Jeff Matthews

Yeah, I know what you mean. Seeing as I think the speakers are good enough, already, I tend to think about how to package them in more appealing boxes. I think furniture will probably be my hobby in my next life - after I finish this durn house. Others may be more than happy with the way they look and want to focus on sound a little more. For me, for example, I hear those Heresy III's run upward of what $1600. Those little speakers are good, but I think that as small as they are, they don't sell themselves as standing out based on appearance. Functionally, they stand out, but my belief is you gotta get the customer to want to listen, first. That's why I picture a razzle-dazzle box design for the Heresy - as well as the Cornwall. That's alot of dough for a plain, square box.

For starters, just a summary response will do. I might want to buy the book later, but I was just trying to get a flavor and not buy into the whole meal.

Care to be a bit more specific. What in particular are you talking about? Not really. Because that forces me into possibly offending someone where no offense was ever intended. I am just wondering whether PWK was a hi-fi crusader as a first priority and then, a businessman, or was he a businessman, first and then, left the details to the Devil. What's the book say about that? I am trying to form a mental picture about what he did. Was he always trying different-sized rooms, with different treatments, using different foams, carpets, rugs here.... and then "no, what about here," and then "no, what about here?" Or did he build some good speakers that worked pretty good in his place, put them on the market and let everyone else fight about what made them sound the best?

What book? My question was an honest one and not meant to take judgment one way or the other. I was just wondering if the guy came up with a good speaker idea, learned a little something about other factors affecting acoustics, but mainly focused on business. Or was he more of the continuing crusader, on a path for better and better? I think the true fun of this forum for me is coupling a little knowledge, along with alot of good fun just goofing around and sharing a few ideas. I don't look at stereos as a crusade-driving force, but I am very glad to have landed where I did. I am sure I'll check a variation out here and there, but really, the fun is in the forum itself. It has been good to learn a few things, though - e.g. there's a reason to upgrade/refresh xovers, 60-watts can thump pretty hard with the right power supply behind it, etc. What I think would be cool is to see some of the smaller speakers like Corns and Heresies tricked out big-time. I envision all kinds of modded boxes that would look really cool. Like an hour-glass bin, sandwiched with black grills (really, the illusion of an hour-glass bin, just the front panel would be shaped that way).

A thought has crossed my mind a few times about how much of a kick I'd get to see a new avatar come on the scene with a handle that said "Hubby." []

You're right, Rich. I guess I am making a distinction between moderation and obsessive-compulsive behavior. There's no doubt obsessing can and does generate alot of ideas/information and improvement. But at what cost? And is the cost right for everyone? IDK - maybe. But if I find ANY OF YOU actually bought those Brilliant Pebbles, then, I'll know you've lost it. []

I have heard so much minutia on this forum that it got me wondering. First thought: Anybody in here accomplish as much as PWK in the speaker dept. of stereo hi-fi? Second thought: What did PWK mean by a badge I am told he wore that said "BS?" Third thought: Did PWK, who certainly would qualify to know a "little something" about his speakers, write any articles or instruction books on these monster cables, room treatments, tubes vs. SS to drive Klipsch, grill cloth materials, etc.? Fourth thought: If so, why hasn't anybody used these materials as authority? Fifth thought: If not, is it because these concerns are rather miniscule in the grand scheme of listening to and enjoying Klipsch speakers? I am just wondering whether PWK bogged down in the minutia of these details or just kicked back and relaxed a little more. What kind of a man was he, and what would he say if he read this Forum lately? EDIT: In the end, it really wouldn't matter. He was just a man.

don't forget the Vaseline, too, Jeff ....[] Duke, I didn't hear you ask if you could come over.... []

Jeff doesn't. Jeff's walls are not perfectly square, so he can only get them about an inch or so away. Poor Jeff. He'll never know what Klipschorns are supposed to sound like. He's listening to garbage and doesn't even know it. What he needs to do is: (1) re-build the walls to make them perfectly 90 degrees. (2) add the top plate to the bass bin to keep the LF waves in until they reach the mouth of the horn. (3) add room treatments in strategic places. (4) change or remove all grill cloth. (5) get Monster cables. (6) go all-tube. (7) ditch CD and go back to vinyl. (8) buy a power conditioner. (9) lower the volume. (10) if 1 - 9 fail, get 6 jars of those Brilliant Pebbles. ..... ........ ........... (11) if 1 - 10 fail, wish he had all his money back. []

Meagain, I also just saw the Walnut KHorns you have. They look pretty good. The criticism I was making earlier was to the finishes that I commonly see like this one in one of Klipsch's photos (why would they use this one as an ad?). I just think they look a little lifeless.

