Starting Over-Help Needed

[wldrns1]

I'll try provide as much relevant (some maybe not) as needed. You people here know way more than I do. I would not be offended by a Reply suggesting some other direction or approach.

 

ME: 59, not an audiophile. My first encounter with Klipsch was a party in the late 70's. There was a grill-less speaker in a chair playing rock music of the day. I couldn't believe the sound. I asked and was told the speaker was a Klipsch Heresy. I set out to get a pair and bought some the next week. Great! I could never get over and still remember how good they sounded. My receiver was a Yamaha CR-1020. Turntable was a Dual 704.

 

SINCE THEN: I moved in the early 80's and had no place for the HR's. Looking for some kind of stands at the place I bought the HR's, I noticed some birch slant mounts. Model is HSM-BR Industrial. Figured those could be mounted in the corners so I did a 90.00 exchange. Perfect I thought. Have to say I was never satisfied with the sound. I lived with it via tone controls & an bought an EQ. Sub's weren't popular at the time.

 

The 1020 died 3x over the following years. I recently traded it inoperative/even-trade at a local vintage audio place for a working Pioneer SX-626. Reading on the web (everything online is true, right?), some internal parts for the 1020 are NLA and sound of the brand in late 70's was 2D-ish (?). Bench service averages 200.00-300.00 so risky due to possible NLA part needed and might fail for good eventually anyway. I took the Pioneer.

 

TODAY: Different house. Still have the HSM's mounted, no EQ & using a Sound Dynamics THS-10 Sub to help them along. I've read here about new crossovers. What if the HSM size or shape of the box is doing it? Speaker rebuilds? Gut says move on. Speakers are in the corners on one of the long walls in our 18'L x 14'W x 8'H, 3 wall family room. There is no wall between the family room and the kitchen (short side). Speakers powered by the SX-626. Plenty loud enough when needed. Use a Sony CDP-C235 CD player occasionally. Dual hasn't been out of the box in years. I'm really thinking the HSM's and 626 need replacing. Klipsch says the sound of the H3's is very much like the original yet some say more defined.

 

FYI...like many people my age, hearing loss in both ears of about -10db @ 2000Hz pretty much straight-sloped down to -60db @8000Hz. High end BTE-RIC style digital hearing aides helped a lot with day to day hearing.

 

It is unlikely anyone will spend much long critical listening time in the family room. The system would be turned on & we'd go about our business. My wife would enjoy having her Sirius Elvis station on in the background. I would have the system on low with non vinyl sources most of the time and maybe crank some AC/DC, SRV or Allman Brothers when she's not home.  The old HR's I had seemed to really fill the house with great sound without getting muddy. The HSM's do the same but not as 'easy' to listen to.

 

Nothing needs to happen now/fewer costly mistakes would be best. Really looking at the Heresy III's. Thinking I'd like to wall mount similar as a TV. Extendable, swivel & tilt. Crutchfield says H3's are not designed for the wall & nothing is made to support them. I could just make shelves myself. A TV type mount would be more versatile. The sub will probably still be used although lower Hz might be all that's needed with H3's. The Dual and vinyl would be fun to get out from time to time. The hardest and most confusing decision is a replacement receiver.

 

NEW RECEIVER FEATURES: So much has changed. To me, the word Receiver means the piece includes a Tuner...need that. Two features of my 1020 I found useful were the Variable Loudness and Variable Middle Tone Control. Would be nice but not essential. My wife subscribes to Sirius. I see some new units are compatible. I don't know much about the service but can figure it out. She doesn't care much about sound quality. She says I'm too fussy (imagine that!). I'm nowhere near needing vintage tube stuff but can appreciate those who enjoy a good valve. In today's world of streaming, bluetooth, zip drives etc, the more a piece has the ability to utilize most or all of these technologies, I'm thinking the better. We use PC speakers for the TV. Happy with that so no surround needed. I don't know that I'd hear the analog /digital difference since my hearing is already compromised and digitally enhanced to a point. Making a good and reasonable Receiver decision is way more important than cost.

 

If I'm wrong about something here and/or you'd like to point something out please do so. I'm hoping to end up with a decent system, leaning towards the Heresy III's for sound output.

 

Thanks Much, 

Joe 

 

[billybob]

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like when you lost your Yamaha and exchanged your Heresys for slanted things changed a little. If you do not listen to FM/AM then maybe an integrated would work.

 

Mainly, I really think you should demo some HIII's to make certain you are getting what you are after. Others will probably chime in here.

 

Welcome!

[minermark]

You have earned yourself the right to own Khorns, likely be the last speaker you will buy for awile.

[jimjimbo]

IMHO, this receiver, or one of the same Aventage line, will be more than satisfying and will do everything you describe, and a lot more.  Excellent build quality, excellent reputation and reliability.

 

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/aventage/rx-a740_black_u/?mode=model

[Heritage_Head]

You have earned yourself the right to own Khorns, likely be the last speaker you will buy for awile.

This or somthing like cornwalls and you can get rid of the sub. For half the cost of h3 you can get some nice cornwall1s and have everything you had with your h1 and much much more.

[billybob]

And yes, consider another Yamaha!

