flashman

Hi all (posted on Upgrades and Modifications forum as well) I have not posted in some time. Recently moved from tubes to the Red Wine Audio Signature 30 amp and the RWA-modded Oliver music server. Both run on sealed lead-acid batteries, so I am totally "off the grid." The music comes out of a black background... lovely. At any rate, while I have been intrigued with single-driver speakers, I have upgraded my 1987-vintage Klipsch Forte 1 speakers twice with Bob Crites stuff: first, a new X-over about three months ago and just today new titanium tweeters (after Bob's exhaustive testing). Each upgrade has added substantially to the sound. The X-over tightened up the sound top to bottom, with probably the woofer and mid-range occupying the greatest gains. Now, the new tweeters have added phenomenal top-end sound while blending nicely with the midrange. Suddenly, everything has became smoother and crisper without undue emphasis. Couldn't be happier. Bob said he tested the tweeter to 23Khz. The original phenolic tweeter only achieved 20Khz, so Bob plucked an additional 3Khz out of the air! I don't have any relation to Bob, other than being an arm's-length fan. all best, flashman a.k.a. Michael

Hi all, I have not posted in some time. Recently moved from tubes to the Red Wine Audio Signature 30 amp and the RWA-modded Oliver music server. Both run on sealed lead-acid batteries, so I am totally "off the grid." The music comes out of a black background... lovely. At any rate, while I have been intrigued with single-driver speakers, I have upgraded my 1987-vintage Klipsch Forte 1 speakers twice with Bob Crites stuff: first, a new X-over about three months ago and just today new titanium tweeters (after Bob's exhaustive testing). Each upgrade has added substantially to the sound. The X-over tightened up the sound top to bottom, with probably the woofer and mid-range occupying the greatest gains. Now, the new tweeters have added phenomenal top-end sound while blending nicely with the midrange. Suddenly, everything has became smoother and crisper without undue emphasis. Couldn't be happier. Bob said he tested the tweeter to 23Khz. The original phenolic tweeter only achieved 20Khz, so Bob plucked an additional 3Khz out of the air! I don't have any relation to Bob, other than being an arm's-length fan. all best, flashman a.k.a. Michael

Here's the schematic on the Cayin TA30. I pulled it off of Paul's web site. It's not very professionally done so I am not sure whether it will help. Anyway, thanks for any advice. http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/CAYIINPICS/TA-30schematic.jpg

Anyone have experience running Forte 1 speakers (mine are 4 ohm, 96db sensitive) in SET mode vs. Push-Pull? I have the Cayin TA-30, currently running in Push-Pull, and am enjoying it. But I am intrigued by the capability of the amp to go into SET mode by pulling a few power tubes and adjusting the bias. I favor jazz/folk but do occasionally listen to rock. By the way, for those who are interested, I have a CD recording (Reader's Digest, of all places) of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong singing "April in Paris." I was stunned at the clarity of the CD... from an original recording in '58, I believe. There are some modern day recordings that don't sound this good. Guess it all points to the quality of the original recording equipment. Sorry for the side bar thought. Thanks for any thoughts on subject.

I purchased a Cayin TA30 w/upgrades (focus control, auricap, external bias) from Paul and am pleased with it. Just ordered some Svetlana EL-34s (stronger bass than the stock Cayin tubes and perhaps better highs... we'll see) from Paul and will install them when they arrive. The integrated amp is driving my original Forte speakers. The sound is astonishing to my ears, particularly jazz and women's voices; for example, most of the Diana Krall CDs are very nicely recorded and her voice just leaps out of the speakers. That never happened with my Carver 900 receiver. Also, Enya sounds great, kind of like the "Wall of Sound" spaciousness created by Phil Spector. I played some Joabim (older listeners might recall "The Girl from Ipanema") and his voice and Astrid's were fabulous. I guess the only caveats I would offer are the following: -- This is my first tube amp... I am hooked but... it's my first tube amp. -- Lousily recorded CDs sound... well, lousy. Perhaps my SS Carver was more forgiving. -- The Forte speakers have deep bass. Even though I have heard that the Cayin delivers deep bass, it still doesn't hold a candle to my Carver receiver... but I have gone from preferring deep bass to preferring smooth sound. Okay, guess I am getting older and maybe a little more mellow. That's my two cents. One day, perhaps I'll upgrade my CD player to a tube player to see whether that makes a difference. Currently, I have a Denon DCD1500 that is (gulp) almost 20 years old. But it's like a Timex... keeps on playing. Bon chance. ---------------- On 3/24/2004 6:04:18 PM tkeady wrote: Looking for any info on the Cayin TA 30. Had a great conversation with Paul at Bizzy Bee and wanted to hear from anyone who has owned one with or w/o his hop-up mods. I will be using it with Forte II's. I understand there is no phono jack, I want to run a CD and turntable. t ----------------

On 2/24/2004 5:17:16 PM chuckears wrote: If you would like an amp that gives you a tube-u-lar sound, but in a solid state package, I can vouch for McCormack amplifiers. I ran my Fortes with a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe, and it was like a re-awakening. Recordings suddenly became live events, with the artist RIGHT THERE in my living room; when I added a good subwoofer, I was transported to the room the recording was made in... the subsonic room signatures, along with the amazing clarity of the McCormackKlipsch combination, was a revelation. The other great thing about a powerful solid-state amp with Fortes is the bass slam; since the Forte sports a cone woofer, it needs a lot of power to push enough air to provide that realistic push. Third great thing... no tubes to replace. Oh, and you can find these babies for slightly less than half of retail on the used market. Whatever you decide on, it is terrific to know that your Forte is going to be one of the last components in your system you would need to upgrade. I never plan to let go of mine, even if I were to someday get completely horny (K-Horns or LaScalas), there is always the bedroom... ---------------- Thanks for the advice about the McCormack. I have now read a few reviews and it sounds like a very impressive amp. Any suggestions on a used or budget pre-amp to match it? The only issue is that the McCormack appears to go for about $1,000 on Audiogon, and when I add a used quality pre-amp, I imagine I will spend up to $500. For about $850 or so I could get a tube integrated Cayin TA-30 from Paul at 2baudio (I may have the web address wrong). Even with the hassle of changing tubes, heat, etc. I may get to the same place (minus perhaps the huge SS bass slam, although the TA-30 has very good bass from what I understand). I will continue my journey of discovery. Thanks for the help on the way.

