SkyDover

If you want more info about the K-55 past and present, it was discussed here on the forum: http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/55703.aspx

Klipsch changed the crossover to 4500 because Altas (K-55-X) changed from dual phase plug to single phase plug for it's midrange compression driver.

Craig, Yes, some do because they prefer the PWK sound.

The Panasonic XR70 is impressive how well it does do for movies. I run mine from time to time with my Klipsch KLF-20 and it has no problem giving great bass with slam effortlessly when setup right within Panasonic's setup. I think Panasonic did an excellent job on it's rich features it gives in the XR70, even manual setup is easy for me, but you can setup via the screen too if the manual way feels too loop through settings. As far as the Panasonic's performance, it works flawlessly and never gives a problem in my setup! I'm soon going to build some giant horn speakers for my HT room, larger than my Klipschorn's so I'll try the Panasonic on them after build is complete and see how well it can keep up with it, the drivers are going to be massive than anything I have right now.

Well, I think it more boils down to what type of sound someone likes. The K-400 is a little more in your face and a bit pinched down sounding compared to the tractrix horn I use but still sounds nice, very much the unique Klipsch sound to it. For those who like the more in your face sound, may like the K-400 better. I say this because about two years ago I had recommend to a friend who was building his speakers, he had the chance to buy some used wood tractrix horn or used K-400 horns. I convinced him more towards getting the wood tractrix horn. I heard later from his wife that he always sort of held a grudge towards me for that because he wanted a more forward in your face sound and I recommend getting the tractrix horn. He switched them out about a year later and liked the K-400 horn, she said he liked them much better for the more impact and in your face sound. Now I try to get someone to listen to both and make their own mind up. I always felt bad for steering him in the wrong direction he wanted to go in! Some of us like sound differently than others, so I try to keep that in mind.

Understood! What I mean about sensitive is, over the past few months I share my experiences with many things but every time I mention my experience with my Panasonic, I always upset quite a few people! I do understand that the forums get touchy and sensitive about any subject at times though!

Dave, thanks....appreciate your input. Just remember, I still have my Panasonic because I do like it. They are great little amps. What I mean by flatter is that when listening to the Panasonic, it's soundstage is flat across from left to right. With my other amps, it is thicker and more layered from front to back within that left to right. It's easy to hear with switching back and forth from each. It's been discussed many times before on the forums, not just my findings, just the nature more to do with Class D amps. To some, it may well be more likable to the ears. I know that on the forums things can get a bit sensitive with people when it comes to the Panasonic. I'm only mentioning my experience with my Panasonic with my setup. I do not want to try and change what you feel sounds best to your ears, it's still a very nice sounding amp or I wouldn't still have it. It has it's own unique characteristics and who am I to tell you what you like best. I'm just sharing my experience of the differences that I hear between my equipment that I own and use. Why? Because that is why I read the forums, to read others experiences so I can get an idea what others have tried and what the differences sound to them. It's very helpful to me and I can only hope that mine are just as helpful to others! I'm not putting down the Panasonic, just pointing out the differeces I hear between them. I think your Pany as your amp of choice is a good one! Enjoy!! []

The other amp others were going crazy over, was the Onkyo A-9555, that integrated amp is still being made, it was said to have a smoother top than the Panasonic, and without volume limits.... had lots of volume and wattage compared to the Panasonic, and is only 2 channel but many raved about it's performance than the Panasonic that tried both. The Panasonic and Onkyo both fall in the Class D technology.

Yes, for two channel you do have to make sure that the speaker settings are for LARGE and NO Woofer or bass will sound really lacking. When setup right it gives plenty of bass. I have the Panasonic SA-XR70, tried this when all the craze hype and fuss was buzzing around the forums. They are great little amps and I still have mine but it quickly became apparent that it doesn't take the place of say.... Rotel RB-1080 or a Emotiva XPA-2. It has all the detail and resolution of better amps, it just doesn't have the full roundness airiness of a good Class A/B amp of the likes of Rotel, Emotiva, etc. My other home, I used to have a very large room that my Klipshorn's were in, the Rotel RB-1080 had no problems getting the sound to the other side of the room but the Panasonic SA-XR70 couldn't get the sound to the other side of the room, and the volume won't go up too far, good enough for very efficient speakers but not for harder to drive speakers, on of it's drawbacks for some that was mentioned on the forums. Still a great little wonder amp from Panasonic, shame they didn't keep improving it, they no longer make the amps at all. Still, it's not better than the amps mentioned above, or maybe to some ears with it's flatter and lighter sound. It reveals all the detail that a Rotel or Emotiva can, just not the smoother roundness that a Rotel or Emotiva can. Shame you didn't get the remote with it, comes with a fairly nice remote that operates smoothly.

