Bofkont Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Dear all, I'm new to this group and only since yesterday fully aware of Klipschorns. I could listen and compare the big Palladiums against the 60th Anniversary Klipschorn. Don't want to offend anyone but the horns blew away everything. I've been interested in audio since +25 yrs and played with Cabasse Sloop and KEF 107 (the big bandpass system). All modified with decent cable and crossovers. Sometimes I was really involved, but most of the time just listening to loudspeakers I now realise. With the horns I was really involved with the music. Tuck & Patti, Cecilia Bartoli, Keith Jarrett, Rickie Lee Jones, they all were with me in the room. I'm seriously tempted to buy the horns, for a reasonable price, but it is still a lot of money. I would drive them with Marantz MA-24 class A monoblocks. The setup would be a 2 channel seperate in the basement/cellar of 13x30 with a low ceiling of about 7 ft. My Q to the community would be if this low ceiling will work out well since accoustics seem to be very important and the recommendation of having +8 ft. ceilings from PWK. It is a concrete house, no echo, carpets etc. Cheers Dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Welcome to the forum. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 I don't think I would worry about 7 ft verses 8 ft ceilings. I've had them in 7's, 10's, and angle to the roof ceilings and while they had small differences in spacial impact I wouldn't bust up the house because of it. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cut-Throat Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 After you get your Khorns set up in your basement. See if you can find a pair of SET monoblocks to hook them up to. It will be a whole nother revelation as large as the one you just experienced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennie Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Welcome to the Klipsch Forum. We're glad you're here! Dennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAKO Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 The Marantz MA-24 will match up and sing pretty well with the K horn.... The 7 ft ceiling should not effect the sonics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTLongo Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 "Dear all, I'm new to this group and only since yesterday fully aware of Klipschorns. I could listen and compare the big Palladiums against the 60th Anniversary Klipschorn." Not to pry, but with your obvious audiophile-awareness, how is it that you only now "discovered" Klipschorns? Also, can you describe more specifically your impressions on Khorns versus the new big Palladiums? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEvan Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I knew Klipschorns for years, but I didn't actually discover them until I heard them. Before that, I heard all the foofery..."Honky, in your face" etc. When I finally heard them it was a discovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bofkont Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 Not to pry, but with your obvious audiophile-awareness, how is it that you only now "discovered" Klipschorns? Also, can you describe more specifically your impressions on Khorns versus the new big Palladiums? I simply never had the chance to listen to any of them; they are rare and were very expensive. American speakers to me were electrostat, magnetostats and hybrids with accompanying local heating sources like krell and accoustic research amps. It all reminded me of "nothing replaces cubic inches". Krell's philosophy is quite the opposite as you guys have been aware of much longer. Anyway it was a bit of a revelation. As I said in my first post the Palladium 39 speakers very much sounded like high end speakers I have listened to more often. Great workmanship but you're still auditing speakers and not always listening to music. The way the Khorns handled the musical material swept me of my feet. The involvement you get is staggering and is lacking in other setups I have listened to. It will take some while to get used to because there is little or no coloration of the box itself, they're not sweet at all and yes slightly hornlike if you're not used to it. IMHO incomparable to the 39F's but than again I don't want to put people off who are totally happy with them. I have been for years with my KEF 107's. They used to be more expensive than Khorns BTW..... So to sum it up: it is not the analytical mind that is triggered by deeper bass or clearer mids; it's more the musical mind that has a different sense of time and seems directly connected to the emotional brain. It so happens I just got a mail from my dealer with a very tempting offer. He has two pairs of 60th's: one with a flamboyant and the other with a more quiet veneer. I think I'll go for the loud one! Cheers, Dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEvan Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Beautifully put, Dirk. I would think Klipschorns, paticularly 60th Anniv., are quite rare in Europe. Say, aren't half the men in Netherlands as tall as your room? [] Please give a report once you have them installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 It so happens I just got a