Daddy Dee

Mike, Great post. Thanks for getting your experience out here on the forum. I've read with interest your posts from some weeks back. The Jolida obviously is attractive at it's price point, but the 202 is definitely not an improvement over the 299. It would be interesting to put several of their models on a head to head comparison. This is one of the things that's fun about tubes. Each way of skinning the cat has it's own interpretation and flavor of how it does the music. Next time you have a chance to compare some more equipment, hope you get your take on it posted. Regards, Dee

Justin, What would you want for making the CD and dropping it in the mail. I'd like to go ahead and get payment to you. Thanks. Dee

O.K., but the WAF factor is going to be tough... really tough. Dee

Mind as well have Craig do it. At least if he screws up you can come here and publicly humiliate him. Seriously though, why the interest in this particular piece -- and what are you doing for a preamp? Dean, That is some serious accountability for Craig and it could take the fun out of his job! On the ST-70, ran across a pawn shop bargain, and it doesn't sound bad by itself... dumb luck. On the pre-amp: Sunfire Classic Tube, on trial to buy from a bud... potential good deal. It sounds pretty good. Mostly my interest is in hearing how different amps do the music. Next week sometime I should be able to experience Paramours 2A3. I like the idea people talk about getting emotionally involved with their music on SET amps. Basically wine tasting to see what is the most enjoyable. Regards, Dee

I've been reading posts on this forum going back a couple of years on ST-70 rebuilds and mods. My interest in an ST-70 rebuild is to have a competent person do the work, lots of prospects there, but not me... and get the amp to the place where it doesn't have "vintage" problems. Most of my listening is jazz, vocals, and some rock. I do enjoy the whole range of music and not to neglect punch in bass. There seem to be several significant options for ST-70 rebuilds. Van Alstine does one for about $650, turn key job, including new binding posts. Read posts on this forum saying that this is a sound rebuild and a pretty good value. Wellborne Labs has a Alan Kimmel designed rebuild, which reads pretty well on the WL website. The parts for the whole deal are in the neighborhood of $800. In my case, that would be a basic cost, and paying for the labor of a competent pro is an additional consideration. Also have read several posts about Craig of NOSValves turning out a very nice ST-70. In their descriptions both Craig and AK talk about triode power. This would result in sound similar to SET? Also some parts from Curcio? I'd sure welcome hearing your take on these and other possible options, in terms of strengths, weakensses, etc. Does one do well to get rid of the EL34's? Don't the Mark III's retain those in most mods? As always, I sincerely appreciate individuals who are contributing to my tube education. Regards, Dee

Thanks Guys, Do I ever appreciate this forum! The 8417 tubes would be trouble and a disappointment. Also appreciated reading the posts evaluating Mark IV's also currently on Ebay. Look good, but not a good choice after considering the collective base of knowledge on this board. Regards, Dee

John Klemmer -- Touch Seriously mellow sax Dee

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3030729388&category=39783 I'd be really interested to hear your take on this GSI rebuild of an ST-70. Appreciate any feedback. Regards, DaddyDee

P.P.S. There are some nice posts including pics of La Scala grill mods which leave a really nice OEM look and definitely better on WAF. They put a half-round moulding trim around the front and a brand new grill cloth w/ klipsch logo is available from Klipsch parts dept. You could have these looking like they came right out of the factory. Dee

P.S. Did you have these on Ebay a while back? Thought I may have remembered seeing them there. Dee

Dear Insane G. Welcome to the forum. One thing to be careful about on the La Scalas is that the birch veneer, which is the outermost layer on the plywood, is REALLY thin. It wouldn't take too much to sand through it, definitely do not want to use a belt sander. Also, it is hard as heck to get around the dog house in the bass bin to do much there. The easiest refinish job would be to fill and sand the chipped places, then finish with a nice black finish. There are some members of this forum who would recommend the use of Bondo rather than wood putty to fill chipped places because it is thought to hold up better with the vibration of the cabinet. I've had satisfactory experience using wood putty. Regards, Dee

There's a member of this forum, BEC, who stocks parts and repairs the K77 tweeters. I'm sure he would also steer you right on the mid's. I've done business with this guy and can recommend him without hesitation or reservation. Regards, Dee

Elmoe, Welcome. The Klipsch Forum is a wonderful institution.... just like marriage is a wonderful institution... ....as long as you don't mind spending the rest of your life in an institution!!! Regards, Dee

That's the difference between a girl and a woman. That's a real woman. Dee

---------------- When the neighbors leave I'll be able to crank both amps up a bit and see what 110db or more sounds like from a tube amp. This is definately not the most scientific evaluation but an evaluation nonetheless. -------------------- This sounds like a real world test, head to head, with your own ears to discern your preference. It's hard to improve on that method. Dee