I agree with what Willand said, with Klipsch it's all good. I have Klipschorn's, KLF-20, RF-7, RF-3, Cornscala's at the moment but have had other Klipsch speakers such as the Forte II and Cornwall III. I enjoy the different sounds of each, so for me it's nice having a collection of them to enjoy. It's all good, similar, yet a little different from each. I demoed the RF-83 when they came out and it sounded good, not much not to like but I guess it really depends on if you want to add the reference sound to your collection or not. Will it get you more detail and things you don't hear now? No, it won't. I hear all the detail and sound from each, they just sound a little different from each other but more a like than not. Some find the reference a little brighter sounding due to the titanium. I don't find them that much brighter but guest have said they think it sounds brighter than the phenolic Klipsch I have. It's just a little different in sound, if you expect anything more than that, then you might be disappointed, but not disappointed with the Klipsch sound. [Y]

Fjd, Very good points! Well said.

Johnny5, I understand what you are saying but I have my Klipschorn's still original as Klipsch made them. Why, because they still sound very good to me and I listen to them from time to time. I have a good tractrix horn on my Cornscala that I do enjoy too but the K-400 is not as bad as Al always tries to make it out to be, if it were.... I would have never bought my Klipschorn's. I do know some that prefer the K-400 horn and didn't like the change, to each their own. To some the K-400 isn't the weakest link, and it's not a BAD headache maker as Al has said. I listen to mine for hours and it sounds quite good and I get no headaches. Anyone who wants to tweak and improve as they wish, so be it but the K-400 is not a bad horn to begin with!!!!

blsamuel, It's great if your still working for the new company, good luck to you! I'm just saying I've seen way too many come in and preach how great the new company will be and why it will make your company even better and all the promises. I wasn't one of them that was weeded out but for me, it became more of a moral and ethical thing, I'm old school and do not believe in treating people like I was told to do and will not, I resigned my position and moved and formed a new company with 3 other business partners that is doing very well today, because we treat our people how we want to be treated! Klipsch has a great reputation for treating it's people well and offering quality products, I hope that it does stay that way but looking into Audiovox acquired histories, may give us the answer!

>K400 squawker horn is so bad Al, I really hate to say anything but I've read in so many different places that you comment how bad the K-400 horn is. It definitely isn't as bad as you say it is. I enjoy the sound of my Klipschorn's and it's pretty smooth and musical. It's the Klipsch signature sound! I don't find it bad at all, and I do not get headaches from it! I have some cornscala's with the Goldwood GM-450PB horn, very similar characteristics to your offered horn and yes, it's more open, relaxed, and not as pinched down sounding but the K-400 has it's own unique sound that still sounds nice. It's just that every time I read your comment on how bad the K-400 horn is, I just shake my head in such disbelief because when I listen to mine and often think how good they sound! Really, the K-400 horn does not sound BAD! If it sounded that bad, there wouldn't be so many people who have enjoyed that sound for so many years!

My RF-7 have always sounded best out from the walls some, better bass, better overall sound. If you toe them in and get the right placement from back wall and side walls, it gives a very full, tight, clear/clean bass. Not muffled at all.

twistedcrankcammer, Top of the line can mean different to different ears. The RF-7's are quite capable for music, as is the Klipschorn. I remember back when I was told if I had a pair of Klipschorn's, I would not want my RF-7 speakers, this was not the case. They both are a little different, each having it's pluses over the other. I have them both for obvisous reasons but to each his/her own. I've had different Klipsch speaker but at the moment I have Klipschorn's, KLF-20, RF-7, Cornscala and when guest or relatives are over, it always falls to this: Some prefer Cornscala as best Some prefer RF-7 as best Some prefer KLF-20 as best Some prefer Klipschorn as best All give reasons to why overall why they feel it's better than the others. It depends on who's ears like what, and that's the way it is in Audio. If he said top of the line, what does it really matter? It's the RF line and we pretty much get the idea that it used to be the top of the RF line. The RF-7 is still a great Klipsch speaker to enjoy for years to come for music or HT.

