Mallette

Excellent review. I've a Dyna ST-70 paired with Khorns. More power than I could ever use. I suggest you consider the Supre PAS 4i or other Dyna-based preamp from Frank Van Alstine. I've the 4i and am totally happy with it. Price is a bit over 800.00 wired, and about 650.00 for the kit. See http://www.avahifi.com/price.htm if you are interested. Best regards, Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

I've a pair of 40's vintage Weston VU meters (such as found in old radio boards) I'd like to show off the efficiency of the Klipschorn's with. My thought was to use a switched buffer circuit to set range to 1/10/100 watts full scale. Anyone know where to find a schematic for such a resistive buffer? I know this is simple, but I've long forgotten what little I knew of such matters. Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

My favorite LP's would be a lot. The 1956 stereo recording of the Gabrieli festival certainly stands out, as well as Biggs/Tarr/Boys Choir Columbia of same in 1967. Certainly Sgt. Pepper, Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon." But shellac sounds great as well! Spent yesterday listening to 78's on my Empire/Grado TT. Elvis "Good Rockin' Tonight," Benny Goodman "Oh, Baby," Duke Ellington "The Mooche" (about 1929!), Yank Rachel's "38 Pistol Blues" and many more. Yeah, pretty eclectic. But I like ALL KINDS MUSIC played, recorded, and reproduced well. Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

BTW, what I meant in the original post by rear channels out of phase was reverse phase from the FRONT, not with each other. Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

But are those "enhanced stereo" circuits entirely passive? What I like both philosophically and musically about the Hafler is that it is basically a "straight wire with phase" and a volume control. If there is no out of phase information, it does nothing. My Denon HT reciever also has a "matrix" decoder, but it is DSP in nature and definitely not very natural. Certainly wouldn't let it near my music...:-> Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

Ok, certainly four by definition, but what about in spirit? I purchased a DynaQuad passive rear channel device in the mid-70's which has enhanced my listening ever since. For those who've not heard of it, it was Hafler's original circuit for "civilizing" the retrival of existing out-of-phase information that exists in recordings and retrieved by many early technofreaks by attaching two speakers in the rear wired out of phase. Hafler made this easy by adding a rear volume and method of optimizing the retrieval, as well as a way to switch it out. I've found the sonics produced by this passive system far more immersive and satisfying than two speakers. Further, I could argue that two speakers is only slightly ahead of mono in that few live musical experiences are heard from the front only without rear reflections and such. This information exists in two channel recordings and is recovered nicely by the Hafler circuit. So what do you think? Since nothing is being added, processed, or altered, seems like its closer to the spirit of 2 channel than DSP and other artificial means, and it certainly seems silly not to listen ALL the information on a recording. Best regards, Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett Average system component age: 30 years. Performance: 21rst Century

If throughing lots of money at your system is what you feel is necessary to achieve sonic nervana, then that is what you need to do. However, if you haunt Ebay, and are willing to listen to Mr. Klipsch, then you can do it for a lot less...consider my story. After 30 years of reading audiophile mags, being an audio engineer (early part of my career), and plowing through tons of audio (to quote PWK) BS, I finally got it. My "dream system" could have been put together the week after my visit to Mr. K's Hope lab in 1972 and would have remained basically sonically unchallenged and unchanged to this day. That day I heard E. Power Biggs at the organ playing his famous rendition of the Saint Saens Organ Symphony via Ampex Reel to Reel in Mr. K's enormous listening room. At the peak crescendo I leaned over to PW's ear and shouted "How much power is this taking?" He looked over his shoulder at said "O, about 5 watts." I've heard many, many, very, very exotic and expensive systems since that day, but never better. Why it took 30 years for this to really sink in I do not know, but it finally did and now I can put together my dream system and the latest and greatest ways to drain your bank account need not apply. I've thrown lots of bucks at the latest and greatest over the years and never achieved the sonic satisfaction I recieved from my 1960's system consisting of a Dynco STA-35 tube integrated amp and Frazier Monte Carlo speakers. Last week I got the Monte Carlo's down from the attic and place them on top of my present speakers. I was astonished to find them sounding BETTER! They will soon join my newly acquired Khorn's as the rear speakers fed from my DynaQuad (also from the attic and 25 years ago). Well, I'm rattling on...point is, get yourself a Dyna ST-70 off Ebay and save a lot of money. Dave Mallett ------------------ David A. Mallett

Oh...I forgot to say THANKS for all the prompt input. You guys are great! Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett

Well, I've acquired them for 1677.00 delivered. Hope to have them in a couple of weeks. Will report. Best regards, Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett

Thanks for the reply (also to HDBR). Yep, guess I am old vinyl guy. I've several hundred CD's, but only a few of them and the ones I've recorded on location sound as satisfying as records...that includes 78's. I've never heard a transferred 78 sound as good as the original. Further, at 50 cents to a few dollars each, LP's are the biggest bargain on the planet. Nice to live in a large metro area for that one reason. As to two channel, I'm not that dedicated to it. I certainly prefer it to crappy digital extraction. As mentioned in an earlier post, I'll be useing my vintage Hafler Dynaquad (a completely passive phase extraction circuit) to feed a pair of Frazier Monte Carlo's (about 1970) in the rear. Very satisfying addition of depth. BTW, when I visited Mr. Klipsch in 1972, he had a Frazier Midget with a handle on it he used to demonstrate corner bass re-enforcement. As I'd just purchased my Fraziers a year or so before, I was delighted he said that Jack Frazier was one of the few designers he had any use for. They still sound great within their range. Best regards, Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett

Thanks for the response. The completed system will be driven (temporarily by a Harmon-Kardon 12 solid state) by a rebuilt (Van Alstine) Dynaco ST-70 with a Van Alstine updated Dyna preamp (PAS-4i). I will be using Frazier Monte Carlos (purchased in 1970) in the rear with a Hafler Dynaquad (purchased in 1976 for 5.00) in the rear. Hope to add a Heresy or better as a front center at some point to satisfy the spirit of the Master. It will be quite a vintage system. I've a Rega Planar 3-Grado LP turntable and an Empire/Grado for 78's. Going to be quite a vintage system! Dave ------------------ David A. Mallett

I am considering a pair of Khorns model KC-BR serial 8P633. Cost would be around 1500.00 plus 200.00 shipping. Assuming the drivers and cabinets are in good shape, is this a good deal? Should they be upgraded and at what cost? I join the group in missing Mr. K. Certainly 98 years is an enviable life span. One of life's great priviliges was a personal tour of the Hope plant with him in about 1972. I still have the 8 card and other materials in gave me that great day, and I've been waiting 30 years to acquire these speakers. Best regards, Dave Mallett ------------------ David A. Mallett