edwinr

Maybe the passive crossovers are soaking up the power somehow. From my understanding, many SET amplifiers are happier driving simple horn speakers with even more simple crossovers, like the now defunct Loth-X designs using drivers similar to the popular Lowther transducers...

Check this link, Greg. I don't know whether the Fi X 2A3 amplifier's design bears any resemblance to yours, but the reviewer does make the comment that their 2A3 amplifier is best suited to higher impedance loads - this amplifier showing an intolerance for low impedance... http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/fi-x_e.html Still, we're talking about 103 db plus...

Greg, the high sensitivity of the Jubilee should have compensated for the lower impedance. What is the sensitivity of the Jub's? It'd have to be at least 103 db... While the few watts of output some low powered SET amps produce is IMHO, only enough for smaller rooms and undemanding music, it should be enough to drive highly sensitive speakers to reasonable listening levels - regardless of the relatively low impedance. The poor bass reproduction is definitely the warning sign that your amp has run out of juice. There has to be more going on here than just the low impedance. Maybe there's a problem with your amplifier. Although if it drives the Klipschorns okay... Curious. [*-)]

This is what happens when the foam goes...

Here's a close up of the 901 driver. It looks very low tech to me...

Your coment about Klipschorns needing a room with a higher ceiling is interesting. That may explain why my current Belles sound more 'coherent' than the Klipschorns in the same room. My ceiling height is a little low and the Belles are quite a bit lower than the Klipschorns perhaps the reason for the better sound in my room. I wonder if some sort of ceiling diffusion might have worked with the klipschorns... I thought long and hard about installing a Bose Lifestyle system in my music room instead of buying the Belles... then I woke up, realising that I was having a nightmare... The 901's actually sound okay in isolation. Just like the other Bose lifestyle products. But trying to do a comparison in the retail store with the other stuff on the market is difficult. Most Bose retailers have a dedicated Bose listening room. There's nothing else in there to compare to. If this was so the truth wouild be revealed. Artto, I used to think that at least one Bose product being the 901, was half decent. But the way you have explained it, nothing Bose turns out is worth what they're asking.

I never realised the AK4 crossover was that complicated. [:|] Even Batman would have trouble working out the maze the signal needs to go through...

Denon DL-103. It's a no brainer. The cart slots easily onto the RB300 arm. I didn't need any extra headshell weight and the VTA was near perfect without spacers. For the money, it's the best cartridge in the world.

VERY nice Belles. If I didn't have a pair of my own, I'd be very jealous...

If you compare $7000 with the purchase price of a pair of Wilson Audio Alexandrias, $7000 for the base Jubilee isn't really all that much money - cheap in fact. The best speaker that Wilson makes is the Sophia. It doesn't try to hard to be something it's not. But it takes a lot of speaker to beat the best the Klipsch has to offer. With the Klipschorn, for example, you can buy speakers within say 2 to 3 times it's asking price that MAY do some things better. But not all things. The complete package as portrayed in the Klpschorn is very hard to beat. Also the mighty Klipschorn is virtually a plug and play system. Sound quality issues aside, the Jubilee is a different kettle of fish. I just wish PWK (and Roy) were able to complete the Jubilee's development into a full-on domestic flagship speaker for Klipsch. I'm sure it would have been a lot cheaper than the Alexandria...

I have stock standard 2005 build Belles driven by an Audio Note SE integrated amplifier (around 12 watts per channel). The sound is seamless. No obvious transition between bass, mid and treble. Great sound staging and imaging. The Belles should sound much better than what you're apparently getting, XRCD or not. I don't think tube rolling will help if you're not happy with the sound. Tube rolling is only worth while as a tweak. Maybe revisit your x-overs. Also it could be a postioning or room issue. Move the speakers around. Experiment... How have you positioned your speakers? Sometimes an inch or so can make a big difference.

There's other stuff on the web offering similar observations about the extremely poor quality of Bose. How can they get away with selling those crappy little plastic boxes and 'bass' boxes for so much money? It's a disgrace. Compare the littlle Klipsch Synergy Quintet's with the similar Bose product and the Quintet's shine. The build quality alone should be enough to persuade most people to buy Klipsch. On sound quality issues there's no comparison in favor of Klipsch.

Oh, surprise... Having heard them side by side with the Jubilees, I'll agree 100% One might hope... No disrespect to Batman's Robin - But why is everbody quoting him left, right and center? Why is everyone sparring with him at every opportunity? He has raised some interesting points, but you guys are letting him get under your skin for some reason... ??? Weird...

Well, if that's the case, Jubilees are way too small. You need some MCM Grand 4T's!! LOL!!! You might be right. Now the MCM Grand 4T's are my kind of speaker. If you're going to go big - do it right...

