2023 Subfest (A Bonehead Class) Reports, Photos, Etc.

[JohnA]

19 minutes ago, Smitty8451 said:

Hey folks

 

One last question if you guys don’t mind, did the plate amps for these subs have XLR inputs by chance, my current subs do so that is the cabling I use.  Not a big deal as I can convert to RCA, but I do prefer XLR for its balanced and noise rejection properties.

 

Than you in advance

 

No XLRs, but these are prototypes.  Ask for XLRs and you might get them in production. 

[Smitty8451]

49 minutes ago, JohnA said:

 

No XLRs, but these are prototypes.  Ask for XLRs and you might get them in production. 

Thank you, who would you suggest I contact to request this addition for production models.

[Travis In Austin]

3 hours ago, Smitty8451 said:

Thank you, who would you suggest I contact to request this addition for production models.

@Chief bonehead would be the guy to ask for XLR I/O for plate amp. He will see this at some point. 

[Schu]

blurp

[Dave1291]

Nice read and thanks to everyone for the input and thoughts.  In today's marketplace it's always nice to see a major player recognize something and creating a "fix" for the problem. 

 

Those serious about their systems will be all over a matching Klipsch sub to go with the rest of the Heritage line or whatever they're running.  It keeps that system "clean" with even more matching components for the consumers.

 

Hats off to the Chief and all of those "out of the box" who helped solve a known problem to many "Klipschheads."  Ya hit another one outta the park!   

[dtel]

On 11/14/2023 at 2:37 AM, Flevoman said:

My heart is drawn to the large version for my AL-5, but my setup will probably only allow the medium one.

I can only hope that the medium + AL-5 will be a good match. 

I have no idea, but I will say either the 2 and 3 or 4 size (no names yet) would be enough for about any Heritage speaker unless you normally play at insane levels trying to go deaf but these will help with that also.

 

On 11/14/2023 at 11:12 AM, Travis In Austin said:

So what I want to know is: Is Intermodulation Distortion (IMD) a thing?

Very much so, this was one thing I did not really understand, but it was explained with many other things, explained where it could be understood which was great. I usually do not care about the how things work technically as long as they do so I trust people like Roy and others when I have questions, but this weekend taught me many things about why in a way that's easy to understand in the overall picture.

 

I use a very capable sub and was VERY impressed with all of these subs, no BS.

One thing I have never noticed before was at one point Roy had the volume so low you could not tell what was even playing as he was talking. But the sub was still loading the room and you could slightly hear the bass but could feel it to the point that If I had known the song I would have known what it was just from the deepest bass notes. I was in the back row but it was the whole room as I was not the only one who noticed it. Made me want to come home and try these test tracts because it was impressive, you normally expect to have a little volume at least to load a room like that. 

 

Hearing the new Heritage Jubes was also a shock for me set up in a proper listening environment. I did not expect that much of an improvement from the originals but it is an amazing improvement and have I have heard the originals for many hours. 

Very impressive and also NO need for a sub, again in the teens, real full range speakers.

 

Both the 4 new subs and the new Jubes were way more than I expected, VERY clean and effortless sounding. I told Roy when these subs get out to customers and people start talking about them after hearing at home it is really going to take off in a hurry.

This is NOT your normal direct radiator sub sound in any way, when you hear music with steady mid sounds in the teens and there are no odd sounds just clean smooth reproductions it stands out quickly. IMO

 

OK that's enough, I had not planned on saying anything much with all the people who could explain much better then me but I was impressed to the point where I had to say something. Truly impressed, you will hear much more as people get these at home, people wanted good Heritage subs for a long time and it is now going to happen with ease and style.

 

Good Job Roy          impressive

 

[wuzzzer]

I’m not knowledgeable enough regarding the design of these, but all I can say is if they are anything like the THTs that I have and if you’ve never experienced horn loaded bass before, you’ll never go back to a direct radiating subwoofer again.

