Xki
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Posts posted by Xki
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Klipsch Parts will be my second stop. Just thought that if any had any not being used, I would give them some business first.
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One set of surrounds came with cat damaged grills. Starting to bother me.
PM me if you have a pair!
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Keep it comin' guys.
From the comments here and all the other posts over the years I've determined:
1) The La Scalas will sound much improved by a) getting the cross overs back in spec or upgraded.
CT125 upgrade is worth it.2) I shouldn't worry too much about timber match since I'm dealing with it now and it doesn't 'really' bother me.
3) I shouldn't mix phenol and tites because there is a difference that is clear.
4) HIIs are ok but HIIIs are noticable better.
So, I think it will be crossover upgrades for sure and 4 CT125s. I'll EQ and see if I can get to the point where I don't notice differences during listening sessions. And if that can't be achieved, I'll settle for what I get or search for a sigle La Scala for the center - funds permitting.
Thanks for the input! I'm out-of-pocket for the nect 10 days so I won't be able to do much except check in and see if anyone has more to add. BTW: The wife said she would not rob the bank. Venus and Mars thing I guess.
A few months after I got my 1974 La Scalas, I replaced the K-77s with CT125s and the old "tin-can" caps with Bob's Sonicaps, and the sound was much improved.
The La Scalas don't sound exactly like Heresy IIs anyway, so I'd just go ahead.
Also, I upgraded the centre (now rear centre, since I got the front centre Belle) Heresy II to a Heresy III, and it sounds a bit different from the Heresy IIs it sits between. The sound is more clear, and the bass goes a bit deeper, so I've go no complaints about that.
Down the road, I plan to upgrade all the Heresy IIs to current H-3 spec. -
Oh boy! Here I was just going to improve my mains and now I'm thinking 4 CT125s would be best. 2 for mains, 2 for the HIIs.
What I will do is upgrade the La Scalas and see if there is a noticable mis-match. I suppose there is always the option of a 3rd La Scalla even though there is no room for it. And If I get that bigger display even the Heresies will be hard to fit. OH! I know! An acoustically transparent screen! Problem solved.
May need to rob a bank. I'll give my wife the bullets, she already has a gun. Ain't this fun?
maybe I am deaf but I find the CT125 to sound very much like the Ti diaphragm in a K79 and that was a big surprise to me and I expected it to sound well like a phenolic which I don't think it does. Maybe it's the fluid in the gap I don't know. Best regrds Moray James.
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I hadn't considered that. I'm happy with the K-76 in the H2s. The higher output than the K-77 in the La Salas is really easy to hear. I was hoping the CT125s would be better than the K77s. If these Crites are that much different in overall tone than the K-76, I might have to get ti diaphrams!
I dropped a pair of CT125 into my Heresy. I have also installed a good number of Bob's ti diaphragms into K79's. I have to say that I was very much surprised and pleased with the CT125 as it sounds very much like a K79 with ti diaphragms. So I think that if you upgrade your H2 to ti diaphragms you will have a very nice match. Hope this helps best regards Moray James.
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That's what I was thinking. Even though the timber is pretty darn close with some EQ, I think the benefits of the upgrades far outway any negatives if there are any.
Thanks
Since they are not a timbre match now, changing the crossover isn't as critical. If you had 3 matching Lascalas and wanted to change the network in the center, then the answer would be yes. With H2's, the answer is no. Go for it.
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Hmmm.....
Still wondering about the timber match. I guess I'll PM ya with some questions. This stuff always happens to fast.
If anyone cares I have 3 a/4500 hz crossovers I would part with. 2 Diy versions that match exactly to the ones Crites builds just mounted to different boards, and 1 built from Crites. Hey what do you know Peter needs 1, and Xki needs 2. Pm me a offer I can't refuse, and all will be happy.
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And that's why I asked. Probably will be fine. Just don't know. [:^)]
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I'm considering upgrading my 1971 La Scalas with new crites A/4500 cross overs and CT125 tweeters. My questions is since the Heresy IIs I use for centers are crossed at 6000k and the crites A/4500 will drop the mid to 4500k, will I loss any timber match between the La Scalas and the Heresy IIs?
If anyone has any experience with this I would appreciate your thoughts.
The other option is to go with a new AA or new caps in the crossovers and still get the CT125 tweeters. These original crossovers are 42 years old and I KNOW they need help. Plus I want to get past the 17khz limit of the original tweets.
