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Now I am in a Delimma

So, yesterday I stopped by a Hi Fi store here in Socal because this particular dealer was the only that had  the Luxman SQ-N150.

I wanted to take a look at it and hear it if possible. It's small but a really nice looking piece.

Well the dealer hooked up the Luxman to a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV's. He played a couple of tracks from Qobuz running through a Goldnote DAC.

I had not heard any of the Klipsch Heritage line before or any other speakers that fall within the same type of presentation.

More than the Luxman, I think it's the speakers that really affected me.

As I have read before, they have that really forward in your face, Live type of presentation!

As I left the store after the demo, I thought to myself, Holy Crap, now I have to hear these speakers at home.

So, as I always do, when I get home, I play the same tracks on my system (I had Shazam'd them while I was in the store) to compare.

Now mind you, the same tracks on my system does not sound bad in anyway but definitely did not have the same in your face experience like the Heresy's had.

I am feeling I really liked that sound and am starting to feel that music on my system sounds dull now.

Man, why did I have to hear those.

The only way I am going to be satisficed now is to get those speakers and try them out myself. 

Dammit.

Jay


128x128jay73
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,388 posts
 
@jay73,

I felt the same way when I auditioned the new JBL L100 Classic speakers. They had that exciting in your face quality that I really liked and brought me back to my youth when I owned an original pair of the L100 speakers.


So, I bought them and sold my Golden Ear Triton One speakers. Fast forward two months and that in your face sound got very tiresome. I decided to tame the midrange a bit so I tried 2 equalizers, the Schiit Loki and the Bellari EQ570. I kept the Bellari because it had a 60HZ adjustment that helped with the bass and I dropped the 2KHZ control back a couple of DB to tame the forwardness.


I then bought a SVS 2000 Pro sub to flesh out the sound a bit more and am still in the adjustment phase. I also had to buy 3 sets of interconnects to connect the EQ and Sub. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t do it as I had a perfectly great pair of speakers already. But, like you, I just had to have those speakers. Think long and hard before you make the plunge. The in your face sound can wear on you very quickly.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Since you like that sound get Tekton, Double Impact or Moab. You will find at least as much thrilling live dynamics, but not in your face. Instead the sound stage will range from up close to quite deep, depending on the recording. Much more effortless, with zero fatigue factor. The longer you listen the more you will want to listen. This goes both for hour after hour each listening session as well as month after month. They are just as efficient and easy to drive as Klipsch, but sound a whole lot better, much more sophisticated, natural, and resolving. Have your cake and eat it too.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,199 posts
 
Tektons I’ve heard sound nothing like the Klipsch Heresy iv. Totally different designs and sound.

If that is the sound you like go for it. Doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
A lot of the exiting jump factor has to do with the compression driver used which works much differently than conventional drivers.

The new Heresy has received some very good reviews. Having demoed them I know exactly what you are saying about the sound. Whatever issues they may have had in the past seem to have been resolved through various design refinements.

They are fairy efficient but I read a nominal 4-6 ohm load in tests so not a cakewalk to drive well for best sound. Also the bass is extended and I would expect a somewhat beefier amp than might suffice with earlier Heresy models would be advisable. Any well built SS or many tube amps should do well but probably not the best match for a flea powered SET amp or similar.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@jay73,
What’s the possibility of an in home audition with the Luxman and Klipsch Herseys for an extended listening assessment?  It appears that the current series (IV) of the Heritage line is said to be a noticeable improvement of the previous models. The Luxman SQ-N 150 is consistently well regarded. Seems to be a very good match on paper.
Charles
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Upgrade your entire system asap.
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