Donkeyshins

Thanks! So it sounds as if my KP-250 will have to remain a KP-250 (e.g. no building a sealed cabinet unless I replace the K42 with K24). Ah well. Could be worse. At least I have a pair of speakers that should work well with a sub for $100. [] -D

I was hoping to use this as front mains in a home theater system, so I don't want the corners (I have them, I removed them, I think they're ugly as heck) - I was thinking more along sanding the carcasses smooth and veneering them to look more like regular Heresys. I also have the grilles, but they are beat-up pretty badly, so I may go to Bob Crites for some new cloth. I appreciate all your help! Thanks! -D

I'm looking for details on a pair of KP-250 speakers I picked up this weekend for $100.00. Also, I'm looking for specs / T/S parameters on the K-42 woofer. Does someone on the forum have this information? A photo of the speakers is below: I'm hoping to find out as much as possible about these speakers before I rebuild them (not sure if I'm going to keep the very beat up cabinets or build new ones). Thanks! -D

Title says it all. Does anyone have the T/S parameters for the K-42 woofer as found in the KP-250B (Neutrik Speakon not XLR connector)? Thanks! -D

First of all, I'm highly jealous of your office system. MX110 + MC275 + Heresy II = possibly better than my main system. Second - the Heresy II in a heartbeat - it's just a better speaker. You might want to consider augmenting it at some later date with a good subwoofer. I've found the Hsu STF-2 to be a very good match. -D

To be blunt, the ST70 is a good amp (I've heard several variations - have not heard the ST120), but the ST35 (not SCA35) is a much better amp. The Z565 has the best iron that Dyna ever wound (although the power supply transformer is a bit underrated and gets hot) and EL84 tubes are pure magic with Klipsch speakers. Yes, 17.5WPC is a bit low, but when you are playing with >98dB 1W/m, you don't need much more than that. Give a listen to an ST35 before jumping to an ST70 - you might be surprised.

Thanks! It's been a journey to assemble this gear (about 20 years). Much debt is owed to my wife for tolerating my hifi (NOT audiophile) tendencies. With regards to the LX-5, I don't use it that much - mostly to listen to old tapes from college bands or my days as a DJ. However, it fulfills the goal I had in college to one day own a real Nakamichi tape deck... [] -D

Nottingham Analogue Interspace with an OL-1 arm + DL103R cart, and an RB300 arm w/ Clearaudio counterweight that is waiting for a DL102 mono cart. You can sorta see it here (ignore the iPod in the charger - I only use it when working in the yard): It's feeding these: -D

Granite, huh. Watch out for that radioactivity. [] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=4c5e895e13e49ae4&ex=1217131200&oref=slogin The things people get worked up over... -D

You might want to take a look at the DIYTube ST35 'kit' (http://www.diytube.com). You can buy pretty much all the parts from Triode Electronics, or, if you have some old Dynaco ST35 / SCA35 transformers in your parts bin, buy the PCB and associated components. The ST35 is arguably the best sounding of the Dynaco amplifiers; it certainly had the best quality iron of all the Dynaco gear. I'm running an original ST35 (albeit with new parts) rather than the DIYTube version (the biggest difference is it splits out the pair of 12DW7 tubes into separate 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes) with a pair of Heresy IIs and it is a match made in heaven. -D

I can't speak about IIs versus IIIs, but I recently purchased a pair of 1991-vintage Heresy IIs and I really dig the sound (granted, they're augmented in the bottom octaves with a subwoofer). Personally, if I were to upgrade, I'd probably just go with Bob Crites' titanium diaphragms for the tweeters and a crossover cap upgrade. However, there is an upgrade program for Heresy II --> Heresy III - search the forum and you'll find the upgrade thread. -D

One idea I've been considering is building a music server system based on the D945GCLF board and a decent USB DAC. The board looks like this: It uses an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor (under the teeny-tiny passive cooler - the big active cooler is for the chipset) and runs for under $75 with the chip soldered on the board. Add 2GB RAM, a big HDD, a case, a passive chipset cooler (quiet, please!) and a small used LCD monitor and you'd be good to go. -D

Unfortunately, the 6200 is rather underpowered for MCE2005 (I was a beta tester on it). I'd go for a ATI 2600XT (I'm a little leery of the HD3xxx series in AGP) like this one which should give you more than enough "oomph" as well as HDCP/HDMI compatability should your TV support it. Although, to be honest, if you can afford the $300 or so to do a system upgrade, you'd be better off building a new system with an integrated graphics solution (e.g. Athlon or Phenom on AMD 780G chipset or Core2Duo on Intel G45 chipset when it releases in August) built on a 65nm or even 45nm process - you'll use less power and have a fuller feature set / more processing & rendering power than a P4 2.8 (which is at least 4 if not 6 years old depending on whether it is Northwood or Prescott). And general MS and Vista hatred that runs rampant on the interweb aside, Vista is the bomb for Media Center - a huge improvement over MCE2005. Yes, I'm typing this on a Vista machine right now. If you do decide to upgrade your system instead of getting a video card, as long as you have 2+ GB of RAM, you should be fine with Vista Home Premium which does have MCE included. If you do decide to go Linux per some users' suggestions, the user friendly variety is Ubuntu (I believe they're on Hardy Heron and Intrepid Ibex is set to RTM/RTW in October). Not as easy to use as XP if you aren't familiar with Linux CMD shell, but it is probably the 'best baked' for home use. I play around with it every once in a while to keep on my toes. -D

