Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I spent alot of money on some Klipschorns and the sound is not right. Especially on Deep Purple songs, and occasionally on Led Zeppelin, certain notes just sound AWFUL - like either strumming a loaf of bread or tin whistles. I can't tell which. Is that what people mean by "clipping?" Please help me to salvage the value of these expensive, high-end speakers. I like music pretty loud. I think your ears should ring after a good session when I'm in the mood to let it rip. If it is clipping, what kind of power in an amp would make it go away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meagain Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Only an amp with 3,500 wpc will make them sound good. Big bucks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 Doesn't Radio Shack make one for under $1000? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpm Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 1/4 watt tube amp will do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 Yeah, but from what all the experts say, Klipsch are so efficient that 1/4 watt will turn out 95 dB - that's just too crazy loud. What if I run them through an iPod? Maybe then my Klipsch won't be ear-bleeders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieboy Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 meagain is pulling your leg I hope. I can only speak from what I know but I have read some of your posts. For me it's not about raw power. These Khorns are so sensitive. It has taken me over 6 months with my khorns to start getting close to what they are capable of. I'm running 2 different sets of amps at different times. 1 pair is 3.5 watts a side and the other is 18 watts a side. Mind you with these low power tube amps I use powered subs for fill in but the mid and highs I get are mind blowing. I had hooked up some nice SS gear and the bass was there but the mids and highs were unbearable at times. I'm not going to tell how many amps I have went through in the last 6 months but when you get it right you will know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 Thanks for following along. In all seriousness, I think anyone who thinks KHorns need to be supplemented with subwoofers have never opened the Khorns up with sufficient raw power. They take alot, and they return it all back - nice and clean. For example, if you're familiar with Yes's "Roundabout," I cranked that tune, and the bass guitar licks at the end of the song just shook the place - and it was extremely clean. Boing - ying - ying - ying - ying - ying - ying - ying - ying. Imagine EACH of those sub-parts to the note just pounding against your chest clear as a bell. I'm sure you can get that with one of their subs as long as it is fed enough power. But Khorns will do it by themselves in stereo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieboy Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I have gave my khorns Luxman SS amps bridged in mono around 250w a channel and Marantz SS mono's around 125w a channel . Your right the Khorns can take a lot in fact it was more than I could take. I guess it's a matter of everyone ears a different. I'll give an example also. With my Wright mono's at 3.5 watts a side with the subs in play at a level like 75-85 db's I can almost feel Mingus's strings rattle and move the air around me. No matter what we have one thing in common and that is trying to get the best sound possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 "I spent alot of money on some Klipschorns and the sound is not right. Especially on Deep Purple songs, and occasionally on Led Zeppelin, certain notes just sound AWFUL - like either strumming a loaf of bread or tin whistles. I can't tell which. Is that what people mean by "clipping?" Please help me to salvage the value of these expensive, high-end speakers." Clipping can sometimes be difficult to understand and recognizing its characteristic sound takes years.............at the barbers! You can also pick up tips on comb filtering, artificial colouring and what you need to really make your hair stand on end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennyboy Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 That is why they call it HARD-ROCK....................... Bennyboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whell Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Screw the amp. Just plug your K-horns into the wall AC socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwoods Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I think those ear ringing sessions have maybe started to take their toll. Though I can't say if Deep Purple is known for well recorded material. Anomalies and distortion artifacts that are buried in the noise can be detected by the ear. No black magic here, but I seriously doubt yer clipping the amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I'd suggest taking your cd's over to a friends house with a nice Bose system. see how it sounds in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 I took my Cd's over to my friend's, and we listened to them on his Bose 3-2-1. They crushed my Khorns. Anybody want to buy some Khorns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meagain Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I'd take them but I don't have a 400 wpc amp so I would lose dynamics and it would sound bad even if I couldn't hear it. They would be a waste on me. Though you could sway me with free shipping & adding a foofoo veneer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I think those ear ringing sessions have maybe started to take their toll. Though I can't say if Deep Purple is known for well recorded material. Anomalies and distortion artifacts that are buried in the noise can be detected by the ear. No black magic here, but I seriously doubt yer clipping the amp. Not that its of much import but just to set the record straight.Deep Purple "Machine Head" on dvd audio would put to shame most recordings ever made.The clarity and dynamics are absolutely astounding for a recording of the period.If it don't make a set up shine you might be listening to Bose 3-2-1.Now,back to the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestonTom Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Jeff, It is clear from this thread ("... till my ears are ringing...") and your other comments in the "headroom"-thread, that you are listening to music that is far too loud. When it gets to the point that you are producing tinnitus (ringing in your ears), you are also starting to damage your hearing. Noise induced hearing loss is not a joke. The effects are cumulative and the deficits will get worse. I strongly urge folks not to listen at these levels. In fact, I would also urge you to use proper hearing protection when using power tools, motorcycles, lawn mowers etc. No one wants to be like an old man who continually is saying "speak up" or who simply becomes isolated around others because they can't follow the conversation. Seriously, I am afraid that this is where you are headed. What damage you have already done is not reversible. What you can do is to simply prevent further damage. I apologize if I seem heavy handed in my comments, but don't dismiss them. I am faculty at a university and study hearing science. I do know what I am talking about. Good luck, -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 Jeff, It is clear from this thread ("... till my ears are ringing...") and your other comments in the "headroom"-thread, that you are listening to music that is far too loud. When it gets to the point that you are producing tinnitus (ringing in your ears), you are also starting to damage your hearing. Noise induced hearing loss is not a joke. The effects are cumulative and the deficits will get worse. I strongly urge folks not to listen at these levels. In fact, I would also urge you to use proper hearing protection when using power tools, motorcycles, lawn mowers etc. No one wants to be like an old man who continually is saying "speak up" or who simply becomes isolated around others because they can't follow the conversation. Seriously, I am afraid that this is where you are headed. What damage you have already done is not reversible. What you can do is to simply prevent further damage. I apologize if I seem heavy handed in my comments, but don't dismiss them. I am faculty at a university and study hearing science. I do know what I am talking about. Good luck, -Tom Tom, thanks for the serious heads-up. In fact, when I play drums along with my stereo, my ears don't ring. But here and there, I will crank the stereo well beyond "drumming level," and my ears ring from time to time. I didn't realize it was AS bad as what you are saying. I could probably stand to get on a routine for regular hearing check-ups. What kind of docs give thorough hearing exams? A GP, or no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 You don't need a hearing test, Jeff ...... all drummers are deaf .....[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestonTom Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Jeff, Good question. The hearing test you would get from a GP is typically not very thorough. If you went to an ENT, they would have their audiologist perform the test. At the very least this would be a pure tone audiogram, along with a short history. Depending on what they found, other tests might be required. The problem with an audiogram, is that it tells you about significant damage after the damage has occurred. However, this is one way to find out about hearing protection and what you should be actively doing to help yourself. Good luck, -Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.