Rudy81

Looks like a nice pair of La Scalas on sale. I may have purchased mine about 2 weeks too early. These are even local! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3055610218&category=14993

---------------- On 10/27/2003 10:00:15 PM peterbwreal wrote: I ran my Belles with a Hafler DH-500 power amp and Hafler DH-110 preamp with absolutely no hiss - dead quiet. I switched to a Dynaco PAS-3 preamp and picked up a hiss, and also kept blowing fuses on my ALK networks when switching from Tuner to Auxiliary. I figured I was just putting too much power to the speakers (255w/channel!) and switched to a Dynaco ST-35 with 17.5w/ch. That cured the fuse problem, but the hiss remained. It has to be the preamp, so my next guess is to test tubes and go from there. Incidentally, everything you hear about tubes is true: the Belles sound much richer with the Dynaco equipment. The ALK networks allows me to attenuate the squawker level, and I had set them way down as the speakers were too bright with the Hafler. I returned them to the "normal" setting with the Dynaco tube equipment. ---------------- My hiss is due to using the balanced section to connect the amps. I have no hiss when using the unbalanced section. I have really appreciated the ability to attenuate the squawker level also. However, I have found that the normal setting is most to my liking. That's probably because I always have listened to the Belles in "normal" setting when I had the AB crossovers. Good luck with your hiss.

Thanks for the information. I had found a few sites with great information on DIY cables. This one in particular is very good. I should receive the Canare cables, RCA connectors, shrink tube and flextubing tomorrow. I also found some decent "Proflex" cables on eBay for $15 for 5 cables. I had paid much more than that for my original Proflex cables a while ago. I already made a Canare cable for my sub and it worked out really well. I also decided to use their 4S11 cable for my speaker cables. That should arrive tomorrow also. To show you how stupid I was, I had modified my original Proflex component video cables a while ago to change one of the ends from RCA to BNC terminations to better connect to my HALO gear. Having never made BNC connectors, I was not aware that the center pin is a crimp pin. So, i just put the connectors on without crimping the pin. Amazingly, the cables worked, but it would just have been a matter of time before I would have had video problems. I'm sure I would have started fearing projector, dvd, or processor problems. Having researched the DIY cable issue, I now have a nice crimp tool, coax cutter, etc. I am looking forward to making some nice cables.

Randy: I am not keen on making changes to PWK's designs for the sake of change. I have seen comments on the cross-bracing idea and wondered if it is worth doing it. I was also curious as to what the speaker looks like with a full grille. I have looked for a long time and could not find a single LS for my center channel. I saw a pair on eBay that just needed a little TLC and the seller assured me they are in perfect working order otherwise. The price at $911 for the pair was too good to pass up. So, I'll end up with a spare. I have had these Belles since '88 and love the sound, so I can't imagine using one of those as the center. In any event, I will now have spare parts.

JM: In my case, I did start with the room as it was before I did anything to it, acoustically speaking. I had done a computer generated forecast of the problems I would encounter. I fully expected some bass problems, and did in fact find the room to be a little too "boomy" for my taste. I also found some high frequency problems due to first order reflections. It was then that I started work on my bass traps and absorber panels. In my room I can remove any of the treatments and hear the changes. The most significant and easy to hear are the first order reflections from the speakers. Putting the flat panel absorbers makes a noticeable difference. I also have some angled ceilings on the right side of the room. I purchased some "egg crate" absorbers for the sloped ceilings, but found that they were not necessary, so they were removed. I do agree that you need to know what the problem is before treating it. However, with a few simple tools it is fairly easy to mathematically forecast the problems. The CARA program is very good at that. It allows you to input the type of materials that the room uses for walls, floors etc. You can also add furniture etc. and get a pretty good idea of what your room will do when exposed to various frequencies.

Rick: Thanks, the one I will use will be for a center channel on carpet.

I should receive my eBay '92 La Scalas later this week. I know I will have to refinish the cabinet (black) and am wondering what mods you guys would suggest. I am particularly interested in the horizontal bracing of the bass bin and the full grill concept. Pictures and suggestions would be welcome.

Sold!

1. What Heritage speakers have you owned, currently own, or want to own? --- Currently own: Belles, Heresey, Will soon own La Scala, Chorus II and Forte (exteneded Heritage) 2. What was your age when you first purchased a Heritage series loudspeaker? ---30 3. What is your current age? ---45 4. Why did you choose Heritage loudspeakers over another Klipsch model? ---Heard a pair of La Scalas, the rest is history. 5. If you currently own some Heritage loudspeakers, and could purchase some more Klipsch speakers(new or used), which ones would you purchase? ---Just purchased a pair of La Scalas to compliment my Belles. Why? ---Timbre matching. 6. Do you think the upcoming Jubilee should become part of the "Heritage" line, since it was also designed by PWK? ---No.

m00n: I have wanted that program so that I can take real time measurements that can easily be stored in my laptop. The problem I found is that you need a good audio card, which I don't have in my pc and a good mike, which I also don't have. I figured I'd cost $500 by the time I was done. So, for now I just let my ears do the evaluating.

I have the CARA program. I purchased it about 10 months ago. It is a nice program, realtively simple to use and within its limitations it is useful. On the down side, it can only forecast room resonance problems. There is also no "speaker" file for any of the Klipsch Heritage and most other Klipsch speakers. This is a major problem, since its programming uses speaker characteristics to create its graphs. I contacted the programmers and they could not assist me with that bit of valuable information. The best you can do is to find a speaker similar to the Heritage series. Unfortunately, the database does not have much in that way. I found the ETF program much more interesting, since it can actively take room measurements. I decided not to buy it or the associated hardware since my funds were destined to actually making a HT.

