Vahorns

If you are looking for outstanding performance for a rock-bottom price, it is extremely hard to beat the Outlaw Audio products. The construction, components, and features versus the price of admission, are all first- rate. Outlaw has been highly recommended by some of the most critical reviewers, and has a 30 day trial policy. Also, Outlaw has a B-stock sale on most of their popular products, for an even more impressive price-performance. Outlaw can only be purchased factory direct, via www.outlawaudio.com You will not be disappointed!

GaryinMD--- A while back you mentioned that you might be able to help me out on buying and installing a Shure V15 cartridge in my Mayware Formula 4 arm/Kenwood KD-500 TT. I'm ready to get that cartridge and want to get my TT ready to play some vinyl! I'm located in the DC suburbs, so I could meet you wherever/whenever. Email me @ deaverss@frb.gov, and let me know if you can do this in the next month. Regards, Stew Deavers

I'll search for the KD500 manual, might be a day or two before I can reply. GARYINMD: I might take you up on the SHURE V15 offer. Shoot me an email at: deaverss@frb.gov

This is a very interesting thread. In 1976, I purchased new a Kenwood KD-500 and I still have it! I have the English Mayware Formula 4 arm installed, which is a very low-mass arm, along with the Sonus Blue cartridge. I have been looking to upgrade the cartridge, but I am intimidated so far, in trying to set up the new cartridge with this arm. I was given several recommendations on cartridges--have not decided yet. When I had a Dual TT setup (actually a 1229), I used the Shure V-15 Type 3, and was quite happy with the Type 3's performance. If anyone can dig up anything on the Formula 4 arm, I'd be very happy! The Kenwood itself is a good piece, in spite of the critics on this board, who believe that belt -drive is the holy grail of TTs.

Most of the sports compact tuner cars need to lose those picnic tables, called rear wings. At the street legal speeds we drive, the downforce added by these wings is negligible. Also, with GPS tracking now coming into the law enforcement community, unless owners of these cars are using them for Pro Solo (autocrossing), or drag strip duty, there are not many places to exercise/use any of these cars' potential on the street. I have a friend with a WRX, and I'd look at that car before any of the others. Mitsubishi does not have a great reliability/durability record with turbo motors...See the Esclipse. Look out on the 4 wheel/all wheel drivetrain components which are $$$ to fix. Complexity everywhere on these cars. I'd be seriously pondering the complexity issues and the cost to repair these cars before commiting. Dealerships will be reluctant to replace drivetrain / or other systems under warranty, if the cars show signs of being used hard. Then ask yourself if you can properly diagnose, and repair these machines, without spending big repair $$$, once warranty claims are not honored by dealerships. Can get very pricey... How highly stressed are these 4 cylinder powerplants, given their bore/stroke dimensions/boost specs? Are the engines using forged components throughout? How peaky are the drivetrains in stop-and-go driving? Where is the torque curve given the type of usage on the street? Turbo lag? Clutches/all wheel drive components/gearboxes up to the task? I would definitely avoid the SRT4, which is a Neon with boost. Neons have had build quality issues from day 1.

in one word: YES! See my signature...

I must tell you that to have 5 Cornwalls in a Home Theatre arrangement is heaven! Now I am contemplating the addition of SVS subs, with new power sources for the Theatre (Outlaw Audio's 950 pre-processor / 7100 7 channel amp). Some days I find myself not wanting to do anything but listen to the Cornwalls!

Great topic... I have a musician daughter getting ready to enter law school this fall, and she is living in an efficiency apt. I want to buy her a really nice SMALL top-shelf system, including receiver, for a reasonable price. Klipsch is what I want her to have, as she loves the Cornwalls, but space for her is at an absolute premium. Any recommendations(speakers+-receiver) for something less that $1,000? I have toyed with the idea of giving her my Technics receiver (which I purchased as a closeout model, and has performed flawlessly) as her source amp-tuner. Any info. is appreciated...

See my reference system in the signature... I have a Musical Concepts modified Hafler DH- 200 Amp. Sound is outstanding, cost was low when completed way back in the early 1980s. Today, if faced with the decision, I'd probably buy something new, rather than spend that amount on refurbing the DH-200. To answer your question, if you have a need for a Home Theatre type amp section, I would look at the Amps offered by Outlaw Audio. I have been looking at the 7100 model (7 channels @ 100 minimum RMS watts).

