Kenaz Filan
New Member
My quest for a great vintage stereo system began with a Marantz 2238b which I purchased on eBay ... and which arrived with a broken selector knob. I am presently doing research on the costs of repair + restoration, and whether or not it would be wiser to repair it or to keep it around as a parts machine and get an already-restored Marantz receiver.
But in the midst of my mourning I found joy -- $300 for a slightly battered but sweet sounding pair of Klipsch Forte Is. They are without a doubt the finest speakers I have ever owned -- and I'm just waiting to hear what they sound like when and if I install the Crites tweeter and crossover mods. They have amazing clarity and, for lack of a better word, presence. The music sounds bigger even at lower volumes: it's as if Dorothy Ashby is playing harp right behind you. And when you want them to go loud, boy howdy....
I've heard that Marantz pairs particularly well with Klipsches: the buttery warm Marantz sound helps tame some of the bite from the horns. (I will say that I don't find the Fortes to be at all shrill and fatiguing, though I did note some aggressive highs on a friend's Klipsch home theatre setup). But Marantz receivers are also very popular right now and I can't help feeling my money might go further if I looked at other brands. Which brings me to yet another brand I have frequently heard recommended as a Klipsch pairing, McIntosh. I can get a MAC 1700 or 1900 from Audio Classics or McIntosh Audio for about what a Marantz 2275 or 2285 would set me back.
I've also heard repeatedly that Klipsch speakers really shine with tubes. I've been hesitant to get vintage tube equipment until I've taught myself basic electronics: in the 50s and early 60s hi-fi was very much a hands-on hobby and listeners were expected to know their way around schematics drawings. I've considered building an inexpensive basic tube amplifier via a kit as an educational experience, then possibly purchasing a Dynaco ST-70 type kit later. But that's down the road: for now I'd like to find a receiver which would make my Fortes be all they can be. All recommendations from those more knowledgeable than me are welcome.
But in the midst of my mourning I found joy -- $300 for a slightly battered but sweet sounding pair of Klipsch Forte Is. They are without a doubt the finest speakers I have ever owned -- and I'm just waiting to hear what they sound like when and if I install the Crites tweeter and crossover mods. They have amazing clarity and, for lack of a better word, presence. The music sounds bigger even at lower volumes: it's as if Dorothy Ashby is playing harp right behind you. And when you want them to go loud, boy howdy....
I've heard that Marantz pairs particularly well with Klipsches: the buttery warm Marantz sound helps tame some of the bite from the horns. (I will say that I don't find the Fortes to be at all shrill and fatiguing, though I did note some aggressive highs on a friend's Klipsch home theatre setup). But Marantz receivers are also very popular right now and I can't help feeling my money might go further if I looked at other brands. Which brings me to yet another brand I have frequently heard recommended as a Klipsch pairing, McIntosh. I can get a MAC 1700 or 1900 from Audio Classics or McIntosh Audio for about what a Marantz 2275 or 2285 would set me back.
I've also heard repeatedly that Klipsch speakers really shine with tubes. I've been hesitant to get vintage tube equipment until I've taught myself basic electronics: in the 50s and early 60s hi-fi was very much a hands-on hobby and listeners were expected to know their way around schematics drawings. I've considered building an inexpensive basic tube amplifier via a kit as an educational experience, then possibly purchasing a Dynaco ST-70 type kit later. But that's down the road: for now I'd like to find a receiver which would make my Fortes be all they can be. All recommendations from those more knowledgeable than me are welcome.