soundog

Justin - We need you! Thanks for all your posts. I pray that you get well and back to speed. You are a great contributor! May God Bless You! And LOL. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

First get the equiptment cabnet out of there. Too bad it looks nice but the Khorns need a clear 40" - 48" on each side. You may have to move the sofa back and put the sub somewhere else. If you don't have at least 40" on the TV side, let me know and I have an idea that works for me. Also the window should be higher than the bottom part of the Khorn. If its not I have an idea for that also. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

The 1050 received a lot of great reviews and awards. It reproduces music exceptionally well as well as doing a great job with DVDs. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

The last of the true geniuses of audio has left us with uncountable hours of musical pleasure. I admired him since I was a teenager in the 50s. He lived a full and amazing life and will be remembered by history for his contributions to the art of great audio reproduction. We'll all miss him. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Looks like Al's getting some well deserved recognition. As are my favorate speakers. Looking forward to part II. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems This message has been edited by soundog on 05-06-2002 at 07:13 PM

I found that weather striping of the foam variety with adhesive backing placed along the back edges of my Khorns "sealed" them to the wall, improving bass response. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

They have a fairly high WAF - they can blend into the background and have a "homogonized" sound that some people who are used to listening to TVs and table radios actually like. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

HDBRbuilder Didn't some of the Frazier speaker models use the same components as Klipsch? ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Looks like the factory built version of the Kit I made as a teenager - I had two smaller versions that took 12" woofers and a 15" that I used as a center deep bass unit with a duel voice coil 15" woofer - They were not bass horn loaded - I seem to remember they were bass reflex. They could slide into corners or be used along walls. I liked the sound with my EICO tube preamp and EICO monoblock tube amps. The speakers, crossovers etc were all made by University. I coveted Klipschorns, however. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Taylor- If you have the time - go for it! ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Do you have it plugged into the LFE or sub out on your receiver? What are you bass management settings? What other speakers are involved? ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

I don't know how big your room is but I seem to remember that someone posted that PWK thought an ideal setup was two Khorns in corners on a 27' wall with a LaScala or Belle in the center. I used my Khorns w/o bass suplimentation (the start rolling off around 40 Hz and go down to the mid 30s which covers about 99% of all music. I found them terrific with bass - nothing beats horn loaded bass IMHO. However Ray Garrison suggested that I hook my two Klipsch LH10s wired in parallel to each Khorn as suggested on the Rel site (his choice for a sub to use with LaScalas). set them to 40Hz and the did provide more robust bass a small improvement on perfection but since I can redirect bass to them with m Outlaw ICBM for SACDs it turned out to be a good idea for this and also for DVDs. It also seemed as Ray had suggested to produce a slight but worthwhile improvement in the midrange/bass balance also. A Khorn bass bin would suppliment the LaScalas although one or ideally two subs set to 60 Hz might be a better idea. Especialy because a Khorn bass bin requires a skilled cabinet maker with good equiptment. It is not an easy project. Let us know what you decide and how it turns out. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

They both contain the same components but the LaScalas bass does not go as low because corners extend the Khorns bass bin by using the corner's walls. You are more likly to want to use a good subwoofer with the LaScalas. Both sound great there is nothing like full horn-loading for realism! One possible problem - the horns tend to be very live and "bright". A very live room like you describe may exacerbate this. You may need room treatment (the room's acoustics is a very important, but often overlooked, "component" in a system). Good speakers for a large room but you would need a center LaScalla or Belle if you use the Khorns or the LaScalas in the corners. You will need heavy drapes to cover the glass, some carpeting on the floor (wool best), diffusion panels on the rear walls and. perhaps. at point of first reflection( perpendicular line from center of mid and tweeter horns to side walls), bass traps maybe, absorption panels or thick tapastries or rugs at stretigic points on the wall. Also good amplification - tubes or, at least a tube preamp, if you decide to do this (it is WELL worth the effort) we can give you links to DIY treatments, low cost commercial products, and recomendations for amplification, etc. Just let us know what you decide and need. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems This message has been edited by soundog on 05-01-2002 at 06:08 AM

The ones I have have been moved to the LR Home Theater with the Heresys for some experiments. \ Ever since I bought Ray Garrison's LaScalas with ALK crossovers and put them in the LR I can see the shortcomings of the Klipsch THX LCR system. Since I have limited space' I'm going to experiment w/ the Heresys and may end up buying two more and selling the THX system (really good for DVD movies but falls behind the Heritage speakers on music). The Lovan stands you posted are more heavy duty than mine but with the sand mine work fine. I think the ones you had in mine would be a lot harder to knock over. I got mine on sale on line at sound city. www.soundcity.com Here's their Lovan stand page - your stands are 199. - I bouhgt the Affinitti IIs for $85. http://www.soundcity.com/bin/page.php?category_name=spkrstnds&page_name=lovan.tpl ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems This message has been edited by soundog on 04-30-2002 at 06:08 PM

