Potentially polarizing question regarding Klipsch

[janikphoto]

Well, they're not exactly terrible on their own, they just lack the bass as is well known. As to whether they would be an upgrade of the KG4, I would offer that they would indeed, and then I would offer the standard advice of adding subwoofer(s) to the set-up.

That's a very fair and accurate statement.

 

[Tom Brennan]

When Bruce Edgar interviewed PWK and Jim Hunter for Speaker Builder magazine he asked Hunter why the company didn't make a sub to go with the Heresy (this was before the company made subs). Hunter replied that was what the Cornwall was for.

Selling the Heresy in stereo pairs kept the company going, without the Heresy PWK would've gone belly up.

 

[musichal]

My own take on the Heresy:

They are the only sealed-box Klipsch system, as opposed to horn-loaded or bass-reflex models. Their roll-off slopes are not as steep as most bass-reflex designs. I find their bass a truly enjoyable, low-distortion experience, starting with a pair of HIIs I bought new in the 80s. Placement/room interaction may require some experimenting to get their best, but once locked in, they sound great to my ear. A speaker I wish I'd kept.

To get deep bass, a subwoofer or two will do wonders, just as a pair does for my Fortes in the bedroom. No surprise there. Forgive the OT, OP. I stand by my earlier post:

...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.

 

[liteagilis]

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

Totally agree. Put crites crossovers in them and tweeter diaphragms and still didn't like them. Loud. Clear. Too clear in the treble. Bass sounded a bit muddy for me. It actually convinced me not to buy cornwalls. Love the idea of them. Didn't suit my system at the time which was all solid state.

 

[Ohighway]

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?

Patrick

Well first and foremost it's pretty simple really. You like what you like, and don't what you don't. No apologies needed. If everyone's hearing and tastes were the same, there would be no need for the limitless variety of speakers out there in the new and used market.

I've not heard KG-4s but I have had experience with Klipschorns, Heresy, and a bastardized conglomeration out in my garage which consists of Klipschorn mid and HF drivers horns and crossover on top of a home built VOTT cabinet with a 15" driver.

The Klipschorns I'm still trying to configure to a point where I actually like them (driver and crossover changes etc) So far no luck. A real crime as they (physically) disappear into the corners of my large family room and don't block the view out the windows. In -theory- they should be perfect... but....

The Heresy? I've had two different pairs that found me, and they found their way back out of my home. The only place they even began to sound good was outside. No thanks....

The bastardized conglomeration sounds --very-- good ..... if.....IF I have all my garage doors opened up and am sitting about 30' in front of the building.

So far for me the Klipsch failures outweigh the successes. And with sooooooo many other speakers to choose from I'm not gonna' fight that anymore.

To the OP, I'd experiment with other brands and types.

 

[toxcrusadr]

It does sound like the OP is probably ready to try something completely different. I don't think the Heresy would be much of an upgrade (as a Klipsch owner who has heard that model).

So much depends on your individual ears. I would point out that I have a significant dip in hearing at 8000 Hz in one ear at least (perhaps both, I can't remember). Gotta wonder if the 'shouty horn' of the Klipsches is just right for my impaired ears. Whereas someone else might find them grating or tinnitus inducing. It's the same with all speakers - some think the JBLs are too loud in the upper end ('in your face' is often used). Or that some east coast speakers are too rolled off up top. And so on. That's what bugs me when people say a speaker or an entire brand is horrible. Maybe for you, but probably not for everyone.

 

[Olivesaxer]

These are awesome replies, guys (and gals), thanks.

I think the core of my question was centered around the idea that the KG4s are designed more like a traditional speaker (No K-horn, no wacky box design), where the La Scala's and Heresy have different enough designs that I was hoping HOPING that the stuff I disliked in the KG4s were designed away in those models.

I also guess I should mention what my current set up is - I have a Pioneer SX1250 with two Monitor Audio MA5s. They are in a great room with a lofted ceiling, knotty pine flooring and ceiling. I listen to 95% jazz on vinyl and the most important aspects of my listening is clarity of sound and soundscape. I have a toddler, so I rarely am able to push the receiver or speakers that loudly.

