triceratops

Front view with grilles off.

Here is a 3/4 view from the top.

Here is a straight on view. Grilles are black.

I have a pair of very clean 1982 Heresy's for sale. I bought this pair (and another pair) to use in the living room after selling my Belles to Paul Parrot. Heresy's are very nice speakers, but I was soon hankerin' for Belles in the living room again. I found and bought a replacement pair of Belles in Spokane, WA recently (lots of driving for me)--now I'm selling the Heresy's. These 1982 Heresy's (date code X with consecutive numbers), were bought by me in the used department of Fred's House of Music in Portland, OR (a high-end audio store). They are Birch Raw cabinets that the original owner wiped with a light maple stain and nothing else. The cabinets and drivers are in excellent condition and the cabinets have the factory risers. Any dings or scratches are quite minor and these could me made to look as new with very little effort. These Heresy's sound very clear and tight and are quite efficient. I would like to get $400 for the pair (this is what I paid). I would love it if the buyer was in Washington or Oregon and we could rendezvous somewhere in the middle (I am regularly in Portland and elsewhere in Oregon for my job). If I have to ship the Heresy's I will. No charge for boxing them and they will be packed well (I have shipped speakers to other Forum members before with great results), and the buyer would be responsible for the actual shipping costs (I would suggest Fed Ex Ground as the carrier). I'll post some photos for download. If anyone can make them pop up automatically, I would appreciate the help. Thanks! triceratops Eugene, Oregon

I meant to say: Jmon- Thanks for the suggestion on the Classe amp. The Threshold S/300 is definitely overkill on the power output. For tube amps I currently have an Eico HF-81. As noted above, I will soon have some Welborne 300B DRD SET mono amps for the '60 Khorns and the Threshold would be for a second system in the living room with the '75 Belle Klipsch. Best in horns, triceratops

Colin- Thanks for the detailed post. I don't have my gear listed on the profile, but the S/300 Threshold described above would be used for a second system. Upstream would be a Threshold FET 1 Series 2 Preamp, and a Pioneer PD-65 Elite CD player. The speakers would be 1975 Belle Klipsch. As mentioned earlier, my main system will be 1960 Khorns run with Welborne DRD 300B SET amps and an as yet to be determined CD player (any suggestions welcome!) Guy- Thanks for the tip. I realize the Threshold is on the high side price wise, but it is a super clean silver-face unit. It is local so no shipping cost and the seller would offer a 30-day warranty. Jmon- Thanks for the suggestion on the Classe amp. The Threshold S/300 is definitely overkill on the power output. For tube amps I currently have an Eico HF-81. As noted above, I will soon have some Welborne 300B DRD SET mono amps and the Threshold will be for a second second Khorn58- Yeah it would be fun to check out the Threshold with the 1960 Klipschorns in addition to the Belle Klipsch. I like the appearance of the Thresholds w/ the silver face and the build quality looks impressive. Best in horns, triceratops

khorn58, The S/150 that you have is very similar to the S/300 in design and vintage, and as you know my 1960 Khorns are a lot like yours, too. Have you heard any other Threshold models, and how do you think they compare to these "S-Series" Thanks! triceratops

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Dave, the 1960 Khorns are going to be driven by the 300B Welborne DRDs that a friend of mine is finishing up. Those are going to go in a not-yet-built garage bedroom that will hopefully be my primary listening room. I have a Threshold FET 1 Series 2 Preamp and I was thinking it would be an interesting contrast to run this preamp with a solid-state power amp into the 1975 pair of Belle Klipsch in the living room. I figured that way I could have decent representation of both high-wattage solid state and low-power SET gear in the house. The condition of the Threshold S/300 amp is super clean cosmetically--if it had the box I would call it mint. I was hoping I could resell it if it didn't sound great to me. Best in horns, triceratops

I have an opportunity to purchase a used Threshold power amp, model S/300 from the mid 1980's. These are A/A-B solid state amps (150 watts/channel) designed by Nelson Pass and are highly regarded in some circles (I don't think there is any huge following among horn speaker fans though). It is a pristine one-owner piece but the asking price is a lofty $1100. Does anyone have any thoughts about driving my 1975 Belle Klipsch with these? Thanks for any input! Best in horns, triceratops

Hey Tom, Hope you go for these. The only problem is there is not enough driving distance involved to maintain your "Honorary Klipsch Road Warrior" status! Best in horns, triceratops