BigBusa, Congrats on being an expectant Khorn owner. I got a pair of La Scalas a few months ago, though I had been coveting Klipsch Heritage speakers for many years. I had been using Hafler since 1980, first a DH-200, then a 220 and most recently a 9505. With the addition of La Scalas, they would crank alright, but I couldn't listen very long. Sound was edgy. Anyway, I was reading all these posts on tubes and wondering if I was missing out on anything. A little anxious about jumping into something in which I had no base of knowledge or experience, I just kept on reading posts until I ran across someone in this forum with a NOSValves 299b rebuild for sale. For me, this provided an opportunity to check out tubes without a mega investment and have the advisement, support and handholding that a newbie needs. Though I was skeptical that the improvement could be as dramatic as I found it to be, I'm really glad I changed over. Also, my wife, who would tolerate my music, on a good day, now is turning on the two channel by herself and listening! Another amazing surprise to me was the addition of ALK crossover networks. I listened for a few days doing an A/B comparison with one La Scala w/stock AA crossover and the other with ALK. There are alot of audiophile tweaks and things for results that I can well imagine that I could not hear. For example, I picked up some used interconnects which had directional arrows to have the signal flow the correct way. Puhleeeaassee. I know there must be a review somewhere in print or on the net in which a reviewer says with a straight face that the signal flowing down the cable in the correct direction makes the sound have more bloom in the mids and airiness in the highs. Now, while I will admit to being a redneck, and as a matter of fact, I did ride into town on the turnip truck, ....but not yesterday! OK, I'm not a total cynic. Maybe some people can hear those tweaks and subtle differences. I'm OK with that and happy for them. I'm a bang for the buck value kind of guy. I'd be failing you as a fellow member of this forum to not share my experience. That's what we are in this for. Of course, what sounds good to any given person is what's good. And there are only a few things in life better than satisfaction with the sound coming out of your speakers. If you're curious about tubes, hope you have a chance to audition some tubes, and maybe even on your own Khorns. If you are in my neighborhood, I'd be glad to bring over my 299b and let you listen. That would be a definite win-win. I'd love to hear some Khorns! Regards, Dee

Thanks Tony, Dee

P.S. Forgot to mention that today is my (our) 23rd wedding anniversary. Am I ever glad I didn't marry some of the women I was dating back when I was anxious that all the good ones are disappearing! Thank you Jan, for our time walking through the seasons together. I've been thinking that I'd order a nice Sunfire True Sub for our anniversary. Something that would be a complement to my (our) La Scalas! The 11x11x11 looks like it will have a higher WAF than the SVS! Thanks. Dee

Friends, I've got a buddy who has had a pair of Heresy's since we were in school, and that was back when God was young. He just hasn't listened to them much in years, some kind of ss receiver setup. He is mostly into watching sports on television. In fact, it might say on his tombstone epitaph: "He Watched Sports". Anyway, he has gotten pumped listening to La Scala's on my 299b and wants to make the trip to tube land. He's agonizing because he just doesn't have the space in his place for La Scalas. My suggestion to him is to get a nice sub which should be able to be tuned seamlessly with the Heresy's and feed it with the center channel of a 299 or something similar, if he decides to go vintage tubes. Even though I have coveted Heresy's for many years, it has turned out my first Klipsch in the house have been La Scalas, so I don't have the experience, or the knowledge base to tell him what to expect in terms of a real compare and contrast. I know the drivers are the same (excluding the woofer of course) and have read some interesting posts on different results with different horns. Also, I am a true believer in the difference a good crossover makes having listened first to Klipsch AA and then ALK. Would appreciate any info and advisement. Regards. Hope this Father's Day is a blessing to you all. Dee

---------------- On 6/12/2003 11:10:47 PM Tony Boone wrote: Was downloading mp3s earlier and got a copy of 'The Girl From Ipanema' as recorded by Gal Costa, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim. This song even at 320kb mp3 makes these La Scalas sing! (Or is it the La Scalas that make the song sing?) Anyway I am actually able to hear the singers breathe and hear the breathy sax work of Getz. If you don't have this tune it's worth the effort to get. If you all know of any like material I'd be interested in any suggestions. Thanks, Tony B. ---------------- Tony B. I'd like to check it out and was wondering the internet source for the MP3's. Thanks. Dee

JLM, Yep, it is amazing what the choices are. I was looking at something on the net, a chinese outfit and sorry can't remember now, will have a tube SACD offered that has just been on show. Dean, you are exactly right. Humble tube gear does what most anybody could want, it does it for me, anyway. KJ, thanks for the URL on the mods. They look pretty neat. Don't have plans right now, but that is an interesting thought to bias the OPamps into class A operation. "All the science, I don't understand, it's just my job five days a week, I'm a rocketman." Regards, Dee

Lynn, Nice place! Is that a Bradford Pear? Dee p.s. oops, sorry, slow computer and three CR's!

Lynn, Nice place! Is that a Bradford Pear? Dee

Lynn, Nice place! Is that a Bradford Pear? Dee

On Ebay, Good condition as you have described have recently sold for 1100 and higher. Dee