Love the existing sound, but am interested in stepping it up and finding something new.

Thanks for those Klipsch supporters who have chimed in - you are specifically who I was addressing with this thread.

 

[Tom Brennan]

I also guess I should mention what my current set up is - I have a Pioneer SX1250 with two Monitor Audio MA5s...

Love the existing sound, but am interested in stepping it up and finding something new.

I'm very keen on Monitor Audio and think they can compete with damned near anything, at any given price point. Since you like your Monitor Audios I suggest you investigate modern Monitor Audio speakers, the Silver range say.

 

[Boozehound]

If they be settin' off your tendinitis (tendonitis) then leave 'em where be or get someone else to move them about, they're too heavy for you. Now if it's your tinnitus (ears) that's the problem then swap out the driver diaphragms with them Crite's ones or turn down the volume or do both of these.

Thank you tinnitus of the ear, Late night post by me.
And yes it could be as easy as turning down the volume.

Best-

Boozehound

 

[Boozehound]

These are awesome replies, guys (and gals), thanks.

I think the core of my question was centered around the idea that the KG4s are designed more like a traditional speaker (No K-horn, no wacky box design), where the La Scala's and Heresy have different enough designs that I was hoping HOPING that the stuff I disliked in the KG4s were designed away in those models.

I also guess I should mention what my current set up is - I have a Pioneer SX1250 with two Monitor Audio MA5s. They are in a great room with a lofted ceiling, knotty pine flooring and ceiling. I listen to 95% jazz on vinyl and the most important aspects of my listening is clarity of sound and soundscape. I have a toddler, so I rarely am able to push the receiver or speakers that loudly.

Love the existing sound, but am interested in stepping it up and finding something new.

Thanks for those Klipsch supporters who have chimed in - you are specifically who I was addressing with this thread.

How about that, I am rocking some Monitor Audio b/s Silvers 2's right now to some kansas, first album on a SX-1050
I also have some MA GR20 floor standers, Good stuff.

Best-

Boozehound

 

[darkblue94]

Thank you tinnitus of the ear, Late night post by me.
And yes it could be as easy as turning down the volume.

Best-

Boozehound

Thank you for recognizing my attempt at injecting humor into my post. I too, suffer from tinnitus and sometimes I just have to turn down the volume to background level and try to read something. Quite often if I feel that I just gotta hear some music despite the ringing in my ears I'll move into the bedroom and listen to my tube set up with ADS L400's (no subwoofer anymore) and usually the tinnitus eases as I'm able to relax.

 

[rebellovw]

I like me Cornwalls just fine. Perhaps try a different brand.

 

[analog addict]

I've owned 4 different types of the heritage line, and they all have strengths and weaknesses. I think you shouldn't discard your KG4s until you've at least heard them run on a good tube amplifier. Obviously, not everyone feels that way, but if you don't try that combination, can you say you've really given them a fair shake? I still have my Khorns and powered by a 2 watt tube amplifier, they sound wonderful.

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, you ever try Altec drivers in a corner horn configuration? PWK's design philosophy was to use mediocre drivers, and I always wondered what the Khorns would sound like with high quality i.e. Altec components in them. (Sorry for the slight Hi Jack here.) This configuration works really well....
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/altecrats-anyone.646728/

 

[mkane]

Owner of Klipsch since 1980. These are modded quite a bit and are real smooth. All we have around here is tubes. Quite a few different types.

 

[toxcrusadr]

We have a lot in common, Olive. I grew up on jazz vinyl, have a high ceiling and 4.2's + SX1250.

