Yummy......KLH 17 speakers & tubes

[gearhound]

I finally got around to trying out my recapped & refurbished KLH 17 speakers with a tube amp.
I had been using them in my main system.....a B&K ST-140 amp, along with a DALE 1/2 ohm, 20 watt resistor in series, to simulate a tube load.
While I've been quite pleased with that set up, all the raves about the 17's with tubes got me curious?
Sooooo...........................
I hooked up a single KLH 17 speaker to my mono Webster 6V6 PP amp.
Ooooohhhh......now I know what all the fuss is about!?
Compared to solid state.....tubes just bring the KLH 17 speakers.....to a whole new level!
Guess it's gonna stay there.....while I figure out what I'm gonna hook up to the B&K?
Kinda nice decision to have, huh?

Steve :thmbsp:

 

[essamt3]

The 17's have always been on of my favorite speakers, new or old. Very underappreciated. I have three or four pairs...never hooked them up to any of my tube amps, mostly they've been used with a Sansui AU-555. But in any case, one of the easiest to listen to speakers out there, and not overly large like the 6's can be. Two pairs stacked will put out a lot of sound too...just watch the power, I killed a couple woofers through over-excursion. Good luck finding a matching tube amp so you can really get up and running.

 

[dean man jim]

I'm listening to my KLH 17s through a modern tube integrated, an Onix SP3. You can find one of these on audiogon for $500 or less, check the 6Moons reviews (there were 3 reviews in different contexts), and the bluemoon award it received there. Replacing the stock tubes with Valve Art 350b output tubes and vintage preamp tubes it's amazing for the $. Anyway the KLH speakers sound wonderful with it, the midrange in particular is spectacular. Bass isn't as low or controlled as my Dynaco A25s, but with a teeny adjustment to the sub there's no lack of seamless sound. I know the highs roll off early, but that would be easy enough to fix with an outboard tweeter if one felt the need...

Jim