richieb

Thanks Dean, tried that right off. Still can't say for sure. Any way to test with volt meter?

Just completed 995 mile roudtrip with Oak/Cane Belles in tow. Could really use some help or opinions - first couple of CDs just do not sound as I expected, at least comparing to my '76 Cornwalls. Belles are '83 w/AB networks. Not nearly as bright or as full as the Corns. Is this right or just me. Is it possible BOTH tweeters are not working. I having the damnest time trying to tell if they are working. How can I test for this? The Belles are not as clear as the Corns, I noticed that the first ten seconds they played. Also, for speaker with greater sensitivity rating, it takes more volume turn than the Corns. ****, I was not expecting this. Please guys, your thoughts.

Very well put and most informative. Other than what my ears tell me, I now have even more incentive to never let go of my Cornwalls. Even with Belles on the way, the Corns never have to worry about being put up for adoption.

Been on the forum for well over a year now. I may not contribute daily but I check on the forum several times a day. Have (at least I will have by the weekend) owned every Heritage model but Klipschorn - Hey Trey, can't you grandfather me in; hell, I owned 1977 La Scalas IN 1977. Now how many can say that?! Come'on guys, work with me!!

Had both Forte 1,2 and '76 Cornwalls. Absolutely no comparison IMO. No matter what the specs say, the Cornwall has much more "feel" down low and a much larger soundstage. Much more clarity and detail, particularly at low volume. With the Forte you listen to the speaker, with the Cornwall you are listening to the musical event.

Has anyone bought the biography of Paul Klipsch, Paul Wilbur Klipsch-The Life..The Legend by Maureen Barrett. My hardback copy just arrived, looks very entertaining. Many design schematics and photos of Paul from early on. A great "coffee table" book that will look and be more at home on top of a Heritage speaker, a Belle or Cornwall in my home. I think it time to settle in for a good read and a little Cornwall jazz.

Before returning to Klipsch, I owned a pair of Triangle Celius, a step above the Antal that is shown and the speaker Tellig went bonkers over and was on Stereophiles class A list. A beautifully made speaker cabinet with great looking drivers to match. Retail was about the same as what you can buy new RF-7. Very nice sounding, neutral, smooth high-end and good, tight bass through dual 7 inch woofers. The Celius shines with a great 6.5 inch mid-range driver, which is larger than the norm in a tower type cabinet. This driver has a pleated paper surround, the woofers use butyl rubber, all cones are dopped paper. The company prides itself on its drivers which are designed and made in-house. Read an interview with the owner who is very fond of horns, Altec in particular. Look closely at the tweeter and you can see an attempt at making a direct radiator a type of horn design. He also favors SS amplifiers with his speakers. I used the Cayin tubed integrated with the Triangles, wish I had a chance to use the Redgum MOSFET I am currently using with my Cornwalls. The Forte 1 was a very close match with the Celius. Did a lot of back and forth listening before finally deciding to sell the Triangles while they were a hot item, particulary with the ebony EX finish. Returned nearly all I had in them. A good speaker yes, but like the Forte, nowhere near the full soundstage of the Cornwall. And with that, nowhere near the size. I would certainly look at the new Triangle series showed in the photo before jumping into the RF-7, nothing against the 7, just being prudent. Sorry for the rambling.

What is the preferred, or safest way to handle Belles while loading into a van? I have read where you can remove the fasteners and lift the top section off of locating dowels. Is this correct? Is this the safest? Or should the cabinet be left as one and just lift the bass bin leaving the top section intact. All ideas appreciated.

Heading out next weekend for 1000 mile round trip for Belles. About a year ago, 700 miles for Cornwalls. This treasure hunt for Heritage is surely a type of sickness, Heritagitis, Klipschfobia, adventerous though it may be. When will it end.... La Scala.... KHorn.... and on and on. But it sounds like a good idea to use transportation other than Windstars!! Shipping Bose cubes sure looks appealing - nah! Lets load up and don't forget the coffee, I've got Belles to pick up.

Any plans for another get together in Indy this year? Sure would like to hear some of the various components everyone has been collecting over the past year.

Save your money and go with something tried, true and not filled with a bunch of bogus claims. Getcha some Kimber. After listening and spending who knows how much I found a double run of braided, teflon covered 4TC is tough to beat.

