scotbuck

Greetings, I've got a pair of KG-4's which I purchased in near mint condition at Saturday Audio Exchange here in Chicago for $329. For the money I think they're hard to beat (theoretical bass extension to 39Hz, sensitivity at 94dB, small footprint). Clean, clear highs; nice, mellow-yet-detailed midrange; extended bass. You shouldn't get the "slam" of a Heresy (which I believe has at least 3dB greater sensitivity than the KG-4), but the bass extends much deeper. IMHO, not a bad trade-off for the money. Hope this helps... Take care, Scott BTW -- cool pic of Baron von Raschke! "Dat iss all da people need to know!"

- one for each Cornwall... Take care, Scott

Greetings, Recently I found an alternative to the somewhat expensive Bose "Wave System" radio. It's the "Model One" radio from Tivoli Audio. Tivoli is, I believe, the last work of the late Henry Kloss (Acoustic Research, KLF, Advent, Cambridge). The line of radios are quite small, have lovely real walnut cases, appear to be build like a tank, and sound surprisingly good. (I've got mine at the office.) Granted, it can't compare with my vintage Grundig 2260 "toob" radio (didn't cost as much either), but I think that for $99.99 plus shipping ... it ain't half bad! If you're thinking about getting a little radio for home or office, you can check 'em out at: http://www.tivoliaudio.com/home.php Hope this is helpful... Take care, Scott

Greetings everyone, Bill and Heresy2Guy -- thanks for the advice on getting the model 730; I purchased the one on eBay with "Buy It Now." Pretty sweet deal for just 99 bucks! (With just 5wpc difference between the 730 and 930 I couldn't justify passing this up.) I'll let ya know how this works out... Take care, Scott

Greetings, Right now the KG-4's are on the floor about 8" from the wall, slightly toed in. It's not that the KG-4/HK-430 combo lacked volume; rather, they weren't as robust as they could be. I've tried the KG-4's with higher powered amps and got that extra "oompf," but sacrificed the beautiful mids and top-end clarity of the 430. (Remember, as a toob freak mids and clarity are a high priority for me!) Therefore, I decided that perhaps the 430's big brother (or is it big sister? ) would be perfect. Ultimately I'm hoping to use this set-up not as my main system, but for 2-channel home theatre. Therefore, getting a "bigger" sound at lower volumes might be a good thing -- with plenty of headroom left over for dynamic peaks. It actually was the post regarding your experience with the Harman Kardon 430 and KG-4's that got me interested in these amps -- and I think that's a very good thing! However, I think that (at least for my tastes) the gorgeous "twin power" sound, with simply *more* power, will be my perfect mate for the KG-4's. Thanks for the input! Take care, Scott

Greetings, Thanks for the info, Bill! I've got "Kardon 930" bookmarked in my list of eBay searches. I was just hoping for a quick fix...! Take care, Scott

Greetings, I tried the HK 430 with my KG-4's and found it's 25wpc to be a little lean for these speakers (remember, the KG-4 has a relatively low - for Klipsch - 94 dB sensitivity rating). However, the sound quality/price of the HK was definitely worth investigating further. Therefore I'm wondering whether anybody knows of an HK 930 for sale? I suspect the 930's 45wpc might be just right for providing that extra "oompf" to the KG-4's. Thanks! Take care, Scott

