Zen Traveler Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I saw this discussion and decided it would be better to start a new thread on the topic. Since the amp everyone has in their system is the best thing since sliced bread, which it usually is, we might as well talk about what amps they didn't like or sold because of it. Righto! I'd like to know what sounds bad with klipsch... WHOA! I'm a newbie again What are the Solid State amps that don't work well with Klipsch speakers? Edited August 21, 2015 by Zen Traveler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) Those that have parts beginning to break down but have not reached the failure point yet. Active components, power supply caps, and coupling caps are some of the usual suspects. Edited August 21, 2015 by Don Richard 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max2 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Something with an idle hiss or crappy noise floor would be the first boat anchor flag for me, like some budget high gain structured amps. Some of the "budget" amps out there work as good as any with the mid/lower Reference line, but once you get in the upper Heritage line or have something modified with much higher sensitivity and/or upgraded mid drivers is when you can really start picking out resolution and an over compressed sound. I wouldn't kick anything to the curb because it had a different sound whether it was bright, clinical or allowing added resolution and on the other side of things it being darker, warmer and even glossing over some details. IMO, Its all up to what your ears like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyrc Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) Loud Hiss or Hum would be terrible with speakers as efficient as a Klipschorn. I had to replace a NAD premp because it hissed like a puff adder in heat through my Khorns, even though the factory authorized station checked it and found it to meet specs. It also had a nasty hum. Neither one showed up on my dealer's Paradigms. My NAD power amps sound fine, though ... still using them. Any amp will probably hiss a bit if you get your ears within a couple of feet of a Khorn, La Scala, Belle, or, I presume, a Jub or some of the cinema/pro lines. Hiss that soft can be ignored from listening position. Edited August 21, 2015 by garyrc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Members PipPipPipPip 1,349 posts LocationAR Offline Posted 21 August 2015 - 02:30 PM Something with an idle hiss or crappy noise floor would be the first boat anchor flag for me, like some budget high gain structured amps. Some of the "budget" amps out there work as good as any with the mid/lower Reference line, Loud hiss orr hum is clearly noticeable with any of the Reference speakers. I don't mean to pick on some of the old Emotiva amps but, I heard so many complaints that I have never even considered them for my systems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) The two Crown XTi-1000s had annoying DSP noise (independent of gain control setting) while bi-amping my Jubs, which have 110 db/watt at one meter sensitivity on the top end. They really didn't sound very good. I don't recommend them for that role. However, I now use both of them for powering the TH subs in bridge mode, and they're pretty spectacular in that role...able to EQ, phase shift, limit, and cross over to the subs (low pass) while delivering more than a kilowatt of available power in bridge mode. I recommend them doing that job. I used a Carver M1.5T and a Carver C-2 preamp with the Khorns. The amplifier sounded clean and reasonably crisp, but the preamp was noisy and presented noticeable distortion, sounding flat, distant, and opaque. Crown D-75As sound remarkably clean and detailed enough to justify keeping them in my setup (center tri-amped JuBelle, surround biamped Cornwalls) for the center and surround channels. It takes a careful listen to hear the difference between the FW F3 and the D-75As. This has continued to surprise me. D-45 Update_The Duke_Klipsch.pdf Generally speaking, I've found that higher quality amplifiers of modest or even low output power capabilities sound better on Jubs, but typically not very transparent and detailed. The First Watt F3 is spectacular on the Jub HF channel, however. More discussion on Pass's JFET design philosophy and design simplicity in a future thread. The fewer gain stages and the lower the feedback amount apparently improves the listening performance audibly.. Chris Edited August 22, 2015 by Chris A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Updated previous post to link to a thread and provided saved pdf file of an apparently deleted forum thread on the update to the Crown D-45--called "The Duke". The D-45 is the same amplifier as the D-75A, but with smaller power supply and output power transistors--so the upgrade is directly applicable to the D-75A. Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Onkyo integrated's 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) Onkyo integrated'sThough not an integrated amp, my Integra DTM-40.4 stereo receiver sounds fantastic with my Heresy II's. As a matter of fact it sounds as good as my previous Luxman R-117 and that is some tough company.Bill Edited August 22, 2015 by willland 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBPK402 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Updated previous post to link to a thread and provided saved pdf file of an apparently deleted forum thread on the update to the Crown D-45--called "The Duke". The D-45 is the same amplifier as the D-75A, but with smaller power supply and output power transistors--so the upgrade is directly applicable to the D-75A. Chris I had a Crown D75 for about 2 days before I returned it. I must have gotten a defective one because it had a lot of hiss, plus turn on thumps (which I think no amp should have, let alone a Pro Amp from a Studio). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBPK402 Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Does anyone have a suggestion for a efficient amp of about 25-50 wpc preferably balanced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I had a Crown D75 for about 2 days before I returned it. I must have gotten a defective one because it had a lot of hiss, plus turn on thumps No hiss or turn-on transients in any of the 8 used D-75As that I have, even powering the K-402s/TADs which are very efficient; but they all have a mild turn-off thump...which is no biggie. It's my system's way of saying "good night" when I turn in for the evening. Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Receivers I have had / listened to on K-Horns; Older Pioneer Silver finish Newer Pioneer Newer Pioneer Elite Old Marantz Older Yamaha Newer Harmon Kardon Denon Nakamichi TA-4A Amplifiers; Many Adcom including years of time with GFA-7000 and GFA-565 Mono Blocks Vintage NAD when new Carver Nakamichi PA-7s and PA-7IIs and PA-7As. Best Receiver I have heard for my ears is the Nakamichi, followed by Vintage Marantz, vintage Pioneer and vintage Yamaha. Amps, even when I listened to them both many times brand new, there was a clearly audible difference in the Nakamichi and the NADs and the Nakamichi was clearly better. Adcoms were the least in amps I have owned, the big 565 model 300 watt mono amps add grunt / Bass, but I liked several of the receivers better by themselves. Roger 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Updated previous post to link to a thread and provided saved pdf file of an apparently deleted forum thread on the update to the Crown D-45--called "The Duke". The D-45 is the same amplifier as the D-75A, but with smaller power supply and output power transistors--so the upgrade is directly applicable to the D-75A. Chris Thanks for posting the link. I'd would have thought that thread would have been deleted for good. It's good information to get a bit more refinement, (sound quality) out of the D-75/45 series amplifiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David H Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Its one thing to list the amps you like, its a whole different ball game to throw is what you think sounds lousy. On that note, I have not had luck with pro gear on Klipsch. To date, not heard a Yamaha on Klipsch that was enjoyable. I am sure their are good ones. Carver Magnetic field amps - not so good on Klipsch, but certainly have their place. Adcom 5800 Lifeless Powerhouse. Possibly due to age. There are numerous more, however its just knit picking. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J M O N Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 If you are talking about the big Heritage stuff, I would avoid the home theater receivers if possible. I'm sure there are various grades of these receivers, but I have a lower model Denon AVR that made Klipschorns sound ordinary. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 D-45 Update_The Duke_Klipsch.pdf 3.49MB 10 downloads Yep, that's my Duke. Sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paducah Home Theater Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Loud hiss orr hum is clearly noticeable with any of the Reference speakers. A loud hiss or hum is clearly noticeable on anything, even subs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBPK402 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 (edited) Its one thing to list the amps you like, its a whole different ball game to throw is what you think sounds lousy. On that note, I have not had luck with pro gear on Klipsch. To date, not heard a Yamaha on Klipsch that was enjoyable. I am sure their are good ones. Carver Magnetic field amps - not so good on Klipsch, but certainly have their place. Adcom 5800 Lifeless Powerhouse. Possibly due to age. There are numerous more, however its just knit picking. Dave I really like the way the Yamaha pro P2500S sounded with my Klipsch speakers. I only got to listen to the HIPs with them but I didn't find any problems with the amps and HIPs... Of course the HIPs are pro speakers. I do have to say though that the P2500s sounded great with my Qpies. Edited September 5, 2015 by ellisr63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 The Crown D150, D150A series can sound like broken glass on Klipsch. The Crown SA2/PSA2 on the other hand is quite good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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