Whew! You're a bit feisty there Mr. Batmans Robin. As I understand it, the Jubilee is available to special order only. So in most cases you are buying on faith - like most custom speakers I guess. But I do agree with you about hearing speakers before you buy - especially when they are VERY expensive. If I was going to put the cash down, I would travel across country to Klipsch HQ and have a listen. Then I would also find someone who has a pair at home and listen there as well. $7000 plus is way too much money to gamble with. Your comment about room size and Jubilees interests me. I can also see your point about having very large horns in a relatively small rooms. I think most manufacturers who make such large speaker recommend using them in appropriately large listening venues to properly exploit their abilities to portray both the macro and micro dynamics of music, throwing a realistic soundstaging and more importantly, allowing the widely spaced drivers to correct converge within the listening area. Failure to have the listening spot far enough back may result in perceived 'holes' in the response and an uneven response. Over to you Mr. Caped Crusader's Sidekick...

Hi Robin, i understand what you mean and in general i totally agree with you, you're perfectly right, imho. But, in this case, considering you haven't still had the opportunity to listen to this speaker there in USA, you understand how easy can be to have a listen to it here in Italy...Should be easier to speak with our President! I'm not joking, i really don't know if there's a couple here in Italy (i think not). So...i simply follow the heart!! I like Klipschorn a lot, i don't think i'll be disappointed with these...and in any case, the only other horn speaker i'd prefer to Khorns (it's a custom one) it's really too expensive to me and doesn't have any history, expecially if compared to Jubs... Yeah, i'll follow the heart, as i said... In the worst case, i'll make really happy another italian (but i think that italian will be me...) Hey John, I have never heard the Jubilee either, but like you I find some aspects of this speaker to be quite fascinating. Being a former (early model) Klipschorn owner myself, and a current new Belle Klipsch owner, the idea of gigantic horns in my room is very appealing. If I had money to burn, I would love to buy a pair and experiment. But like some other members here, I recommend some caution in buying these. They are obviously not for everybody. Some people are obviously over the moon at their purchase, others are less enthusiastic. All I am saying is that it's an awful lot of money to blow on something you've never heard. Have you considerd the new AK5 Klipschorn? But as you said, if money isn't an issue and you don't like them, some other lucky Italian will benefit...

Anyone read this article bagging Bose from a couple of years ago. It's quite well written: http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

Nice work. I can't wait to see the finished product...

Yeah, maybe the 12d might be an overkill. The Sub 12 is awesome. The local chain store sells Klipsch Synergy and they have replaced the Sub 10 with the Sub 12 hooked up to the little Quintet system. Whoa! What a punch the Sub 12 has! Although I they must have the crossover set to max to they mesh in with the Quintets.

That was fascinating. Thanks for posting that link.

Many get frustrated trying to incorporate a sub into a hifi or HT system. I have. But get it right, and a sub will make your system sing. Dr Who's setup procedure is excellent. Expanding further on the suggestion to move the sub around a little - try this once Dr Who's setup is complete... Jam the sub into the corner. Play music with a repetitive bass line. Slowly move the sub out from the corner a little at a time. Listen to the result. You will hear when the sub meshes into the room. You're only talking about a few inches here, but that can make a big difference. It only works after the sub has been 'dialed in' properly. If this doesn't give you the kick that you want, maybe a bigger sub is the way to go. But do it now while you can return the thing. You will not regret an upgrade to something maybe like the 12d:

Regardless of the HT crossover setting, the extra 3db sensitiivity of the KG 5.5's over the 4.5's would have to be the decider. That's around 50% louder isn't it? Or is it 6db extra sensitivity required for a perceived 50 % increase in loudness? Any which way, the receiver would be working less hard resulting in increased dynamics. That has to be a good thing. You need to stop thinking so much, Bill. It can't be good for you! []

I've never heard the C 100. It looks good...

I used to own KG 5.5's. I replaced them with Legend KLF20's. Big difference in sound. The KG 5.5's sounded much more expansive with bigger bass. The Legend's sounded much tighter, maybe more accurate, possibly more extended bass. The Legends had less mid range projection. I preferred the KG 5.5 sound. Maybe you will notice a similar difference...

I'd be very reluctant attempting to drive the Heresys with a low powered SET amplifier. 2 or 3 watts is not enough. The Heresys like to be driven be an amplifier with a bit of clout. A good quality solid state is a better choice - maybe a Creek or something similar. If you're going to go tubes, try something with decent power - say 20 to 30 watts per channel. That Dynaco kit mentioned earlier uses EL-34's doesn't it? They're good for around 30 odd watts per channel. Maybe that's the way to go if a tube amp is desired... It'd be fun to build as well.