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Potentially polarizing question regarding Klipsch

Yep, I like my modded L-100's with L36's on top. I also like my ADS 880's but two very different sounding speaker set ups.
 
Coytee said:
Interesting... I'm still trying to figure out how something can sound too clear...

Seems to me that is one of the goals many people might aspire to....lifting that mean ole' veil...
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Good point. You're probably more right to poke at my word choice. I suppose what I'd say is, the two least pleasant speakers I've owned (which is not so many compared to most subscribers here--about 15 pairs) were a pair of B&W's from the 'dm' line and the kg4's. It made me suspicious of metal dome tweeters , at least in relation to my ears (although I have no such issue w jbl 044 tweeters). The kg4's had slow-ish bass and a harsh top end. At least that's what I think I heard. However, like everything here, people's preferences aren't necessarily right. I currently love the top end on ads speakers. I used the word 'relaxed' in another forum and was questioned for that word use too. I also like heils. They sound 'airy' to me. For all I know, maybe those speakers are playing down 6 decibels in a certain frequency range and I like it. I'm not sure. I can only say that despite knowing the KG4's are well-crafted products I really didn't like listening to them at all.

I find all of this highly analogous to wine (which I do for a living). People often describe fruity red wines as sweet. They're wrong. There isn't residual sugar in almost any bottle of red wine (there a really small handful of exceptions). So they're wrong. But the wine can remind them of sweet fruit and that can be a thing they like and they think 'sweet'. Alcohol and sugar share certain qualities. As do glycerol and sugar. Maybe it's just an idea.

Similarly, I feel like speakers have certain factual attributes. Frequency range. Efficiency. Crossover points. Crossover styles. Impedence curves. Etc. Despite this, even if a a heil tweeter and a jbl horn cover the same frequency range at similar efficiency they don't sound the same and certian people will invariably like one over the other.
 
Though I'm a fan of Klipsch, I also liked the Heils... even electrostatic....

I'm just addicted to the dynamics of horns!

I never understood what someone meant when they said "it was like a veil was lifted from the sound"... then I had a chance once to be at the Klipsch factory and we did some critical listening (in their engineering listening room)

Specifically, did a listen of a regular crossover verses a steep slope crossover.... Though I would not be able to walk into your room and say "HA, you have a (enter crossover style) in your system!!" with any authority, it was pretty interesting to hear the difference and on a side by side, you can EASILY tell the difference. The only phrase that came to me at the time was "gee....it's like someone is lifting a veil from the speaker" and I finally understood what people meant!!
 
Olivesaxer said:
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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I have a pair of Klipsch Forte IIs purchased new in 1989. always loved them. 5yrs ago I did the Crites x-overs and titanium diaphragms. These speakers should be good for another 30yrs.
Maybe the horns take some getting used to, but I remember the first time I heard some Klipsch horns in an audio store in Cleveland in '72 and it was instant love

I just decided to embark on a Heresy1 project. Starting with a bare cabinet and using Crites drivers and x-over for a complete rebuild.
 
I have KG4's and a pair of JBL L26's. The KG4's were first and I put them in my small office - about 11x11. They were nice, but as soon as I put the L26's in the same room, not quite as nice. They really came to life when I put them into HT duty in a much larger room and about a foot away from the wall. The L26's are fantastic in the small office space and now the KG4's are fantastic in the large living room space. The OP may not like the KG4's simply because the room didn't work very well with them.
 
I dont know if I can be called a fan of Klipsch, but I love my KG4s. I'm not the first owner, so I dont know if something was done to them in terms of upgrades. But they do just about everything right for me. They are amazing for the Home theater - just ina 2 channel mode they sound like you have a lot more speakers around you. But they are not perfect and thats why I have other speakers. After enjoying my KG4s, I thought I would try larger Klipsch, so I looked into Heresy and Forte. WHile they can sound good to my ears with some music, they seemed much more "picky" and sounded much more harsh in some cases compared to my KG4. Maybe they needed upgrades or something. But I'd say - if KG4 is not your cup of tea, other Klipsch will most likely not be either.
 
I am just wondering what other speakers the OP owns and likes over the Klipsch. He may have some highly regarded speakers and his comparison to the KG4 is justified based upon his preferences. I would recommend that you try to locate another AK member near you with the Klipsch models you want to hear, then pay them a visit and decide for yourself. Good luck.
 
Coytee said:
I had a chance once to be at the Klipsch factory and we did some critical listening (in their engineering listening room)
Specifically, did a listen of a regular crossover verses a steep slope crossover.... it was pretty interesting to hear the difference and on a side by side, you can EASILY tell the difference. The only phrase that came to me at the time was "gee....it's like someone is lifting a veil from the speaker" and I finally understood what people meant!!
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I take it the steep slope crossover was the winner?
Otherwise why would someone go through the expense of using a more complicated crossover where a simple one would do, correct?
 
Krosya said:
I dont know if I can be called a fan of Klipsch, but I love my KG4s. I'm not the first owner, so I dont know if something was done to them in terms of upgrades. But they do just about everything right for me. They are amazing for the Home theater - just ina 2 channel mode they sound like you have a lot more speakers around you. But they are not perfect and thats why I have other speakers. After enjoying my KG4s, I thought I would try larger Klipsch, so I looked into Heresy and Forte. WHile they can sound good to my ears with some music, they seemed much more "picky" and sounded much more harsh in some cases compared to my KG4. Maybe they needed upgrades or something. But I'd say - if KG4 is not your cup of tea, other Klipsch will most likely not be either.
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What did you use to amplify the Forte and Heresy speakers? It makes a difference.
 
The OP was already given an open invitation to visit Coytee. I know Coytee personally and he has a nice collection of various Klipsch offerings, including what in my opinion is the least harsh sounding but may be out of the OPs budget, Klipsch Jubilees. If he really truly is interested in finding the answer to his Klipsch question, he should put his butt in a car and go for a visit! Only the OPs ears will know the truth, and he will never know if he never listens for himself, everything else is conjecture.

Roger
 
I'm just some douchebag who is getting back into the hobby -- had some life restructuring issues -- but all I know is this: I've been to >30 Bruce Hornsby concerts and the only speakers I've owned which sound like I'm there are Klipsch Cornwalls.

Here's there other thing I know. "Live sound isn't sonically pure."

Take that how you will, your mileage may vary.
 
mkane said:
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.

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hey mkane, care to elaborate on the mods you did?

my cornwalls sound great at low volumes, but too bright at louder volumes.

I am considering the crites mods, or even an Eminence Kappa 15" speaker, which apparently extends the low mids up

I wish Klipsch had the EQ dials JBL speakers have...I could dial it back a bit. my JBL's are hella bright too, if I don't knock down the high end with those dials

that seems to work better than using the tone controls on my amp

cheers
 
Eminence Kappa 15, Crites ct 120 which I believe is his latest offering and Athelia Audio crossovers.
 
Tom Brennan said:
That's no reason to add more impurities during reproduction, ideally we'd reproduce the original impurities without adding new ones.
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No issue.

I'm just saying it sounds right: like the concert.

Most designs, to me, don't.
 
darkblue94 said:
What did you use to amplify the Forte and Heresy speakers? It makes a difference.
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Well, both were not mine, so I got to play with them at people's homes. One was powered with a vintage Kenwood - dont know model, but on a higher end. And the other by a Vintage Pioneer SX-1250, I believe.
 
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