richieb

As they say, to each his own. Have both Cornwalls and Belles, which are very similar in design to LS. For me, it is Belles hands down, no contest. Much cleaner, crisper and plenty of accurate, tight and real sounding bass. Never bloated. I still believe the bass has much to do with front end equipment. Thin sounding bass could be the result of less than adequate and marginal amplification being fed by marginal source material, i.e. CD player or TT. Just my .02.

---------------- On 5/8/2005 1:21:40 PM seti wrote: Let me get this straight you bought your mother a pair of Belles? If this doesn't get you into heaven or at least a sainthood I'll be dammed if I know what would. ---------------- I wish I could claim such genorosity. No, they are mine but Mom can listen any time she wants.

My 84 year old mother had not seen the Belles I had to drive to Chicago for pick-up. After seeing them and hearing Mr. Tony Bennett as close to live as possible, Mom said "it looks like they were well worth the effort". I about flipped. I didn't raise no dummy, and neither did Mom. Happy Mothers Day.

I have experienced the best imaging to date with a 60 WPC Redgum MOSFET integrated, with both Cornwalls and Belles. Bested my Cayin EL-34 integrated w/ TAD pre-amp and highly regarded Unison Research tube integrated. This current set-up, Redgum/Belles, is so satisfying it has seemingly cured my constant uphill battle with upgradeitis, a sickness cured only with an empty bank acount or great sounding system. I now only look for fun as I sit peacefully and listen.

Also happened to me about 10 years ago, jewelery and the like. Makes you feel very vulnerable. Was robbed at gunpoint about 25 years ago in a liquor store I owned in very nice part of town. Now, that doesn't make you feel vulnerable, it makes you check to see if you crapped yourself. Having someone pull a .357 from their pocket when you are expecting to see a wallet is a real eye-opener. Yes, that pair of underwear was disgarded.

Double-run of Kimber 4TC. Yes there is a difference in cable no matter what Roger Russell states.

---------------- On 4/22/2005 9:06:04 PM Woodog wrote: ---------------- On 4/22/2005 8:03:45 PM thebes wrote: Malette, be happy to pick you up, head on down to the crossroads ---------------- Me too! Me too! I've been listening to blues lately here are 5 of my favorites that can take me to the sound of bass and frogs even in the dead of winter! The five CDs are as follows: 1. Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham & the Sweet Baby Blues Band. Back to the Neighborhood. Concord Jazz Records. (another of theirs - Luv in the Afternoon - is equally good. 2. Son House. Father of the Delta Blues: the Complete 1965 Sessions. Columbia. 2 CDs (Some people say that House was better in his earlier recordings from the 1930s, but his 1960s recordings (after he was rediscovered) are still awe inspiring and have better sound quality. 3. Buddy Guy. Damn Right, I've Got the Blues. Silvertone Records. Guy has made many recordings. This is one of his best, imo. Other great recordings include the ones he made with Junior Wells (famous harmonica player), his recordings with the great pianist Otis Spann from the 1960s on Vanguard, and the album "Muddy Waters, Folksinger" (Chess Records), which has Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy playing acoustic guitar duets. 4. Madeline Peyroux. Careless Love. Rounder Records. Both jazz & blues, sounds a bit like Billie Holliday, the CD includes songs by Leonard Cohen, W. C. Handy, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan. A *great* CD. 5. Jimmy Witherspoon. Rockin' Spoon. Charly Records. This is a British release, you may not find this exact CD, but he made a number of recordings. He recorded with a bunch of famous jazz guys, including Jay McShann, Woody Herman, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Earl Hines. But he was definitely a bluesman. Right now, however, the radio is tuned to NPR's American Routes, and the Blind Boys of Alabama are putting some musical healing on me. Forrest ---------------- One of the best blues CD's I've heard in a long time is SRV - Blues at Sunrise, the slow blues album. This is what killer blues guitar is all about. And on Belles-incredible. Rich

---------------- On 4/21/2005 5:22:30 AM colterphoto1 wrote: That's the most beautiful cabinet Klipsch ever made. Now get some doilies or felt footies under all those candles and bowls. At least you don't have a plant perched on those babies! M ---------------- A great suggestion and great minds think alike! Rubber pads were installed prior to placement.