I'm really shocked and saddened by this news! Klipsch is a quality company, much better than what the masses are giving us today and I fear what it now will become. I've seen so many Group holders buy name companies and strip out all the quality for highest profits possible. I worked for a company who built a great reputation over the years and was acquired by one of the largest computer companies today and from that day on, every thing went down hill. Our service and products went down, employees loyalties and careers meant nothing and was weeded out over a 2 year period. It quickly became one of the worst companies to work for, and to this day, I do not buy there products with how horrible a company that company is. I sure hope Klipsch doesn't end up this way!

The K55 version this one has is the gray all metal one. Looks like this: http://www.atlassound.com/pn/PD-5VH Looking at the K-55-X (Atlas PD-5VH) in mine, it looks like it is encapsulated in an all metal housing, with screws holding it together. Doesn't look like the back is glued?

Once you get the door open, you can inspect the crossover parts on the door, all the parts are glued to the wood on the door so you will be able to tell if any part has come off from where it should be. I could see the glue in the shape of the capacitor that came off mine and was hanging down touching another part, slightly touching another part on the crossover and was making the distortion sound I was hearing. Once I glued the part back in place, the sound was back to normal.

Mine have wing nuts that hold the side panels in place on the L brackets, all you need to do is only unscrew the side that holds the panel, reach your hand in and unscrew it, remove the panel and you'll have full access to the bass bin door. The crossover is mounted on the door, when you unscrew the screws on the bass bin panel door and open it, you will see the crossover mounted on the door. Just make sure you set the door on something that allows you not to pull on the woofer wire, it's soldered onto the woofer terminals so you don't want to pull that wire off by accident. It has a seal around the door so it took me a little effort to get it to let the door go by gently working around it with my fingers until it opened, it's kind of heavy from the crossover weight so make sure you don't let it fall down while trying to get it open. For me it was simple to do, so it should be fairly easy if you are being careful while your doing it. The crossover parts are all mounted on a board on the door, no circuit board, we got the prototypes before the circuit boards came later. I'm assuming yours has the wing nuts too?

I know I won't have fun pulling them apart! I really don't want to, I just finished a new speaker build and really didn't want to take on another project! [:S]

I had a simular problem with my Klipschorn. What I found was that I had the version crossovers before it was changed to parts on a circuit board. The glue failed on one of the parts and it let go and was touching another part on the crossovers and giving me the distortion sound. After I opened the bass bin up and took a look at the crossovers, I quickly figured out what happened and had to re-glue all the parts, plus used tie downs to make sure if the glue gives way that this wouldn't happen again. So you might want to check and make sure your crossovers are still in place, I believe your version of the crossovers are the same as mine.

I was hoping to take the easier way out, but it makes a lot of sense what you are saying. I should do it right the first time so I don't have any problems later! Thanks for the tip! I'll follow your advice. [Y]

Unfortunately I've discovered my KLF-20's have a couple of places on each cabinet that the glue is giving away. Looking inside the cabinet, it's glued to a black laminated surface, and is only where the glue is separating. Not really something I wanted to take on to fix but looks like I'm going to have to invest some time with re-gluing the seems before the glue starts giving away in the other areas. If I scrape gently where the glue is on the black laminated surface, it comes off too easy. I'm afraid if the speakers get a good thump, it might fall apart now!! I was told that Klipsch got a bad batch of glue run from the manufacturer who makes the glue and that is why the glue isn't holding up, some other speaker manufacturers got some of the bad batch as well.

Thanks for the advice and help! The two 4in. dia. ports are working out fine now, I see what you are talking about. I played around with different port lengths... this really gave me a very good idea how it changes the sound. It was very interesting! I've got the ports tuned very good now. None of the bass is missing. I think two things I didn't count on was helping it lack in bass. One, after removing the damping material off the floor near the ports, it helped the air velocity better for the ports, and Two, I didn't count on new woofer break-in period. Seems that the new woofers needed some hours on them to maybe loosen up the spider and surrounds to get to it's better potential of it's bass capabilities. I've been amazed by the large bass sound now. Thanks guys!!