A thought about bass. I honestly haven't had much listening time with other Klipsches. My sense is (from reading here) the La Scalas don't do super deep bass. Specs bear that out - 51 Hz. I'm a flat extended bass kinda guy so I don't think I'd be happy on that alone. The KHorns can - 33 Hz - so Klipsch is obviously capable. Your 4's, 38 Hz. I think the 4.2's are comparable. And the Kg series came out years after the heritage speakers like the Heresy, KHorn, La Scala etc. so if they were trying to design out flaws it went the other way. Although I don't really think that was the point. I would say by the 80s their goal was to pack performance into a smaller package than all but the Heresy in order to keep up with the market.

In the big picture, I guess what I'm thinking about is the trade-offs in speaker design. There's always something lost and something gained when switching speakers. Just something to think about when shopping around. Other kinds of drivers will have a different feel from the horns. There are some super speakers out there to listen to.

Right now I'm cranking the mighty AR9's. They wouldn't get lost in your big room, but they are 5 ft tall and 130 lb so that may not work for you. Also require more than the usual amount of iron to drive em.

 

[Putterman]

These are awesome replies, guys (and gals), thanks.

I also guess I should mention what my current set up is - I have a Pioneer SX1250 with two Monitor Audio MA5s. They are in a great room with a lofted ceiling, knotty pine flooring and ceiling. I listen to 95% jazz on vinyl and the most important aspects of my listening is clarity of sound and soundscape. I have a toddler, so I rarely am able to push the receiver or speakers that loudly.

This may be OT but if the OP likes a speaker from the Mid 70's, an acoustic suspension speaker with something akin to a "British sound" ( a flat midrange, slightly boosted bass and rolled off treble - Please correct me if I'm wrong as I have no actual experience with that speaker or even Monitor Audio products from that era), then he is almost by definition not going to like the Klipsch sound.

I would also point out that a speaker from that era would benefit from new capacitors as the old one likely don't measure up to original specs.

He really needs to go out and listen to more speakers to get an idea of what he likes which may be Klipsch but that is only one small part of the universe of speakers.

 

[Tom Brennan]

...
Tom, you ever try Altec drivers in a corner horn configuration? PWK's design philosophy was to use mediocre drivers, and I always wondered what the Khorns would sound like with high quality i.e. Altec components in them.

I used Altec compression drivers and horns with both LaScala and Cornwall woofer sections but never with Khorns. IMO the improvement in sound with the Altec mid-treble was considerable and eventually led to my going Altec whole hog.

I also used LaScala woofer sections crossed over to Magnepan MG IIs at 400hz, using an active crossover of course. A very interesting result, the most dynamic Maggies ever. Possibly the best use of both speakers. ;-)

 

[Boto]

I used to have a pair of KG-4's. Picked them up for next to nothing. I put new caps in them, and bought the Crites diaphragms. While I thought they were excellent, I still liked my ESS PS-8's better. I sold the KG-4's to thin the heard a bit. If I would have had a place for them, I definitely would have kept them.

 

[crouse]

I had La Scalas. I had a perhaps unusual experience with them. When I first got them, they had the original crossovers that were 25 or 30 years old. They sounded pretty good to me. I did a little research and became sold on upgrading with new crossovers and titanium tweeters from Bob Crites. After the upgrade, I began to hear the harshness so many people complain about. It wasn't there on all music, but it was there often enough for me to eventually sell them and move on. There are all sorts of modifications out there to smooth out the response in the low treble/high midrange and, had I tried any of them, I might have ended up keeping the La Scalas. A comment on that midrange harshness: some people address it by using caps or crossovers to attenuate the frequencies where it occurs. I'm not sure how well that would work. To my ears, the problem wasn't that the frequencies were tipped up compared to the rest of the range. The problem was there was an actual distortion that I found unpleasant. Having said that, I may one day try again. I do miss the extraordinary dynamics of the La Scalas and the feeling of live music you get from them.

 

[dondoucette]

I think you are out too. Just as JBL has a sound so does Klipsch. My old ears that have been abused by 12 years of working in a steel mill, happen to like both the LaScala and Heresy. Am I "right"? Pffffft, for me, yeah... but there are so many factors that come in to play when listening to speakers that one mans bliss is another's cringe.
Find what you love brother and rock on.