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Klipsch Revelation

David_NC

David_NC

Super Member
I've heard quite a few Klipsch speakers over the years. Some sounded awful, some sounded pretty bad, some were OK, and some were really pretty decent (Cornwalls with a 300 WPC Mac amp, so they should!) Overall, though, I've not have given them a second thought. 8 years ago, I picked up a pair of like-new KG-3.5's for $20 from a thrift store in NC. I had cats that liked to scratch speakers, and I really didn't need them, so I gave them to a friend. Her son set them up with a really cheap old Kenwood 5.1 receiver, and that was that.
Recently, when she visited, she commented that she really liked my setup and would like to get her speakers set up but didn't have a receiver or amp (the Kenwood had died). I found a mid-line Denon AVR with HDMI, second zone output, etc at a local Goodwill for $30, so I picked it up and shipped it to her. Over the weekend, I got it all set up for her. She has no sources, other than her iPad and iPhone, so I used my iPad with my Amazon Unlimited account. They are about 16" out from the back wall (full bookshelf), 8' or so apart, and the listening spot is a couch about 8' in front of them.
We used the iPad via the front panel USB jack and started a playlist. I was amazed at how good these speakers sounded. These KG's have not been upgraded, as far as I know, and the imaging wasn't as good as my speakers (various ADS models), but I remember hearing new things in one particular song (Christine by Siouxsie and the Banshees). That's always a good sign to me. These 3.5's wouldn't replace any of my speakers, but I'd be happy with them in a secondary system or maybe in an HT setup. Overall, they are a very pleasant sounding speaker that really surprised me, compared to some of the upper Klipsch models I've heard. I'll let her enjoy it for a while and then see if she's interested in any upgrades to them. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised by an audio component!
KG-3.5 - Drivers.JPG KG-3.5 - Price .JPG Receiver.JPG Setup.JPG
 
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Nice, and it appears she's a reader. Good. Now, what's with the two armchairs wedged between the source and the respective speakers? Some semblance of a room treatment?
 
Mystic said:
Nice, and it appears she's a reader. Good. Now, what's with the two armchairs wedged between the source and the respective speakers? Some semblance of a room treatment?
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LOL maybe that's why they sounded good! ;) There's a couch directly across from the system and is the main listening area, and I advised her to sit centered between the speakers. At least she didn't insist on hiding the speakers or putting them in stupid places like so many do. Those chairs will be going somewhere else.
 
David_NC said:
LOL maybe that's why they sounded good! ;) There's a couch directly across from the system and is the main listening area, and I advised her to sit centered between the speakers. At least she didn't insist on hiding the speakers or putting them in stupid places like so many do. Those chairs will be going somewhere else.
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Heck, maybe they are helping to improve the Klipsch singnals... stranger things 'n all that, y'know.
 
Yes, I remain extremely impressed with these Klipsch KG5.5 copies: Oatlon W2-1000F. The cabinets are built and braced better than the real thing though and the wood horns are very natural. The most incredible bass I've ever heard too. No sub needed.

The crossovers are identical. Rebuilt the crossovers with Duelund cotton covered oil impregnated solid core wire, Mundorf inductors and a combination of Mundorf Silver in Oil and Obligatto caps which improved them still further.

Will likely sell to make way for a pair of rare vintage Toshiba SS41 horns though. I'm keen to try the Toshiba as their design is so similar to a number of vintage Klipsch speakers.

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WaynerN said:
Funny this thread got started. Yesterday I (for the first time) hooked my KG-4s up to my very powerful Sunfire II amplifier (330wrms/channel@8 ohms) and was blown away by these relatively inexpensive speakers. Tucker Carlson show was very dynamic.
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Do your KG's have any of the upgrades, or are they stock?
 
David_NC said:
Good to hear. Perhaps these KG's just sound good without upgrades.
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I just want to hear the speakers as the manufacturer wanted me to hear them. If I hear any "bad", I will make change. I do not like the idea of recapping first then listen.....
 