AvMan--- I see you have a Sony KV36XBR450. I have searched for that TV, but now find that Sony has a new XBR #, KV36XBR800. I am looking at that TV, along with a Toshiba 34" HD ready TV. Which would you go with, and may I have the reasons why? Is the Sony's picture overall better than the Toshiba? Also, did the recent government ruling about the inclusion of HD tuners in 36" and larger TVs, in the not too distant future, mean I should wait to get one of those TVS, rather than adding a HDTV tuner box? Thanks in advance... ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

If you looking for a bargain high-end DVD--AUDIO player, I would recommend that you look for the Technics DVD - A10 player. Outstanding features, top video playback capability, with the added bonus of superb DVD-Audio playback at a close-out price. This unit retailed for more than $1,200 just about a year and one half ago. You can find this unit on the 'Net for low $$$. Try Vanns.com and search on Technics. The unit is extremely well-constructed. ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

For your center channel (which is critical to anchoring the sound with the screen images; also, the center channel speaker carries a very high amount of specific information from the original masters) I would highly recommend that you buy a single Cornwall. If you study the basis of home theatre, you will see that the engineers had a timbre match in mind when planning the center channel speaker, and recordings are designed to take advantage of the center channel-to-screen synchronization/"anchoring", for the proper playback. I would worry less about esthetics (sp?), and more about the importance of a well-matched, high performing center channel speaker, closely matched to your two front-channel speakers. See my signature... ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

Hey NOS440--- I have heard a pair of those exact style LaScala's at a church multi-purpose room, and they play L-O-U-D! BTW Does your handle "NOS440" refer to a Mopar 440 V-8? Just wondering if another Moparite is also a Klipsch-ite... Actually IMHO the two complement one another quite well, especially with the huge torque and high decibel output, of the Chrysler big-block wedge / Hemi motors and the large Klipsch speakers of yester-year, respectively. Keep on Klipsching! ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

Dean--- A couple of comments. I liked the GAS stuff back in the day. Was it harsh, compared to tubes? Definitely, but it had it's strong points. I almost bought some, but put together a Hafler DH-200 amp, linked to my modded Dynaco PAT-4 (later taken out of service for an Adcom pre-tuner combo unit). I have since modded the Hafler with new Caps, and a few odds/ends, and it still works well, 23 years after initial assembly. I also really liked the DQ-10s. I came within a hair of buying a pair in the mid-70s, but a friend personally knew Matthew Polk, and talked me into auditioning the original Polk Model 10s. I did a comparison of the Polk Model 10s to the DQ-10s, and had the opportunity to have Mr.Polk hand-assemble and "break-in" one of his first pairs of Model 10s. I was also a poor grad.student, and with my friend's Polk $$$ connection, I bought the Polks. But I always liked the DQ-10s very much. The whole time-difraction idea makes sense. What you needed to go with the DQ-10s are a vintage Marantz solid-state AMP and Preamp. I have a friend who has a modded Marantz 240 AMP which sounds good. Anyway the Aragon should do just fine, best of luck with the new setup! ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

Everyone--- Thanks for the insights/replys. I have a lot of homework to do before committing to a new set. I realize shipping could be costly, but are there preferred sites to buy these sets? Regards, Stew Deavers ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

Ok, here goes... I want to do a larger TV for the Home theatre. I have $2,000 to spend, and I have looked at a Toshiba 36" HDTV ready that is Flat screen, in the $1599 range at Costco. Also looked at a 48" Panasonic projection widescreen TV for about the same price at Costco. I am lost! Can anyone help me get started on the education path for buying a larger (at least 34") HDTV or compatible in the $2,000 range? Any sites recommended to start the process? Klipsch to ya! ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

My experience with DVD-Audio is through my Technics (Panasonic) DVD-Audio player, Model A-10. I purchased this player as part of a package deal, through a special offer at Vanns.com. The package was for a Technics receiver, along with the A-10 DVD-Audio player, for a close-out price. I learned from this site that the Technics A-10 was a high-end, highly regarded unit that listed for a high price(over $1300) in 2000, and at the special package price, I could not pass on the opportunity. I am very happy I bought this player. It replaced a Marantz CD player, and RCA DVD player. I say without hesitation, this DVD-Audio player sounds outstanding even in CD format. The DVD video side is also impressive. I have also contemplated buying a SACD machine, specifically the Sony 9000ES unit. I have decided to hold off for the time being, while I sort out the DVD-Audio side and upgrade my Video side (I am looking at HDTV video, and have a lot to learn!). DVD-Audio is impressive, especially at the right price! ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD Model DVD-A10 player *** greatly modified (by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified TP-450 Adcom preamp/tuner *** greatly modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR *** Phillips HI FI VCR recorder Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end '70s vintage tuner *** Kenwood KD500 concrete-resin base, direct-drive TT with English Mayware low-mass arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s (hand built by the man himself) *** 2 early Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

I have 5 Cornwalls in my Home Theatre setup, all Cornwall 1s, with one serving as a center channel. With the exorbitant prices that Academy speakers sell for, my recommendation would be to find a matching single Cornwall as your center channel speaker. You will not regret that! ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD player *** modified(by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified Adcom preamp/tuner *** modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end tuner *** Kenwood KD500 direct-drive TT with English Mayware arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s *** 2 Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