Greetings, I've tried three amps with my kg-4's with the following results: *** Audio Note OTO SE: This single-ended tube amp is the best amp I've ever used - with the right speakers. Sadly, with the kg-4's I found it to be somewhat strained. (I'll be saving this amp for some 100-or-more dB efficient Klipsch speakers later on...) *** Harmon Kardon 430: In the "bang-for-the-buck" department I think this receiver is hard to beat; however, I still found its 25 watts to be lacking the "oompf" to really take control. (I've since given this receiver to my buddy for his nephew's bedroom - I suspect it'll be perfect there...) *** Marantz PM-74D: I thought this amp was the best of the three for these speakers; it drives the kg-4's with authority - even at low listening levels. Also, I find that its somewhat "mid-bass"-heavy sound balances well with the kg-4's voice, which to my ears is more extended on the bottom end but is slightly lean in the mid-bass region. Also, being part of Marantz's "Quarter-A" series, it runs the first 25% of its output in Class-A mode, which seems to reduce the graininess that I've heard in a lot of SS amps. (Remember - I'm still a frothing-at-the-mouth toob freak! ) MARANTZ UPDATE: I have noticed, though, that the highs are more lacking than with the other two amps. Hmmmmmm........ The madness continues! Hope this helps ... and enjoy! Take care, Scott

Greetings, After reading some old posts, I began wondering about how some of Klipsch's high-end (but not fully horn loaded) speakers compare. It appears that the KLF 30, Chorus II, Cornwall, and RF 7 each have a dedicated fan base. Has anyone had an opportunity to compare them? If so (assuming each speaker has its unique virtues), what were your likes/dislikes? Just curious... Take care, Scott

Greetings, From my experience, there's no such thing as a "flat" response. All components have a sonic signature; when they're connected in an audio system, they transfer that signature to the other components. Therefore, if one had, say, a Sumiko cartridge on their TT then switched to a Sure, the "voice" of the front end would change. At that point, tweaking the tone controls might be helpful. As a lark, I've experimented with using the preamp-out of my Audio Note with a QED 440 power amp; I then compared the sound with the QED's matching preamp. Totally different sound (and not just due to "toob" vs SS). To approximate the sonic signature of the Audio Note, I had to adjust the QED preamp to bass=2:00 and treble=1:00. This begs the question: which is "right"? Is the Audio Note too bass and treble heavy or is the QED to midrange prominent? Or did the QED engineers assume that folks would tweak the tone controls so they put the middle "flat" notch at a place that encouraged adjustment? Of course pondering these questions takes time away from listening to music! Therefore, I prefer to simply assume that I can tweak away until it sounds good to me, then sit back and enjoy... Take care, Scott

Greetings Smilin', There's a place here in Chicago called 20th Century TV & Stereo Center that might be worth checking out. The shop has a variety of vintage audio gear (including some Bozaks). Also, I've had quality service from them for my tape deck and turntable, so they might be a resource for fixing your drivers. If interested, you can give 'em a buzz at (773) 528-1728. Hope this helps... Also, there's an interesting bit of information on Alnico magnet demagnetization (and other things) at a Q&A page from Weber Vintage Speaker Technologies: http://www.webervst.com/sptalk.html Take care, Scott

Greetings, In my own system I've used the following cartridges with the following "results": * Sumiko Blue Point Special - Airy top end with a bit of "fizz" on cymbal crashes; extended bass but a bit lean in the mid-bass; good output. Re-tip is expensive. * Sure V15 - Smooth highs and mids; punchy bass; decent output. Re-tip is moderate. * Ortofon OM5E - High output, very dynamic, clear and precise highs and mids; perhaps not as "refined" as the Sure or as "hi-fi" as the Sumiko. Re-tip is inexpensive. Of course, everyone's results and expectations will vary, but of the three cartridges I've used I greatly prefer Ortofon. The OM5E is their least expensive cartridge - about $80 as I recall - and I prefer it to the more expensive Sumiko and Sure. (Soon I'll be getting Ortofon's best moving-magnet cartridge, which will cost no more than the Sumiko and Sure.) The advice about the Needle Doctor is good - you'll see a wide variety of cartridges along with intelligent reviews. You'll also get a good idea of what will fit into your budget. Hope this helps... Take care, Scott