Hi Gilbert, Thanks for your detailed response. I think my statement about finishes may have been unclear. I was trying to say that the Walnut finishes are much more common than the Oak finishes on Heritage speakers. Someone who prefers Oak would possibly be willing to pay more than the "average" Cornwall prices as a result, especially considering that the condition of your speakers is anything but average! Best in horns, triceratops

No argument on Trane's "My Favorite Things" as it's one of my faves, too. Back in '65 guitarist Grant Green cut his own cover of "My Favorite Things" on his Blue Note album "Matador". Green's version is a nice homage to Coltrane's cut with Coltrane alumnus McCoy Tyner at the piano. I think Tyner's playing is one reason why that Coltrane cut is so friggin' amazing! If you haven't heard the Grant Green version, please check it out. On Soapbox: Anyone notice how the guitar was completely excluded from Ken Burns "Jazz" series on PBS? Burns apparently doesn't consider music with electric instruments to be real jazz. He dismissed Miles' electric phase with a short footnote. I guess that means Jaco and Weather Report don't count either! Off Soapbox. Historically speaking, the first Jazz record that really turned my ear (at 15) was Charles Lloyd's "Forest Flower" from "Live at Monterey". It features a fairly young Keith Jarrett, along with veterans Jack deJohnette on drums and I forget who on bass (maybe Cecil McBee?). It's a gorgeous song. Best in horns, triceratops

Yeah it sounds pretty cool--like the VSAC conference in Washington I went to last fall. I might have to consider checking this out too, if I can get a screaming cheap deal on airfare, etc. Craig--thanks for correcting the link! Best in horns, triceratops

JMHO but I would echo Pirahna and Fini on this one, I think the price is not unreasonable--especially considering the condition. The oiled oak veneer is also less common than oiled walnut and some folks are willing to pay a premium for that. I personally prefer walnut, but light-colored wood may be more living-room friendly in some households. Remember that these speakers cost about $1800 when they were new 15 years ago, and there is nothing out there that can touch them in that price range today. I think we may get a little jaded because so many great deals pass through the Forum. Gilbert, how do you think Fortes (type I?) compare with Cornwalls? Which do you prefer and what are your music tastes? I've seen a lot of positive comments on Fortes on the Forum and there is a local pair I am considering going to check out. Best in horns, triceratops

I have no direct knowledge of this event, which is sponsored by various folks (including Welborne Labs). Looks like it might be a good time for Forum members: http://www.audiofest.com/ Anyone in Colorado or elsewhere planning to attend? Best in horns, triceratops

Thanks to all for the continued advice. I bought the HK 730 (despite the higher than market asking price) since the seller offered a one-week return policy. It seemed like the easiest way to check out this family of HK receivers for myself. I also picked up a 1971 McIntosh 1700 receiver from a local classified ad yesterday. I thought it would be a good chance to compare the two receivers, and I'll just sell the Mac if the HK wins the shoot-out. I owned a Mac 1700 a few years ago but never had Klipsch hooked up to it, although I thought it sounded good with Maggies back then. I know the 1700 is not one of McIntosh's more highly regarded units, but I think it is pretty decent considering it is an old hybrid SS piece. Have any forum members used a Mac 1700 with their Klipsch? Best in horns, triceratops

Hey Everyone, Thanks for all the input. I realize this is not a great price for this unit. But the trial period makes it at least worth checking out so I can see what the buzz is about. The shop will also take Visa and will provide a 90-day warranty if I decide to keep it. Since the unit is local I don't have to pay shipping. Everything taken into account it seems to be an acceptable (not great) deal. So I think I will give it a try. lynnm: the Sony ES receiver I have (I think it is a GX-99ES) has never been great with the Klipsch stuff, so I wouldn't be surprised if the H-K trounces it. Like you said, the proof will be in the listening. ricktate: since you have both the HK 430 and the HK 730, have you noticed any difference in the sound quality between these two units? I notice that the HK 430 gets a lot of praise, but rarely see the HK 730 mentioned. sheltie dave: I hear ya on the price. I'm tempted to keep on the lookout for a better deal and just wait. Is your HK 630 up for sale? Thanks for the tip on the Ebay search--that HK 930 looks pretty nice. HDBRbuilder: I would be open to checking out the HK 430 as you suggested. My only real reason for going with the HK 730 instead was availability at a local shop. Colin: I've got an old Threshold preamp (Nelson Pass design) that I hope to use with my Welborne DRDs 300B SET amps when they eventually arrive. I've looked for a Threshold power amp for a while, but have yet to find a screaming deal on one. Plus they made so many models of amps, I don't even know what would be a good choice. whell: did you specifically select the HK 730 over the various other HK X30 models for any particular reason? I think the cosmetics on this unit I'm looking at are good, but not perfect. We'll see about the sound when I get it home. Best in horns, triceratops