mail from my dealer with a very tempting offer. He has two pairs of 60th's: one with a flamboyant and the other with a more quiet veneer. I think I'll go for the loud one! Cheers, Dirk Dirk, There is only one 60th Anniversary K Horn (as far as I know). If there is no price difference, make sure you get the rare 60th special edition model. Here is what it looks like: http://www.buy.com/prod/klipsch-60th-anniversary-klipschorn-pr-3-way-heritage-series-floorst/q/loc/111/204587913.html It had a $3500 premium here in the states ($11,000 vs $7500). Make sure you know what you are getting and good luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bofkont Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 Thank you all for your advice and friendly words; just want to give an update of a significant moment. A moment of truth when finally the giants arrived this morning. These are the original 60th anniversary edition Klipschorns pair no.170 with beautiful veneer, very rich. What can I say? Familiar CD's sound different, especially voices have a different timbre. Some revelations like de Diana Schuur from GRP, sounds excellent now or the ZENPH reperformances of Glenn Gould. Brilliant! I have to tweak the room accoustics and find myself a nice SET amp. Many of the makes discussed in this forum don't sell in Europe. One could buy Unison Research, Dynavox, Yarland, Destiny or Cayin that seem rather affordable. MacIntosh and other premiums are outragiously expensive here. Any suggestions are welcome! cheers! dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEvan Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I know there are folks on the forum who have Cayin. They are well thought of, it seems. Congratulations, Dirk. Post some snaps when you have opportunity. Once you get accustomed to these, other speakers will sound flat and dull by comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I have heard Caylin with both the 60th K Horns and the Palladiums..........wonderful sound on Both. But I also lean towards the K Horns for overall soundstage and music ...............JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bofkont Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 dear friends it has been a while. It took me a few months to finish the basement, redecorate and set up the system alright. I'm fine now as you would probably have guessed. I (and invitees) am very pleased with what I hear. Spoiled for ever.....[] Just to show off, I'll try post some pictures. I'm, particularly proud of the ceiling with frames fitted with BASOTECT and finished with white speaker cloth: and the other side, with a lot of good sounding books: If it would interest anyone I can also explain how I tweaked the audio gear. best regards! dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Dirk, Congrats on your Klipschorns. I hope you enjoy them for many years to come. I suggest you get Paul Wilbur Klipsch, The Life The Legend book, and learn about the man who invented them. This book can usually be bought for about $20 US on eBay. Enjoy! Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 No offense to those who have mentioned the 7 foot ceiling not affecting the sonics, but it will affect it. Richard Heyser did a very thorough technical review of the Klipschorn for Audio Magazine. It is included in the Audio Papers I provided for Forum members and is now available in PDF which I've reposted here. see page 83 How audible or to what extent this bothers you may be somewhat dependent on the room's acoustics and the kind of music you listen to. The tweeter will reflect off the ceiling (its the 3rd sound component to reach us) which may result in "a problem with the upper-midrange clarity". To void this potential "problem" it is recommended that the Khorns will sound best in a very large room, with a high ceiling and a heavily carpeted floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 . hmm, its not uploading you can find it here, towards the end of the thread: http://community.klipsch.com/forums/t/19799.aspx?PageIndex=9 about the third post down there's a download Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Welcome to the forum Dirk. No need to worry about hurting anyone's feelings here. The ratio of Khorns to Palladium owners here is about 1,000 to 1. Anyway, we welcome all opinions. The 60th's are REALLY special, even for Khorns. I agree, go with the loud ones! I have my Khorns in a less than perfect room and they sound terrific. Congrats and keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bofkont Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 hi Artto Thanks for the comments. I was aware of the topic and it helped me decide to get rid of ceiling reflections. Curtains help, carpet does, a big sofa does but treating the ceiling made a difference especially for women voices. Basotect is an interesting material and is used in some german cars, some Lexus and aeroplanes as sound absorber. Tons of books in the back help absorb basses and act as Helmholtz absorbers ( I like to think that). Next and probably last will be a large carpet in front of the speakers, and maybe some canvasses/oilpainting on the side walls.... I love my Khorns! cheers Dirk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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