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Buying a pair of Klipschorns !!


davis419b

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Hi... newbie here. I am looking to buy a set of Khorns and not sure what the most desirable years of the Horns are. I have 3 different Adcoms amps I can use. !- GFA 5802-- 300 wpc into 8 ohms 2- GFA 555II-- 200 wpc into 8 ohm and 3 - GFA- 545- 100 wpc. I would really apprecieate all the opinions I can get. I have just purchased 3 set of Bose 901 Series VI and 1 set of Klipsch KSP 300 and the sound is not quite what I am looking for. Thank You in advance!! Don

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I think anything from the early 70's on are great. Keep in mind, original crossovers over 20 years old will need to be recapped for optimal sound. Good news here is that new caps don't cost much.

Don't think there are any khorns to go wrong in choosing.

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on getting Khorns.

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Thanks Daddy Dee... These are 1980 Horns, 1 owner who has oiled them once a month for the last 27 years. When I asked if there were any scratches he said there wasnt even any dust to be seen on them anywhere. At this point I am just concerned on what to drive them with! He said they have never even been played loud.

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They might be worth looking at, really, one owner, that is the best scenario possible, they haven't been through countless hands. As far as which unit to power them with, try them all, let your ears decide, you already own them ......... Do yourself a favor, go look at them .... Are they local for you, I think you picking them up is better than shipping them ..................

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Congratualtions on your impending jump from from Bose to Klipschorns.

It will be a definite step forward.

The Adcom amps are fine, although you may want to search threads about adding $10 worth of bypass caps on the power supply (gives a more solid & cleaner bass). However, I would be less worried about the electronics and more concerned about whether you have proper corners in your room to install these. If not, then false corners would be an option (many threads) and getting them snug in the corner with pipe foam (many threads).

The biggest driver on the price will be the condition and finish. The prices do vary throughout the year and will also vary with location (shipping & availability is the issue). I am not convinced that any particular year is a hands down winner, they all sound pretty good.

Good Luck,

-Tom

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The Adcom amps might be a bit noisey. I had (and still have in the closet) an Adcom 555II amp that had too much hiss even when idiling. I did do the Cap mod but it did not help.

What you will need is a very quiet amp. I have went to the tube route and can honestly say I don't know what iId do with more than 35 watts per channel!

The Adcom is going into duty as a subwoofer amp bridged to 600 WPC.

have fun!

I too had 901s until i got a real set of speakers - Klipschorns!

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I am looking to buy a set of Khorns and not sure what the most desirable years of the Horns are

First, I'd say buy NEW and help support the company!! Buying used doesn't keep anyone there employed.

Second, if you were to do that, then I'd suggest you also look at the Jubilees since you could get them for similar dollars (if not maybe less) and end up with PWK's last project. Clearly you have the space for them if you have space for Khorns.

(anyone surprised? [;)] )

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thanks guys.... I really, really, really apprecieate these responces. I have been out of music and into drag racing for the last 20 years. I always thought that nothing sounded better than a 1,000hp Big Block Chevy on alcohol with open headers. I have always tried to buy the best equipment I could afford. As of this year I have retired from racing and I am going to add some entertainment to my home so I wont get bored every Friday and Saturday night when I am usually racing

The folks that have answered my questions so far have a combined total of over 27,000 post, thats amazing!!!!! Beleive me your answers will not go unread, I will be listening very carefully.

Thanks Again, Don

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Congratulations and welcome, that's going to be a few big steps up from what you were listening to for music. Like they said make sure there sealed in the corners good, if you go with the klipschorns.

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Just cause Buckster babbles on, doesn't mean he knows anything...

I'm on that comment .............................. I don't know anything except, Jubilee's are Big and Ugly ...... like me ....EH !!!

Big Block Chevy's ................ What no love for the Small block, or better yet, the Stroked Small Block ????????

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I very much LOVE small blocks. Had them for 15 years before this BBC. The last SBC I had was a 462ci, drysump engine injected on Alcohol. It just ended up costing too much money to maintain it. I have just recently realized with music you buy the equipment and your done. I have bought more stuff in the last 30 days than I can listen too. Once it all gets here with the help of the great folks on this forum we will decide what goes and what stays. Thank You All Very Much, Don

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Welcome aboard. Seriously, the very first thing I would do is box up those 901's, return them, get your money back and put that towards buying the Khorns. For your info Bose products are almost universally scorned among serious stereo folks for being overpriced and massaging the sound they produce. Khorns are absolutely wonderful speakers. Used would be a great way to go until you figure out if you are going to stick with the hobby. Since you considering 1980 models you should definitely spend a few bucks on new capacitors in the speaker crossovers. Typical capacitors have a useful service life of 20 years. A fellow called BEC on this forum can fix you up with those.

Like others have said rooms make a critical difference in the overall sound of Khorns so tell us where you are putting them, rough room dimensions etc. and what your corners are like.

Use what you have now to drive them but down the road you can probably do better. Let us know where you are from and maybe there's somebody in the area who who has Khorns and would be willing to open up their home and have you over for a listen.

Don't ignore your source component, by this I mean your cd player and/or turntable. Wisely spent money in this area will deliver real sonic dividends.

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I have a fairly small den. It is 13ft X 22ft. I will be putting the horns in the corners of the 13ft. wall with a 7ft wide fireplace in between them. It only sticks 5in. from the wall with a 16in high raised hearth coming out 18in. in front of the fireplace. The room has a vaulted ceiling. While I am there on Sunday to pick up the horns there is also a set of 82 Belles I want for rears located in the same city. Would that be going overboard for that size of room?

Thanks, Don

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Would that be going overboard for that size of room?

Thanks, Don

Only because people here will hate you for getting a pair of KHorns and Belles as your first Klipsch products. [:#]

Most here are going to say you should try the Khorns on the long wall, but only you can decide for sure.

Welcome to the madness.We sometimes pick on each other, we argue, always offer our opinions... but most of all, we'll really try to help.

Bruce

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I have a fairly small den. It is 13ft X 22ft. I will be putting the horns in the corners of the 13ft. wall with a 7ft wide fireplace in between them. It only sticks 5in. from the wall with a 16in high raised hearth coming out 18in. in front of the fireplace. The room has a vaulted ceiling. While I am there on Sunday to pick up the horns there is also a set of 82 Belles I want for rears located in the same city. Would that be going overboard for that size of room?

Thanks, Don

Overboard? Most normal people would say yes. You really should make some carboard "mock-ups" of the speakers or at the very least, tape off the L X W on the floor. These heritage speakers are large. Often larger in person than one imagines. Khorns sometimes shrink(to the eye) when snugged into the corner but not always.

Not trying to turn you off, I have Khorns, Shorthorns and until recently, La Scalas. Love them all but they are big fellas.

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I purchased my first klipsch speakers 20 years ago and still have them. I have 5 brothers and we all have Klipsch, ranging from Khorns to Hereseys. [:D] Oh, well. Some people might not agree, but when Paul designed the Khorn speakers they were designed around tube amps. You will see "Horn's like tubes" everywhere in this forum. And they are right. Good luck finding the right combo, that's most of the fun. You have a great set of speakers.

www.audioclassics.com GREAT guys!

http://www.mcintoshaudio.com/ good vintage McIntosh

http://www.roger-russell.com/ - McIntosh Information

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