I have an opportunity to pick up an HK 730 receiver for $150. It looks to be in decent shape and I have a one-week trial period to check it out. My 1975 Belles are currently being driven by a Sony ES home theater receiver, and I know the sound is not all it could be. I realize the HK receiver is far from ultimate amplification, but I know some folks think they sound pretty good especially considering the reasonable cost. HDBR--I think you like the HK 430 with Heritage, what do you think about this one? Thanks for any and all comments! Best in horns, triceratops

Gary- No, mine have black woven style Heritage cloth--now no longer available--DOH!! The previous owner messed up the grille cloth by cutting out the cloth over the tweeters. He must have wanted to show off the little horns or was trying to brighten them up--who knows? It seems to me that in the mid-1970s a lot of crummy-sounding Japanese speakers often had exposed horn tweeters. I have some 1975 Belles that have brownish-greenish-tweedish-colored grilles. Is that the stuff? Yeah, that's not my favorite color-scheme either! And no, I don't think you asked me that before, but my memory gets rustier every day... Best in horns, triceratops

Hey Dean, Thanks for putting up with my sorry late ***! Oops, I just attacked myself...anyway, you've got cash. Best in horns, triceratops

Hey jordan, I have a pair of '72 Heresys oiled walnut that need grilles and badges! Any chance I could snag them? Thanks! Best regards, triceratops

Hey Dean, I've been off line for a while and missed getting on board with this Andy-appreciation project. Can I still send you a Paypal payment tonight (Monday night, April 26)? I have thoroughly enjoyed Andy's extensive contributions to the Forum with his incredibly detailed postings. It is so cool that Andy personally made or supervised the construction of many of the actual speakers Forum members have in our homes! Thanks, Andy! Best in horns, triceratops

Not to labor the obvious, but you can't get sniped if you bid more than the sniper bids. If you bid less, there's no reason to feel bad--presumably you bid what the item was worth to you. There's no reason to rethink the value of something because another bidder is willing to spend more--that's what gets people into trouble in auctions. I think it is best to decide what your maximum is at the outset and stick with it. If you lose, there's always something else around the corner! Best in horns, triceratops

Ditto on Tom Mobley's and Sheltie Dave's comments on Mark Voight (soundbug). Mark lists some very cool equipment, and I would buy from him in a heartbeat. How many times do you see stuff on Ebay that is tested and guaranteed? Even people with the resources to test seem to always sell their gear "as is due to age." Mark is somewhat unique on Ebay for actually standing behind his stuff. A couple of years ago, Mark took the time to send me a detailed email answering questions I had about a set of Cornwalls that were for sale relatively close to me in Oregon (they were advertised on the Forum). I had emailed Mark on a whim because he had recently sold a pair of Cornwalls on Ebay. Mark had no interest in the sale in Oregon, other than being a dedicated audio lover helping to steer someone to good equipment. Of course that's what this Forum is all about, and I've certainly received lots of help from everyone here since then. In defense of the price of Belles, their used price is proportional to what they sold for when they were new--about twice the cost of LaScalas! HDBR builder will tell you there is a lot of additional labor and materials in the Belles. Also higher retail means fewer were sold over the years, so they're harder to find, and they hold their value! My 1960 khorns still have no corners to live in, and I'm hoping to convert the garage to a Khorn room this summer. I sold my 1977 Belles to Paul Parrot in January, but seller's remorse set in right away. My living room sound has been really lacking since the Belles left the scene. I tried to score some decent LaScalas to replace them but no luck, so I drove to Spokane (about 800 miles RT) and picked up some 1975 Belles two weeks ago. They may not be Khorns, but the Belles go into spaces where Khorns (and even LaScalas) just don't fit--and they sound damn good! Best in horns, triceratops

Thanks to all for the suggestions. Artto, thanks for your offer and for your insight about the mono tapes! Last night I was playing a live Tom Petty tape I recorded at Memorial Auditorium in Louisville, Ky in 1978. I recorded it on my old Sony TC-152SD with a hand-held stereo mike, which I'm sure had very little separation. But I guess it was enough of a stereo signal that the tape survived. Now that I know about the auto azimuth function, I can watch to see if the machine is locking in or searching for a proper alignment in vain! jt1stcavcool photo! It seems like there are still plenty of these Nak machines out there with lots of life left in them. Youll certainly be able to snag another Dragon someday Best in horns (and analog signal sources), triceratops