The Kgs seem to impress a lot of people. Mine (4.2) have been played at some AK gatherings with really nice amps and people seem to sit and listen. I think they appeal to a lot of listeners, and I am always mystified by anti-Klipsch people when I run into them. But to each his own.

I didn't hear a big difference when recapping, but I replaced a 1991 film with a Dayton metallized poly, so. The Crites diaphragms made a huge difference in the sparkle and air in the top end though. If they seem shouty in the midrange and lacking up top, do the diaphragms. If you like em as is, enjoy.
 
toxcrusadr said:
The Kgs seem to impress a lot of people. Mine (4.2) have been played at some AK gatherings with really nice amps and people seem to sit and listen. I think they appeal to a lot of listeners, and I am always mystified by anti-Klipsch people when I run into them. But to each his own.

I didn't hear a big difference when recapping, but I replaced a 1991 film with a Dayton metallized poly, so. The Crites diaphragms made a huge difference in the sparkle and air in the top end though. If they seem shouty in the midrange and lacking up top, do the diaphragms. If you like em as is, enjoy.
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I've heard other Klipsch models ranging from larger and smaller KG's, Cornwalls, Fortes, these 3.5's, and another model years ago (I think Hereseys), and several newer models. My thoughts ranged from meh to OK to yuck to decently-good-but-not-impressive to surprised at how good these 3.5's sounded compared to others I've heard. Having said that, I won't be searching for any to replace any of my ADS models. My tube amp works well with efficient ADS L520's and Dahlquist DQM-9's, so I don't need them for lower powered amps. Still, I'll listen with open ears and hope for the best! ;)
 
The KG4 was/is a nice-sounding speaker at a popular price-point, I thought/think. I've owned several KG models, Heresies, Fortes, and the Khorns. Heard all the others of the 80s/90s era quite often. The 3.2 wasn't bad, either. Turns out I prefer mids and highs from my Bryston and Monitor Audio models, but sometimes I think it would be fun to have a pair of the KG4 or Heresy, just 'cause. That's when I have to remind myself that I really wouldn't use them much (maybe just once), and avoid pulling triggers. It's nice to read good comments about them, since some view them as ugly stepchildren.

I never liked the 1 or 2 KG models, though. Many love them, so it's just me. My favorite Klipsches were big three-ways, Khorn, Forte, Chorus, Belle, and Heresy, pretty much in that order. Favorite two-way was the KG4.
 
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musichal said:
The KG4 was/is a nice-sounding speaker at a popular price-point, I thought/think. I've owned several KG models, Heresies, Fortes, and the Khorns. Heard all the others of the 80s/90s era quite often. The 3.2 wasn't bad, either. Turns out I prefer mids and highs from my Bryston and Monitor Audio models, but sometimes I think it would be fun to have a pair of the KG4 or Hersey, just 'cause. That's when I have to remind myself that I really wouldn't use them much (maybe just once), and avoid pulling triggers. It's nice to read good comments about them, since some view them as ugly stepchildren.

I never liked the 1 or 2 KG models, though. Many love them, so it's just me. My favorite Klipsches were big three-ways, Khorn, Forte, Chorus, Belle, and Heresy, pretty much in that order. Favorite two-way was the KG4.
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Different iterations of the KG 3.2, gifted my son a pristine pair like these. Very impressive bass output, auditioning them for my brother in law he requested I turn off the two subs in the room, they were already off lol.

P1020313-022 (1).jpg
 
I had a black pair connected to a room-mate's Pioneer SX-780. He fell in love with them to the point that he offered a month's rent in exchange, which was a good deal for me - and for him, too. I think Katrina took them a year or two later.
 
musichal said:
I had a black pair connected to a room-mate's Pioneer SX-780. He fell in love with them to the point that he offered a month's rent in exchange, which was a good deal for me - and for him, too. I think Katrina took them a year or two later.
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So, what you're saying is, even mother nature wanted a pair lol.
 
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