Chorus II manufactured in 08/1989???

[laminin]

Hello together,

I have just joint this forum due to a specific question regarding the

Klipsch Chorus. I am looking around to purchase a pair of Chorus II

(also based on the discussions found in this forum) to later drive them

with 300B SET's (I don't have them yet). I have "won" an auction on

"Chorus II" speakers, but after winning, I am told that they were

manufactured in August 1989, and have the serial numbers 896976x

and896975x (not consecutive numbers). From the Klipsch site and some

posts here, it was my impression, that production of the Mk II started

only in 1990. Is this correct, or were some already made in mid 1989? I

have become suspicious as I have now found out that the ebay ad

and pictures were taken from another auction. Before I send a check, I

would like to hear your opinions.

If I understand correctly, the most obvious visual distinction between

the two models are the holes left and right below the bass driver in

the Mk I version which are not there anymore in the Mk II version.

Furthermore, the midrange horn has been replaced with the Tractrix

version: how is this visibly different from the older exponential horns?

I'll be very thankful for any advice in this matter.

[rplace]

You are right about the "holes". The original Chorus were a ported design and have two obvious holes or ports below the woofer. The Chorus II has a passive radiator. It won't have the holes on the front and has a very large passive cone (looks just like the woofer on the front) mounted on the rear of the speaker. Other tell tale things are on the back where the binding posts are it will either say "Chorus" or "Chorus II"

Have the sell send you a picture of the back of the speaker and you can tell in an instant. If there is a speaker in the back it is a Chorus II. No speaker then Chorus.

Both are fantastic speakers, BTW.

Sorry I can't help you with the serial numbers.

[laminin]

Thanks for clearing up the differences between the two versions of the

Chorus. Meanwhile I had some friendly email exchange with the seller of

the speakers, and it is now clear that they are the older Chorus I

version, and we canceled the deal. Now I am back in my search for a

Chorus II. They don't show up very often in the UK, and in case of such

heavy weights, any oversea deals seem quite uneconomical. Just in case

that there might be any UK members on this list who want to get rid of

their Chorus II, I am interested.

[rplace]

Just curious, do you already have CIIs and looking for another pair to match or is there some other reason you want the CIIs and do not want the CIs?

[DrWho]

All the "II" speakers started production in 1985 - or at least that's the number I've always been told.

But maybe I'm wrong cuz the website says 1990-1996

My rear sticker looks like this (so I'm sure they will all follow the same format):

P/N: 09000651211

CH2 FIN, BLK

S/N: 59756

W/O: 11747

and:

P/N: 09000651211

CH2 FIN, BLK

S/N: 59757

W/O: 11747

So the only difference is the S/N (wow, I have a matching pair!) So I

guess you just need to look for a pair of Chorus with a P/N of

09000651211 ??? I wonder what W/O stands for.

[Frzninvt]

The "II" series did not come about until late '89 early '90 for the Forte' and Chorus, although the Heresy II started around '85.

The performance differences are negligible between the "I" and "II" in fact the II's may be boomier sounding since they have the passive radiator in the back that is the same size as the woofer in the front. Typical passive radiator convention is to use a larger passive than the active driver. (i.e. an 18")

[DrWho]

Have you actually performed a straight up comparison between a passive

radiator and ported system with the exact same cabinet and same tuning

point? Because if anything the passive provides a tighter sound (higher

Q below the tuning point). A quick search on the net will provide many

hits of people providing the same opinions.

[laminin]

Thanks for all your comments regarding the Chorus speaker which will be

most helpful in my ongoing search. I have to admit that I have never

had the opportunity to hear a Chorus speaker. From the classical

Klipsch I have only heard a pair of Klipschorns and Cornwalls. Both of

them I found to sound great to me, both driven with 300B SET amps.

Unfortunately, my UK home is just too small to accommodate either of

these, and given its pedigree, I expect (!) that the Chorus -the

largest size with which I would be comfortable- should come closest to

a similar sound. My preference for the version II is due to my

"assumption" that within a line of speakers (as long as the progres is

not a cost-cutting approach), the later ones should be better.

Searching through this forum, it is my impression that in general

the change of the mid tone horns has improved the sound by taking off

some of the sharpness of the exponential horn. Regarding the size

issue, I am also thinking on Forte II speakers.

I hear in the background already the advise that I should go out and

listen to the speakers in question. Just look for a UK dealer on the

Klipsch home page: there are none. Not surprisingly, there are also not

many Heritage offers on the auction sites.