Curmudgeon

I plan on drilling into the posts and using either steel roll pins or shanked machine screws (with the heads cut off) as pegs. I'm surprised Klipsch used hollow pegs as they're rather flimsy and easily broken. Crazy glue should be fine for repairing breaks/cracks in the frame itself but I think the only way to permanently fix broken pegs is a more mechanical approach. I've got a drill press so I stand a chance at getting the holes drilled straight and if needed I can tap threads into the plastic posts. I'm stuck waiting for a FedEx rep to come inspect the damage so I can't attempt a repair yet.

Thanks for the info. The more options the better!

Looking for an original series RB-5 grille in good condition. I'm open to getting one with broken pegs as long as the posts, frame and cloth are in good condition. If I need to buy a pair I'm OK with that, too. I recently bought a pair of RB-5's and despite the seller double-boxing them the grilles were damaged in shipping. One grille just has a couple of broken pegs that I can repair but the other grille got crushed at the bottom breaking off the posts and breaking the frame in several places. I called Klipsch - there's no replacements available and they don't have anything that can be modded to fit. This may be a long shot but perhaps a forum member has one or knows who does. I couldn't find a part # or any identifiers on them but the image below shows what they look like. Thanks!

Hmmmm, La Scala's near me. Very interested. PM sent.

Been a while since I've posted here but I've owned Cornwalls since the 80's and Klipschorns for about 12 years. I listen to anything from metal and progressive rock to classical and traditional jazz, soundtracks, etc. so when music is supposed to be loud that's how I want to hear it. In my opinion each individual piece of music has its own proper volume level that it should be listened to at ... listen to classical too low and you miss a lot. Listen to metal too low and you're missing the point completely. Listen to something like Mazzy Star at high volumes and it gets ridiculous. Along with each piece of music needing its own level you also have to realize that the room you have your speakers in has a maximum level and that no matter how good your gear/speakers are if you exceed this level sound quality will suffer dramatically. If you like higher volume levels and you're looking to tame harshness I would go with DeanG's suggestion and start with the ALK Universals. I would not recommend stuffing crap into the mouth of the horn as that strikes me as bringing a sandwich to a banquet. My Klipschorns are 1979 models that came with AA crossovers, K77 Alnico tweeters, K55/K400 squawkers with push-terminals and whatever woofers Klipsch stuffed in the doghouses at the time. I ended up with a SET tube integrated amp for lower listening levels and a tube preamp/SS amp combo for higher levels but even with good gear and "warm" sounding cables at louder levels the mids/treble would still knock the wax out of your ears. After some research the first modification I tried was the P-trap (since my push-terminal K55's were known to have a rise at 9-10k) to see if I could hear a difference. I had already rebuilt the AA crossovers with decent oil capacitors some time back and with the new P-traps in the circuit I was able to tell that the harshness came down some and there was a bit less smearing. Not a huge difference but it was enough to clue me in that the first order AA networks were allowing too much mixing of the squawkers and tweeters so it was essentially a filter issue. Having read about the ALK Universals some years back I decided I would finally give them a try. After installing the ALK's my Klipschorns became more "refined" (for lack of a better word) and much easier to listen to when indulging in stuff like Primus or Megadeth. Imaging and clarity improved while harshness at louder volumes decreased dramatically. I have several power amps that get rotated in and out of play and the speakers became far less "picky" of amp selection and also cable selection. Prior to the ALK's any cable with silver content was a no-go but after installing ALK's I can now utilize some of them. The only downside to the ALK's I've noticed is a slight loss of clarity/efficiency at very low listening levels but I rarely play anything that soft. There's absolutely nothing wrong with using solid state amps on Klipschorns. First off Klipschorns are very revealing of your electronics and sensitive to distortion in the first few watts. Interestingly enough while they're very efficient and don't require high wattage amps to play loud they do respond well to higher current solid state amps if the amps are of good quality, especially if they run in pure Class A or are high-biased producing a few watts in Class A and transitioning into AB. Even with the Klipschorn's high efficiency the extra power preserves dynamics (headroom) and higher current amps tend to maintain better control of the woofer at louder levels. When choosing amplfication to go with horn speakers the following comes into play: Noise floor (hiss) - whether vacuum tube or SS any amp (or preamp) with a high noise floor is intolerable on horn speakers. Distortion curve - many SS amps have a U-shaped distortion curve: high distortion is present in the first few watts then drops low until it starts hitting its output limit. This is OK coupled to inefficient speakers because they suck enough power that you're not using them in the lower range where the amp distorts. However, on 104 db efficiency Klipschorns the first few watts are critical so a SS amp needs to be designed for very clean low-watt output. Attenuation - if your preamp and/or amp has a lot of gain the volume is hard to control at lower levels and it accentuates the noise floor. Running RCA or XLR in-line attenuators can help tremendously when using higher gain electronics with high efficiency speakers. My C-J Premier 14 preamp has a stepped resistor ladder volume control and has a fair amount of gain so I run high-quality attenuators to get much finer control of volume between steps. Whatever you do, keep at it and don't write them off. Klipschorns are well worth the effort it takes to get them dialed in because once you do they will accentuate your appreciation of music. I was exposed to Klipsch as a teenager, a local stereo dealer had a killer demo room with Klipschorns running off of McIntosh vacuum tube electronics. We used to wait for the showroom to clear out and the salesman would fire up the system and throw on stuff like the 1812 Overture cannon shots to demonstrate how realistically dynamic the Klipschorns were. That stereo store closed in the early 90's but oddly enough when I found my Klipschorns I bought them from their original owner who had purchased them from that same store in 1979. I also keep a reference system consisting of Revel Salons, Mark Levinson electronics, Linn LP12 turntable, etc. but it sorts out as the Revel rig is the "accurate" system while the Klipschorn setup is the "fun" system. I thoroughly enjoy both but I won't give up my Klipschorns. Ever. When they stick me in an old folks home the room had better damn well have good corners! Good luck with your endeavor!