---------------- On 4/20/2005 9:42:54 PM cjgeraci wrote: ---------------- On 3/25/2005 11:36:44 PM dbflash wrote: On 3/25/2005 4:56:54 PM Budman wrote: richard, like i said in an earlier post, you have a pair of the best looking speakers ( Belles )ever made. I think Budman said it all. Your review of the belles compared to your cornwalls is also very interesting. I love my cornwalls, but now you have me wondering. Also nice dog. Danny ---------------- Danny, you should stop wondering a pick up a pair. You know you should. Rich, congrats on beautiful Belles. You will love yours as much as I love mine. Carl. ---------------- Thanks Carl, Without trying to sound cocky, they are beauts aren't they! They sound better each day, I can find no faults what so ever, at least for my tastes. God, they sound - - so right!

---------------- On 4/19/2005 1:48:42 AM codhead wrote: ---------------- On 4/18/2005 3:20:01 PM 3dzapper wrote: This is my Wave Radio : http://forums.klipsch.com/idealbb/files/Cmodel1.jpg" border="0"> Rick ---------------- Nice fireplace tools! ---------------- I was not aware Bose made speakers that looked like this. Looks like an old Klipsch design!!

Bill, Congragulations! We both knew that with a little work and patience my Belles and your KHorns would provide the excellence hidden within. No doubt the best is still yet to come. Good work. Rich

---------------- On 4/18/2005 12:26:14 PM Timmikid wrote: Hi, as you may know I found a pair of ind. La Scala's that I am working on to optimize them for home audio use. I am still thinking on which network to buy. I understand that you really like the BEC's. Why did you choose them. What is the difference between A and AA? Thanks, Tim. ---------------- Hi Tim, Really three reasons why I had Bob do the networks. First, I needed new diaphrams installed in the Belle tweeters and I spoke with Bob about that and his work with networks. Decided to have Bob do all the work at once. Second, I liked his idea of just replacing the old components with new, bringing them back to "new" original condition. Nothing was changed from the original design. I aslo like the ability to change from type A to AA with just a jumper wire. Seems you get two networks in one. Third, his price is very reasonable. I just asked Bob yesterday the difference in Type A and AA. Type A network simplifies the circuit and removes tweeter protection. A little brighter on the high end and a bit differant how it takes over from the mirange. On initial listening, I prefer Type A.

Have installed new BEC networks on both my Belles type A/AA, and Cornwalls type B. Corns have been evaluated for about a week. Before I bought Belles about a month back I had no issues and was a perfectly happy Cornwall owner for over a year. I know this is only my opinion and how I perceive and evaluate but for me, it is Belles hands down. I brought the Belles back to the rig last night and for the first time used the type A network connections. I found like the Belles even more on type A than AA. They had not played for five seconds and I already knew which I liked better, for me, much better. Belles are so much more precise, sharp, real, natural and with my components offer up plenty of damn nice, tight, clean and authoritive bass. It is hard to describe but just such a damn nice, pure sound. Not harsh or "drill like" in any way. Corns are nice, please don't get me wrong but they sound veiled and a bit too laid back for me. No doubt more bass makes this a somewhat "darker" sounding speaker. Not as clean sounding. Describing how something sounds can be difficult as only you know what you are hearing and how you are affected. And these Belles have affected me, big time. Once again these are my opinions but Belles are an incredible speaker; a superb sound....and they don't look too bad either.

Go for the Corns. Worth the drive and the extra cash.

