Used Heresy Shopping - what to look for & consider

[nniemiec]

I'm casually looking to pick up a pair of used Heresy speakers- I can't justify $3K for the new IVs. For those that have experience with the various versions - what are the major differences among 1st (3) versions & what are the easy frugal improvements vs. more $$$ / time intensive improvements that should be considered? What do the Crite's crossover upgrades achieve? Also - I know these are traditionally considered floor standers, but has anyone been pleased w. having them placed at ear level elevated? My room is at a disadvantage to accommodate floor standers which is a major reason why I'm considering this model based on it's size.

As far as evaluating a used pair - what should I be paying attention to aside from the cabinet condition? Are the drivers easily repairable or replaceable if needed? Any additional resources you can point me to online - much appreciated.

 

[alteclipsch]

Lots of love and hate for the Heresy models. I had a pair of elderly ones, did Crites Ti diaphragms in the tweeters and the crossover upgrade too. The xover was a waste of money since you pay for Solens caps and unnecessary replacement resistors. Knowing what I know now, I would have used Dayton caps and I wouldn't have done the diaphragms. To my ears, the "improvement" really didn't do anything appreciable. Nor did I like the sound , which was fatiguing after 30 minutes or so. I sold them shortly after the upgrades.

OTOH, there are plenty of folks here who LOVE them, so don't take my experience as gospel.

One compaint is their lack of bass, but I never found that to be an issue.

I would do a detailed listen before buying.

 

[Nat]

I have had a couple of pairs over the years, but didn't appreciate them until I added a decent subwoofer. With a solid bottom end, they are very appealling speakers - big, detailed, and balanced sounding, and can go astonishingly loud. But without a good subwoofer, they are irritating - not to everyone, as alteclipsch pointed out,, but to me. So I've sold the ones I've owned - if they didn't sell for good money, and weren't so large and ungainly looking, I would have happily kept them, but I don't need their incredible volume capabilities, and smaller and better looking satellites are not hard to find.