Klipsch Heritage Series

Klipsch is a love/hate proposition. The Heritage series was head an shoulders above most dynamic speakers 30-40 years ago. Transducers got so much better, now clean sound can be had without horns to keep diaphragm excursion low.
This doesn't mean I dont like Klipsch horn loaded speakers. I have some Forte IIs and they are very fun to listen to. High efficiency opens the door to a variety of amps that would fall flat with average efficiency speakers. The newer horn design "tractrix" addresses the baffler interface and reduces some of the negative horn effect. The Heritage series does not feature the tratrix horn design. I have read of an upgrade recommended by a Klipsch tech, changing mid the horn, but not the original driver on the Cornwall.
The perfect speaker would have no signature of it's own, just sound like music. I guess that could be said about any part of the chain, right down to the microphone recording the original event. It boils down to subjective preferences.

Donjr, first - this is probably not the best place to research Klipsch Heritage speakers. Go to the High Efficiency Speaker forum on AA, or for a more biased point of view look to the Klipsch Community website.

I like vintage speaker designs such as the Klipsch Heritage, Altec Lansing and many others. I have owned (and still own) several Klipsch models. It is true that these vintage horns sound very different than bass reflex enclosures. I love the hyper detail of a good EL panel or ribbon speaker, but IMHO a good horn speaker is warmer, more musical and has better instrument texture than ELs or all cone speakers.

As you will see, Klipsch Heritage speakers come in a variety of sizes and prices. They all share a similar (if not quite the same) house sound. And despite what some might say, vintage horns can be quite versatile when it comes to room size. I am using a pair of Belles in an 11 x 13 room and they sound great.

If you want to see if Klipsch speakers will work for you, here's my suggestion for doing so on the cheap: look for a clean set of KG-4s. These can be usually be found for less then $200, and often for $100. While these are not Heritage speakers per se, they are very good for the price and will introduce you to the Klipsch sound for a minimal investment. Stick them right up against the back wall, adjust the width apart until the image snaps into focus. Use lamp cord if you like - more expensive cable won't make a noticeable difference (again, IMHO). If you like what you hear, you can sell them for what you paid for them and move up the line, or you can rebuild the crossovers for under $100 which will improve the midrange and high end clarity.

Have fun.

I own a Pair of Lascalas, which I have heavily modified to eliminate cabinet and horn resonances and vibrations. I have also built risers for them, which gets them to a better listening height and adds about 50 pounds of mass to each structure. I have left the crossovers and drivers stock, as I find them excellent. I do have them mated with a pair of sub woofers from 50 hz down. I listen from a seated position of 13-14 ft and have a room which allows them to breath. I have owned all sorts of speakers in my time and I can only tell you that nothing has made my feet tap the way they do with my set up. The system not only plays loud , but so easily plays loud vs soft passages, unlike most speakers, which I find congested. They are very coherent and smooth, and those artifacts of honkiness that some speak of, are non existent. Every recorded instrument, including those of male and female voice, is unaltered and pleasantly voiced. The presentation is quite life like. I get such a sound stage that it is amazing there are speakers there at all. Also quite amazing is the speed and attack of the musicianship (PRAT). I also want to add that I have been lucky to have finally found equipment (40 years doing this)to match them "for my ears". I cannot stress this enough. Speakers cannot be judged by themselves. System matching, room size/acoustics, tweaks and adjustments (all with time and patience) are critical in accomplishing this nirvana we are all looking (listening) to achieve. Good luck with your search.

The only "paper drivers" in most Klipsch Heritage are the woofers. The tweeters and squawkers have phenolic diaphragms. As for the paper woofer cones: they have no foam surrounds, so have excellent longevity. As for Heritage sound, for me it's the closest thing to live music I've heard (I own La Scala's and have owned Belles in the past). Other speakers I've owned are Spendor, Harbeth, older KEF. All those speakers were outstanding in their own way, but none had the realism and dynamics of my La Scala's and Belles. Sure they'll play loud, but they're most impressive at low volume, where you can still hear every detail of a recording. Some say Klipsch are fatiguing. So is live music if you listen long enough. I've never felt fatigued listening to my La Scala's, though I never listen longer than two hours. My advice would be similar to others: if you're interested in hearing them and can't audition, get a used pair. If you don't like them, they're easy to sell for what you paid, sometimes more.