LarryC

---------------- ...Bid what you are willing to pay ---------------- Just don't be too stingy with your upper limit, if you think you would regret losing out if you capped yourself a little too low.

I've had three great trips there. Two on the Big Island (Hawaii) only and still enjoyed the entire two weeks both times, and one 4-island trip, 2-3 days per isle, which is one neat experience with tremendous scenic variety. A very logical trip for you as a West Coaster if I recall right. Most of the time, Hawaii has wonderful, very temperate weather and is not humid and sticky like the Carribean, though the winds sometimes switch from trade to "Kona," which is less enjoyable. To me and many travelers, Oahu was the least interesting, although the Arizona memorial is moving. I liked driving over to the knife-edge ridge to the east of Honolulu. Kauai is, or was, a much quieter, more gentle place with much to see, both around the south and west sides, and to the end of the highway to the north. Maui is a great isle. I suggest taking the famous road to Hana, which had become much less scary by my last trip (take the little diversion to the small Keanae peninsula). I strongly suggest finding a place to stay in Hana instead of driving back in one day (we stayed in a less-expensive condo there), and then drive some to the south for great, peaceful views and a visit to Lindberg's grave. The drive to see the sunrise at the 10,023' summit of Hakeakala is a very interesting experience, though you have to get up at 3 or 4 in the morning to make it. It's a real experience in Hawaii to descend those trademark extraordinarily gentle slopes (its lava was/is very fluid) from surprising altitudes, and the drop from 10K to sea level is definitely no exception (use your gears, don't burn out your brakes!). You should also drive up around West Maui for great views of the ocean and Molokai across the way (other islands are often visible from Maui). You can also take the forbidden (by car rental cos.) loop the rest of the way around if you dare. There's also the Iao Needle on West Maui. The Big Island is a mini-continent. The west (Kona) side is very arid, like driving in the West a la east of the Cascades, except for the big, almost-disconcerting deep blue ocean 2,000 to 3,000 feet down the usual gentle slope, while the east side gets up to 150" of rain annually. Definitely see Kilauea and all the associated volcanic wierdness around it. I also suggest being driven down into the Waipio valley (can't do it yourself). Driving around the entire isle is really beautiful if you have the time; drive around at least half of it, either north or south (you'll have to, if you stay in Kona and visit Kilauea). I think the south half is slightly better, but only slightly. Now, I can't suggest specifics for eating and lodging. Get Roadside Geology of Hawaii (Mountain Press) if you're into that. Larry

---------------- On 7/25/2004 10:05:33 AM TJ255 wrote: Do I just call Klipsch for service? The authorized dealer I bought it from is 10 hours away ---------------- I think you should simply call Klipsch. They might simplify both trouble shooting it and returning it.

---------------- ...I would suggest painting the false corners white. I have seen photos and the white ones always seem to semi dissappear or at least look less intrusive in white. ---------------- I would suggest exactly matching the current wall color, and then I think it really will almost disappear. Bare naked white stands out too much if the wall is only an off-white. You want the bass horn to produce all the way down to "32.7", because that's where the lowest organ tones go and the lowest string bass notes come very close to it.

My unsubstantiated pet theory, FWIW, is that it's the K-horn's much larger bass horn mouth that sounds bigger. And, at a 400-500 Hz crossover point, the bass horn reaches well up into the middle range.

---------------- On 7/23/2004 5:57:57 PM artto wrote: ...what was really surprising is that I hadn’t even gotten 1/5 of the way through the July issue of Stereophile only to see the Klipsch name mentioned no less than a dozen times and specifically the Klipschorn mentioned three times by both readers and editors (and not in the usual unkindly manner either). This is truly spectacular (and amusing) considering Klipsch doesn’t even advertise in Stereophile (at least not in this, my first issue)... Nothing like free advertising from a source that doesn’t eschew your products. Wonders never cease. ---------------- Artto, I noticed the same thing. I think it followed Ray Garrison's letter to the editor a few months ago and the editor's comment in the same issue that he'd like to arrange for a review of K-horns. Now, that would really be a wonder! Larry

Aren't volume controls also sometimes "tapered," i.e., a steeper volume change in some part of the rotation, usually near the maximum? That would allow smaller, more finely graded volume changes at the low end of the rotation. When I got my 23-step VC preamp, I had a choice of locating the big changes per step at the top or the bottom of the rotation, and I chose the top, to keep the small changes per step at the bottom. Larry

For the 1% or 2% who are interested in good silver interconnects, see this Ebay auction for used Siltech interconnects at about a third of new if the current bid amounts hold up. I like Siltech a lot, though I can't vouch for these specific models. Good advice on Siltech and others has been available in the past from The Cable Company. Larry

---------------- On 7/22/2004 5:56:47 AM scriven wrote: I like the Saturday evening idea. That way I can party with the “bad boys carousing to rock” on Friday and still get in the “Classical Music for Dummies – who like to join bad boys carousing to rock” class! ---------------- Don't forget the Jazz Kitchen Poetry Lady!