I don't know, man. I was offered a "SpeedBuggy" guitar with a whammy bar as an even trade.

LOL - especially the guitar! Rich, so that's whose Barbie & Ken guitar that is! You left it after our last jam session.

Yeah, that's a nice-looking speaker. A little red, but nice. It would look best in a room where there's not lots of light. In any event, I admit my error in criticizing a wood species (i.e. in saying the Walnut looks like a fake veneer). It really is the stain color that appears to make the difference. So, is my office door an Oak veneer, Walnut, or what? []

Aw, it sounds like they'll rip just like what you'd expect. Do your buddy a favor and end his quest.

Actually, I did not want you to see my Disney's "Little Tykes" drum set with the Mickey Mouse bass drum cover. [] Next thing, people would figure out that I still wear Underoos... []

My recollection of the LaScalas was certainly impressive. I don't think there's the extreme lack of bass like people say - or anything all that close to it. Maybe you need one of those 100lb, 200wpc amps to make the bass come out of them, IDK. But just because I own KHorns and not LaScalas does not make me want to be all high and mighty about it. The LaScalas are great speakers w/plenty of low-end.

You all are just hilarious! You crack me up big-time. Okay, I've procrastinated. Here's my goal. I WILL bring the dig cam home with me. First, I will route the front edge of the single grill I made last night, and then, I will put some of those black "potato sacks" over it. That way, I can shoot a pic of the KHorn from its "dressed" angle, so you can see them. If time permits, I will also include my deco Corns with the cool stands I made for them many years ago. Bear in mind, the Corns would need alot of staple-hole filling and re-staining to use them as decos w/o grills. I'll probably re-grill them. Decos are neat w/o grills, but I have used them with their old grills for 20-years. Just because I found I have "decos" does not incite a boyish-thrill that makes me want to work my tail off to show them off as decos. I've got alot of other things to do before I can blow time like that. You'll get your pics.... OKAY??? And my KHorns are lovely - so don't go beating me down when you see them. And as far as painting them, I could see wanting to paint over the poop-colored stained ones, but these are WAY too PRETTY. []

By the way, Larry. I agree with Meagain. Your KHorns are very nice and have a beautiful, warm glow! Thanks for the post.

Here ya' go. Eat your heart out! I don't know, maybe it's an oak veneer. In any case, my critcism might just be not so much with the wood, but with the "poo-poo" color stains. They just "kill" a nice piece of wood. My golden Birch are lovely and so warm! []

Meagain. You speak too soon. Maybe I have some of that "special" Birch. [] It runs circles around Walnut in terms of depth and glow. I'm gonna post a pic of the Walnut veneer on the doors in my office. Cheesy and dead cold!

Yeah, Larry. I was wondering. You have a fine grain, but I did not see any of the "exotic" pattern. Can you post a straight-on shot of yours? I guess my signature will continue to say "rare" for the meantime. []

The bass on your LaScalas will sound very comparable to KHorns. You'll notice the difference, but it won't be nearly enough to remotely disappoint you. They are very good.

Maybe they were added on. By the looks of things, it seems someone wanted to make D's look more like B's. They're definitely D's, though. That's what it says on the stickers. Yeah, I saw those 50's. Very nice. Notice the color of the stain? Very similar to my Birches, except mine might be a tad lighter (less red). That "golden" color stain really contrasts nicely with the black Burlap. I always liked deep black and gold together. You'll see them soon. Not that you should expect an "anniversary edition" stunning appearance, but they do look very nice. There are 2 things about the 50th editions that I am not crazy about: (1) the grill cloth (I still think it looks better when the cloth is not translucent, and (2) the piecing together of veneers on the top plate (I guess they don't make wood like they used to - I like a single piece). Don't take it as me bashing them, though. If I could have found those 50th's for the $1700 I paid for mine, I'd have jumped all over them and robbed that ignorant grandma! []

Hey.... Hey.... Hey.... Hey!!!! Stop that!!! No giving her buyer's remorse here. She bought them on faith, having heard sucky bass through a bad receiver/amp (that could be refurbished "properly" according to all you tubers out there). The bass on those speakers will be just fine.

Too funny! Moving LaScalas around. I used to dread moving my Cornwalls. You might seriously consider some casters. They won't hurt anything screwed to the bottom, and you can take them off if you get set on a permanent spot.