Klipsch Jubilee & Klipschorn Experience

The Jubilees are around 108db efficient, and compared to the Avantgarde Trios which I think are close to the same, The Jubilees seem alot more efficient but more sensitive to noise from the amp. I saw a video where Klipsch was demoing Jubilees with Rotel Michi amps. Anyone go to that show? Im curious how it sounded in person. 

@phusis

"However, strictly speaking whatever accounts for @willywonka’s Jubilee impressions at named exhibition last year is pure guessing, and let’s not forget that as there are different rooms, setups and choices of implementation, there are as well ears belonging to different individuals."

I want to be clear about this. Everyone I overheard talking about the Jubilee’s or talked to at the show had the same exact impression on these speakers. In fact, even the major publications commented about it. My impressions AREN’T guessing but was in fact the popular opinion at the show by many people! Also the fact that some people are blaming the amplification seems odd. The Manufacturer (Klipsch) provided this, and you would think that they would know what they are doing. Amplification was Michi P5 preamp, and Michi S5 stereo power amp. I have no doubt these speakers can sound amazing, but they just didn't sound right at that show,

@willywonka wrote:

I want to be clear about this. Everyone I overheard talking about the Jubilee’s or talked to at the show had the same exact impression on these speakers. In fact, even the major publications commented about it. My impressions AREN’T guessing but was in fact the popular opinion at the show by many people!

I didn’t mean to imply that your impressions of the sound of the Jubilee’s was a "guessing game," but rather that whatever specifics accounted for their lack of performance to your, and apparently others’ ears as well, was up in the air.

Also the fact that some people are blaming the amplification seems odd. The Manufacturer (Klipsch) provided this, and you would think that they would know what they are doing. Amplification was Michi P5 preamp, and Michi S5 stereo power amp.

To start with one would expect the representatives from Klipsch had some level of critical assessment and final approvement of the overall sound coming from the Jubilee’s at named show, and apparently they failed here, so whether it was down to the choice of amps, active filter settings, acoustics, speaker placement or other, well - who knows?

But being you were actually there, what more specifically threw you (and others) off wrt. their sound, and did you listen to other larger horn-loaded speakers to make for some comparison perhaps? What type of speakers do you prefer generally, if you even do have any preference based on the speaker principle involved?

I have no doubt these speakers can sound amazing, but they just didn’t sound right at that show

If they’re present at Axpona this year hopefully it’ll turn out more successfully for them and the listeners.

Large horn-based speakers, perhaps not least of the all-horn variety like the Jub’s, can be an imposing and rather different listening experience compared to the more typical segment of low eff. direct radiating speakers of vastly smaller size. To some that’s a blessing, and to others it may be too much or simply too different an experience for them to appreciate and savor. Well-made and -implemented large horn speakers don’t necessarily sound "imposing" per se, but one has to remember these are very different animals compared to the more "standard" fare of speakers; the uninhibited dynamics, presence, scale/size of sound and physicality can be quite startling, certainly at prodigious SPL’s that are often displayed at shows. That said not trying to excuse the Jub’s performance at Axpona ’22, however they might’ve performed to my ears.

I have used ss with horns for years, and admittedly, some ss can be harsh. But I would blame the room and set up, more than the amplification. Phusis, in his last paragraph of his latest post, makes a lot of sense. I know people who cannot handle the dynamics, and / or other horn traits, because it is too much for them. A correspondent of mine cannot listen to Miles Davis, because he says the horn hurts his ears, and this is through some Maggies. To each his own. My best always, MrD.

@ditusa @phusis @mrdecibel @johnk : ...Loving this discussion and hope to hear the new jubes at some point soon.  Do you have plans to hear the new Jubilee's? Would love to hear your thoughts on them.

@phusis - can expand upon your criticism of the new Jubilees' ported bass horns ... do any other manufacturers' or DIYers bass horn place the woofer is in a ported enclosure (vs the typical sealed)?  I think Roy said this was his invention and he patented it.  I understand the intent is for lower extension, what is the tradeoff in your opinion?  Is the bass horn just being asked to perform too far out if its range and start impact the sound negatively? I have seen some folks on the klipsch forum with the older underground jubilee's who have done what you recommended, ie, tapped horn for the lowest octaves, Jube horn up to say 400-500hz, then let the K402 take over.  I'm not sure Klipsch would dip into tapped horns, as that tech belongs to Danley sound labs, no?  

At Axpona last year, what space were they playing in, and what was their placement within that room?  I have seen videos where the new Jubilees are out in the middle of the room playing, as opposed to being placed in the corners like the klipschorns and underground jubilees.  Perhaps the bass horns are sufficient in size along with their onboard DSP as to not require the corner bass reinforcement, but maybe that comes as a tradeoff in sound quality? Maybe they would still benefit from corner placement for more natural playback...

Have any other companies/DIYer's utilized the Celestion Axi2050 in their horns? I've read they are similar in sound quality to a TAD 4002 with out the high frequency extension, and extend down to ~250hz.  really, i want to know what Celestion envisions as the perfect horn for the Axi2050.