DTLongo

Well, enjoy. But can you imagine what your new amp would sound like on a pair of Klipschorns? Wish you were nearby so you could try it on my '03's.

I saw and liked the Jubilee badges at the forum Klipschfest in Indianapolis June 12 and ordered a pair for my 2003 Klipschorns. On the 2004 Khorns we saw in Indy they were on the upper right as pictured elsewhere on this string. After experimenting with that and other placements on my speakers, I settled on a center placement above the (non-removable) Klipsch plaques on each speaker as seen on the attached photo. The new badges do adorn those speakers prettily. By the way, my younger son, 33, who among other things writes and plays music for his rock band in CO, visited over July 4 and got his first exposure to Khorns. Talk about audio Nirvana for that young man. He sat there literally open-mouthed as he slammed his music through the Khorns at maximum, real concert volumes. He just could not get over their ability to play so loudly WITH such clarity and ease and lack of any audible distortion.

I am not a furniture expert, I bought the couch in 2002 because I liked its curvilinear design for use in a home theater. Various tags and docs show it to have been manufactured by LaCrosse Furniture Co. It is a LaCrosse Royale series couch, described as Left Arm Sofa 1460-03/TP 4460-38 and Right Arm Sofa 1460-03/TP 4460-38. The two pieces cost $1299 in 2002 in Delaware. The two pieces are held together by a sturdy metal U-bolt that drops under the cushions into a corresponding slot on each side. Taken apart they are easy to move up and down stairs and around landings and such. Hope this info helps. Any number of manufacturers now make "home theater" seating and seat ensembles. You can get them with recliners if desired and they include cup holders, which this sofa does not have. Tom

Actually, we were told at the Klipschfest in Indy June 12 that even at maximum low-bass volumes the Khorns' woofers excurse barely half an inch. Hard to believe but that's what we were told. My own experience seems to bear that out. Even at full rock concert low bass volumes the cabinets are so solidly built that they barely vibrate at all. The cabinet solidity and the efficient folded horn design give one the impression that these speakers are just "loafing" under virtually all home conditions, even Telarc "1812" cannon shots. Of course, the fact that the Khorns do naturally roll off below around 35 hz. also has something to do in that regard.

The ceiling above the left speaker is 12' tapering down to 7 1/2 feet near the right speaker where the new addition begins along the line of the track lights visible in the photos. There is a large doorway opening on the left wall and another on the back wall. Ergo, the room is very good for standing waves not to develop. I will have a better sense of the acoustics after the Belle and the surrounds are set up, but so far so good. Even now, the improvements with Khorns' clarity and with Khorn + Velodyne bass in the sound of movies I am familar with (like Top Gun, Independence Day, Armageddon, Little Shop of Horrors) is impressive. I believe this ne plus ultra system built around Khorns and the Belle will outstrip even the $11,000 new Klipsch THX Ultra 2 home theater system that wowed our group at Indianapolis. The Klipschorns surely do excel at handling LOUD with uncanny ease and nil distortion. and the big Velodyne, needing its volume control set at only at around 9:30 to match the efficient Khorns, itself loafs along.

pic 3 of 3 Closeup of the left Khorn. The Klipsch plaque on top was a freebie from the company at their June 12 "pilgrimage" open house for forum members. Just above the Klipsch nameplate on the speaker is one of the company's new "jubilee" logo badges that we saw on the 2004 Klipschorns in the Heritage room at Indianapolis. I ordered a pair ($12 each + $5 shipping) and they adorn my '03's nicely. Tom

pc 2 of 3 Just visible in the far right corner is a Velodyne S1500R subwoofer.

Enlargement of the room housing my 2003 Klipschorns has just been completed. A four-foot extension ran the room from 12 x 16 feet to 16' x 16', and two windows were taken out to build the right corner. Although 4' sounds small, the difference both spatially and sonically in that cathedral-ceilinged room is remarkable. This first pic is a general view. Two more pics follow. This setup is temporary pending arrival of a new Belle Klipsch center on order and expected around July 8. The TV will sit atop the Belle. (Someday I'll get a large thin-screen plasma.) Surrounds on the back wall will probably be Klipsch RS-35's since I think the RS-7's may be too big for the space available. The three track lights visible in the pic shine on the two Khorns and the wall behind the TV. With the lights dimmed at night by a rheostat, the medium-oak Khorns glow softly and subtly as a movie is playing, a very nice visual effect. Other spots illuminate the sofa for reading.