Greetings, Over the years I've found that both for home audio as well as guitar amps, it's not so much getting the right tubes as it is *getting the right tubes that work well to gether*. For NOS tubes, I've found the following characteristics in my gear for 12AX7/ECC83 tubes: * RCA - "golden" mids, somewhat aggressive, prone to distort * Sylvania - "amber" mids, smooth, punchy (note - the gold pin 5751 is my favorite phono stage as it's absolutely gorgeous sounding but a little weaker than a 12AX7 * Mullard - "grey" mids, velvet highs, not as strong as the previous two * Telefunken - "airy" extended highs, also prone to distort a bit * Amprex - tight, defined tone, somewhat more "hi-fi" * Tung-Sol - slightly mid-balanced, not quite as defined in the highs, dynamic * Valvo - round, clear, good bass * Phillips Miniwatt - similar to Valvo (but not quite as nice) I think it's best to mix 'n' match to see which tube performs best in which function. For example, while I really like the Sylvania 5751's in the phono stage of my amp, I'm not wild about them in the driver position. I also find that different speakers go best with different tube combinations. If you take the time to experiment, you can get the best each brand has to offer in your system. Hope this helps... Take care, Scott

Greetings, Currently my kg4's are being fed by a 10wpc SET. I don't think that's an ideal amount of power for these speakers since they're only about 94dB sensitive - compared to 98dB and up for the larger Klipsch speakers. Several forum members have spoken favorably about the old Harmon Kardon 430 receiver (25wpc solid state) as being a great match for the smaller Klipsch speakers. On that recommendation I went to eBay, bid on, and won such a receiver. (It hasn't arrived yet.) I'll be happy to give you my impressions after I've hooked it up. (BTW - my SET will be used later on with the larger K-Horn, Cornwall, or Chorus speakers when I get more room for them...) That said, however, I like the kg4's even with my SET. The speed, clarity, and dynamics are outstanding. And if you place them so that the passive radiator bounces the low's just right, they've got great (if not huge) bass extension from a relatively small cabinet. Enjoy!!!! Take care, Scott UPDATE: The Harmon Kardon 430 arrived today ... I hooked it up and, sadly, was disappointed. (It's not bad, though, for an $81 investment!) Nevertheless, I believe that the extra $$$ for something more substantial would, in the long run, be money well spent.

Greetings, I agree with Seadog's post. My kg4's are 20 years old yet the surrounds look flawless and the speakers sound strong. Take care, Scott

Greetings! I also recommend checking into the kg4's first. I just bought a pair and am knocked out by the sound. Bass extension goes down to Cornwall level in a cabinet that measures only 28"H x 15"W x 12"D. (Sadly, it has only 94dB sensitivity, so if you've got an SET like I do those extra 4dB on the Cornwall/Forte will make a difference). However, if you've got some watts to push 'em, the kg4's can be purchased for under $350. Bang for the buck, they're hard to beat... This isn't to say that the kg4's are better than the big Klipsches - I plan on buying a Chorus II, Cornwall, or K-Horn once I move and have the extra space for them. I would simply suggest considering whether you need a big speaker before investing the extra money in a pair. Hope this helps... Take care, Scott

Greetings, I stated to the forum a while back that when I purchased some Klipsch speakers I'd be putting my Lowthers up for sale - and giving forum members first crack at 'em. So......... I've got a pair of Lowther PM2A drivers (15ohm, alnico magnets) and a pair of home-made "Mauhorn" folded horn cabinets with Kimber cable (cabinets are unfinished plywood). U pick up (Chicago area) for $500. Take care, Scott

Greetings again, Based on your experience, I just put a bid on an H/K 430 on eBay. We'll see what happens... Take care, Scott

Greetings, "Sleeper" is a good term to describe these speakers. I gave them a try simply because the Heresy and Heresy II speakers at the shop were already sold; I really wasn't expecting to be so knocked out by their performance. Microdynamic detail - something I'd gotten used to with my old Lowthers - was abundant, along with silky highs and a fairly lush midrange. Bass extension and detail were superb as well (although no real "slam" factor with only 10wpc to work with...) I also noticed something else... I found myself tapping my toes a lot more than I have been in quite some time. So I'd have to say that, beyond any technical explanation, these speakers are simply very musically "involving". And what more could a music lover ask for??? I suspect that when I get the monster-sized Klipsch speakers after I move, I'll still be able to use the kg-4's - mated with a good 100wpc solid state amp - for 2-channel home theatre. At any rate, it's easy now to see why Klipsch speakers of all different varieties have such a fanatical following. They really are THAT good! Take care, Scott

