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Tarheel TJ

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Posts posted by Tarheel TJ

    Advice for the newly addicted.

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

         You are off to a great start.  There are better speakers in the world than Klipschorns, but not many, and not by much!  You really are starting pretty close to the top of the heap.  I think your amp choice is great for getting started.  You might be able to do better, but I wouldn't go rushing off spending a bunch of money just yet.  My recommendation is get your new amp and crossovers hooked up and just enjoy for a while.  You may later discover that you want to treat your room, or add a sub, or upgrade your amp etc., but take your time deciding. 

        It takes listening for a while to really determine what you like and don't like about a system.  Live with it for a few weeks or months, play a bunch of different types of music and just get used to having a really good hi-fi setup.  You'll probably re-discover a lot of old favorites and truly hear them for the first time.

        Enjoy!

     

     

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 4

    Hifi's obsession w/ imaging...

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

         I have never been one to chase imaging.  Sound stage... maybe, but not imaging.  It always seemed like a hi-fi salesman's gimmick more than anything that represented reality.  I have been to lots of live concerts; the only time I have ever noticed any kind of imaging is small-scale, non-amplified settings.  I think hi-fi systems and products that are designed around imaging largely miss the mark about what makes hi-fi, and music, great.  Smooth, wide frequency response, flat phase, even dispersion and dynamic range are what it is all about.  Thank you PWK!

        However, I have found that as a system gets better, so does its ability to image.  Though I have never chased imaging per se, my system images quite well.  It turns out that a well-treated room, flat phase, smooth frequency response and even dispersion actually make for great imaging as well.

       So while I don't find it a worthwhile characteristic to pursue, it can actually be a good indicator of system performance, all else being equal.

    • Like 2

    Active Crossover Question and Automation

    in Technical/Restorations

    Posted

         MiniDSP 4x10HD user here.  Unfortunately, there is no automated solution that provides what you are looking for.  The process of setting up an active digital crossover and EQ is an iterative on that involves measuring, adjusting and repeating the process until it sounds and measures right.  It really isn't too hard once you get it all figured out, and I find the flexibility on tailoring my system to sound the way I want to be amazing.  I can't imagine going back to analog electronics again.

       As far as sound quality of the MiniDSP units goes, I have never heard a non-HD model before, so I can't comment on those.  I have also never used any of the Xilica products.  However, I can say unequivocally that my sound quality improved DRASTICALLY when I ditched the analog crossovers and switched to the MiniDSP setup.  If the MiniDSP is messing with my sound quality, I sure can't tell.  And it is certainly degrading it FAR less than an analogue crossover would.  I think the doubts about sound quality with any modern-generation DSP based crossover are likely unfounded.  They are at least as good as any other piece of equipment in a typical system.

    • Like 1

    What Book Are You Reading?

    in Lounge

    Posted

    World War Z right now, haha.  I just finished reading two pretty heavy books, so I went for something a bit lighter this time.

     

    Just finished Midnight at Chernobyl and With the Old Breed. 

     

    If you have never read With the Old Breed, you should.  It gave me an entirely different perspective on WWII and also on life in general.  It has made me extremely grateful for the life I have.

    Khorn vs. Bozak vs. JBL Paragon Review 1963 Memories in 1999

    in General Klipsch Info

    Posted

        Fascinating insight into the state of the art 60 years ago!  Thanks for posting.  I love the vintage stuff, and collect it a bit.  However, I'm with you Claude.  The modern stuff is orders of magnitude better than stuff from 1963. 

        In the end, I'd love to have a Paragon in my living room.  They are so pretty, my wife might even allow it!  I'm certainly not going to get rid of the modern stuff to get one though.

     

     

    • Like 1

    In-wall SW for Heritage series?

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

    Check into infinite baffle subs.  They are usually build in-wall, in-floor, or in-ceiling.  They require a very specific placement that may not be possible in your room (it wasn't in mine).  However, if you can make it work, they offer some of the cleanest, deepest bass available.

    Does damping factor matter?

    in Talkin' Tubes

    Posted

        I definitely appreciate the mathematical analysis from Langston and Backfire.  I would agree that horn-loading your woofers adds an order of magnitude more damping force than any amplifier can.  I would also agree that a lot of the difference in what people hear in tube amp bass is a result of the interaction between high output impedance and uneven speaker impedance. 

       For all of these reasons, and many others, I have found active crossovers to be an excellent solution.  Use the big SS amps on your woofers, and then use whatever else you prefer on the mids/highs (tubes, class A SS, etc.).  Seems to offer the best of all worlds. 

    • Like 3

    Eminence Production Problems

    in Technical/Restorations

    Posted

        Material shortages and extended lead times seem to be affecting all industries at the moment.  I deal with it every day in my business (construction materials).  Most of my vendors are telling me that it will continue through the end of the year AT LEAST.

       I also recently ordered some drivers from Parts Express.  I got 6 out of the 8 drivers I ordered.  I was told the rest would be shipping by the end of the month.  I guess we'll see....

     

     

    Bob Latino ST-120 Kit Review/Experience

    in Talkin' Tubes

    Posted

        I built a Latino ST-70 a couple of years back.  Like you, I had a great experience building it and had excellent support from Bob.  I can't recommend him enough when it comes to buying a tube amp kit as a first time builder. 

        I also had an issue with rectifier tubes.  I had one blow and take out the output tubes with it.  Swapped in all new tubes and it happened again!  I changed brands and finally found a set that works.  Have been using this set for over a year with no issues.  I don't remember which brands I tried at the moment.  However, trial and error seems to have solved the issue.  Wish I could be of more assistance.  I know trial and error is not cheap when it involves tubes.

     

     

     

    Cap Coupled amp for Klipsch?... Marantz, Sansui?

    in 2-Channel Home Audio

    Posted

         Don't have too much to offer here other than that I love the sound of my Marantz 2230.  It is not paired with any of my Klipsch speakers; I have it hooked up to a really cheap pair of Yamaha 3-way bookshelf speakers in a second system.  This combo sounds WAY better than the cost of components would lead you to believe.  Easily 90% of the sound quality of my big Klipsch-based system at 1/10th of the cost. 

        I am not sure what the going price is for these old Marantz units, but they definitely have a very smooth and nice sound.  I paid $10 at Goodwill for mine, and then spent $90 on a rebuild kit to replace the caps and lights.  It is like a brand new unit.  For the ~$100 I have invested, I don't see how you could do better.

     

     

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