Ditto.

At the movie theater, checking out the subwoofers below the screen (four 18-inchers).

Klipsch headquarters. A handsome campus.

I wanted to say a sincere "thank you" to Trey Cannon, Jim, Jill and others at Klipsch who hosted the company's third open house for forum members on June 12. Some 65 people came from all over the country. Klipsch made us feel welcome, provided good briefings, and let us wander around their lab and various demo-rooms to hear a variety of A/V program materials and ask questions to our heart's content. A new Klipschorn owner since last year, I particularly appreciated being able to study a cutaway Khorn in order to (finally) comprehend how that unique speaker is designed to do what it does, likewise, a briefing by Trey on the innards of the Belle Klipsch. I'm sure others will comment further but just let me say again, Klipsch thank you and Bravo Zulu (Navy-ese for Well Done). - Tom in Ocean Pines, MD

I hope to. Gotta be in Milwaukee through the previous evening so plan to drive and meet the Klipsch group in Indy around 11:00 AM or noon on June 12. Will miss the theater visit but hope to pick up the factory portion of the program.

If you can afford them, Klipschorns are the holy grail unless you are willing to get into the multi-$10,000 leagues. Retail on a new pair of Khorns these days is around $7500. I have a pair of 2003's that I got new for $6500. At the age of 63 I probably don't hear much above 13,000 hz if that much. But I can still really hear the differences between speakers, don't ask me why physiologically. The Khorns, in general, are the best speakers I have ever heard, on all sorts of music ranging from classical to hard rock. They do need good corners. They are quite amplifier sensitive. They show up EVERY difference in the quality of the input material. They will bloom in the bass with some amps, sound shy on others. My Khorns do seem to want some bass boost at the amp or via an equalizer in order really to bloom. Alternatively, use them with a (very good) subwoofer. Having tried both, I am agnostic on the tube- versus solid state amp debate with Khorns. And if you want LOUD, the Klipschorns are ready to oblige. That is to say, loud without distortion. If all you've heard is loud at a "live" rock concert with megawatts going to speakers filling an auditorium or stadium with beleaguered cones stretching to their limits, the same dbl levels in a home setting with the Khorns barely breaking a sweat will be a revelation.

As of today May 20 the bids are up to $355.00. Given that the deal includes a complete extra set of tubes and that I am paying shipping, someone is going to get a good buy. The auction ends Sunday.

There apparently being no interest in it on this forum, I have just listed my new Jolida JD-102B tube amp for sale on eBay. It is the first time I have ever tired to sell there, so the experience should be interesting. I will pay for shipping/insurance within the U.S. The amp plus the included full set of new extra tubes will be a good bargain for someone. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5700296937&ssPageName=ADME:B:LC:US:1

Offering for sale my new Jolida JD-102B tube amp purchased earlier this year. This amp has about 125 hours on it so it is barely broken in. Perfect, brand-new condition. It has the factory "tape loop" mod that converted the former Aux inputs into full-time tape outputs. So, the amp has CD, Tuner and Tape inputs, plus the Aux outputs which are also useable as a fourth input (when so used, that input overrides everything else). This is a straight stereo, purist (no tone controls) honest 20 wpc tube amp that sounds magnificent. There is a very soft rushing noise as you turn the volume control. That quirk came with the amp, is barely noticeable, and has no effect on the sound. The amp has characteristic, bell-clear "tube" sound. It is extremely good looking as well - high WAF. The only reason I'm selling is that my tastes changed from straight-stereo and I am going to use my 2003 Khorns in a home theater. The center will be a new Belle Klipsch. I will, perforce, be using a HT receiver to run the system and do not need the Jolida. I paid $640 for the Jolida with the mod, plus $78 to thetubestore.com for a complete extra set of new Electro-Harmonix tubes for the amp; total $718. Will sell all for $600.00. I will pay for shipping/insurance within the U.S. You will get the amp in its original Jolida shipping carton. Contact Tom Longo at DTLongo@aol.com.

