Cut-Throat

Well Guy's I own and have auditioned dozens of pre-amps. I brought my AVA T7 over to Randy's and he thought it was the best pre-amp that he's heard with his Laurels also. The reason I own it, is because it's the best one I've heard. Not the other way around. So, I'm betting that you have never heard one. You may not like the looks of it, but I use my ears to listen to my system.

Randy, I would not put any more money towards this 'boat anchor'. I'd be thinking long term, and set your sights on a Van Alstine pre-amp for the long haul!

It will work and if that's what you want to do - do it. The real point is how often are you going to need to remove these clips from the drivers? - Never again probably. That is why I would use solder. They won't sound any different at first, but down the road if corrosion gets between the clip and the contact you may not hear any sound at all. This is not that likely to happen, just as you having a need to remove the clip from the driver is not likely to happen. But I will tell you this. I had an set of Pioneer Speakers that I moved into a different room a couple of years ago. One day I was listening to the radio and it sounded funny. I discovered the tweeter was no longer working. I pulled off the back cover (16 screws) and saw a clip exactly like the one in your picture had fallen off the contact of the driver. I like solder much better.

I just finished re-wiring one of my Belles and I agree with the previous poster. Get a good soldering iron! - I replaced the old wire with 16 gauge OFC wire. Soldered the ends as before and covered the solder joints with heatshrink, so that they won't corrode. I continued to use the clips as before for convienence, but I soldered to clips to the wires and covered with heat shrink. I don't really expect to hear a difference either, but I had the whole speaker apart for refinishing, so I thought new wire could not hurt either. Plus I had to have something to do waiting for the varnish to dry

I have a pair of Klipsch Belles also. I currently have one apart and am refinsihing them so that they are light Oak and Cane Colored Grill Cloth. I will post pictures when I'm done. What you really need for these Belles is a low - under 10 watt per channel tube amp. Then you'll see these babies sing! http://forums.klipsch.com/idealbb/download.asp?mode=download&fileID=26157&sessionID={

I am thinking of building some Type 'A' crossovers for my Belles. It would be very nice to have some binding posts mounted on the crossover board so that I could connect my speakers via Banana Plugs. Quick and Simple, instead of the tiny little clips. Does anyone know of a source for a binding post that I could easily mount on a crossover board. The binding posts are not hard to find, but I guess what I'm looking for is a frame to hold them and that I can attach to the crossover board.

Call a place in Florida called Simply Speakers. They fixed my Tweeters in my Belles. Very Fast and Reasonable Prices. This is not a complex procedure I would go for it. It is quite common to recone speakers. I believe that they have a guarantee.

HDBR Thanks for the reply. I'll just have to work around it and sand as close as I can to the edges. One thing has worked out nice! - I took your advice and am sanding off all of the finish. I actually think this is the easier way to go. It seems like all of the stain is in the finish and not in the wood veneer. When I sanded a couple of the panels the stain is almost all gone. The wood is very light and I will have no trouble matching the light oak color.

HDBR, I have completely disassembled one of my Belles, so that I can refinish and re-grill them. The only part that I could not remove to finish easily was the very front flat panel on the Lower Bass Bin. There are 6 screws inside the woofer chamber, but the panel seems to be glued on. Correct? If I could get it off easily, it would make sanding a lot easier. If it's glued, I am going to be forced to try to sand right next to the top an bottom panels. There is not much to work with there only about a half inch or so. Your comments will be appreciated

I think the key to this is getting so much stuff, it is impossible for your spouse to keep track of it. : I learned this long ago with fishing rods. Once you get about a dozen, it is inmpossible to detect a new one coming into the home. I have about a dozen amps and dozen pairs of speakers. Heck, I can't even keep track myself. She did wince a bit when the Klipsch Belles arrived though. I told her that I had plans for them in the living room. After she steamed on that for a couple hours, I told her I was kidding and that they were going to stay in the basement. She was so happy that they were not going in the living room! - She still does not like them. Wayyyyy to Big for her! It's the only stereo gear that I have that she really, really hates! She does love tube amps though. Loves the retro look and glowing tubes. She even turns the units on herself!

