tube amp sound more engaging

How about current vintage SETs with efficient, modern, very accurate, hi-tech loudspeakers?

Excellent question, Metralla, one that obviously leads to a matter of personal preference. I've listened to at least fifty systems, some costing as much as $100K, and both SS and tube. And our 7W SET amp sends music through our Klipsch La Scala's with an immediacy and humanity that I have yet to find elsewhere. And I assure you, it's not for a lack of looking.

Even when paired with our Silverline Sonata II speakers, the amp still sounds wonderful. But to my ear, those efficient, modern, very accurate, hi-tech loudspeakers seem to 'massage' the music, to blend it to a level of pleasantry and refinement that sounds perfect to my audiophile's brain, but one that remains distant from my musician's gut.

There are so many fine components out there. A couple of weeks ago, the Eggleston Works Andra II's knocked my socks off. And the Avantgarde's I heard were amazing. But no matter what else I've heard--and I am regularly listening to other systems--I always find myself saying in regards to the speakers, "Those sound incredible." With the Klipsch, however, I don't hear the 'those'. The speakers disappear, and I just hear the music as it fills the room with the emotion and humanity of the players.

My wife and I agree that the 'next step' for us is a pair of K-horns. Oh, but first the proper room in which to welcome those babies.

Have a wonderful New Year's,

Howard

Eldartford,

Relative to the cost of many toys found in this audio playground, $2500 or so for a pair of used K-horns (or ANY speakers, for that matter) strikes me as downright cheap.

I would think that very, very low powered SS amps could sound great with horns...something in the 25 watt range if used with a volume control with a slow ramp-up.

Dave

question for boa2,what 7 watt set amp are you using ?? also in regards to a right room for khorns....any room will do large or small. I have them in a 12x15 room, not to big and they work great. I do use them with a Mac 252,they work great with that,also have a nicely restored dynaco st 70.also great, have vtl too, also great with the khorns....must meant theKhorns are great....sure are to me.

Also in response to my gizzillion amp thing..what I am talking about are big Levinsons, krell, Rowland etc...trying to drive a monster speaker that goes down to 1ohm..with cables you could hoist a piano with etc... I mean it starts to get ridicilous...the whole point is to play music....I too have heard many systems...like some big electrostatics driven with the gizziilion watt mega expensive amp, connected by wire that cost what a used car does...the sound wasn't too good, sales guy blamed the room...yeah right.

I Know Khorns aren't for anybody and there are very good dynamic speakers out there etc. but sometimes it seems that too many get hung up on the equipment and the "sound" rather than is it musical....my definition of musical is any system that makes you want to listen to more music...thats musical.

Superhonestben,

We are going to move soon, so when we know that we have a room with two suitable corners, we will get a pair of K-horns.

We have an Audion Silver Night MKII--a 7W SET. Picked it up for a ridiculously low price, and it is a phenomenal amp. Pick your favorite singer and let her sing in your ear--that's truly what it sounds like!