CT125's received! Tweeters were packed very well, shipped out quickly and communication was excellent. Thanks frt8dog! :emotion-22:

Payment completed via PayPal. It will be interesting to see how these sound compared to the stock K-77's in my 1979 Klipschorns. :emotion-29: Thanks!

I'll take them if you accept PayPal. PM sent.

The Jolida CD player is a great unit, especially for the price. Its a very natural sounding player, maybe not the last word in detail but it still creates a nice deep soundstage. You can also alter its sound characteristics a bit by swapping the 12AX7 tubes to dial it in to your system. I also like that reads discs quickly, unlike some of the DVD-ROM based players that take 20 seconds to read the TOC. I put some dampening material inside the case to kill vibration and upgraded the tubes, it works very well for me. The Rega Apollo is also a good CD player, I have one in the Linn system in my office. Its also extremely good considering the price and has a great top end. The Rega's have a unique disc reading engine that "initializes" and sets error correction to the disc every time you put a CD in. The Saturn would be nice to have, a little pricey but it sounds fantastic.

I have been running a Jolida JD300B with my 1979 Klipschorns for over two years and I think you'll be impressed with the sound quality once you receive yours. I do have one suggestion: use the 4 ohm speaker outputs on the amp instead of the 8 ohm outputs. I originally started with the 8 ohms and although it sounded pretty good the bass never quite impressed me. I switched to the 4 ohm outputs and everything fell into place - the same "magic" midrange was there but the bass tightened up and became more delineated. Klipschorns tend to have large impedance swings so the 4 ohm outputs work well for me but you may want to try both so you know the difference. The JD300B also responds very well to driver tube upgrades so once you've had the amp for a while you should try a few different ones. The stock Chinese Jolida tubes are OK but overly warm at the expense of detail - there's lots of tubes out there that are far better. I am currently running some NOS Tungsram tubes that significantly increased the clarity for me but what works for you will probably be different due to room size, source components, etc. As far as power goes, unless you really want to stand on it the 9 WPC is more than enough for most music up to reasonably loud listening levels. I do have a CJ Premier 14 preamp and Pass Labs Aleph 5 amp I'll hook to the Klipschorns on occasion for a little variety and more power (obnoxious ear-bleeding Metallica, Pantera, etc. sessions) but the JD300B runs the Klipschorns 90% of the time I listen to them. Good luck, you have some good sound coming to you soon. [8]

Just ordered a couple - thanks for making them available!

Groove Tube GT-12AX7-M http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=2100 I've got a pair of these in my Jolida CD JD100 player and they sound great, a huge improvement over the stock Chinese tubes. Very nice tonal quality similar to the Mullards they were designed from.

A couple had been debating buying a vehicle for weeks. He wanted a truck. She wanted a fast little sports-like car so she could zip through traffic around town. He would probably have settled on any beat up old truck, but everything she seemed to like was way out of their price range. "Look!" she said. "I want something that goes from 0 to 200 in just a few seconds. Nothing else will do. My birthday is coming up so surprise me!" He did just that. For her birthday, he bought her a brand new bathroom scale. Nobody has seen or heard from him since.

My vote goes to "Ring My Bell", the projectile-vomit-inducing POS from the 70's disco (sucks) era. Every time I heard that song it was akin to bamboo shoots under the fingernails or earwigs chewing slowly through the brain ........... there's something about that song that sucks the intellect out of the cranium faster than "you stole my loser white-trash boyfriend" week on The Jerry Springer Show. [+o(] I would sooner frig a three-toed sloth than be exposed to that aural torture ever again. Also, listening to Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby is synonymous with ingesting syrup of ipecac, only faster acting.

