The Klipschorn

Mootsdude gives an inexpensive formula for audio Nirvana. Klipsch + George Wright or Mike Sanders' gear in a good room = Heaven! Absolutely agree with two recommendations (s)he(?) gives. Sanders for Push/Pull and Wright for SET. Too bad Sanders doesn't like SET enough to build them! The stuff he does build is first rate and the customer service he gives is second to none. George Wright is a gentlemen of similar integrity in my estimation. I had the pleasure of meeting him last year. Good call on both IMO!

Marco

PS...$6k may be the new price for the current Khorn, but I've seen them (vintage) going for under $2k in great shape on the used market from folks just looking to get rid of them. They are not the easiest speakers to move around or ship at almost 200lbs each. Consequently there are deals to be had on them if you are patient. The point about having the proper room and space for them is a good one as well. They are built to be installed in the corners of one side of a room. The LaScala's and Belles use the same drivers, but do not require corners for optimum performance. Some folks actually build false corners around the Khorns. Not quite the same reinforcement as a real wall might offer.

Rhum_runner, you can get into the Klipsch sound with a pair of Chorus or Cornwalls for $500 to $800 on the used market. Add another $500 to $800 for a nice, used push-pull tube amp to drive them and you have the start of a great budget system. Just make sure the tube amp you get is very low in hum and noise as the Klipsch's high effiency will magnify any inherent noise in the amplification chain.

For those with more limited space, a set of Hereseys could be a good way to go -- perhaps mated to a subwoofer.

Mootsdude, thanks for the tip on the Quicksilver monoblocks. I may need to check those out.

Marco - I just picked up a pair of Quicksilver MiniMites and absolutely love them!! They are matched with the Heresys (1984). I've modded the speakers with Dynamat on the horns and Liquid Nails on all the seams and have clearly noticed an improvement. Do you have any recomendations for rewiring the speakers and maybe putting new binding posts on them? I still would like to tone down the high-end. Thanks.

Mike

Hey Mike - I've paired off my Mini-Mites with my vintage Heresy's from the late 70's (metal horns and K55V/K77M drivers). Dynamat on the inside, same on the horn bodies, 3/4 MDF back (replaced the stock back and terminals), window caulking around the rear seal and driver seals. For the interior wires I used DH Labs silver and it was a big improvement over stock both in the Heresy's and in the LaScala's I have in my other system. The MiniMite+Heresy combo is killer for the money you need to spend on it. Used MM's go for around $600-700, and a good set of vintage Heresy's are only around 300-500. Good deals on vintage Klipsch stuff comes around at garage sales and pawnshaps all the time too. I have not been crazy about the Mini-Mites paired off with the Scala's in either my home or at work. Just more punch and less finesse. My expectations with the Scala's are SET high (pun intended).

Plato - An excellent suggestion; I agree you can get a taste of the vintage Klipsch sound with Cornwalls or Heresy's....and a rockin-out version with Forte's or Chorus (though I found the Forte's a bit less refined, and heavier on the low-end than the others mentioned, yet a very enjoyable speaker for not a lot of money). I've owned two pairs of Forte II's, Heresys and LaScalas and have pretty extensive listening experience with all of those with several different systems, as well as directly comparing many permutations in my own systems, while throwing in several Klipshorns, a Belle and Chorus that did not belong to me in other systems. Though the smaller Klipsch give you a taste, and are impressive on their own merits for less money, if you can afford the money/patience, and do have the room, I would always go with the Scalas or Khorns above all others. They simply compound all the merits of the smaller speakers into a fuller yet refined and effortless expression of the music. The one type of speaker I really would like to compare them to, that I have yet to try is a good single-driver design like Terry Cain offers. I have a feeling I would enjoy that.

Marco

I have paired my 2002 Khorns with everything from Wavelength Cardinals w/ WE 300bs to 200 wpc McIntosh solid state. I agree with the posters who recommend tube power with them, but I have found that I get the best performance with a quality push-pull design, such as CJ or the new Mac 2102. Granted, they CERTAINLY do not need the power, but they still sound more robust on the bottom. The Mac 2102 and C2200 tube preamp are a great pairing with Klipschorns and, most importantly, are VERY quiet. Any noise in the system will be magnified exponentially by the Khorns.