---------------- On 7/21/2004 11:17:07 AM CaptnBob wrote: I wonder if the grillcloth on Shorthorn #2 (the white one) is original. Nothing personal, but the installation doesn't look as "crisp" as you usually see on Klipsches. Still, a very nice speaker. ---------------- Captn, it seems to me that I have seen that highly decorative grillcloth (on his earlier Shorthorn) on other Klipsch's from the late '50s, such as a mint K-horn pair sold in Oregon or the PNW in just the last year. To me, it looks more original and goes with the wood design better than the white, which I think looks substandard for Klipsch. Larry

---------------- On 7/21/2004 8:50:46 PM j-malotky wrote: Gil, this is a great idea. I would vote to see if we could do it in the Heritage room at the Lab, instead of the hotel room. The hotel room was fun, but to be honest, it kind of sucked for listening. For something like this, I would like to hear the music. Lets take this up with Trey next year, if Larry is up for it that is. JM ---------------- The Heritage room would be a lot better. Key question = do this the night before or as a break-out session the next day? If the night before, I have this vision of folks trying to decide whether to join bad boys carousing to rock in one place or would-be svelte types trying to learn about scores in another. I'll be up for it, but will want to solicit some of you guys' excellent advice! Larry

Here are two more, one of the left corner speaker at a different angle and the other of the right corner. No pics of the back right now. Larry

I'm the guilty party in not coming up with great pics so far. The veneer is very dark, I couldn't use direct flash because of glare, and hand-held blurred the pics. Gary, I think I need to use indirect flash, a tripod, or both. What do you think? Folks, these have spectacular sound! The bass is very full and robust, and it, and the rest of the range, have superb, quality definition. I think Gary's Craig-Mk III's, which I've heard on my system, has a lot to do with it. I'd also guess that it couldn't be carried through without a great preamp in the chain, and that the Blueberry is very much showing its stuff as well. Amazing score! Larry

Well, thanks to everyone for their comments. I'm trying to be comfortable with this kind of spotlight. Thebes, I really appreciate your lyrical and special description of how you felt about the afternoon. Gary, I'm ready for that barbeque! John and Gil, you are very, very kind. Gil, an analytic listening session takes quite a bit of time, which goes very quickly. The "Planets" session at Indy came at the end of the afternoon, and, yes, was way too abbreviated. The trick will be to pick out one to three pieces, some just to play and some to listen closely to what is really going on. Time and how to fit it all in the schedule would be major issues. The benefits of looking at a score can be limited for some works; "Mars" is too difficult to follow, for example. Also, being able to read music is probably crucial to getting much out of it. Gary and Thebes both have that ability, and both have a very quick eye. The principal benefit is to get a better grasp of what is happening, pick up on and register more detail, and see how inventive the great composers are. I would guess that most would not look at more than the first page of a score, and then just listen. I also think that a history of close listening to any kind of music is great preparation for very close listening to classical. Of course we equipment freaks tend to do that. Gil, scores have way too many pages to photocopy. The paperbacks that I use aren't that expensive, so if it looks like one of them would work for this, I would just pick up 3-5 extra copies to pass around. The major issue is how to make such a session work. My sessions have been one-on-one, and leading a group, keeping interest, and using a limited amount of time would be a real challenge. Fortunately, as I said, most would just listen. Scriven, your CD collection is a gold mine! I'm just pleased that it's working out for you. Larry

Klipschfoot, you have a PM. Thanks --

---------------- On 7/20/2004 6:49:01 AM sheltie dave wrote: ...I talked to CaptnBob, and picked up one of his identical bowtie EV 15WKs for slightly less, and the sound is within spitting distance. Bob had already reconed it in town at a real good restoration coner, who no longer has any sets I would imagine Bob Crites or Khorn58 might know an old fool who still has a recone kit, but unlike Altec, the Klipsch stuff is RARE at this point for old rebuilds. I found a guy in St. Louis who has two T shorthorns over the weekend, but he is the type who wants $15,000 for the Model T on blocks in the weeds... He kept poking me asking how they sounded. ---------------- Dave, how much did you pay CaptnBob for that 15WK? BEC, Khorn58: do either of you know of any remaining 15WK kits or reconers? I had a single "T" once; its bass went down to near K-horn depths. However, the "S" models, which we're talking about here, had a great, open sound, and the upper drivers are at a much nicer height than in the squat T's. Larry

---------------- On 7/19/2004 9:00:22 PM tillmbil wrote: Nice gear Larry. I haven't seen the shots of the other side of your room if you get a chance. Where's the shot of the masters chair? I know there is one in the sweet spot. I guess Gary sits on a milk crate. Thats what I would have for him. You know you do not want guests to get to comfortable. ---------------- Bill, you may recall this is the living room shot, from my thread on restoring the bass horn: We can hear pretty well from a number of places and don't sweat finding a sweet spot. So, today, I gave Gary the milk crate free. Larry

It's Christmas in July!