---------------- On 4/15/2005 9:10:40 PM William F. Gil McDermott wrote: Rich meant to say he's keeping all three. Smile. The posts above pretty much summarizes observations aired over the years. If you like the bass horn sound and can't fit in K-Horns, you've got no choice but the LS or Belle. They just don't go as low as the CW. Generally the CW's are tops in bass. Let me add that the neo-Heritage of the Forte II and Chorus II are very respectable. I've got FII in a small room. Since everyone has piled on supporting your fall back position, let me argue the other way. The K-Horns could work. You might always wonder . . . "what if." It depends on your pocket book, willingness to move heavy objects, determination, and room geometry. I think of New England homes as being sort of near Victorian; having rooms with little acoustic padding, oddball geometry, and no good corners. Maybe that is not totally correct in your case -- or it makes you worry to much. People paint the devil on the wall. So do keep the K-Horns in mind. You can always tinker for a year and sell them for the same price knowing that you have given them a good try. Gil ---------------- Oops! I stand corrected, thanks for the cover Gil. Honestly I had to read your reply three times before I got it. Glad I got it or else I could get it.

No doubt the Forte is a fine sounding speaker, I preferred my Forte 1 to the 2's. On paper they may go lower than than the Cornwall but there is no comparison in real life. Corn soundstage is MUCH bigger than the either Forte. Forte sounds more like a speaker where Corns envelop? you in sound and that wall-to-wall soundstage. Still a great speaker and a great buy.

I have a sale pending on some 1982 (150x522/23) Heresys. Before proceeding can anyone tell me if this issue would have the all gray Alnico mid drivers and the round HF driver. I will soon have photos to confirm but would like to be prepared in advance. Thanks all

Currently have both Corns and Belles set-up and both with new BEC networks. Will be able to further evaluate and plan reporting my perceptions but at the outset, no doubt Corns have more bass and seem to have a "darker" more laid back sound. Not to say bad but not as bright as Belles. The bass seems just a bit unnatural on some recordings. On others, like small jazz combos, the bass is very nice, well defined. At very low listening levels the Corns have a fuller sound. The Belle bass is adequate for me, very real, tight, no bloat. In total a more acurate sound, precise and to the point. Right now, I favor the Belles, my significant other favors Corns. More to follow after longer listening sessions. Needless to say, I keeping both.

Do not forget to check out the EL-34 based Cayin TA-30 integrated. You can find them in stock form for around $500 on AudioGon, or like the one I had around $700 hotrodded. Great build quality, fit and finish is first rate. Used one for a year with Cornwalls and was quite pleased. A good buy for the money.

A goodly number of posts on what is currently nothing more than rumor. But should it come to pass, hold on to your Belles boys (yes Amy, I said Belles) our stock will soon be on the rise. I so much enjoy owning products with a storied and long history that have been taken out of production. For current owners I believe the theory of supply and demand will prevail here. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

This development just reinforces what was said when I first brought my Oak/Cane Belles home - "Fear not Ms. Belle, you have now found a PERMANENT home".

Trey, is it ok to bring a piece of equipment to hear on Klipschorns? I'd like to bring my little Redgum MOSFET integrated and surprise (I hope) some folks. I've had tubes and I think some tube guys may be liken it a little. Thought I better clear it first. Thanks Rich

Driving from KC - eight hours.

Any attendees planning on arriving the weekend prior and taking in the Formula One race? There is no way to describe it, you must see it (and hear it) to believe it. I won't miss it for the fifth time. After the race then to the Windy City for a little sight seeing, then back to Indy Friday morning. A nice weeks vacation and getting anxious.

---------------- On 4/7/2005 9:17:22 AM Woodog wrote: ---------------- On 4/7/2005 8:36:57 AM maxg wrote: You bought an amplifier for less than $30 and it is not digital. I am going to be sick. Does it actually work? ---------------- Not only do they work, but they work incredibly well. I got a 430 for my son's Heresys and it sounds FANTASTIC. I haven't hooked it up to my Khorns yet (just to see) but it was much better on the Heresys than the TEAC 700P, that's for sure. Forrest ---------------- Only wanted it for a second system for when I alternate the Cornwalls and Belles. Did not wnat the expense of separates and wanted FM capabilities. For $48 shipped, seemed a no brainer. We'll see.