Thank you for the steer to Dale Walker's post. I forumed him that the idea is very tempting, but if I go this route I want a medium oak finish to match my Khorns. The ones being offered are walnut, vintage 1976, and show some cosmetic wear and tear. If I do decide to go this route I'll probably buy a new Belle. I wonder how long it takes to get one. Anybody know? Tom

Thank you for the offer. It's very tempting since I am toying with the idea of using a Belle Klipsch as a center channel with my 2003 Klipschorns. But I'm looking for a medium oak finish to match the Khorns and, if I decide go this route, will probably buy a new Belle. Tom

Further to my previous, if I reconsider my HT configuration concept, a Belle Klipsh could fit as a center channel speaker. My present 32" TV could sit atop it until some future date when I get a larger wall-hangable flat-screen. What roughly does a new medium oak finish Belle Klipsch cost these days? (Whether I go that route is just a glimmer right now but boy, what a front HT speaker array that would be, two Klipschorns & a Belle Klipsch.) Tom

Thank you all for your responses so far. Yes, I would surely love to have an all-Heritage Home Theater system but space plus my envisaged overall design for the HT won't allow it. The new room is going from 12 x 15 1/2 feet to 15 1/2 x 15 1/2. The left side wall and the rear wall have large openings, plus there will be a multi-angled cathedral ceiling, so I don't think I will have a big problem with standing waves. Poking around the Klipsch website, I've spotted the Reference Series RC-7 center channel speaker and RS-7 surrounds. They appear relatively hefty and serious in their own right, 98 db. ratings, 8" woofers, horn midranges, etc., plus I believe the RS-7's are wall-hangable. How do you think they would mesh sonically with the Klipschorns? Tom

Wow, fascinating. Wouldn't one love to hear that baby!

Hello all. In about a week a contractor will begin building out the straight-stereo sitting room in which my 2003 Klipschorns now reside, into a larger room to accommodate a home theater with the Khorns as front mains. Question: what would you recommend as center- and surround speakers that would match well sonically with the Klipschorns? Other Klipsch Heritages won't work, they're too big. I would like wall-mountable surrounds. I want a full-range center speaker and could accommodate a bookshelf one about the size of a large Advent or AR-3A. Alternatively, I could couple a smaller center speaker with an compact powered JBL PS100 I have on hand. I will appreciate your thoughts. Thank you, Thomas Longo in Ocean Pines, MD

I had a Velodyne S1500R sub before I acquired my 2003 Klipschorns, and have tried experimented running the Khorns with SS equipment and my newly acquired Joilida 102B tube amp both without and with the sub. My considered view is that it's dealer's choice. Set flat, without the sub the Khorns sound sweet but thin, to my ear. With some bass boost with either an outboard equalizer or a preamp, they really bloom and for all practical purposes have more than sufficient bass for all types of music, especially rock and pop, except for extreme-deep-bass symphonic and organ. (Rock/pop doesn't get significantly below 40hz anyway.) Set flat but with the sub switched in, rock/pop sounds as good or better than through the Khorns alone, though slightly fuller and less "taut." And deep-low symphonic material is definitely enhanced, as is a sense of the surrounding hall and space. Since the Khorns are so efficient, the sub's volume control has to be turned up only slightly for the sub to add its effect. More, and the sub muddies the overall sound with too much bass. I run the Velo with its volume control set to about the 9:30 position and the crossover at 50 hz. As a practical matter, since I'm a lazy cuss my default choice has become to run the Khorns normally with the sub, and to turn the sub off only for the occasional very loud, very demanding recording. For example, I'm a little chary at using the sub at high volume with the Telarc "1812" cannons. The Klipschorns with their natural rolloff below 35 hz, can handle that, but I'm not sure the sub would. And I wouldn't want to tisk that expensive Velo by trying. Tom Longo

Gary, June could be iffy since that room with the Khorns is slated to be remodeled then, pushed out 4' to be a bit larger in order to move my home theater into that room along the side wall with the Khorns as front mains. But you live close enough to be able to bop out here after that work is finished, I trust. Take care, Tom