You have a PM ---------------- On 3/6/2005 9:41:30 PM merkin wrote: Richie, would you be traveling through the Quad Cities on the way to Chicago. Up 35 and across 80. If you could bring the forte II's with you I might be interested. Email me or PM me. ----------------

---------------- On 3/6/2005 9:41:30 PM merkin wrote: Richie, would you be traveling through the Quad Cities on the way to Chicago. Up 35 and across 80. If you could bring the forte II's with you I might be interested. Email me or PM me You have a PM.

---------------- On 3/6/2005 8:19:17 PM silversport wrote: Congratulations! I just KNOW you will love these... Good score! Bill ---------------- Thanks Bill, I KNOW what you mean...very cryptic.

I had a pair of custom built cabinets that housed an LE-15A fifteen inch woofer and an LE-85 compression mid-driver. Buying those separate components along with their associated xover, LX-5 I think, was called an S7 system. The drivers alone are worth a mint now, very popular and trendy in Japan. As far as driver quality, there are none better than vintage JBL. Makes the drivers in our beloved Klipsch look rather meager. And in 1978 what did I sell the S7 for, you guessed it brand new LaScalas for about $725 each. Of course things happen and those are gone too, but my new Belles should take out some of that 25 year old sting.

Not planning on a center but right you are, the Cornwalls are going staying put!!

What a day!! After a failed try locally, I finally got lucky. Bought the oak/cane Belles on AudioGon. One owner, 1984 models with AB crossover. Now a KC to Chicago trip in the next couple weeks for pickup. Both stunned and excited. Can these sound any better than my beautiful Cornwalls? They had better! I will list on another thread, but I will be selling a pristine, 9.5/10, pair of black ash Forte 2's. I think it only fair a Forum member get first chance. $500 Once again - What a day!!

Wish me luck, I told the seller "Sold" three hours ago and have yet to hear back. With any luck, all I have to worry about now is are they in as good condtion as they appear, and they look minty, and how to get them back to KC. Got my fingers crossed. After my fiasco last week with Belles locally, maybe this time I hit the jackpot. Rich

Thanks Tony, I appreciate your computer skills. Rich

Check this out on AudioGon - Go to, Browse new today, classifieds, - under "Is your audio sound muddy" - $40. Just add horn extensions to your favorite direct radiator and SHAZAAM - you made a horn loaded speaker! Amazing what snake oil can do for so many products.

Gilbert, Nothing to barter but would you consider selling the Herseys and use that money for your tube shopping spree? Live in KC so a pick-up or meet may be possible. Any photos? Thanks Rich

Any photos? Are these for pick-up only or will you consider shipping? Thanks in advance. Rich

Thanks a bunch for the offer Tom. I think I will bide my time until "my pair" become available. I had thought of doing some repairs myself, but to spend that kind of money for a furniture quality type speaker is kind of a turn off. If I could have loaded them up for my first offer of $1300 then yes, lets get busy. Besides, the guy was a clown that jerked me around for a week. I guess I will just have to "suffer and endure" with my lowly Cornwalls for the time being, yea right! They sound awful damn good right now!!!

Found Belles in the local paper last weekend which in itself is very unusual, and told they were perfect, waited several days to then be told they are no longer for sale, then getting a call two days later to say come look at them, it has been a frustrating week on the Belle watch. Guys a flake. Looked at them tonight. Mid 80's vintage in walnut, black grills, AB crosssover. Asking $1800 and would go no lower than $1700. One cabinet had been in water, all veneer on lower riser was loose or peeling and stained. Several nicks, some deep, loose veneer that you could see had tried to be repaired, certainly not "perfect", maybe 6/10. No where near as nice as my 8/10-9/10 '76 Cornwalls. I was hoping for so much better, I just can't spend that kind of coin for something I just have a bad feeling about, even if they are a pair of local Belles. I had to walk away with my pocket full of hundreds. Damn I'm frustrated -- and pissed.

Have a chance at a pair of pristine Belles locally, a plus already. I owned LaScalas so long ago that I have forgotten the sound of the horn loaded bass. The depth of the cabinets on the Corns and Belles would lead me to believe the mids should be very similar with the horns being roughly the same length. My new SS amp has given new, exciting life to my Cornwalls, a huge soundstage, very deep and clean bass, the sound being smooth and neutral overall. Damn, they are sounding good! Of course KHorns would be my choice but room configuration rules that out. Other than the Belles being so nice to look at and with their investment value do I gain much with Belles over the Cornwalls? Or are any gains in performance cancelled by other losses? Dazed and confused.