---------------- On 2/8/2004 12:40:20 PM Johnny dB wrote: Flashman, '85 was the first year for the Fortes. Not that it matters much as they all sound great. Will you be using a TT? Have you considered vintage tube gear? If you have your heart set on new, check out the Cayin T-30. ---------------- Thanks for the clarification Johnny dB. As to the Cayin TA-30, I have been reading great posts about it, particuarly how it mates well to Forte speakers. I may take the plunge. Did you get the modified version or just go for the base version? I am hesitant about purchasing beause I have never had a tube intergrated amp (now powering my Forte speakers with an old Carver 900 SS receiver). How do you like the Cayin? Much trouble to maintain? Did you get it from Paul? Flashman

---------------- On 2/7/2004 12:01:07 PM forte wrote: I just purchased an Antique Sound Labs MG-SI15 integrated tube amp and have been playing that through my original Fortes. SN 8713043/4. Sounds fantastically better than any of the SS gear I have played through them. The sound is so natural, and I just can't explain it. The only problem I have been having is that the mids seem too strong. I started a topic about that here: http://forums.klipsch.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=45340 BTW, where can I find the serial number decoder list? ---------------- Forte, The serial number decoder chart can be found at: http://home.earthlink.net/~ivol/klipsch_cornwall/klipsch_date_codes.htm Looks as if your speakers were produced the first week of '87. I have read about your Antique Sounds integrated amp and it sounds good. I am also researching Jolida's products. I want to pay sub-$700 and am somewhat apprehensive about a tube product after years of SS receivers. But I will take the plunge after a lot of research. Thanks for your feedback. Wish I could tell you how to tone down your mids. Flashman

I just checked the serial numbers on my Klipsch Forte speakers -- 8663049 and 8663050. After reading the serial number decoder list, that means they were built in the sixth week of '86, the first year that the original Forte speakers were built. Guess that means they were among the first ever produced? I recall buying them on the strength of the review by Julian Hirsch in the July '86 "Stereo Review." I now want to fall in love with them again... and am considering a tube integrated amplifier. When my wife found me looking at the Jolida web site, she got this funny look on her face and said, "You just upgraded the stereo system in your car." As if that mattered... Funny how hearing audio the way it is supposed to sound is soooo important to guys but women (well, for the most part) just don't get it. Must be something hard wired into our respective sexes. Anyway, I felt the need to unload somewhere about this. Flashman

---------------- On 8/23/2003 11:43:02 AM Jef wrote: Hello, I have a nOrh SE 9, for the price (400 $/Euro) including shipping it is a great buy and easy entree into tube amps. The 9 Watts are more than sufficient to drive my RF3's (ok don't expect 2400 Watt subwoofer kicks in your stomach neither). Jef ---------------- Jef, I am considering the SE9 for my original) Forte speakers. Are you still satisfied with how the unit drives your RP3s, which have the same sensitivity as my speakers (98db)? How did you integrate the SE9 with your HT set-up, which is what I would like to do. For instance, did you hook up the SE9 through your pre-amp out terminals on the receiver and then hook up the RP3s to the SE9? Or did you use a switcher between the receiver and the tube amp? Thanks for any help.

Any thoughts on the Norh SE9 tube integrated amp mated to Klipsch Forte speakers? Only 9 watts per channel! Someone on the forum said he used the SE9 to drive his RF3s, which have the same sensitivity as my original Forte speakers (98db). Is this really possible? I know tube amps have greater efficiency per watt than solid state receivers but 9 watts just sounds, well, puny.

I am a newbie to the forum, and this is my first post. I own a pair of walnut-finished Forte speakers (first edtion purchased in '87 after reading Julian Hirsch's review in "Stereo Review")that I have connected to a Harmon-Kardon AV receiver pumping out about 65 watts in stereo mode. After reading several posts of how a tube amp might smooth out the sound of my Forte speakers, I have a two basic questions: 1) I have seen a Jolida integrated tube amp on the web that I would like to connect to the speakers. Can I take the pre-amp outs of the H-K receiver and hook them to the inputs of the integrated amp? I only want to use the amp section of the Jolida (they don't seem to make JUST a tube amp), not the pre-amp section. In other words, I want to use all the controls on the H-K receiver and just use the Jolida to provide the amplification to the Forte speakers. Can I do this? I intend to keep a Klipsch center speaker hooked up to my H-K receiver when I do surround sound. I do not have rear speakers. 2) I have seen many posts on this forum on tube amps mating nicely with the Forte speakers. Besides Jolida, can anyone tell me another low-budget solution? I am willing to buy used. I am confused about how much power I will need for instance. I have heard that one watt from a tube amp is about two or three of a solid state amp. Given the great sensitivity of the Forte speakers, what is the minimum tube wattage I should look for. Thanks, and apologies in advance if this is too basic. Flashman