Speaking from personal experience, Heresy IIs and EL84 amps play very well together...I think you'll like the Leben with Heresy IIs - just get a good subwoofer for the bottom octaves. -D

Not sure if this will cheer you up. True story - it still galls me to this day. In my junior year of college, I happened to stop by the local student government (ASWC) office on my way out of town for the Christmas holidays. While I was there, I noticed a credenza that had a bunch of crap piled on it. As I got closer, I realized it was a JBL Paragon. I casually inquired if they'd be interested in selling it as it was taking up space. The person who was there (the ASWC president) said "Sure - give us $100 for it and it is yours!' I said, "Hold it for me, I'll pick it up after Christmas." and we shook on it. When I returned from the holidays, I discovered that they had traded it for a couch. [:'(] That was the one that truly got away. -D

Additional comments: Invest in a good Current Inrush Limiter like a CL90 (http://www.diytube.com/cl.pdf) - that will prevent the B+ slam Try Triode Electronics (http://store.triodestore.com/mq060.html) if you need a new PT - cheaper than Welborne You could also replace the PSU diodes with HEXFREDs - might reduce noise Check out http://www.diytube.com - lots of good information on Dynaco gear Welcome to the wonderful (and maddening) world of thermionics! -D

I'm a big fan of the Dynaco ST35 (either stock 7247 form, or using the DIYTube ST35 board). Mine are using a more-or-less stock circuit with a better PSU section, better passive components, better layout and individual (fixed) cathode biasing. See below: The Z565 OPTs are some of the best transformers ever wound (and the best that Dynaco ever wound) and the EL84 tubes are to my ear a good match for my Heresy IIs and do quite well with Zeppelin. Granted, I'm reinforcing them with a subwoofer. [] -Derek

Rudie Can't Fail - The Clash The Prisoner - Iron Maiden A Stare Like Yours - The Thermals Ace of Spades - Motorhead

As a 1990-91 Heresy II owner, is it worthwhile to rebuild the crossover? It sounds pretty darn good as is...

General rule of thumb - as long as the voltage values are greater than or equal to the existing voltage values you should be fine. [] -D

Thanks for that information! They're definitely IIs; the back is permanent, it says 'Heresy II' in the connector cup and the drivers are flush-mounted to the front of the motor board - they have the square cup on the back instead of round, so I'm guessing it's probably 1990-1992 vintage. Woo! -D

Well, I got the Heresy IIs today for $400 cash. They are really nice oiled walnut with a little bit of chipping around the front baffle (not noticable from the couch). I hooked them up tonight and aside from the fact that the higher sensitivity really makes the tube hiss from my preamp stand out (bypassing through the Dynaco ST35 is silent as the grave, though), I'm loving them! They're flanking my fireplace and are ~ 24" off the floor on the two brick piers that are on either side of the hearth (house was built in the mid-70s - all sorts of unfortunate decor choices abound) and about 4" from the back wall. I'm listening to the 'Round Midnight' soundtrack on LP and have never heard a jazz combo sound this realistic. Led Zeppelin III (immediately prior) also on LP rocked. I'm very glad I finally joined the Klipsch family. [] One quick question - do you use the P/N or S/N to gauge the age? The S/Ns don't appear to have a year (unless these particular speakers were built in 1959) as the S/Ns are 59620 and 59621. The P/Ns are both 0900034112. Thanks! -D

Are you adverse to rolling your own (e.g. building from a kit)? If not, then I highly recommend the DIYTube ST35 'kit' (http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1). You can either buy a board, transformers and chassis and stuff it yourself or buy a kit from Triode Electronics (http://store.triodestore.com/diy35kit.html). The former approach can be less expensive (e.g. buying Edcor output transformers instead of the new Z565 transformers from Triode, or buying used Dynaco transformers separately), but is more challenging if you aren't comfortable with building a kit. The latter approach is easier because it is a complete kit and you don't have to source your own parts. The downside of the Triode Electronics kit is no provision for multiple inputs or volume control. However, you could pair it with something like the TCC TC-754 (review here: http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/t-preamp_e.html) and be well below your $600 - $800 range (since the amp kit is $450 and the preamp is $80) and have the ability to add vinyl without purchasing a phono preamp. The TCC stuff may look cheezy, but it boxes well above its weight class (I have one of their phono preamps that I use for ripping LPs to my Zune). The sound of the ST35, especially with upgraded components (as in the DIYTube circuit) is a great bang for the buck and the ST35 is one of the all-time great tube amplifiers. -D

I've used a creme brulee torch for quite a while. No scorching or fires as you can 'tune' the amount of heat from the torch via distance or by turning down the flame. Plus it looks cool. -D

Since the conversation topic has already started...is $450 (perhaps $400 if I can talk the seller down) for a pair of Heresey IIs in walnut that are ~ 20 miles from where I live a good deal? My guess is yes...but that's just my (inexperienced) guess. Thanks! -D