Kriton

Hey, I am about to drop a dime on some older Heresys, would anyone care to explain the whole alnico thing, the best years for heritage speakers given the driver changes, and what is preferred Heresy I or II? Also, I have heard alot about Cornwall II beign the better sounding speaker, but the II's have plastic horns as opposed to metal? So are the metal or the plastic better, and what makes the drivers each better than any another? Why are some rarer that others (55 as opposed to 65's)? What are the best crossovers to have, and can no so good speakers be upgraded with better crossovers? I am asking with Heresys specifically in mind, but I would like to hear the scoop on Cornwalls too... Thanks in advance... K

Hey, Can't you just purchase the replacement tweeter diaphragms, and do it yourself? Surely nothing mechanically is wrong with the tweeters other than the diaphragms are bad? Bob sells some excellent titanium replacement diaphragms (bought a pair for my Corns - should ahve some for the Heresy), and it took me all of 10 minutes to carefully replace them... Or am I not understanding something here? Sorry if stating the obvious... K

You know, not to be critical, but you would be better off saying that you live in Denton, 35 miles north of Ft. Worth, not Dallas...just a suggestion. I am in Keller, wife is UNT master's grad, and I have had a few experiences in Denton I choose not to remember. Generally concensus is against Yamaha receivers on the forum, but I tell you I have two of them, and I have liked them very much (before I went separates of course), and I still will reccomend then as bang for buck, especially if you are going to be setting up a home theater DD or DTS setup too, and general listening. I liked (and didn't use, ever) the myriad features these offered, and never had a mechanical problem with either of them (in years of pretty hard use). I was pretty happy with the bang/buck factor as well. NOW, the general consensus is that Yamaha's are very bright receivers, and mated with a bright sounding Klipsch horn loaded speaker, you are asking for fatigue with screeching highs (I think I am summarizing this correctly), but my experience has been different, in that I really enjoy the crisp highs of this combination and I didn't ever notice harsh high notes with my Cornwalls and the Yamaha, and I recommend these receivers for entry level HT or two channel. You can get a really good deal on them too in various places on the net. I would be more than happy to hook one up for you if you want to hear it... K

OK, got it...still planning on coming I am. What if we just rush the plant? Drunk Klipsch owners with ringing ears from the previous night's listening debacle, would they really send us away, or worse yet, call the local po-lice? Just a suggestion... K

Hey, thanks for the reply...I know what you mean, I put in some Mahler and it blew me away, pretty vicious stuff when you really get to hear it done right... Have you ever had that rumbling in any of your music that I mention above? IT really irritated me, and I am hoping that I don't have something misconfigured...but I have not been able to recreate it... K

OK, I read Trey Cannon's post above, is Klipsch now going to give us a tour in Hope? If so I am definitely going to make it a trip, what is the latest on the plan? The DFW contigent needs to start firming this up, there are abunch of us and we need to get together and car pool this mother... K

You are both right...I turned down the gain on the sub and turned up the db on the gain on my pre and it appears to be coming on by itself with out too much problem... I listen to a lot of classical music at fairly low volumes, and I am interested in getting some of the bass support for the low sections, however soft. I am hearing things with this sub I never knew existed, and it has been like listening to all of my pretty extensive selection of movies all over again. I watched Titanic last night, and while the story lingers a bit, the effects of that ship breaking apart were stellar. Thanks for the replies guys, K

Man this forum is great! I was reading a previous post after not being on in a while, and I read where some unlucky owner of a pair of RF-7's noticed that one of his cones was not working = no sound. I thought to myself, that would suck in a major way. Well if I don't start moving things around a little today, and I decided to listen to my RF's and by god, the left hand hand mid-range is completely dead...WTH? I started getting really angry, thinking hassle sending back a brand new flawless 7, but I remembered the advice to check the connections first...however, as the mid cone is higher in the tower, I couldn't get to it through the tuner cone...SO, I had to find a screw driver with the 6 pointed star configuration (for those silly screws), and I took out the crossover/bi-wire plate (easier than the driver) and sure nuff, with a flashlight, I saw that the connections were indeed off on the positive terminal. Man these stock cross=overs are Mickey Mouse.... Tightened up the clips with a needle nose plier and replaced them, and it is working fine. I thought when I was setting up the balance that the left speaker sounded funny, but I thought it was just a placement issue, not that the driver was off... Check your RF-'s folks, this could be happening to you... Good thing I read this forum, thanks guys. K