 

Horn loaded bass can go from incredibly detailed and precise one second to making your couch feel like it’s levitating off the ground a second later.  The incredible efficiency, lack of distortion and sheer output capability is something everyone should experience.

[dtel]

2 hours ago, Dave1291 said:

Nice read and thanks to everyone for the input and thoughts.  In today's marketplace it's always nice to see a major player recognize something and creating a "fix" for the problem. 

 

Those serious about their systems will be all over a matching Klipsch sub to go with the rest of the Heritage line or whatever they're running.  It keeps that system "clean" with even more matching components for the consumers.

 

Hats off to the Chief and all of those "out of the box" who helped solve a known problem to many "Klipschheads."  Ya hit another one outta the park!   

Exactly and after all these years of people asking for a Heritage sub to see some designed and sounding so good is a great thing, this will match the quality of the best of heritage speakers with no lack of sound quality which is a feat in itself.

[Smitty8451]

I have a very good feeling these subs will get very popular very quick once there released, I myself know of at least 6 people who own heritage speakers who will be all over these (once they hear them/mine).  They already are very impressed by the imaging my La Scala’s can produce in the listening demos I have held.

 

Mr. Delgado I believe has knocked it out of the park and PWK would be proud

[Flevoman]

1 hour ago, dtel said:

I have no idea, but I will say either the 2 and 3 or 4 size (no names yet) would be enough for about any Heritage speaker unless you normally play at insane levels trying to go deaf but these will help with that also.

 

The low notes will certainly be there. I have no doubt about that. My concern is more about how they are audible. Does size 2 have the same airy and dynamic sonic characteristics as the AL-5? After all, the AL-5 has a 15-inch woofer, while size 2 has an 8-inch one. Intuitively, I would say that an 8-inch woofer might have sonic differences compared to a 15-inch one, more so than a 12-inch would.

[Tom05]

The smaller ones will undoubtedly sound fantastic ,but the bigger ones are  more likely to match the output and the desired LF extension that Lascala deserves  . Lower and more powerful will match Lascala best ,particularly with home theatre. There is a point  where maximum subwoofer effect is reached  in a system  , it’s the point where adding a bigger one or adding another one will not improve the low frequency effect , it’s the point where more  subwoofer will not increase the impact ,spl or the depth that you crave ,  this point depends on your taste for low frequency ,loudness and impact. It’s the point of “maximum subwoofer”, one of these is right for you , but which one ?🤓

[Dave1291]

Is this the point where you "go big or go home?"  Asking for a friend.     😂

[JohnA]

2 hours ago, Dave1291 said:

Is this the point where you "go big or go home?"  Asking for a friend.     😂

 

I say, yes.

[JohnA]

12 hours ago, Flevoman said:

 

The low notes will certainly be there. I have no doubt about that. My concern is more about how they are audible. Does size 2 have the same airy and dynamic sonic characteristics as the AL-5? After all, the AL-5 has a 15-inch woofer, while size 2 has an 8-inch one. Intuitively, I would say that an 8-inch woofer might have sonic differences compared to a 15-inch one, more so than a 12-inch would.

 

A subwoofer cannot be "airy".  Since these are horn loaded, the effective radiating area is the area of the mouth, not the driver.  But, also since they are horn loaded, the sound is clean.  They don't have that subwoofer sound.  They're musical and sound "effortless".  We listened to (special) AL-5s with the larger 2 and the pairing was excellent.  Having the entire bass range horn loaded stood out as clean, detailed and easier to separate instrument sounds. 

 

If you need to go with the Medium because of size, I'd suggest buying 2 to get the max output up to where I'd want it.  The Medium will cover all musical notes and most LFE effects. 

 

I'm leaning toward a Large, but 2 Mediums will fit in my room easier. 

[dtel]

12 hours ago, Flevoman said:

I would say that an 8-inch woofer might have sonic differences compared to a 15-inch one, more so than a 12-inch would.

