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PART ll: To All Klipsch Heritage Fans

Hello everyone who rang in to my "To All Klipsch Heritage Fans" post. Thank you all for your insights and suggestions and comments, I think I learned a thing or two. I'm not sure if I will be able to answer all the responses individually, but I'll try to get to a few, and if I don't, please take this as a warm Thank you.

Here's the Question for PART ll of the Klipsch Heritage discussion:

I don't want to get involved with tube amplification, it's too much of a commitment for the wallet at this time, but I will think about tube preamp section, but this is beside the point, THE QUESTION HERE IS ABOUT CLASS A OR A/B AMPLIFICATION FOR KLIPSCH.

I heard a speaker reviewer mention that Klipsch Heritage, from the Hersey IV and up respond the best on class A topology. What say you? How many of you tested this idea: Klipsch on class A or A/B?

FINAL QUESTION, HIGH DAMPENING FACTOR. I was thinking of marrying either the Hersey IV or Forte IV with a Hagel (entry level) amp. I believe all Hagel amps have a very high dampening factor, up to 4000, and are super silent, in that the music comes out from a black quite background. I'm thinking with such a huge dampening factor of 4000 how would Klipsch's woofers would respond. 

Cheers, and Thanks

octobertime
lak's avatar
lak
4,817 posts
 

This most likely isn't the answer you are looking for but I believe for a lot of us (the people reading this) its true.

Many can't hear the difference between class A vs A/B in general let alone on Klipsch Heritage speakers. If you can hear the difference go with class A.

Although I have not heard the Hagel products myself, I have read that they will sound good on Klipsch Heritage speakers.

zlone
1,325 posts
 

Given the sensitivity of Klipsch speakers, I owned Heresy II’s way back when, a good quality high bias Class A/B will likely be sufficient and never leave Class A unless you are really pounding on them. “Damping” factor is important, but I think there are diminishing returns after a certain point, I.e. don’t buy an amp just because it has a super high damping factor.

I have not heard any complaints about Hegel, they seem to be pretty good even on their lower end products. But do some research, as you are here, and consider others. Amplifiers age well, so consider used and try to go up a tier, it will make a difference. 

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,969 posts
 

I’ve had a bunch of the heritage line over the years. Too much damping factor will make them a little strident or stiff sounding. But not necessarily bad sound just not the typical smooth sound most people turn to for them. Most like a tube amp because of the inherent brightness of most of the heritage series, the new ones are not nearly as bright as the older ones though. I’ve heard big power Mac amps on them (not ideal), low powered SET’s on them and after many different amps a low powered one always sounds best. I would look for a nice 20-50wpc SS class A amp or Tube amp. The best I’ve heard was Triode labs 2A3 SET’s but they are not cheep, and only 2.5 wpc. But I have also heard a Luxman 20wpc class A amp that was fantastic as well. Class A-A/B won’t make that much difference with them, but IMO lower powered Tube or SS always seem to sound the best. Big power doesn’t seem to respond well with them IMO.

If I had another set of LaScala’s I’d probably use a vintage Sansui 777A (or similar, and after a restoration) on them those capacitor coupled amps sound sweet on the heritage line similar to a tube amps sound without the tubes.

cherbib
61 posts
 

For me, there is something about 300B’s with the Heritage line, and horns in general.  The difference with other amplifier types is strikingly apparent.

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