Hey! I am glad you finally got the Sunfire hooked up, looks great! I couldn't get excited about the silver color, but in your system it looks very nice! My system is lacking the big screen and the matching center and rears, those will come! I have been spending a lot of time tweaking and playing with the Sunfire set-up, have you (or do you need to) flash update the internal TGIV software? I beleive the going software is 4.18, and the flash up-date is pretty easy...If your sub is up to snuff (mine wasn't till I added an SVS to the system) I would leave the RF-7's small...let the low frequencies go to the sub..You woulnd't happen to know what the low end cross-over is for the RF-7's would you?...I am just curious...The tone generator is real loud, don't you think? I set all fo the speakers with my meter at 85 db, and the tone sent to the sub was enough to scare the absolute crap out of my cats, when the modulations started rattling the table the light fixtures... I haven't been able to get the holographic imaging to work, but I am still working on it... I am going to get Dean to do me some crossovers for the fronts too, if you get it done soon, let me know what you think. K

I just picked up an SVS 20-39PC+, and I have been spednign a lot of time dialing it in, and it appears to kick some fanny. My question(s) are these: Anyone have any problem with the auto-on feature of their sub? I would like to leave the auto-on switched on, and leave it, but I have been having a hard time getting the sub to turn on...and yes, I have the sub signal from my pre-amp turned up pretty high, so I don't think that is it? Also, when the sub is on...I put in a two channel classical CD and in portions of the cd where there should'nt have been any bass (Barber's Adagio for Strings - the high string sections), there was a very deep continuous rumble from the sub. It only happened when the CD was actually playing, other wise the sub was completely silent. I have only noticed this on this one cd...or is it my system? Any ideas? K

Hey, I sent you an e-mail. Let me know! Bruce

Doc, I don't know what trips your trigger, when you say "ethereal" but I have a couple of suggestions for ethereal music for you...from several different genres.. I have made these suggestions before in response to some other queries, but have had no responses, so I will make them to you and give you links to check them out. First is a guy called Eric Whitacre, a choral composer, young guy, music is modern and new, and completely mesmerizing...it is some incredible stuff, here is a link to one of his albums, and a listening link for one of the tunes...his stuff is not necessarily "sacred" music, but is ethereal.. http://www.arsisaudio.com/cd147.html I really do not beleive that this is representative of his best works on that album, either. If you can appreciate how hard it is to get that kind of sound, and the balance of voices, you will more deeply appreciate the soaring line... If you download this and listen to it on your computer speakers, imagine for a moment what it will sound like on your Klipsch...really amazing aural work-out. The next for etheral is Arvo Part, born in 1935, so not a spring chicken, in Estonia and I think his music reflects that..has a much broader range, but his choral sacred works are superb, the only link that I could find with MP3's has a good little cross section but none of these can compare with his 1989 Magnificat, look for it, it is pretty amazing...calm and reflective. http://www.opuscds.com/cd/35636 Both of these composers are modern in the sense the music is rife with dissonances, but the resolutions of those wrangling chords is enlightening and well ethereal. Now, if you want just weird, or powerful, I can suggest some others...the Imperatrix Mundi from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff played at very loud volumes, is the most recognizable movie (Excalibur) and commercial music, but is still just an awesome piece...the whole Carmina Burana is strange weird and powerful stuff, the story behind the music (bawdy poems discovered beginning of the twentieth century buried in the floor of an ancient monastery in the high European mountains in half a dozen languages, put to music by a mediocre musician who didn't do anything (arguably) of note before Carmina Burana or after, who himself claimed that his pen was "guided by an unseen force" - and that this work has become so well known (at least parts of it), and I think last time I read, it is the most performed work of its kind in the world)...AND the weird music, you have got a wonderful listen. Others here have suggested the Ormandy recording, and I concur, of the 10 or so that I have, it is the best. Get a hold of a good red wine, look up the "burning swan" and crank it...if it doesn't bring hair up on your neck, you are dead. Lastly for some sad and wonderful music, there was a sound track to a French movie called (forgive my French spelling): Tou Les Matins Du Monde, that starred Gerard Depardieu and his son Guillaume, I beleive. It was a movie about the life of baroque court cellist Marin Marais, and his teacher St. Colombe, about which little is actually known. The soundtrack is mostly all very old cello music played on period instruments, and is simple and haunting; if you can get a hold of the sound track you will enjoy it; look for clips on Amazon. Just heard a bit of it on the classical station this morning, so it is still around. I have some really ethereal opera moments too if you want them, but try these and let me know what you think. K