[Ski Bum]

Receiver: Yamaha RN-500.  It's basically a retro receiver, with the tuner, variable loudness and other features you mention, along with networking and digital inputs for your wife's streaming music.

[muel]

What a good story!  Thanks for sharing.  

 

Of course, any Heritage would be a great idea.  The H3 is a step up from the H1 but I'd prefer them on the floor at a tilt instead of a shelf.   Talk to Paul79 here on the forum about that SX-626... a rebuild might get you back where you want to be.  I think those old Yamaha's have a special sound... in your case the tone controls might help.  A CR-2020 is a nice match but you would want to get it rebuilt.

[Marvel]

Joe,

Welcome to the forums. The HSMs should sound the same as the original Heresy speakers. There have been two newer versions since you got yours, each improving on the previous model (always debatable). The HIIs sound a bit more balanced, and the HIIIs even more so. The original Heresy speakers, for many people, had mids that are too forward, with not enough bass. Crossover changes can fix that to provide a much smoother sound (at less cost than buying newer models) and provide a more consistent load to the amplifier/receiver.

 

Bob Crites (on this forum) has some HSMs and also does a lot of different crossovers for a reasonable price. You can contact him here:

 

http://www.critesspeakers.com

 

As old as your HSMs are, it is quite possible that the crossovers need some new capacitors, as they deteriorate over time and will degrade performance. New speakers are still a good option, as it means Klipsch stays in business, but a lot of folks only buy used.

 

Bruce

[Schu]

A day without critical listening is like a day without sunshine...

[wldrns1]

Thanks to all so far. Yes, we listen to FM although not critically. Looks like the Yamaha should be looked into. Variable Loudness seems to be offered by only them. Will have to look at details when there's time. I wonder about rebuilding anything related to this matter. Outcome disappointing? Just not sure about that. Don't mind spending for new/hopefully eliminate most service needs but not a bottomless pit here. 

 

Cornwalls would be great. Wife would be very upset about the space they would take up hence going for wall mounted h3's. Compromise is very worthwhile IMO. Heritage isn't available locally. Am planning on finding/traveling to another city to listen or explore online retail return policies and costs.

 

Thx Again

Edited August 22, 2014 by wldrns1

[dtel]

Welcome

 

along with networking and digital inputs for your wife's streaming music.

 

To me this is very important, streaming music, especially for something to be left on for background music with much less commercials and reputation compared to FM, it's like an unlimited music collection for free. I love Pandora and Spotify for just that. 

 

The Heresy lll is a really nice sounding speaker and like all the heritage will outlast you.

[billybob]

You may not want an AVR receiver if just listening to 2 channel. If you do, Yamaha can bypass for 2 channel and can be a bargain used or new. At least some models.

Good hunting and the X-Over upgrade for  your Heresy do work wonders, according to folks here.

[wldrns1]

Schu,

 

I can appreciate what you're saying. It may be maddening for some, but my sunshine comes from saying "Man! That sounds pretty good!".

Nuances aren't that important to me anymore. I'm OK with that.

 

Joe

[derrickdj1]

Welcome to the forum.  Cornwalls may be the ticket.

[Marvel]

Schu,

 

I can appreciate what you're saying. It may be maddening for some, but my sunshine comes from saying "Man! That sounds pretty good!".

Nuances aren't that important to me anymore. I'm OK with that.

 

Joe

 

A very positive statement! While appreciating great gear, I can enjoy listening through almost anything, and having the wife happy makes it that much better.

 

Bruce

[wldrns1]

What a good story!  Thanks for sharing.  

 

Of course, any Heritage would be a great idea.  The H3 is a step up from the H1 but I'd prefer them on the floor at a tilt instead of a shelf.

Thanks for comments on my story...thought it may be helpful.

 

I've turned the HSM's upside down on the walls to get the horn closer to ear level. Looks weird but hey!  I thought about inverting them with included risers underneath to project sound downward (if needed). Would there be a huge detriment to the sound quality if the H3's are mounted on the walls?

[Ski Bum]

Looks like the Yamaha should be looked into. Variable Loudness seems to be offered by only them.

 

Not so.  Any Audyssey equipped AVR has "dynamic EQ" which is the newfangled approach.  Since you are or will run subs, you should consider the AVR route for bass management. 

[dtel]

Thanks for comments on my story...thought it may be helpful.

 

It was helpful, and appreciated, it's makes it easier to understand the situation.  

 

 

I've turned the HSM's upside down on the walls to get the horn closer to ear level. Looks weird but hey! I thought about inverting them with included risers underneath to project sound downward (if needed). Would there be a huge detriment to the sound quality if the H3's are mounted on the walls?

 

I did exactly the same thing with some original Hersey's in an outside bar, it seems to help, perfect, probably not but it sounds good to me and that's what counts.

 

If it's more convenient mounted on the walls, do it, I wouldn't worry about any slight difference in sound even if there is one.

[Schu]

Schu,

 

I can appreciate what you're saying. It may be maddening for some, but my sunshine comes from saying "Man! That sounds pretty good!".

Nuances aren't that important to me anymore. I'm OK with that.

 

Joe

 

hahha... that's cool. whatever you get I am sure you are going to be happy!