Honestly with these designs driver size is not noticeable at all in output or sound, unlike any other subs I have heard. It is all about the cabinet design, Roy talked about how different drivers in size and design made little difference.

The vented horn design was what was causing the tuning more than any other sub. All 4 have different drivers and different ports amounts and placement of the ports. Sounded like it was like designing 4 different subs from the way he explained, same principle with changes for each.

[dtel]

13 hours ago, Flevoman said:

Does size 2 have the same airy and dynamic sonic characteristics as the AL-5?

I can't say not hearing a AL-5. But as far as being clean and extremely low distortion as part of the "airy" I would say these are a good match with no loss in quality. A good match for any Heritage which are known for many really good quality's.

 

IMO

 

I did not want to say much with so many here more qualified to speak about what they heard. I only did because I was very impressed.

Technically anyone who heard them can explain better than me, I leave the how to those who know, I prefer to press some buttons and hear great music.

[Dave1291]

1 minute ago, dtel said:

I prefer to press some buttons and hear great music.

Well that's a fact w/you.  Alas, that slippery slope you were talking about a few years ago w/me.  lol  

 

Today, it's about simplicity with so many players in the game.  It's a win/win for everyone who truly enjoys Klipsch.

 

I'm sure they could have taken the easy way out with a one-driver fits all version but knowing the Chief it was his way or the highway.  When you're ready to relax ya just power up and take a ride w/the bonehead.  He's got ya!  Kinda maybe. 

 

 

 

 

[Flevoman]

2 hours ago, JohnA said:

 

A subwoofer cannot be "airy".  Since these are horn loaded, the effective radiating area is the area of the mouth, not the driver.  But, also since they are horn loaded, the sound is clean.  They don't have that subwoofer sound.  They're musical and sound "effortless".  We listened to (special) AL-5s with the larger 2 and the pairing was excellent.  Having the entire bass range horn loaded stood out as clean, detailed and easier to separate instrument sounds. 

 

If you need to go with the Medium because of size, I'd suggest buying 2 to get the max output up to where I'd want it.  The Medium will cover all musical notes and most LFE effects. 

 

I'm leaning toward a Large, but 2 Mediums will fit in my room easier. 

 

Thanks for this input. Getting two medium-sized subs might get quite intense 😳. I can't complain about the size of my living room by Dutch standards, but two Klipsch La Scalas and two of these subs... Oof 😄

 

But apparently, I may have given the wrong impression. By "airy," I mean ease, effortless... When I listen to the AL-5, I'd describe it as air surrounding the music. The smoothness with which the music is produced. Hence, airy 😉

[Bill W.]

There has been a lot of discussion here about the impressive performance of these new subwoofers. We often focus on specific features or characteristics when describing the differences in gear in order to convey what we have experienced to others who were not there.

While listening to these, I had two distinct experiences. First, I was struck by how each set of speakers used in the demo seemed to “scale up” when paired with the respective subwoofer, even though the speaker spacing and room did not change. It just felt like a grand performance. 

The second experience really caught my attention, I was not expecting this. The demonstration with the large and extra large subs with the La Scalas was beyond impressive. The sound was so cohesive that there were no clues that there were multiple sources of bass, all of the music came through this way. There is something about providing that lowest frequency content cleanly that adds unexpected realism to the performance. I spent some time with my eyes closed to confirm what I was hearing without the visual clues in the room. For me, this was the best reproduction I have ever heard in the lab listening room.

 

Surprise Bottom Line = The results are far greater than the sum of the parts

 

[dtel]

2 hours ago, Dave1291 said:

Well that's a fact w/you

Yes it is, I press buttons knowing others worked out the hard parts, and the music plays and I am happy.

 

2 hours ago, Dave1291 said:

When you're ready to relax ya just power up and take a ride w/the bonehead. 

It's what I depend on.