Buddy Shagmore

Which Sansui?

I had Forte I's for many years. They are incredible paired with my vintage Marantz 2245 (warm, full, and dynamic), not so much with the old Yamaha RX900U receiver (harsh and brittle tone) I had before I got the 2245. I did the Crites titanium tweeter diaphragm upgrades. I sold them to my buddy, they sound wonderful paired with his vintage McIntosh ss receiver. I replaced them with Chorus II's, which have a bigger, fuller sound. But the Forte's go deeper on the low end. Thankfully, I still get to listen to them weekly when hangin' out at my friend's crib. They are awesome speakers, I miss them a lot.

Those are very nice! I sold my Forte I's a few years ago to my buddy. I replaced them with Chorus II's. Sometimes I miss them, but I can go hear them anytime. The bottom end goes lower on the Forte's, the Chorus' sound fuller and bigger overall. What are you going to replace them with?

I scored a new Yamaha CD- S2100 recently for 30% off msrp. This is the 2nd from top of their line. It is SILVER too! Heavy sucker...high quality unit. I have been using the DAC feature going from my laptop (Tidal streaming) > Marantz 2245 > Chorus IIs. Very happy. This replaced my previous Yamaha CD player from 1988, which finally got tired.

Is your house on a concrete slab or a raised foundation? Mine is raised, and the wood floors seem like extensions for the low frequencies.

No affiliation: http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ele/3649710813.html

It's listed on Audiogon. Looks clean w/upgrades. http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-klipsch-cornwall-series-i-2013-02-25-speakers-25304-charleston-wv

Just an update. I installed the Crites Ti tweeter diaphragms, and got my Marantz back from restoration guru Tom Ishimoto. It's all very good!

When my Forte's were new, my toddler daughter painted some White Out on the oiled oak veneer. Not much, but it's still there. Is there any way to remove it? I would like to avoid a refinish, if possible.

I am waiting on my ti tweeter diaphragms to arrive from Crites, so I decided it would be a good time to finally have my Marantz 2245 looked over. So I mosied on over to see Tom Ishimoto at Northridge Electronics, Simi Valley, CA; Tom used to work for Marantz back in the day, knew the master Saul himself. At that point, I had to shake his hand, as Saul Marantz and Paul Klipsch are True Audio Gods in my book. He is going to put LED lights in, go thru everything, and call me with his findings. He asked me what kind of speakers I have, and he smiled when I told him Klipsch Forte's. He then pointed out his workshop/testbench speakers... vintage Heresy's. They looked like early 70's models. His personal Marantz is a super clean 2270, which was on when I arrived. I told him that I also used to have a Sansui 2000a, and wouldn't you know, he has one of those too in his personal stash on the other bench. So we had a lot in common, and bonded pretty quick. I can hardly wait to get my upgrades done and fire it up again. I need some therapy! Bob Crites says that the ti mid 'phragm has to be ordered from Klipsch, and that they are behind a few months. I emailed Klipsch twice in the last 2 weeks; once re: my grill covers, and then asking about the ti mid. So far, no response. Is this typical of Klipsch customer service? Update Edit: (2-2-13) Steve Phillips from Klipsch sent me an email yesteday. Also, I installed my Crites ti's today. That was easier than I imagined. I rubbed on some Watco Rejuvinating Oil on my Forte's today. Just waiting for my 2245 to be finished.

I am looking for a clean pair of Chorus II's, not black, within a day's drive of Los Angeles.

Any suggestions as for shipping heavy speakers? I have my eyes on some nice ones on the other side of the country. UPS wants $275 per box (for Chorus') Help!

^What tube amp would you recommend? Is the Cayin A-50T any good? So much to do now!

Thanks guys, without a doubt, I came to the right place for solid advice. The suggested speaker upgrades are on my short list. Also, I've been referred to a vintage amp rebuild/repair expert who is local, so I'm going to take the Marantz over there and see what he says. I also have been considering getting a clean pair of Chorus II's...they seem like a bigger, badder Forte. As far as Cornwalls, is the III version any better or worse than the II's? How would one describe the audible differences between the Chorus II vs the Cornwall II or III?

The Marantz holds a lot of sentimental value, even though it's not the exact unit I bought new in '71, it is the same model. I love it. My wood floor on a raised foundation no doubt help with the low end. My son says he feels the floor rumbling in his bedroom. I'm sure my system is laughable compared to most of yours, but I am loving it. It's my home therapy center. The room has a 12' arched ceiling, is about 15' wide by 25' long.

I've been lurking here for awhile, wanted to jump in and say hey. I have a marantz 2245 receiver (circa 1971) and a pair of '88 Forte's. When I was 16 (1968), my friend's dad had a killer system...tube McIntosh components and Klipschorns. At home, I had a dinky Clarion POS. So when I first saw the Khorns, I thought they were furniture, not speakers. When he turned his system on, OMG, I was just blown away...it was like front row center! So my early introduction to quality 2 channel started then. I promptly saved up enough coin to upgrade. I first got a Sansui 2000a receiver, but I wasn't happy with that, although it was light years ahead of my old Clarion. I bought the Marantz on my friend's father's recommendation. I could not afford Klipsch speakers, so I bought a pair of Jensen 3-ways, which were also horn loaded on top. I was 19 at the time. Kind of a poor mans Klipsch bookshelf speaker. Long story short, my system was stolen in 1986. In 1988, I wanted to replace what I lost, so I bought the new Forte's along with a Yamaha R-900 receiver. I had this for years, but was never quite happy with the Yamaha. Last year, I finally bought an old Marantz, and the improvement in sound was phenominal. No more harsh, brittle, low-end lacking Yamaha low quality sound. The Marantz along with my Forte's rejuvinated my love of quality sound reproduction. So here I be, looking to upgrade once more. I'm now on the hunt for a clean pair of Chorus II's or Cornwalls. I'm going to give my Forte's to my son in law, who I've in turn passed on a love of quality musical reproduction. He's now on the hunt for an old Marantz. Luckily, he is appreciative, and it looks like it will now be a passion that will be passed along to the next generation. Over and out.

Hi, This is a long shot...but are there any Forte owners out there who might happen to have a mismatched pair of speaker grill covers? I have one black and one brown. If anyone does, and wants to make a trade with me, I'm open to that. I bought these new in '88, and they are not consecutive serial numbers. My fault for not taking action then. I would like a matching pair, and if I can't find it here, I'll likely re-cover them myself.