arug4

Check with Jim McShane; he is the guru with this amp.

I'm currently using a SEP (single-ended parallel) 6l6 amp made by Niteshade. It puts out 14 watts of pure Class A power driving the Fortes to whatever level is necessary. I do listen to much complex music (just finished listening to Mahler's 9th) and small acoustic groups alike. I also alternate this amp with the TAD-60 push-pull amp which can be used in a SE fashion or ultralinear with 6l6 or other octal tubes. For this amp I get either 25 or 50 amps. But I also have used a 4.5 watt 421A tube based amp, which, I agree, is a mite too little for Mahler. Have fun!

Its a shame wasting all those hi-powered ss amps on such sensitive and good speaker. I certainly agree with the Crites crossovers and tweeter diaphragm upgrades, but look for a low powered (less than 30 watts) tube - preferably SET - amp.

I'll take one of the passive woofers - if no indentations in the dome. email: arug4@hotmail.com Thanks

My music server (computer) is directed to a Sonos system for wireless use throughout the house. Each Sonos player is connected to a Tadac (a tubed dac that is fantastic). The Tadac goes to each stereo system (living room and bedroom). The Sonos system can be contolled from any computer or from my iTouch. Have fun.

Vince Guaraldi: Charlie Brown

Greg, Thanks for your comments. The thread was not mine originally, however. There is really not much to tell. I called a friend who is the principal in a great woodworking company here in Upstate NY (fawnmeadow.com) and asked him to do the work. After upgrading the speakers with new Crite's xo's and titanium diaphragms, it was the least I could do for a great set of speakers.

And the last

And another

Hope this works

Here are a few pics. The actual color is a shade or two darker:

I'd be happy to, but first someone has to tell be how to upload the photos. Thanks.

I just had my Forte I's done professionally in Brazilian Rosewood with a fantastic lacquer finish. The cost for the re-veneer and finish was $760.

They won't sound their best until you modify the crossover and replace the tweeter diaphragm with Bob Crites's titanium one. Enjoy!

I've heard the same comment, but IMHO I find that both make a difference. Have fun.

Someone was asking about tube rolling in the Almarro 318B. I've done a lot of that and found that a 6SU7GTY is a drop-in replacement for the 6SL7. It sounds great with an RCA 6SN7GT.

Check out the Crites website (http://www.critesspeakers.com/crossovers.html). There are crossovers and diaphragms for Cornwalls. He is extremely helpful and makes you understand what to do yourself. If I can do it, anyone can Enjoy

While others may know this and have commented on the amazing upgrade that Bob Crite's titanium diaphragms are for tweeters in Klipsch Heritage products, I have only experienced it in the past month. I have upgraded a pair of Quartets and now a pair of Forte's with the new diaphragms (they had their crossovers upgraded first). Chamber music Cd's with shrill violins - hot and unlistenable - are now sweet and beautiful. For those who have not made this upgrade, I would suggest it strongly. It is probably the least expensive and most effective change in any speaker or system that I have made.

After nearly 45 years of changing this and that, I believe that I've come upon the "best yet". I recently bought a set of 1989 Quartets in great shape. I changed the crossovers and tweeter diaphragms ala Bob Crites . Recently I had my Almarro 318B modded by Bill Baker at Response Audio with teflon V-caps, a Noble volume pot, some Blackgate and Elna bypass caps, and a SoniCap power bypass. This is all driven by a Marantz SA-11S2 CDP. A Reference Line preamp connects them. The sound in my 15 x 22 living room with 10-14 foot ceilings is truly remarkable. All those years of listening to this and that compared to this system has raised my excitement once again.