joelongwood

I agree that your measurements are not accurate. If KG4's are rated at 94db at 1 watt, 1 meter, and every 3db increase requires a doubling of amplifier power, then my calculations indicate that 129 db is pretty farfetched. But I've been known to be wrong before.........just ask my wife. 94 db........1 watt 97 db........2 watts 100 db......4 watts 103 db......8 watts 106 db......16 watts 109 db......32 watts 112 db......64 watts 115 db......128 watts 118 db......256 watts 121 db......512 watts (at this point, the KG4 might be toast) 124 db......1024 watts 127 db......2048 watts 130 db......4096 watts (at this point, the listener is toast) I'm aware that the room reflections increase the volume, but at the stated 129 db, the sound must be godawful. Check those measurements again.

I recently picked up a vintage H/K 430 Twin Powered receiver, after reading all the raves here. How does it sound with my Forte II's? INCREDIBLE. Until I acquired this, I had always rotated amps and receivers (both newer and vintage) in and out of my system. No more. I've had the little 430 hooked up since the day I got it, and have no desire to switch it with another, more powerful amp. The combo is the most musical I've encountered yet. If your budget is $500, you can pick one up for around $50 or less, and spend the rest on music.

I have a few set up that I use regularly......and others that I just look at. My mainstays are all vintage (just like me): an Empire 598 II with an Empire 2000E cartridge, an AR XA (two motor version) with a Shure V15 Type III cartridge, and a Thorens TD 125 MKII with a Stanton 681EEE cartridge. The ones I look at are a Miracord 50H, a few Duals, a Philips, and a Technics. I love the ritual of playing a record......makes the music sound more worthwile after all the effort.

My Empire 598, Thorens TD-125, and AR XA all have large spindles.......my understanding is that these spindles meet NAB standards. There is something about that in the AR manual. I just twirl a pencil in the hole to widen the record holes that don't fit properly. I like them a bit snug. Hope this helps.

Hello everybody, I've just registered, but I've been reading this forum for quite awhile. I've been intrigued by the HK 430 and the synergy that is claimed by many here for its use with classic Klipsch speakers. I have a pair of Klipsch Forte II that I've owned for about 6 or 7 years now, and I've been very pleased with their performance. I like to rotate my vintage receivers and amps into the system every month or so. I've used the following: Pioneer SA-8100 integrated, Pioneer SX-850, Yamaha CA-2010, Sansui 2000A, Kenwood KA-8100, Carvfer 6250, Dynaco PAS3X/Stereo 70, and Dynaco SCA-35. Each one provides a slightly different sound, and I thoroughly each of them. However, after reading all the positive comments about the HK 430, I decided to go for one, and so I picked one up on eBay two weeks ago for $51 plus shipping. Except for a tiny ding on the front, the thing is pretty close to mint. After following the excellent instructions for cleaning (it didn't need much...but I still want to replace those fuses) posted by HDBRbuilder, I fired it up according to his instructions as well. All I can say, as others have said, is WOW!......no, make that a double WOW! The bass, the midrange, the clarity and crispness of the top end is absolutely nothing short of astounding. I played a Johnny Cash CD from his American Recordings collection, and is voice was so damned real, I could have sworn he was in the room! I've been listening just about non-stop (advantage of being retired) since I hooked it up, and I've thrown everything at it, from vinyl, to CDs, to SACDs, to, most recently XM radio. Looking at it's rather diminutive size and rather low wattage, one would suspect that there is no way it could sound as good as it does. Somehow it seems as if it doesn't have any business sounding so good. Anyway, I just wanted to thank all of you who have posted the praises of this little gem and add my voice to the choir. I just may be on the lookout for another one, or a 730, just in case something happens to my new baby.