to more music.
I wanted to share my experience you all because AK members on this Forum seem to love and appreciate music and like I do. Thanks for your help in getting me here!
Adam
Yesterday, I found a pair of Klipsch Forte ii's for sale for $500. They were also selling the Academy Center speaker (still in my car) for $150. Both listed as neg. so I thought I'd try. A text or two later, I was getting all three speakers for $450. (!) I "didn't have the money for it" (wasn't going to tell the wife) but I felt I cannot pass this up.
I'm new to moving back to vintage life. All I know is that my dad had (still has) a pair of JBL's Century speakers and one of my earliest memories was picking the foam from the grill - and I think I used to put it in my mouth! lol. So, I've been looking for that sound - my Rosebud, perhaps - seemingly my entire adult life (I'll be 50, this year).
I found that sound recently with KLH 6's and a Luxman R-1050 and I feel like I'm listening to every song over again for the first time. Love it. Ever since I got back into 70's vintage (I tricked myself during the digital craze thinking I needed wireless speakers, and to listen on/through my computer, etc), I'm really enjoying looking for that beautiful "special" speaker or receiver - at insanely inexpensive prices.
About 20 years ago, I had a pair of KLH 5's that I bought at a garage sale for $50. Those speakers were amazing - and there wasn't any Audio Karma around to advise me on changing caps! Those 5's were lost after my brother sold his house (which was where they were being stored) so, originally, I was on the hunt for another pair of 5's. When I checked AK to see which speaker members thought were the best, there was so much love for the 6's and their warm sound (perhaps moreso than the 5's), that when a pair showed up on CL, I made the leap for $80. Changed all the caps, switched out a tweeter, hooked it up to a Luxman R-1050 (which I found at around the same time for $150 on an auction) and I found my golden sound. For cheap! (The Luxman is indeed incredible, btw. After trying out a HK 430 and a Sansui 2000a, which are also great, it's all Luxman for the moment).
When I was looking for that "best" speaker, I also saw a lot of excitement for the Klipsch Forte ii's. I didn't read into them too too much, because I knew I wasn't paying for speakers at their cost. I never owned Klipsch speakers because their price point was always too intimidating for me. I'm married now, two kids, and expensive hobbies don't really jive...
So, cut to yesterday with these Forte's. I go to pick them up today and they're in spectacular condition, but (there's a tiny puncture in the passive radiator in back and I wasn't sure what kind of influence that would have on the sound and what it may cost to fix. Now, that whole time driving the 1.5 hours to meet him, I thought to myself, "what am I doing" I can't spend $450 on speakers right now. Then I thought, if I can get these three speakers for $450, it would be the steal of the century, if not a really great score. How could I not; I haven't seen a pair yet for sale, anywhere. I really didn't know what was going to happen, but if I wasn't buying it now, I was going to lose my chance. ""Can you do any better than $450?" I asked. "$400?" he answers? $400 (for all three speakers). I gave him the money. Still didn't tell my wife.
I get home, I lug the Fortes upstairs in my barn (my Luxman/6's are in my living room), and I set them next to the Wharfdale W70's that I bought a couple months back, for $120. Four feet from the wall, about 10 feet apart. I like the Wharfdale's a lot (I'm a big The Who fan, and the Wharfdales excite me when I listen to them). The speakers are getting driven by an B&K AVR 507, which seems to have no decibel limit. I bought the B&K about 5 years ago for $200 (it's a complicated receiver, still don't know much about it, but it's an anvil I respect very much).
I hook up the Forte ii's, I put on 5:15 by The Who, and I literally **** my pants. I played it loud. It was as if I was at a concert. It felt so close, so huge. I heard things in the song I had never heard before, every instrument clear and separate from the other. It was inspiring. My wife came in, asked me where I was for 5 hours, and I pointed to my ears. "The speakers," she knew. She added, "They sound really good. Really really good." It's cost rolled off her back. Not only that, we ended up listening to the rest of the album at a very loud volume and she didn't complain once about "the noise" or to turn t down. THAT'S how amazing these are.
Later, I sit on my couch, waiting for my kids to come out from the gaming holes to finish off the day with some TV, and I put on some music. I think to myself, "Let's see how this sounds compared to the Forte's." I knew it wasn't a fair fight because I'm not listening side by side, with the same driver, but I thought I'd dare the 6's and the Luxman to impress me more that what I had just heard in the barn.
I was shocked. It was that golden sound; that warmth, that fullness, that balance. I was in love, but I was in love with 2 speakers. But how? How could they be so different and so incredible? What was it about them that was so different?... The Fortes are in the barn for a reason. It's where I GO to "listen" to music; to play it loud, to feel like I'm at a concert or in a studio. The 6's are home; a place to relax, to hang out and to love. For now, it makes sense and I'm really excited to listen to more music.
I wanted to share my experience you all because AK members on this Forum seem to love and appreciate music and like I do. Thanks for your help in getting me here!
Adam
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