I'm really not into photography so I have been trying to get a friend at work over who is to do some shots. I just finished the Curling season and finally had my first weekend and nights free in a long time. The LH10s are hooked up in parallel to the Khorns but are set at a 40Hz crossover, redirected sound from each respective side and a divided center redirected sound are sent along with each right and left signal by the ICBM to the Khorn LH10 combos, I use the JBL bass tower for the .1 channel. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

I see you found your way from the asylum to here. Welcome. The vast majority of posters here are very helpful - some go way out of their way to help. They are also very supportive and encouraging. I built my whole system with help and guidance from this site, Never would have been able to do it without their hwlp. If its Klipsch - this is the place! Except for an occasional judgemental moron who out of his own insecurity has to take pot shots. But I think the Asylum has a few more of those "I know it all - Your opinion stinks - Mine is way better" types. The P trap cut out is a common Khorn/LaScala tweek. If you here any fuzziness in the upper range you may want to consider it. Same with any evidence in ringing on the part of the midrange horns. A lot about dynamating or rope caulking them to dampen the ringing can be found here. My Khorns have plastic horns so I don't need it but I did on my center channel horns but my surrounds (LaScalas) don't seem to need it. Although I might do it some day anyway. Feel free to discribe any problem or ask any question although you might first perform a search = whatever's on your mind probably has already been discused in detail but perhaps not because the arcieves get purged occasionally. Wish some of it could be perserved as FAQs. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Recently I had one of my two 775s modified by SACDmods.com. As reported here and elsewhere the stock 775 is quite a good machine well worth its $399. list due to the quality Burr-Brown processors it contains. However, one of my systems uses Klipschorns and LaScalas which use identical speaker components. One problem with these speakers is that they clearly and dynamically reproduce whatever goes in to them. There hair trigger dynamics tend to make both muddy and boomy bass as well as the metallic edge of digital sound more prominent. The 775 is now selling everywhere for the unbeleivably low price of $199. Probably Sony's way of promoting their SACD format. The modifications that were made to my 775 dramatically improved the bass and removed any digital edginess from the mids and highs. The mods also clearly improved the playback of standard redbook CDs something that is of minimal interest to me because I run the output of all my CD transports through external processing through Perpetual Technologies P1A and Dan Wright modified P3A. These devices convert CDs to close approximation of SACDs at a cost of around $2500. for these excellent Stereophile recommended components. So I have a good standard of comparison. My modified 775 now sounds better on stereo SACDs than my CDs processed through the Perpetual Tech devices, something that wasnt true of the unmodified 775 (although it was surprisingly good for its cost) However,. CDs through the unmodified 775 didnt sound good at all when compared to the PT devices. Multichannel SACDs, especially those recorded in DSD now sound exceptional. They now offer a very wide soundstage out from the sides of the front speakers in a Cinemascope fashion. Great for recordings of symphony orchestras as the soundstage extends out beyond the walls of my room and curves inward slightly jut as a live orchestra would sounds a lot more like the real thing in size and scope. Of course, smaller groups sound so real that with the lights out you would swear they are in the room with you! Particularly exciting are live recordings like Bucky Pezzarelis Swing Live! (Chesky) were you are transported to a NYC night club. You are there! I plan to do a side by side comparison with the Sony 555ES and 777ES players (and anything else) if possible. I have heard both these machines in stores and the moded 775 sounds better with my system I think. I am reasonably sure that it sounds better than the 555ES but am less sure about the highly rated and expensive ($2999 list) 777ES which employs 6 DACs vs. the 3 in the 775 and 555. Only a direct side by side using the same recording played through the otherwise same system will let me know for sure. But I can say this: the SACDmods.com modified 775 is in the same league as these high end machines and for a total cost of around $450 550 (there are options) you will be getting way more than your moneys worth. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Jim- You have a good point, shared by may. I think this is why these exciting new format are going so slowly out of the starting gate. I just love to expweriment with new things. The DSD is converted to analog inside the player, I beleive. DSD recordings certainly sound better than older remasters transfered to the SACD regular and multichannel. I would not replace any of my regular CDs that I process through Perpetual Technologies P1A & P3A which via a series of digital processing tricks make CDs sound almost as good as SACDs. They end up sending an analog signal to the direct inputs of my receiver. Nothing wrong with good analog signals as many vinyl and tube enthusiasrs will attest to However, SACD especially good DSD multichannel recordings sound breathtaking. I'm pretty sure it has a future but I can understand your and others caution. I got hooked by an inexpensive Sony CE775 that I really thought I would try out and end up returning. I ended up having it modified (I'll post my experience with that growing populaity of mods as another topic). Humper- Yes I,m proud of my Heritage full range speakers all of which I picked up at a mere fraction of their new cost. About $3000 for 2 Khorns and 6 Scalas. New retail list will be at least $15,000 I bet! A top quality system at a budget price. Same is true of my Outlaw 1050 ($499. on the net), the LH-10s ($400 and change each off of ubid) and the great JBL bass tower ($219. delivered)which gives a solid, clean and very dramatic punch to LFEs! The PT devices are a different matter but since I have over 1000 CDs in computer controled changers the CDs cost me about $2. each (works great with 17 cent copies, too!} to keep from replacing with SACDs. All I could report on was how the ICBM worked with my full range system. I'm not sure how it will work with other HT system but would love to find out from anyone who would like to share. I do hope, however, they describe their system and their settings. Otherwise I won't understand completly what their experience is. It is very customary, even with professional reviews to describe the equiptment involved. What if I tried it with Bose cubes and reported it wasn't worth a damn but didn't mention the cubes? I did leave out a full description of my modified 775 which I will post. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Here's the review I posted on Audio Asylum: I have a home theater system of Klipsch Heritage speakers with matching speaker components. The Klipschorns go down about 35 Hz but start rolling off around 40Hz. The LaScalas go down to 45Hz but start rolling off around 55Hz. The bass is incredibly clean and undistorted. Both speakers are extremely realistic due to their dramatic dynamic range and clarity due to the rapid speed of recovery (been termed as hair trigger dynamics). The center channel array of speaker components (same as others but with an Altec 511B wide dispersion horn coupled to the Klipsch mid range driver) in a custom made floor to ceiling TV monitor stand. Klipsch LH10s and a JBL Pro 4038 bass tower as well as a KSW15 used only for movie LFEs complete the set up. The bass management on my SACD player was limited, hence the ICBM. Like all Outlaw products it is of very high quality at a very low price due to direct internet only distribution. After a little experimentation I sent a full range signal to each Klipschorn / LH10 combo including the cut off bass from other speakers. I set it for 120Hz for the center speakers which probably due to being part of the monitor stand tended to muddy up the great bass from the Khorns more than slightly. The LaScalas side surrounds (2 stacked and angled like two giant Bose cubes) were set at 60Hz and the rear LaScallas (one in each corner receiving matrix rear info derived by my 6.1 outstanding Outlaw 1050 receiver from side surround content) sounded best at 80Hz due either to their corner placement, the matrixing or close proximity to the JBL bass tower which got the .1 content. The ICBM has controls to adjust the levels of LFE and subwoofer (redirected) content from all the speakers. While the setting for the center seems too high (bass gets directional above 80Hz} it is not because the bass below 120Hz is redirected to the two Khorn/LH-10 combos and separated (another ICBM feature) between left and right origin with the center divided equally between the two. So, no problem, it seems to come from the center. Cant do that with many digital processing receivers and preamps (can with 1050!} but none I know of can do it with an analog signal from an SACD or DVD audio player. The ICBM can plus other options! The ICBM does not add any noise whatsoever! The sound quality of the SACD portion of my system is nothing short of spectacular and breathtaking. I am using, in my opinion) some of the finest full range speakers ever made, yet each has a different bass redistribution point due to a number of different factors. The ICBM allowed me to optimize this setup. If you want SACD multichannel sound of the highest quality, I believe in most cases that you have to have the Outlaw ICBM. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