Thanks!
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Lee and Chris,
I started with an SC-3 way back when between my La Scalas. I knew
right away that there was a timbre mismatch. Saved up for an Academy and
even though it was much better, the left to right sweeps were still
just....... wrong. Decided to try a Heresy II. BINGO!I remedied the sensitivity difference by boosting the center 2db.
Tried 4 and 6 which was too much. The high end on the HII was more than
the K-77s and that was fixed with some simple EQ cuts to the HII.
Likewise, the mids <6000KHz needed some very slight changes in EQ to the LS
squakers.The left to right sweeps are now seamless and the center(s) don't wave at
you sonically saying, "Here I am!"Admittedly, the HII are not perfect and I really hated cutting the highs on
them to match the mains but, until I spring for a Crites upgrade, I'm very
satisfied. I'm no longer noticing timbre mismatches while listening.
I'm just enjoying the music.Also, I liked the Heresy so much, I got another and mounted it above the
screen. I was warned many times that this would be bad. Comb filtering,
cancellations, etc. I suppose these things could be there but, I haven't
noticed. I really like what the over/under brought. The dialogue is
now in the center of the screen which was what I was hoping! I'm tempted
to raise the La Scalas up 10" to match the center of the display,
too. It would be a fun test.
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After 2 seasons of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman covering the Packers week, after week, after week, these 2 are a breath of fresh air!
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I am very satisfied with a 6.2 setup. The surround back speaker does a lot more than I thought it would. The thing I like most about it is I didn't have to buy single speakers. With heritige surround setups, finding singles is a problem.
I'll bet you are satisfied. The rear surronds don't add that much as opposed to a single rear. (If any) 6 La Scalas? [/drool]
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Man! Reading all of your posts made me smile. I've done the same thing but with the interconnects. Mixed them up due to distractions. AND it as to haul in the groceries!
As far as 5.1 and 7.1: If you are running a 5.1 signal, the SBR/SBL can play the same material as the SR/SL. Use PLIIx and the surround signals will be duplicated to the rears. Most other 5.1 formats (DTS-HD) will not duplicate the signal and youur rears will be silent.
There aren't a lot of 7.1 sources so I've set Advanced Playback to choose PLIIx unless the source is true 7.1. Then I go native format.
Call me crazy but I love PLIIx for music, too. [:|]
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Welcome to the forums. I would suggest either the RC-62ii or a sub. To me, while I was building my system, if I was watching a movie, I would personally rather have two main speakers and a sub than two main speakers and a center. The reason being is your receiver will send the center channel info to your mains so it isn't like you would be missing that info. Some guys really like having what they call a "phantom" center which is what I was explaining where the front speakers act as the center and create the impression that you indeed to have a center.
But either way, you can't go wrong because the next purchase will be the other item. Then add surrounds, then add amps. To me, although a very great addition to your system, an amp should be near the bottom of the list.
Youthman makes a great point; "phantom" center. That's what we all had back in the day of 2 mains and nothing else! It works. I can also agree that an amp should be lower on the list. Although, when I finally purchased an amp, everthing came alive. (The speakers were just waiting for the amp me thinks.) Every upgrade to your system makes a big difference. (Usually) Sometimes you will change directions. That's OK, too.
Get a sub or 2!
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One thing that hasn't come up yet that always concerned me was the way the UMC-1 handled the bass from each of the speakers. It never made sense to me.
I agree with C/S on this. It's very difficult to get things 'just right'. Maybe not difficult but it takes a lot of time. You have to keep in mind what's going on at all times when you make even a slight change to the redirected frequency bands.
A few thoughts:
EmoQ did great except it boosted the subs a bit too much. That's a common complaint with EmoQ.
I have the BluRay and the cable box hooked up with HDMI for almost everything. I do have an optical hooked up to the BluRay and set to an additional input on the UMC-1 for times when the HDMI just can't lock on and I lose a few seconds of each track on some CDs or Pandora. (Damn HDMI)
Emo will be offering a 3D upgrade for the UMC-1 priced at $199. This from the top dog at Emo, Big Dan:
"For our customers who want to add 3D capability to
their older UMC-1's, it will be made available as a factory installed
update for $199.00. Customers will be able to order this update as of
the first of the year. We are preparing a major SW update for the
UMC-1! This update will address all known and reported bugs that we have
been able to document to date. We have been working very diligently for
several months to verify and confirm all issues discovered internally
and reported to us. Where we have verified a problem, we have worked to
address it and correct it"I have not upgraded the firmware to the latest version. I am waiting for the next version.