No, honestly my experience with subs is limited...BUT that being said, in two channel mode I should be able to turn the thing up to at least audible levels, no? The crossover setting should allow me to turn this thing up till I can at least say it is too much right? Even on scenes where I know there is supposed to be an explosion of LFE effect, the sound is minimal...that is what makes me think that something is wrong. K

It is strange this has come up - I have an Infinity HPS-500, and I have been terribly disappointed in the thing. It first of all has a plastic face that is very easy to crack (that was how I received mine) if you tilt the box up to plug in the wires in back. It should be able to rock the house with kind of bass, but its very poor at listening levels and hardly noticeable in general, even cranked to 10, in phase or out of phase - it just doesn't matter what I do to it. I think this thing has a 15" subwoofer Is this similar to your experiences? The reviews at the time were pretty favorable, so I don't know if my is just broken, or what..I get sound out it, but the track has to be busting loose for it to do anything...I would not have purchased the thing if I knew it were going to react this way... Is there anyone who works on these that I could send the amp board to? Could it be the caps, or other electronic dodads that are bad? K

You bet ya, I am in... K

UH, how exactly did my thread get hi-jacked? I lost it somewhere a long time ago! Now back to my original question, before the dimples and partial pressures and the inherent weaknesses of the square, the divine proportion and corporate intellectual property espionage? Subs, guys, subs...Any other suggestions as to the three (with Velodyne as the pricier fourth)? (See FIRST post). Thanks for staying on track here! K

OK, so the one subwoofer driver in a cylinder is as good as two in the box? And what about all of the equalizers, and sampson amps, and all fo the other stuff SVS offers? What is the deal with all fo that stuff, is it necessary, why would you need it, etc? K

Hey Dean, Please send me the spreadsheet too, I want the RF-7's upgrades, I should have gotten back to you sooner. bellicus@gmail.com K

My 87 Corn II's are naked too...later Corn's didn't have any stuffing...I haven't decided whether to try to put something in or not. K

Well, look for the threads on the SUnfire controversy...seems that pesky little Ohms law gets in the way of 400 watts per channel x 7 channels, with ...from what I understand of the math, that is impossible given the wall amperage coming into the unit... However, I bought one anyways! Love the whole coffee can story, dug the white-papers, and got a great deal from an internet scammer...so the rest is history...I love my TGIV and 400~7/RF-7 setup...it kicks rump boys, regardless of whether you like Carver or think he is nuts...I am just biding time to fill in the pieces of my reference system, and my next step is a killer sub... I got the Sunfire, because I am trying to avoid the up-grade-itis thing for a while...this thing, with 7 channels (and side axis channles for potential total of 9 channels) I expect I shouldn't have to upgrade a least the amp for a long time... My opinion of course. K