My Suggestion - go for the SET - Monoblock route. Flea power 2-9 watts per channel. You can build a pair of Billie Monoblocks 300b tube design for about a grand. They will make your speakers sing!

HDBR, You have pretty much convinced me that I should not apply stripper to my Belles. So I thinking of sanding them down. I have at least done sanding on veneer and have not sanded though it yet. I am pretty careful and use pretty fine sandpaper. My question - Won't the stain still be in the wood after sanding the finish off? - Can I get the stain out anyway? Thanks

Greg, The Klipsch Parts department got back to me right away on this - they told me they don't carry the grill cloth anymore!

HDBR, "Get the book I recommend in here all the time...read it, and do what it says. " I have the book right here ! - This is what I am confused about. I have read the chapter on Stripping wood a couple of times - I do not see veneer mentioned at all! - It is not in the index under 'veneer' either. I had mentioned this before. Since everyone here is dealing with veneer (I am assuming that there are no Klipsch speakers made out of solid wood) Could you be so kind to point out where in this book it mentions veneer. BTW - My Belles have MDF - which is also not in the index of this book. I know you are trying to help, but this book seems to deal with Solid Wood only. I do appreciate you taking the time to help me with this

I have test driven MB and BMW and I chose Lexus. I have two of them (GS300 and ES300) after owning 3 Honda Accords. Once you get used to Japanese reliablity and engineering it's hard to do something different. These card are not for people that like to take corners at 90 mph, but I don't anyway. I really like cruising down the road listening to the Lexus Premium sound system (not bad for car audio) - The car is quiet enough to enjoy it - And they are flawless as far as problems.

HDBR, I am probably going to redo my Belles. I know that you don't think much of stripping wood, but what about the 3M Safe Stripper? Would this be the best one to try on Oak Veneer? Also after I get the Wood stripped. Will the Boiled Linseed Oil darken the wood at all? - Or asked another way what type of finish was used on the Clear Oak finished Belles? Thanks

Randy, I think you'll need to hear the Belles in a much better venue again, before passing judgement on them. I had them hooked up to a $200 10 year old CD Player, with a SS Pre-amp and most importantly in a poor acoustic friendly room. When I get these Finished and placed in my main room, with Tube DAC and my Fet-Valve Pre-amp, I think you will like them more. I also have the 300B meshplate tubes now. Who Knows what a different crossover will do. Anyway I do think that they have potential.

NOZ, You may be interested in this. I just had a pair of tweeters reapaired for $32 each plus shipping from Simply Speakers in Florida. Parts included - Tested and Guaranteed! - Looking at those teeny wires, and polarity guesses and other ways to screw it up. - This made sense to me.

If you have been following this auction on e-bay, you know that these speakers are over 15 Grand now and the reserve is still NOT met. The real bidding starts tomorrow - The last Day. Closing Price guesses?? - 25 G's ??? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3284&item=1948021156

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At 104db - 3.5 watts is all you'll need! -

Chris, Somebody pee-ed on your Belles?? OH NO!! I looked at your picture at it looked more like a watercolor painting than a photo - It's Huge !! - Maybe it's just me! - Where did you get the brown grill cloth?? Thanks,

Chris, It is going to be a workout! - One thing I have going in my favor, is that I am retired at age 51 and have a lot of time on my hands. I have plenty of other systems to listen to and will have the patience to do these right! -- I would like to see a pic of your Belles! I have refinished plenty of furniture, and as HDBR says patience is the key. As long as you are not in a hurry, it is generally a pleasure. The hard part is tracking down an appropriate Light brown cloth. I don't want cane, as it is too hard to work with.

I would go the SET route. You can build a pair of Billie 300B Monoblocks for about 1K. Get a pair of TJ Meshplate 300b's and you are 'SET' to go. The best pre-amp that I have heard is the Van Alstine Transcendence 7 pre-amp. Randy Bey heard mine with his K-Horns and Welborne 300b's and liked it very much!

Frzninvt, Yes thank you! - I would like to see the Picture of your Belles. This may help me make up my mind. E-mail is kdbmeb@aol.com. I have refinished many things before and to me this looks like an easier and cheaper option than Packing and shipping these beasts! The only material that I'll need should be the refinishing materials and Grill Cloth.