baronkyle Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 Hi, I have an Eico HF-81 that is currently being restored. Once home, I'll connect it to my Klipsch KG4. I listen in a medium sized square room at medium/moderate volume levels. I know pretty much anything from the Heritage line works well. What are some other speaker options? Does anything by Altec, JBL, Others(?) play nicely with lower wattage, vintage tube gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) Welcome to the forum. Usually what most tube guys with experience say and what amp builders say, is you want the speaker to be efficient, at least 88db for some, more for others. The Heritage line is so good with them due to their higher ratings as well as other lines within Klipsch. Even their entry level speakers (Best Buy) sound good with tubes. I would think any speakers that are above 88db would do well,and the higher up the scale with efficiency,the better they will sound.I run entry level,the original rf and heritage lines and have no problems.You will though hear a difference in how loud they go in the lower ended models not as efficient. I actually listened to a set up by a DIY'er that had Altec horns,2 home made horned mid bass bins, and a horned sub bin, along with DIY tweeters in what looked to be an oversized paper towel core with the tweeters in them. They were 4 way speakers all run through tubes and an external crossover network. Best sounding set up I have ever heard (that's not saying much though). Edited December 31, 2015 by Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 Chorus II and Forte II. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 I'll beat the rush. Klipschorns! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 The RF 7's are also another option along with the KLF 30 and 20. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronkyle Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Looking for other 'non-Klipsch' options you guys have liked or heard. Just brainstorming a little. Love my KG4 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronkyle Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Chorus II and Forte II. Jimbo, you made me think of another question. How exactly are the chorus and forte 2 different from the 1? I know at some point they introduce the titanium membrane horns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxJPMxx Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 I am in the process of moving and also finishing up my latest amp build. The amp is a 10 watt single ended sweep tube amp w/ zero global feedback. When I get settled in my new place I plan to build these speakers or something similar: https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/full-range-speaker-kits/fostex-bk-20-folded-horn-kit-pair/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Bum Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Looking for other 'non-Klipsch' options you guys have liked or heard. Just brainstorming a little. Love my KG4 though. Another kit to go along with JPM's suggestion. This one's a little different in that it's a mltl type enclosure that brings fairly deep (40 hz or so) and tight (non resonant) bass. I really like this approach for bass, even though there is a sensitivity penalty compared to a back loaded horn. Even with bsc (which it demands for proper tonal balance IMO) it's still pretty sensitive at ~94db/w. The TB drivers are not exactly cheap, but not too terribly expensive. I like them better than the Fostex I've tried. Edited January 1, 2016 by Ski Bum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyOwn Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Here you go http://www.thehornshoppe.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Looking for other 'non-Klipsch' options you guys have liked or heard. Just brainstorming a little. Love my KG4 though. What's "non-Klipsch"???? You mean, like, Bose? Lol 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Chorus II and Forte II.Jimbo, you made me think of another question. How exactly are the chorus and forte 2 different from the 1?I know at some point they introduce the titanium membrane horns. Chorus 1 uses a mid horn which is the same horn used in the Heresy models. The Chorus ll uses a larger hybrid tractrix mid horn which is a MUCH better horn. The Chorus ll uses a large 15" passive radiator rather than a pair of small vents the passive does the job better and with lower distortion than the factory vents in the Chorus. Both speakers use the exact same woofer and K79 tweeter. You can also check out the specs for both models on the Klipsch Australia site. Edited January 1, 2016 by jimjimbo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 I recommend a pair of Cornwalls - that's what got me started to speaker heaven! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronkyle Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 (edited) Looking for other 'non-Klipsch' options you guys have liked or heard. Just brainstorming a little. Love my KG4 though.What's "non-Klipsch"???? You mean, like, Bose? LolJimbo, we never say that four letter word. Henceforth...Bo.....Boldemort.Thank you for recommending Klipsch Au for specs. Wonder why the US site doesn't have it. It's helpful. Edited January 1, 2016 by baronkyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Try those KG-4's on 1-2 ft stands and they come alive, works best with a good subwoofer this way but even raising them up to ear level makes a big difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Looking for other 'non-Klipsch' options you guys have liked or heard. Just brainstorming a little. Love my KG4 though.What's "non-Klipsch"???? You mean, like, Bose? LolJimbo, we never say that four letter word. Henceforth...Bo.....Boldemort.Thank you for recommending Klipsch Au for specs. Wonder why the US site doesn't have it. It's helpful. Long story....ask Chad.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bossman Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 DIY high efficient speakers 100db and above do well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Cornwalls will sing with the Eico HF-81. The KG4's are a little low on efficiency to bring the best out of that amp. For a non-Klipsch option, a pair of Altec Lansing 19's would be similar to Cornwalls (good luck finding a pair). Edited January 3, 2016 by Seadog 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) Yes, Cornwalls will absolutely sing with an Eico HF-81. That's what I meant. What's the output, like 15 watts? Plenty. Edited January 5, 2016 by Dr Morbius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Kelly Holsten (mobile homeless) had quite the admiration for the Eico HF-81. http://home.earthlink.net/~eico_hf81/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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