It's funny this thread showed up today. I have spend the better part of the last few days researching speaker cables. This topic has practically started wars on many forums. Since I have spent most of my money on my HT, I have decided to search for something reasonable. Also, I have not attended any of the blind tests and have no idea if I could or could not tell the difference. I decided on some DIY cables. I looked at John Risch's cross connected Belden coax design and the Canare 4s11 bi-wire design. I did find quite a bit of technical information on those cables, but even that can be contradictory. I decided to go with the Canare 4s11 cable, dressed up with techflex and some good terminations. I ordered the materials last night. It will be interesting to see if there is any differance with those cables vs. what I am using now. Good luck finding a cable that will satisfy your ears! This should be a long thread.

m00n: I have looked at many products for this application and was not able to get my hands on the holy grail of acoustic products, Owens Corning Type 703 fiberglass boards. They come in several thicknesses, but are available only to professional businesses. I even called OC and begged to get some. A 3" piece will absorb down to 250 hz. I decided to do the next best thing. While skulking around in my attic I saw that my A/C ducts were covered with a 1" piece of dense fiberglass. I went to my local A/C and heating supply and found 4x8 sheets of the stuff. I purchased 10, they would only sell me a box for cash, and I went to work. My panels are made of three sheets, cut to size stacked together with the aluminum backing removed. I don't have a way to measure the absorption coefficients, but they work very well for the high and mid frequencies. You can see them hanging in my HT. I think this type of set up will be easier for you to do what you want. It certainly is a lot easier. The fiberglass sheets are very dense, so no pressing required. For the low frequencies, I made tube traps. In case you wouldn't mind some suggestions. I used a poly batting to cover the flat panel trap before I covered it with acoustic material so that I didn't have a problem with fiberglass floating around the room. I made the bass tube traps with a similar product, this time it is commercial pipe insulation that can be purchased from an A/C supplier if you look around. The pipe insulation comes in various thicknesses and various diameters. Very cool product for that application.

I too am surprised at the results. I am waiting for delivery of a pair of La Scalas, of which I will use one for my center channel to replace my Chorus II. I wanted teh LaS to better timbre match my Belle mains. Now I am really anxious to set the LaS up and have a listen myself. Of course, the Chorus II is going to be different than your former center.

You guys get first shot at my Chorus II's before they go on eBay. Please e-mail me if you have any interest. Pictures and description.

Pictures now available here.

I'm not familiar with it either. For that kind of price differance, I would hope and expect that it be truly balanced.

Time permitting, I will do a comparisson. In testing the speakers to make sure everything was in working order, I was once again surprised by the bass on the Chorus II's. I am anxious to compare the La Scalas with my Belles also.

Thank you. I was not aware there was such a group. I will join tomorrow.

The long cable runs is why pro audio gear has that type of connection. I am a little disappointed that the HALO gear does not seem to have the separate balanced section. Now, I am relatively new to this, so I have no idea what the other "high end" manufacturers are doing with their systems. The C2 retails for $4000.00. Just for grins I looked at the top Krell AV system manual and it too mentions the 6dB gain for the balanced section. I don't have the engineers answer, but I am guessing that it too is not the "true" balanced section. From what I have read, the cost of making a true balanced section for a piece of AV gear like we are discussing is extremely high. It sounds as though you would have two processors, one to handle the unbalanced section and one balanced. I would guess that would make most gear even more costly. I know Parasound spent several years developing the HALO line and they left very little out in order to compete with the high end market.

Mike: From what I have been able to determine, I don't beleive the balanced section is a "true" balanced section. I have come to understand that the costs of having a separate balanced section are very high and that type of engineering is not generally used for that reason. I will be going back to unbalanced cables due to the hiss. It is not horrible, but is is audible 14' feet away and I know that it is totally quiet with unbalanced. I guess with less efficient speakers, you cannot hear the effects of the 6dB gain. We, unfortunately, can.

I thought I would give you guys first shot at my '92 Chorus II's before I put them on eBay. I will be taking pictures soon and will post them on my HT site. Here is some basic information: Reason for selling: Replacing Chorus II with La Scala. Color: Black Drivers and crossover condition: Perfect working order. Speaker cabinet: Some minor flaws but in very good condition. Location: Available in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, would prefer local pickup, but will ship. Local pickup is welcome to audition. Packaging: I do not have the original boxes, I am the second owner. I have had them since April of '03. Serial numbers: 132296182 and 134297296 You guys know what a great extended Heritage speaker this is, so I won't bore you with how good they sound. I have $680 in them. If you wish to discuss these, please e-mail me. You can see the front of the speakers on my HT page link in my signature. If you prefer to wait for the eBay listing, you can expect the listing sometime in the next week or so. My La Scalas should arrive them. I just posted the pictures here.

Oh, let me think about it...Nah, no way am I letting go of my Belles.

I think you will be VERY pleased with your selection. Eventhough I have the hiss using the balanced section on my system, I am still very pleased with the overall performance. Unfortunately, out efficient speakers coupled with the balanced section gain allows us to hear the hiss. Not a big deal in my book. All my equipment is close together, so the balanced connections are not a must have. I just with I hadn't spent $350 on balanced cables.

Here is some information on what I was referring to in my last post: http://www.monstercable.com/RobertHarley/ch11_p07.asp