I guess I am confused, are you looking for classical suggestions, or trying to determine the value of your collection (money wise)? Suggestions I can make, value not so much. K

Liked that film, kind of freaky, made the mistake of watching it on cross country plane flight over night...every time the black and white scene lit up to pure white in the "pass out" scenes I startled all the people behind me...they didn't know what was blowing up...heheh Hey you want a freaky movie, try to find "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" A very naked Helen Mirren, and the guy who is now playing Dumbledore...disturbing, I tell you...went to see that on a first date, BIG mistake. ...best line form the movie, "I am going to eat him...I am going to cook him and I am going to EAT him..!!" Uh, not for kids, trust me on this... K

OK, wait a second...as I see it you are making an unfair comparison... The heritage line and the RF line are two completely different concepts, two completely different historical precedents, and not something that can make an easy comparison, IMVHO... I own a pair of peerless 80's Cornwall II's (not I's, not veritcal horns, nada), and they are a sheer joy to listen to, and I can't really explain why...they are refined and fluid with good music, and remorselessly brutal to bad or mediocre recordings...playing most modern rock and roll (or what passes for it these days) is painful, for they will pick-up every sharp or flat, every nuance, good or bad...and live recordings? Forget it, unless the musician is truly a master, these things will spit it out like it was, crap and all...sometimes it will sound marvelous, sometimes, like well crap...I can't even imagine what a K-Horn would sound like...I think the first time I do, I am dead...or divorced... That being said, I have experienced etheral moments with orchestral and classial music with my Corns , literally magical...nay, spiritual experiences...Ya'll that have them, dig up some clips of a guy named Eric Whitacre, or Arvo Part and play the stuff real loud, and you will see what I mean, the dissonances and ultimate resolutions are sublimely painful... HOWEVER, the RF-7's that I own play rock like beasts, hard hitting, punchy, and imminently listenable; it isn't that they cover the mistakes, or that they aren't as brutal in the honesty of the music they produce, but they are to my ears less warm sounding, more edgy and less ... hell, I don't know, ... fluid, more crystalline perhaps...than the older speakers...more of a flat response, maybe? Difference between say, polished wood and stainless steel...both beautiful and differrent at the same time. Perfect for movie soundtracks, perfect for most music, but to my ears, they are not super complimentary to solo artists (classical) work... Let me put it this way, if I wanted a speaker that was easily listenable, could put anything on it and it would just sound fantastic...it would be the Corns. If I wanted to actually listen to the music, listen critically to chordal progessions, motif, closeness of the chords between members fo the band or chorus, guitar fingering, bowing, the fat guy in the front row coughing, or just a wall of highly defined motor driven- electric arena rock sound, then the RF-7 would be the speaker hands down...does any of that make sense? This is kind of like trying to compare the body work on say an old stunning Bugatti, with sinfully velvet lines that just scream to be touched, and a brand new stealthy looking Lamborghini that looks like a secret precision razor-edged fighter aircraft, completely different - but exotic masterpieces both. Maybe I need to shut up now. K

Thanks for the reply... In response, I listen at all level ranges...I love to hear the Verdi Requiem Confutatis loud enough to wake the dead, or Nessun Dorma to earsplitting levels...but then I also enjoy put some simple Satie piano, Leontine Price or some good ol baroque violin adagio at low to moderate levels...so my answer is, it depends... (Being a guy) I dig U-571, Terminator, LOTR and every other blockbuster loud as the wife will stand... So, that doesn't help much, right? I would like to keep the price point approximately what a RSW-15 would be, let's say, between $750.00 and $2k...that is a pretty wide margin, and would definitely encompass all of the (midline) subs I have mentioned, I think? K

Ok, dammit, I meant RSW-15, crap I hate not being able to type. Thanks for pointing out my inadequacies. No really. Hmmm...OK, but of the ones I mentioned, what do you think? (assuming that I will check out the Velodyne's too)... Thanks for the reply (you spend why too much time here man)! K