If you are not driven by excess features, take a look at the Technics receivers. Several on this board, including myself, have either the SA-8 or SA-10 models. For the price, they are a bargain. The SA-8 is a discontinued model, has 100 watts RMS X 5, and can be had through a Technics receiver/DVD player package deal at www.vanns.com, for a very low price (under $150 for the SA-8). These receivers tend to run a little warm but are very nicely matched to Klipsch. The Outlaws are also very well-regarded. ------------------ My Home theatre setup: *** 5 Cornwall 1s (1984-85 vintage) *** Technics SA 10 receiver *** Technics DVD-Audio/CD/DVD player *** modified(by Musical Concepts) Hafler DH-200 amp *** modified Adcom preamp/tuner *** modified Dynaco PAT4 *** Sony WEGA 32" *** Sony VHS Super HI-FI VCR Misc. equipment *** RCA early DVD player *** Yamaha high-end tuner *** Kenwood KD500 direct-drive TT with English Mayware arm *** Sumiko Bluepoint cartridge *** very early (circa 1975) Polk Audio Monitor 10s *** 2 Polk Audio LF12 subwoofers *** prototype KLH TUBE AMP (circa 1967)

Raven--- May I make a suggestion? I too waited patiently for the "Academy" opportunity. When that finally came, I realized that HornedEd is indeed correct when he says "Center Channel matching is the most critical aspect of Home Theatre". Also, something else stared me in the face... The Academy I had so patiently waited for, cost MORE than the equivalent Cornwall! So, I suggest that you do as HornedEd recommends... Buy a single Cornwall for the Center Channel and live in Klipsch Heaven! I just added a single Cornwall 1, to my 4 other Cornwall 1s, and I am in Heaven! Take care...

I recently added a Cornwall as a center channel speaker to four other Cornwalls in my home theatre. Unbelieveable! Enuf said!

Being a Cornwall-aholic, I say without any hesitation, YES! bring them back! I have two pairs, a pair of 1984s and a pair of 1985s. Without a doubt they out perform many speakers in dynamic range/soundstage/efficiency/clarity/SPL. I love Klipsch! especially Heritage and Cornwalls are the epitome of Heritage! Price = $2,799 basic and up, depending on finish...

The whole thing is so contrived, with little to no truth in it. That whole ricer thing is portrayed as the end-all in performance cars. As if Chrysler never built a Hemi engine...Since 1968 (34 years and still ahead of the pack) Chrysler has held all the NHRA Super Stock class records, for factory built stock vehicles, starting with the 1968 Hemi Barracuda or Dodge Dart. These cars in 1968 came from the factory with more than 600 horsepower and more than 600 lb.feet of torque. Today, Chrysler sells a version of this same engine through its Mopar Performance Parts business, that has greater than 850 horsepower and more than 900 lb.feet of torque, directly from the factory. Installed in a full bodied/full interior/full chassis factory car, with a properly prepared suspension system to put the power to the pavement, these cars still turn 8.90 - 9.05 ETs in excess of 140 MPH. There was nothing like this before them, and 34 years later, there still is nothing like them. NO coffee can exhaust/NO turbo/NO NOS/NO supercharger.. Just all natural throttle baby! All throttle/NO adders. BTW take note that the HEMI also powers the most powerful cars on the face of this earth...the NHRA Top Fuel Eliminator dragsters...Can you say 4.5-4.65 ET in the quarter mile with trap speeds in excess of 330 MPH? It ain't no friggin' 4 banger or rotor motor... Its a V-8 ... Take that Fast and Furious nonsense out to the trash with the Bose speakers!

I would suggest you look at the OUTLAW receiver. For $499, it's highly regarded. Having said that, I recently purchased a Technics receiver that was part of a DVD-Audio package deal at www.vanns.com. The two items were SA level pieces, on sale for $449 shipped. The DVD-Audio player is very highly regarded, and retailed for over $1,200 in year 2000. The receiver is the Technics SA-8N that is well-matched to the DVD player. The rated output on the receiver is 100 watts/channel RMS. Through my Cornwalls, this combo sounds exceptional.

Josh--- Great post. I too have discovered the "magic" of Klipsch Heritage speakers, but I have to admit it's more a re-discovery. Being part of the "older" generation who finished college almost 30 years ago, I spent lots of time and money during those early-mid '70s years, pursuing the best sound for $$$ spent. I built Dynacos and later Haflers, modified them, still have them! I had an electrical engineer student buddy who designed and built hybrid tube-solid state pre-amps and amps. I listened closely/intently to Klipschorns, Fulton electro-static speakers, Magneplanars, Magnepans, Ohm F's, Infinity Betas, even Dalquists DQ-10s(sp?)and hybird high-end horn-based Cerwin Vega speakers, heavy satellites coupled with large cube subwoofers (15" -18" speakers with 40-50 lb. magnets, in a large, heavy, all wood cabinet). After many years of being away from the audio hobby, I have returned, by purchasing a pair of Cornwalls, and am now closing a deal on a second pair! I do recall several technical papers published by Klipsch in the late '80s - early '90s, describing the performance characteristics of exponential horns versus the development of the triaxial horn (which deals with the "bumps" in the expon.horns' response curve), now used in the Legends line. I still have a preference for the dynamics and impact of music delivered by the Heritage line. To my ears, whether I listen to classical, jazz, rock or other music, the expo.horns sound more dynamic and alive. All the best with the Heresy's!