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Potentially polarizing question regarding Klipsch

Olivesaxer

Olivesaxer

New Member
Hey folks,

So I admit it. I couldn't stand my KG-4s. I understand that that makes me somewhat of a pariah around here, but they were terrible for my ears. Too harsh, too fatiguing, and overall the least-listened-to speakers in my stable until I ended up selling them.

My question is for those of you who have followed the klipsch story for a while. Will I achieve audio-nirvana with a pair of La Scalas or a pair of Heresy? Or am I pretty much out of the Klipsch game?


Thanks,

Patrick
 
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No one is ever a pariah because of their preferences. If someone treats you as such, it says a whole lot more about them than you.

I've had all of the classic klipsch speakers trying to chase down better sound.....it never happened, for me at least.

But it really is a matter of taste.

I think you are hearing the "klipsch" sound and might be better off listening to other brands before making a decision.
 
Using KG 4 as a reference, La Scala and Heresy are going to give you even more of what you don't like. For me, the KG 4 is the most listenable of the bunch, and most tolerant of upstream gear.
 
Over the years I have had several Klipsch speakers pass-through, including KG4's, Cornwell's, RF-5's and KLF-20's. I found them all a little too harsh for my taste. I believe part of my problem is I have a fairly good case of tinnitus and horn tweeters seem to fatigue my ears rather quickly.
That being said, I wish I would have had some tubes to try out with the Cornwall's, perhaps that would have smoothed them out.
 
I had considerable experience with Klipsch speakers and think some very good (Khorn, Cornwall, Forte, Jubilee) and others very bad (Heresy, LaScala). Speakers I once thought to be good I now think are bad.
 
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As a Klipsch lover who prefers the old three-ways, I'd say you are out of the game. djnagle, above, said it well, "No one is ever a pariah because of their preferences. If someone treats you as such, it says a whole lot more about them than you."

Name any brand of speaker, and it will have adherents and detractors. No skin off anyone's nose, unless they are simply too sensitive to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all speaker. I'd likely move along to another brand were I you. We all must choose our speakers based on our own hearing, not someone else's.
 
I like the Klipsch Reference series, the ones with the orange woofer. I know they don't get as much respect as the legacy models but I find them smooth.
If you can score a set of RB-5s you may like them. I also like the delicate sounding horn tweeter on the lowly Synergy SB-3s. Pawn shops are good places to look for good speakers like Klipsch, etc.

You may try the Epic CF series if you come across a pair. They are big but the Epic CF -3 has a great reputation for being a non-traditional sounding Klipsch. They were only made three years (94,95,and 96) and the series one from 94 has the best reputation. Alas mine are a series three from later in the run but they are in my bedroom to stay since I might kill myself trying to take them down the stairs they weigh 110lbs.

The smoothest Klipsch I ever heard here at my work was a small Reference tower. Very lush sounding with jazz. If I ever came across these I would snatch them up. No affiliation. Klipsch RF-10.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ZMrvHriKij5/p_714RF10B/Klipsch-Reference-Series-RF-10.html
 
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icenine said:
I like the Klipsch Reference series, the ones with the orange woofer. I know they don't get as much respect as the legacy models but I find them smooth.
If you can score a set of RB-5s you make like them. I also like the delicate sounding horn tweeter on the lowly Synergy SB-3s. Pawn shops are good places to look for good speakers like Klipsch, etc.

You may try the Epic CF series if you come across a pair. They are big but the Epic CF -3 has a great reputation for being a non-traditional sounding Klipsch. They were only made three years (94,95,and 96) and the series one from 94 has the best reputation. Alas mine are a series three from later in the run but they are in my bedroom to stay since I might kill myself trying to take them down the stairs they weigh 110lbs.

The smoothest Klipsch I ever heard here at my work was a small Reference tower. Very lush sounding with jazz. If I ever came across these I would snatch them up. No affiliation. Klipsch RF-10.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ZMrvHriKij5/p_714RF10B/Klipsch-Reference-Series-RF-10.html
Click to expand...


For 150 a piece new, this seems like an unlikely deal compared to the rest of the speakers discussed in this thread... or am I looking at the wrong product?