A father watched his daughter playing in the garden. He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and innocent his little girl was. Suddenly she just stopped and stared at the ground. He went over to her and noticed she was looking at two spiders mating. "Daddy, what are those spiders doing?" she asked. "They're mating," her father replied. "What do you call the spider on top, Daddy?" she asked. "That's a Daddy Long Legs", her father answered. "So, the other one is Mommy Long Legs?", the little girl asked. "No," her father replied. "Both of them are Daddy Long Legs". The little girl thought for a moment, then took her foot and stomped them flat and said: "Well, it might be OK in California or Massachusetts, but we're not having any of that crap here in Texas."

I've got two turntables currently up and in regular use: Main system Linn LP12 w/ Cirkus chassis Linn Lingo power supply Linn Ittok LVII tonearm Linn Klyde MC cartridge Mark Levinson No. 25S phono pre Secondary system VPI Black Knight VPI JMW-9 tonearm Benz Micro Wood L2 cartridge Jolida JD-9 phono pre w/ Level 1 mod by Parts Connexion I listen to a wide variety of music but have been listening to Porcupine Tree quite a bit lately (progressive rock). Excellent stuff on CD but a whole different level on vinyl.

My favorite cap for hillybilly music?

Any company that advertises in Parade magazine has got to be good! Just keep repeating: "I'm Joe six-pack and Bose is best .... " (cuz their lawyers say so) [:$]

A traveler is shipwrecked and swims to a seemingly tranquil, tropical island. Soon after recovering he notices an incessant drumming resounding from the other side of the island. And it doesn't ever stop or slow down. Finding a native later that day, our traveler politely asks, "When do the drums stop?" The native countenance immediately reflects a very fearful response, and insists, "Drums not stop!!" and runs away. This goes on for another full day. Our hero finds another native and asks the same question. "Drums NOT stop!!" is his only answer. After three days of constant drumming, he finds an old native and in exasperation asks, "What happens if the drums stop???" The old native shakes his head sadly and replies: "bass solo." Two bass players walked by a bar ...... It could happen. Did you hear about the bassist who was so out of tune his section noticed? What do you call a cello player without a wife or girlfriend? Homeless. What do you say to a guitar player in a three piece suit? "Would the defendant please rise?" How do you get a musician off of your doorstep? Pay for the pizza. What's the difference between a violin and a viola? There is no difference. The violin just looks smaller because the violinist's head is so much bigger. How do you tell the difference between a violinist and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching. What's the difference between a cello and a violin? The cello burns longer. Why are orchestra intermissions limited to 20 minutes? So you don't have to re-train the cellists. String quartet: a good violinist, a bad violinist, an ex-violinist, and someone who hates violinists, all getting together to complain about composers. What do you call a beautiful woman on a drummer's arm? A tattoo.

Basic back room rig: 1979 KC-BR's, Jolida JD300B SET integrated amp, Linn Ikemi CD player, Linn IC's and speaker wire. I really need to get some longer tubes for the rack so the amp can move down and I can put my turntable on the top shelf. My main system is comprised of Levinson/Revel gear which is a total different approach but what I enjoy from both systems is the dynamic response. The Revel Ultima line is as close as I've heard a speaker getting near Khorn dynamics, it just takes ridiculous amounts of amp current to get them to do it.

♦ I met Robert Plant a few years back on Tangier Island in Virginia. He was visiting because of Tangier's English heritage since he was about to play a concert in Virginia Beach ( I also saw the concert, which was a Page/Plant tour). He was very gracious, witty and posed with me for a picture. One funny thing he said was a lightning-fast comeback to a Tangier Island resident's comment about his English accent: Local guy: It's interesting that you speak like we do. Plant: No, you speak like we do. ♦ Also met Margo Timmins last year after one of the Cowboy Junkies concerts, she was extremely personable and autographed a CD booklet for me. ♦ My step-sister was on the Dallas cowboys cheerleader squad for four or five years (late 90's, early 2000's). She even made it into the squad's bathing suit calendar one year. I've got a bunch of memorabilia with autographs of the entire cheerleading squad from the years she was there. Being a DC cheerleader isn't easy - even the veterans have to try out every year just like the rookie do.

Slim Whitman, Boxcar Willie, or almost any "as-seen-on-TV" music. Yodeling at 105 Db generally gets the stampede rolling. I've got to agree with the Yoko Ono assessment: you can't even get a masochist to listen to that stuff

You're so lazy, that if you woke up with nothing to do today, you'd go to bed with it only half done. I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad to make an exception. Sharp as a sack full of wet mice. If all the girls who attended the Yale prom were laid end to end, I wouldn't be a bit surprised. The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too. I must apologize for the lack of bloodshed in tonight's program. We shall try to do better next time. Go back to reform school, you little nose-picker. I married your mother because I wanted children. You can imagine my disappointment when you arrived. He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot. Women should be obscene and not heard. When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty'. Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them. There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress. I did not attend his funeral, but I wrote a nice letter saying I approved of it. Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself. In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards. You're a parasite for sore eyes. You're a good example of why some animals eat their young. I could never learn to like her, except on a raft at sea with no other provisions in sight.