avguytx

Is that about the going rate for those?

As Maynard might say, find a console amp and rebuild it. Not a lot invested and very good return plus good power for the Belle's sensitivity. Something like a Stromberg Carlson ASR-120 or a Magnavox. Maybe I'm partial.

Do you have a buddy with another set of tower speakers you can borrow for awhile to see what their sound might be the your ears? If I were still in denton, I'd be glad to bring some Norman Lab Model 9's, JBL L100t's, Infinity Quantum 3's or RSIIIa's over to see how they worked in comparison. These direct radiators sound great and are very forgiving. Maybe that's why I like my CF3's so much....they are a different beast from the other Heritage line. Everyone hears different. No harm, no foul there for sure.

Why is this thread in Pro Audio?

OK, think I saw that you used the Hammond 1650F? Looks like around $100 at Mouser. Does that sound about right? Wouldn't these also give me more windings where it could be ran with a 4 or 8 ohm output?

Thanks for both of your input on these amps. It's been awhile since I listened to either amp (maybe winter) so I just hooked up the ASR-120. Yes, it does sound good...as I remember! It's got pretty much everything done to it except for different OPT's and that sounds like it should be the next thing to do before going to something else. All the ceramic resistors were replaced with 1% tolerance and it also uses Orange Drop caps. The multi-cap was replaced with separate caps under the chassis but the can is still in place. Also, I had broke one of the 7199's (ugh) so it was rewired for 6U8 type tubes that were sent to me by a generous fellow ok AK a few years back. I need to remove that to clean up the top area. So which transformers were used in yours JL? Maynard, what else do I do to it/them? OPT's mainly? Tubes? I'll see if I have some pics to post of it.

I thought about pocket hole screws using a Kreg jig and also brad nails for some areas. But since I'm working with Baltic Birch and not veneering anything, I was going to go the no nail or screw route in visible areas and maybe nails/screws in other obscure areas. Yep....time for a trip to Harbor Freight. They are about 40 minutes or so away...not too bad.

I have two console amps that I've owned now for close to 10 years that have been gone through and updated but not really "revamped". I know they have lots of limitations as they were designed for consoles with free air woofers with bass boost added on occasion. I have a Magnavox 9304-20 and Stromberg Carlson ASR-120 and they both do sound very good for what they are but I still know I'm missing the real tube sound. I had thought about using both of these amps for my "Belle clone build" with active or passive 2-way crossover or maybe one of my Carver amps on the low end and one or the other amps on the top end. I honestly can't afford to spend the big bucks on amps but could build a kit amp of sorts. Maybe something in the $500-ish range once these other two amps are sold. (I have a daughter that's about to head to the U of A for college so expenses are about to change even more. Thank God she's a 4.0+ student and tests well.) So current speakers are the CF-3's and eventually will be the clones but, for now, the Epics. For a little extra background, I have tinnitus so I have a constant sound I hear that some days is louder than others. My hearing just isn't what it used to be so higher end stuff, I just can't substantiate the expense since I can't tell the major subtleties. I do play things a little louder to overcome what I hear in my head so I'm thinking flea power isn't going to cut it. Maybe 10 to 20 wpc. This may not even be realistic for that budget. Maybe I need to stick with my 460wpc Carver M-1.0t amplifier and call it good. haha. My knowledge is limited on tube amps other than I can reasonably follow a schematic, own a couple of Fluke meters for testing, and am mechanically inclined and have patience. And I'm not afraid of asking questions and for help if need be. But I do appreciate any input from you guys.

Are ya done yet??? On building the bass bins, did you just glue and clamp the pieces together or use glue and screws (or nails, etc) to attach everything? I was just wondering if they were put together with glue/screws and then veneer over that. I need some bigger clamps to attempt the glue/clamp method.

It's been quiet... How are they coming?

Am I missing where the dimensions of the Belle build design are? Or is that a more in-depth search?

It doesn't make any audible difference that most any normal human being would ever hear. Plus they are very solid.

I found my port tubes at a carpet supply store. They were 1/4" walls and was a 10 foot length. I cut them on a table saw and attached them from the back side sliding them over the stock plastic port. Made them 5.5" long. Easy.

I had a set of KLF-30's for awhile that were underwhelming in the bass department, too. After all was said and done, I sold the KLF-30's as my dual 10" per cab CF-3's simply trounced them. Could just be the room.

Ahhhh......I remember the time years ago I picked up a pair of beautiful '78 WO Klipschorns for $500 from a retired Delta Airlines pilot outside of Denton, TX. Hated to have to sell them as I knew I'd never come across another pair at that price, and condition, ever again. Also bought a custom Barzilay cabinet from him with tambor doors (still have) which had a 6 foot wide lower section and a 4 foot wide upper section that was custom made to hold his Tandberg and Mac gear. Plus, cabinets that held some JBL D23 (maybe) 12" full range, but left a pair of black Forte's. Shoulda grabbed those, too.

Looks awesome, man! I'm still hoping one day to actually get started on mine.

That was a great read.

That makes sense. Although there's apparently some sellers on eprey that are selling plastic versions of the "PWK" pie and copper-looking version for not a lot. Although they may, or may not, look that great.

Doesn't Klipsch sell the newer Heritage style badges direct?

Epic CF series do well up against a wall. Wait...that's not Heritage.

Yeah, I'll leave the DAC on the native USB port...most likely the 2.0 port and tie the keyboard, HD, etc, in to the 3.0 hub. May test it the other way and see if there's any noise there and also with a power supply versus supplied by USB.

Well, I started on the Liva Tiny PC project last night with very good results. For a sub $100 "PC" that I installed Windows 10 Pro 64 bit on previously at the school, using a Muse Mini USB Dac I already had, this little booger sounds quite good and may in fact replace the more power hungry desktop. I was listening to Spotify Premium plus watched some 1080p YouTube videos with not a single bit of stuttering. Looks like I'll be installing JRiver on it, setting a static IP so I can access the movies and music from other devices through one of the two hard drives (for now until I get an NAS box). If I need to rip CD's or DVD's into the drives, I'll just use an external drive. Not too bad. I need to get a USB 3.0 hub sometime soon, too.

He was in some of my all time favorite comedy movies...Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein being the top two. But loved them all. Willy Wonka will be a timeless classic. RIP

They are probably posted in multiple locations.

Dang.... If those were close to me, I'd be in trouble.