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Greenhorn here, seeking advice!


DWGooch

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Greetings to all you Klipsch enthusiasts, I'm new on the block so forgive my ignorance. I'm eager to learn and not totally clueless, so I'm hoping for some useful feedback!

 

About three years ago, I inherited a pair of Klipsch Fortes that had been languishing in a musty attic for probably over 25 years. I assume they are a matched pair, but only one retains the paper with production info on it. Needless to say they weren't in the best shape, but I hooked them up to my crappy stereo setup and was blown away by how much better they sounded than anything I'd ever had, and realized just how lucky I was to come into these. That, and a growing vinyl collection inspired me to dip my toes into the vast sea of hi-fi audio, and I have since tried to cobble together a decent-sounding setup, slowly, and with a modest budget. I only use these Fortes for music listening, and the room I have them in is approximately 15' x 24'.

 

A Harmon Kardon 330b stereo receiver that I found at a junk store was powering my setup since before the Klipsch, but about 6 mos ago starting producing distortion and cutting out on some inputs. A friend who was moving sold me a Yamaha AX-592 integrated amp cheap and it seems to be doing the trick.

 

Most of my listening is on two Technics SL-1200MK2 turntables (I mix at home and for friends events), or streaming digital audio. Vast array of genres here, Soul, R&B, Rock, Country, Jazz, Funk, Disco, House, Techno, New Age & Ambient, etc. 

 

I just got a nicer 2-ch mixer that's improved the overall sound I'm getting, but I think I'm still not understanding the amplification power part of the equation...

 

Is the Yamaha AX-592 too powerful for these highly efficient speakers? It seems like at lower volume the sound I get is of a much lesser quality, but I could easily send my neighbors into fits of rage if the volume knob on my amp crept past the -30dB mark. What am I missing here? 

 

Thanks for your time and replies, I really appreciate it! 

 

 

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On 4/29/2020 at 11:09 AM, DWGooch said:

Is the Yamaha AX-592 too powerful for these highly efficient speakers? It seems like at lower volume the sound I get is of a much lesser quality, but I could easily send my neighbors into fits of rage if the volume knob on my amp crept past the -30dB mark. What am I missing here? 

At lower volumes, we hear less bass coming from sound sources (Robinson–Dadson/Fletcher–Munson curves). This could be the reason you're not liking your lower volume listening. Also, depending on the age of the receiver, you may need capacitors replaced or other maintenance. And lastly, you may consider a different amp, I've owned two different Yamaha Natural Sound amps and they didn't sound good with Klipsch speakers for my tastes.

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4 hours ago, MechEngVic said:

At lower volumes, we hear less bass coming from sound sources (Robinson–Dadson/Fletcher–Munson curves). This could be the reason you're not liking your lower volume listening.

I agree with this. In fact, that's why many Yamaha amps (and possibly your AX-592) come with a Loudness control. It's meant to boost the bass that's lost at low volumes by varying the frequency response curve.

 

Here's what it says in the manual for my Yamaha amp: "Loudness Control-Attenuates midrange frequencies to compensate for our ear's reduced sensitivity to bass and treble an low volume. Set it to the Flat position while the Volume control is set to your normal listening level. Turning it counterclockwise will reduce the volume while retaining the natural balance of the low and high frequencies."

 

Experiment with the Loudness control if your Yamaha receiver has one and see if it corrects the issue you're experiencing.

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Thanks all, 

 

I'll try adjusting the loudness knob. I thought I was bypassing the EQ using the "cd direct" function as per the manual, but maybe not. [The mixer serves as the pre-amp, so no reason run it thru the amp's phono input right?]

 

Any suggestions for entry level amps to go with vintage Fortes? I'll eventually want to get one that's better suited to my particular Klipsch speakers...

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On 5/4/2020 at 3:45 PM, DWGooch said:

Thanks all, 

 

I'll try adjusting the loudness knob. I thought I was bypassing the EQ using the "cd direct" function as per the manual, but maybe not. [The mixer serves as the pre-amp, so no reason run it thru the amp's phono input right?]

 

Any suggestions for entry level amps to go with vintage Fortes? I'll eventually want to get one that's better suited to my particular Klipsch speakers...

Don't run it through the phono input!! That is an additional stage of amplification with very different impedance matching requirement. On top of that it has what is called the RIAA equalization curve which is an inverted frequency curve that reduces bass response on the recording (to save record space/increase recording time) and re-inverts it at the phono preamp.

 

The mixer shouldn't be used as a "preamp". Just use the line level outs into the receiver's line level input.

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As far amps go it really depends on what you're looking for/want & $. There's a lot to choose from. Vintage or new.

 

Some of my favorites:

NAD 3020 (vintage)

Dynaco (vintage)

 

NAD D 3045

 

As far receivers go I've found Onkyo to match well.

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I drove my Fortes and Quartets for some time with a couple of 80's Denon integrated amps.  They were very neutral, fast and punchy.  Rock solid build and reliability. 

PMA-1080r, PMA-700V, PMA-900V, PMA-750 to name a few.

 

Bill

 

https://audio-database.com/DENON-COLUMBIA/amp/index.html

��click the picture for more information
Integrated amplifier (Integrated Amplifier)
DM-101 MAT-3 MAT-4
DM-101 MAT-3 MAT-4
PMA-6.5L PMA-7.5 PMA-7.5S
PMA-6.5L PMA-7.5 PMA-7.5S
PMA-7.5E PMA-7.5L PMA-9.5
PMA-7.5E PMA-7.5L PMA-9.5
PMA-300Z PMA-300ZA PMA-300V
PMA-300Z PMA-300ZA PMA-300V
PMA-380V PMA-390 PMA-390II
PMA-380V PMA-390 PMA-390II
PMA-390III PMA-390IV  
PMA-390III PMA-390IV  
PMA-451 PMA-500 PMA-500V
PMA-451 PMA-500 PMA-500V
PMA-501 PMA-510 PMA-540
PMA-501 PMA-510 PMA-540
PMA-550 PMA-580D PMA-590
PMA-550 PMA-580D PMA-590
PMA-680R PMA-690  
PMA-680R PMA-690  
PMA-700Z PMA-701 PMA-700V
PMA-700Z PMA-701 PMA-700V
PMA-715R/PMA-715RG PMA-730 PMA-740
PMA-715R
PMA-715RG
PMA-730 PMA-740
PMA-750 PMA-760 PMA-770
PMA-750 PMA-760 PMA-770
PMA-780D PMA-790  
PMA-780D PMA-790  
PMA-850 PMA-880D PMA-890DG
PMA-850 PMA-880D PMA-890D
PMA-890DG
PMA-910V PMA-915 PMA-930V
PMA-910V PMA-915 PMA-930V
PMA-940V PMA-950 PMA-960
PMA-940V PMA-950 PMA-960
PMA-970 PMA-980  
PMA-970 PMA-980  
PMA-1000G PMA-1010D PMA-1090
PMA-1000G PMA-1010D PMA-1090
PMA-1090G
PMA-1500R PMA-1500RII  
PMA-1500R PMA-1500RII  
PMA-2000 PMA-2000II PMA-2000III
PMA-2000 PMA-2000II PMA-2000III
sampma-2000iiir.JPG PMA-2000IV  
PMA-2000IIIR PMA-2000IV  
PMA-S10 PMA-S10II PMA-S10III
PMA-S10 PMA-S10II PMA-S10III
PMA-S10IIIL    
PMA-S10IIIL    
PMA-S1    
PMA-S1

 

 

 

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