I play all music going to my Klipschorns through a Dynaco PAS-4 tube preamp (LP and CD stereo and SACD stereo and multichannel)then to the direct inputs of my Outlaw 1050. This gives me the tube sound I desire for music (an additional tube preamp for the center channel on SACDs would be desirable since a lot of vocals are directed there. I don't think the surrounds are that critical. DVDs and video tape output goes through the preamp of the 1050 which works just fine for movies. Remember DVD video sound has limitations. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

$3300 is a good price for a pair of brand new Khorns. They are due to go up in price, I beleive. Former list was around $5800 a pair, if I remember correctly. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

A toggle bolt or mollies would work - they come in various size and are usually rated for the weight they will hold. For that matter so are picture hanging kits. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

Metal stand allow you to experiment with placement and direction speakers fire. Wall is more limiting. However, if you can, try all options. Its impossible to predict how a speaker will sound in a room with out experimentation. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

No DVDs presently have 7.1. You can wire your two rears in parallel but it will reduce their impedance to 4 ohms. If your receiver does 4 ohms it will probably not be a problem. I'd leave the receiver set at 8 ohms since this is the impedance of the other speakers. The effect on sound quality should be negligible. ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems

A dynaco PAS4 (a 1999 update of an old dynaco design) works well for me. They sold for $1000. originally - show up as NOS on ebay for about $500. from time to time and, of course, used. Needed to invest a little additional in upgraded tubes, however, to get the full benefit. One is on ebay now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1348151134 ------------------ Soundog's HT Systems This message has been edited by soundog on 04-25-2002 at 07:09 AM