Klipsch RF10 (ea) Dual 4.5-inch Reference Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Discontinued by Manufacturer) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00096ZT0G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BJ.yybMPTP066
 
Olivesaxer said:
For 150 a piece new, this seems like an unlikely deal compared to the rest of the speakers discussed in this thread... or am I looking at the wrong product?

Klipsch RF10 (ea) Dual 4.5-inch Reference Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Discontinued by Manufacturer) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00096ZT0G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BJ.yybMPTP066
Click to expand...
Those are them. I heard them in an office set up. Of course what I think are great and what you do may be different. They never sounded harsh to me.
They are more for home theater I guess.
 
icenine said:
Those are them. I heard them in an office set up. Of course what I think are great and what you do may be different. They never sounded harsh to me.
They are more for home theater I guess.
Click to expand...

Oh- totally no judgement here, just wanted to make sure that I was researching the right products. And 150 bucks is a great deal if they sound good.

As mentioned at the beginning of this thread, I am willing to give Klipsch products their fair shot, but the one set of Klipsch speakers I had were not to my liking.
 
I can't speak to the sound of the other Klipsches since I haven't owned them, but I'll give my standard speech about the 'harsh horn of the Klipsch'.

With Kg 4 you're talking about speakers made in the late 80s/early 90s. A recap is in order.

Also, as a 4.2 owner, I found the horn a bit harsh and the upper end ('air' if you will) lacking after listening to mine since '91. I recapped, which helped, and put in the $60 Crites diaphragms, and it made a huge difference in the harshness of the mids and it brought the 'air' back. Especially the diaphragms, but I wouldn't do it w/o recapping.

Consider not letting go of your Klipsches until you've tried these upgrades. If you do it and still don't like them, someone will and you'll get your money back out. We're talking less than $100 anyway.

I haven't tried the Crites crossovers. I believe (I could be wrong) that the improvements of just recapping and changing diaphragms will far outweigh the effects of changing inductors or whatever.
 
toxcrusadr said:
I can't speak to the sound of the other Klipsches since I haven't owned them, but I'll give my standard speech about the 'harsh horn of the Klipsch'...
Click to expand...

So in short your speakers weren't satisfactory as Klipsch supplied them. I knew fellas who changed out every driver and horn in Klipsch speakers, all that was left by Klipsch was the box. Some guys have Altec VOTs in Klipsch cabinets; they could've saved themselves considerable effort and money by buying VOTs in the first place (a lesson I learned the hard way). You don't often see Altec, JBL and EV guys making fundamental changes to their speakers or buying aftermarket improvements (?) like supposedly superior diaphragms.
 
Tom Brennan said:
So in short your speakers weren't satisfactory as Klipsch supplied them.
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I didn't say that. Why do you spend time running down an entire brand?

They sounded great when I picked them out. I bought em new in '91 and used them continuously, so they had a lot of hours by 2010. I don't know how diaphragms age but I have a pair of early 60s Jensens with highly regarded bullet horn tweeters with phenolic diaphragms that sound quite dull to me. So maybe they age. In any case the Crites titanium diaphragms sound fantastic. Supposedly superior? If you doubt my word that they sounded better than the old originals, then you're prejudiced and we're not going to get anywhere. I like them. I suppose if I change the original tires on my car, it was poor design at the factory? Honestly, I was skeptical of the diaphragms until I read so many accounts on AK that they were a huge improvement. I'm glad I took the plunge. Very glad.


For anyone who does have an open mind, this is a way to turn a $100-$200 pair of speakers into something that is IMHO really great for less than an extra $100. Or possibly make a pair you were thinking of selling, good enough to be keepers. Let your own ears be the judge. I know one AKer who heard them on a very nice Class A amp he built himself and after an hour or two he wanted to acquire a pair of his own. The only reason he didn't is that he spent several thousand on a different pair of speakers not long after that and was done spending money for awhile. I wish I could have stolen that amp though. :biggrin:
 
Some people just don't like horns or the Klipsch sound. That being said, your speakers with the Bob Crites mod might change your mind.
 
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