Greetings folks, About a month ago I asked advice on what to get for a 10wpc amp. I'll be heeding that advice when I move into a new - and much larger - home several months from now. But I wanted to rave a bit about some speakers I purchased today for the condo: a pair of 1984 kg-4's. I'm AMAZED at how these little guys sound! I've been hearing subtle musical details (such as the trumpet work on Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue") that even my Lowthers couldn't get. And for such small speakers, I'm really suprized at the extended - and detailed - bass response. I'll keep you posted on my "big-Klipsch" search in the coming months. But for right now ... man, I'm a happy lad!!! Take care for now, Scott

Greetings, Congratulations on the KHorns! They look s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g! I got to see some pics of Greg's "zebrawood" work and it's truly jaw-dropping... Here's wishing you many happy years of both sight and sound! Take care, Scott

Greetings, I was given the kind opportunity to check out some Cornwalls here in the Chicago area; this'll give me a better first-hand impression of how these speakers behave with my amp. After that, I should be able to determine whether the Cornwall, with it's larger footprint and extended bass is preferred or whether I'd be better off with the smaller footprint and higher sensitivity of a Chorus/Chorus-II. Thanks again! Take care, Scott

Greetings, Some time ago I had a pair of Dynaco M3 monoblocks which were set up for 6550s; however, it was a relatively simple matter for me to substitute KT90s to change the overall sound. (Of course I recommend having a competent tech adjust your bias settings if you do this!) I found that the 6550 had more of a blunt, even-keel, yet very pleasing sound whereas the KT90 was somewhat "scooped" in the midrange and seemed more extended in the bass. This quality could give you the *illusion* of more bass - not necessarily by adding it but by changing the bass/midrange ratio to favor it. (You can also accomplish this to some extent by changing the brand of your preamp tubes - each brand seems to have it's own tonal signature - I've been well pleased by the new "Mullard-style" 12AX7M from Groove Tubes; this might be a less expensive first step to try...) I just looked and saw a matched quad of Ei KT90s sell on eBay for about $110, so it's a relatively cheap experiment - compared with purchasing all new equipment! At any rate, I hope this helps... Take care, Scott

Greetings, I listen to everything from rock to blues to classical to jazz, and am hoping to find a speaker system that can reproduce it all. I found that my Lowther system was great with small, intimate acoustic music. And instruments without a strong upper midrange timbre (such as piano) or the human voice (such as the smoky voice of June Christy) were reproduced with *jaw-dropping* accuracy. However, more "nasal" sounding instruments, such as the upper register of a tenor sax, could be somewhat harsh. And the lack of bass response made rock a little difficult. (I also suspect that this tonal imbalance contributed to the so-called "shout" effect - an aggressive midrange without the balance of an aggressive bass.) My living room measures roughly 15 feet deep by 14 feet wide (and extends about 8 feet more to a Pullman-style mini kitchen). The rear wall has one corner (mostly window); the other "corner" is actually a hallway leading to my front door. Thanks for your input! Take care, Scott

Greetings again, Well it looks as though there are about as many reasons to get a LaScala as a Cornwall. So practicality now has to play a role. Since a Cornwall measures quite a bit smaller than a LaScala or Belle, it makes sense for me to begin searching eBay and Audiogon for a Cornwall. (Hopefully, there'll be some close to Chicago...) With that in mind... Is there any reason to favor an original Cornwall over a Cornwall II? Also, are there any pitfalls to look out for? As always, your opinions are greatly appreciated! (And if this works out, I'll give you folks first crack at my Lowther drivers - cheap - if anyone's interested...) Thanks again, Scott