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Best speakers for 400-500 bucks


dakayus

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Hey guys I want to do this right and not mess up again. Is the heresy the best you can get for about 400-500 bucks? I don't want to end up buying speakers again like I have been doing. How about the KG series or Klipsch legendary series? Ahh!!! I hate being an audiophile, all this upgrading is killing me =D

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can't go wrong with vintage Hersey's. someone on the forum bought a set of herseys for 250....not sure what generation they were....not sure when klipsch stopped using k-55 and went to k-53's and when they stopped using k-77's and went to k-79's (I think)

it is not impossible to get a pair of lascala's for 500 bucks. I paid 500 bucks for my 1986 models, and 670.00 for my 1978 models.

if you can get a local pick deal going...you can put the shipping money into more speaker.

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$500 can often get you more speaker than the Heresy. Heresys are nice, but often you can find a pair of Quartet, Fortes, Chorus, or even Cornwalls or LaScalas if you are patient. I have paid as little as $450 for Chorus (had to do a binding post repair, but once I did that, they were good to go), and have seen $500-600 LaScalas and Cornwalls on occasion. Patience can be a virtue - and if there ever was a time to be on the hunt at estate sales/garage sales/auctions/ebay and such, it is now, as many clear out the unwanteds during "spring cleaning".

With patience, $500 can get you a LOT of speaker. Maybe not the best cabinets, but the speakers are solid and easy to service if needed. I guess it depends on how much of a hurry you are in.

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My brother went by Golden Pawn in Tulsa, OK to see those Cornwalls for $500 but he didn't want to bother with veneering them. That would be pretty good bang for the buck. I would sit on the cash ad a little bit more to it and get a speaker with a klipsch folded bass horn. IMHO the folded bass horn is where the genius of klipsch really comes out. Post a wanted ad on Audiogon or maybe your local paper. You never know what kind of response you could get.....

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oh yeah also what are the rankings for all those speakers?

I think the Klipschorns are at the top then la scala and I have absolutely NO idea past that. I'm using my RF-3's right now and they just don't have the right sound i'm looking for. The sound is just too concentrated in a specific frequency it seems like, but it has a lot of bass.

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rankings...good idea...I did one for horn tweeters last week....anyone want to do a speaker hit parade inclusive of version changes (hersey I, II, III,etc)

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I think most of the advice about being patient is right. From what I see right now is that prices of Klipsch Heritage are on the DOWN side, except for Cornwalls, they seem the same or just a bit higher than normal. Why that happens I don't know, is it the weather, people going outside more, not playing stereo as much, too many speakers for sale, I don't know what the answer is. Heresy's seem to go up and down the most, last fall I saw used H2's sell for $600. to $675. a pair used, now a pair just sold for $250., you go figure. You have alot of ways to go, the other guys are right, be patient, and wait and search the forum alittle.

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The Best bang for your dollar, IMO, would be the Fortes! Usually 350-475.00...........

That being said, try to buy locally or a local seller close by (if buying off of E***). As others have stated, take your time, and trust your ears to what sounds good to You!. Good Luck!

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Dakayus, between the Heresys, I like the 2 a little more than the Hersesy I. It has a little more bass and was designed to be a stand alone speaker set all the way. The original H700 and H1000 Heresys were designed to go in between a set of Khorns or other large Heritage(as a center speaker,) so Klipsch was not too worried about their relative weak bass. They slowly evolved to what we have now.

You also can score a set of Fortes in that price range. They have a more commanding bass, and they also function better in many HT and tight space situations due to their tall configuration relative to the Heresys. I like the Fortes a little more.

Similar speakers from other manufacturers include the JBL L100 Centuries, Pioneer HPM 100s, and Altec Boleros. All of these speakers were hitting the price range(or a little lower), quality, performance, and sales figures the Heresy I occupied in the '70s, and they can be found for $100 to $500.

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Ah yes, Sheltie Dave has it right. If you are going to use SS power, the JBL100 is a good choice (I own a pair). If you are going to do tube/SS the Forte's would be my choice...I own these also. Source will play a factor, and amplification is important.

Used Cornwalls are defienitely the best choice for around $600 in decent condition, and $800 for good ones. As for Heresys, I will sell you mine if you really want a pair. $300 with original crossovers or $450 with upgrades. Great sound, but a little shy on the bass.

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