The 7.1 representation is wonderful. With my old AVR, surround was ho-hum. The UMC-1 brought out what I believe was the director's intent.
The menus are great and I can zip through them in no time to do tweaks.
There are options for Center Width and Dimension. These 2 settings used with PLIIx mode will wrap you in sound when listening to music.
I went with the UMC-1 to get back into separates on the cheap and give me the EQ adjustability I wanted. I'm very pleased. I was using the old AVR amp section for about 3 months and then purchased the UPA-7 to power it all. Now I'm VERY pleased. I don't know if upgradeitis will strike with the UMC-1. It sort of depends on the industry path. The UPA-7 amp will probably be with me until I have no ability to even lift that great big remote.
The UMC-1 brought to light a blown driver in 1 of my centers and pointed out that 38 year old crossover capacitors should have been retired a few years ago. And the journey continues.
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The holiday weekend proved just too darn short to upgrade. Dang!
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Well after the update, I had my first center channel drop.... Argggg... On the positive my sound has not dropped once on my htpc, but I have not been able to use it much.... So here's for hoping... Xki I have not seen you in awhile, how is it going? I finally got new rear speakers... They should be here Friday....
Kde the firmware is basically like a software update... Its supposed to fix a lot of the bugs.... If you go to the emo lounge you can see what the firmware update is supposed to address exactly, Ill try and find it tonight and post itIt's going ok. Been a crazy month or 2. I did get a second Heresy II for center duty. VERY nice. Let us know how the new rears sound, ok?
I've had center drops with the .00 firmware and I'm hoping the new upgrade will fix that. We've been playing a lot of older DVDs and the audio lock is lost about every 2 minutes. Drives us all nuts. I hope the new firmware fixes that too. (Jurrasic Park) I'm also hoping the lock on is quicker. HDMI chips are about as fast as my old Comadore 64. NAh. The 64 was faster.
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Sorry...... haven't had any time to do anything yet. Maybe this weekend.
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Planning on updating this weekend. There is a poll over at Emo about drops and lock-ons with the new firmware. You probably saw it. The poll is running about 50% / 50%. My fingers are crossed.
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take a sewing straight pin and bend it at right aggles close to the tip (3/16"). Use a good gripping pair of pliers and a fresh straight pin and poke a hole in the dust cap in the centre of the dent. Then use the plyers and the bent pin to get into the hole you just made and leverage the dent back out. When you get it as good as you can seal the hole with a dot of white glue. Short of a new dust cap that's your best bet. hope this is of some use. Best regards Moray James.
That is what I was going to attempt. And thanks to all for the great ideas and info!
Regards.........
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I've never attempted anything like that. What type of glue would the adventurous use? Not CA right?
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If all attempts at vacuuming them out fails, are there any warnings related to poking a hole in them?
I had thought of a bent paperclip but that would leave a significant hole! [N]
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vacuum trick for the win, its just getting that seal, keep trying. The pin trick sucks, if the cap doesnt budge you can easily ruin them
Okee Dokee! These caps aren't very large so the wand on the vacuum is just about the same size as the caps. A reducer of some sort might be in order.
The pin trick is the last resort.
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One suggestion... try the vacuum procedure again, but this time try and get a good seal around the caps by using some "duct" tape, cut to small strips. This helps to form a seal and the caps should come out, if you have a good vacuum cleaner... good luck...
I'll give that a shot. I really don't want to poke holes in them! Thanks.
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CT125 upgrade is worth it.
Disc Players
in Home Theater
Posted
I've had a BD-103 for about 1 month. I will never go back to cheap.
It loads all discs very fast.
Sound quality is wonderful.
Picture quality is wonderful.
I can skip the stinking previews! Yea!
It's full size 19" and looks good.
Build quality id good.
2 years Mfg. waranty plus 1 extra purchased will still be less money than having to dump a highly rated, soon to die disc player.
OK - I'm using HDMI so the 103 is just fine. I don't use all the features but the ones that I do are good. We use Pandora a lot. Funning thing with Pandora, in the previous 3 disc players, it was right biased. I had to boost the left main to compensate. No so with the 103.
Here's a really nice thing, the external Wifi dongle they supply pulls in the wireless signal at almost 100%. The other players would sometimes get 50%. Buffering is GONE.l