Dave, what did you end up paying for the 15WK you got? Was reconing involved? Thanks! Larry

---------------- On 7/19/2004 7:30:52 PM greg928s4 wrote: So Larry, does that mean you would be willing to sell one of the 15WK's? Do you think it's possible for some clever and industrious person to fix the torn cone? I've been giving some thought to what you, Dave, and Captn Bob are saying about matching the components up. I am torn though, part of me wants to keep these both as original as possible. I almost like that fact that they each have their own signature componentry. I'm not sure I'll be listening to these on a regular basis anyway. I really bought them to own and keep a pair of interesting PWK speakers that are somewhat rare. But if I did ever want to set up a system around these, it would be nice to have matching components. The woofer is the most important piece since there are limited numbers of them left. ---------------- I will be happy to sell you the good 15WK. I need to try to find out what a fair price is for it -- I paid too much for them in a heated Ebay auction (which included matched Klipsch T-35s, SAHFs, the woofs and networks, all going separate ways). I myself doubt that either has the original "signature" drivers, as several forum members have expressed doubts. Myself, I would have predicted that the EV woofer would be accompanied by a University SAHF mid driver and EV T-35 tweeter. The other 15WK can be reconed, but with "generic" cone materials, and no one seems to have an opinion on whether it would sound different or not. Anyway, you only need the good one. If you're not sure about how your Shorthorns sound together, you might play the two together with a mono record and rotate the balance control from side to side and to the middle. My belief is that the less matched the drivers are, the less seamlessly the speakers will blend. At the worst, the differences will be too apparent for you to enjoy them together. When you listen, be sure to compare how bass, middle-range, and treble-range instruments sound between the two sides -- as you noted, 1000 Hz is high enough to cover nearly all their fundamentals. ALSO, the mid-range and tweeters might sound different, though perhaps not as different as the woofers. Comparing them would probably require you to disconnect the woofers for that listening test. E-mail me if you want to pursue it. E-mail a phone # if you want to talk it over. Larry

This is the other, back-room half of my 2-channel setup -- a pair of K-horns and two tube monoblocs which have been seen in other threads, are in the living room, on the other side of the wall to the right. The leads from the preamp go through the baseboard, in the corner behind the PS Audio P-300 on the floor: A Basis TT is supported by the Target wall-mount on the left; the Hooker bookcase contains, from the top, a CAT preamp, Magnum Dynalab tuner, Nakamichi CR-7A, and, below that, two shelves of classical music scores (symphonies, concertos, etc.). A Revox A-77 is on the floor, and the CAT power supply is on the bottom shelf behind it. In the corner to the right of the cabinet, the transport and DAC of a Wadia CD player are each mounted on a Rega turntable wall mount -- plaster walls are a help in holding up that kind of weight! Some of my CDs are visible on the desk on the right; the LPs are all on cabinet shelves scattered around the room, along with other scores, music books and maps. I divided my equipment between two rooms and put the speakers in the living room because my little Cape Cod doesn't have a separate listening/viewing room. Crowded but cozy -- Larry

Greg, The K-Ortho bit refers to the 3-way speaker-network system that Klipsch put into those Shorthorns, and also sold separately for those who wanted to put them in their cabinets. The K-Ortho-15 had the 15" woofer. See http://www.hifilit.com/hifilit/Klipsch/1957n.jpg (sorry I can't put in a link). Re Sheltie's point, you can faintly see the "K" after the 15W on the EV woofer. You definitely need to compare the sound between those two if you're going to use them as a stereo pair, because I think they might sound very different. You accurately noted that, with the 1000-Hz crossover and MR horn, the woofer carries a lot of the midrange, and the 15WK has huge, clear midrange as well as great bass. What is the other woofer, can you tell? It might also be great, but I'd lay a small wager that it's not like the 15WK. You might also want to compare the midrange and tweeter sound between the two, since those drivers also look rather different. I think of the University SAHF as the common midrange driver for '59 Klipsch. I have a pair of EV 15WKs. One is in great shape sonically, probably more beat up than yours visually. The other has a torn cone, and original reconing kits are no longer available.

---------------- ...Klipschorn, blk finish, 4 ft., pd $1500, center, pd. $600, rear pd. $800. All for $1500 or will sep. 240-643-3272. . . I think that's the Bethesda/Rockville area. ---------------- Black finish and only 48" (if that's accurate) instead of the B style's 52"? . . . hmm . . . may not be what he'd want even if he was ready for them. Yep, Maryland.

---------------- On 7/15/2004 9:16:18 PM greg928s4 wrote: ...I think they both have the original woofers. ---------------- What are they? 15WK or K33-something?

---------------- On 7/14/2004 2:01:26 AM maxg wrote: ...Rossini - Opera I hope - we are in total favorite territory here - along with Verdi and Puccini. ---------------- We've focused on orchestral pieces, and because ARTS videos aren't that long, it's been Rossini, Weber, and Wagner overtures and preludes, movements of concertos and short soloist/orchestral works, and the like. Their opera and choral videos are usually arias or choruses. I myself have not been as big a fan of opera as of orchestral and choral works. Weber -- I like Der Freischutz, both overture and opera, and we have viewed the Oberon overture, one of my favorites. The rest of his works haven't interested me that much. I've never been able to get into Widor. Larry