No more "High End" for me...Back to Reality Audio

@rajugsw The exit from my roller coaster ride aligned with the decline of my quality of my hearing.  I became a much more tolerant of imperfection when I couldn't hear the difference anymore.  Now I have 8 cars, and less audio equiopment.  

Your posted resonated with me on many levels.

First, I wrote a long and passionate post about a week ago in defense of Bose 901s and Bose 901 owners.  I hope you had a chance to read it.  I also wrote a similar post recently in support of McIntosh.  I'm a bit of a speaker geek and received a patent for the Open Line Source speaker back in 1990.  I/we are currently involved in performance mods and had suprisingly good results with a pair of 901 S1s.  In addition to some serious "tweaks" the speakers, we also applied some "high end thinking" to the crossover.  If you'd like to compare notes at some point, I'll be happy to share our approach and results.

Cornwalls:  I have a strong emotional attachment to these speakers.  I become a Klipsch dealer in 1982. When unloading our first shipment off the truck, I was in the process of taking a Cornwall from the truck to the ground by myself when I felt a severe pain in my back.  My immediate impulse was to just let go and let them hit the asphalt.  Then, I remembered how much money I had in the speaker and gingerly took them safely to the ground.  In the coming days, I was in agony.  At the age of 31, it was my first realization of my mortality.  I had an injury that wasn't going heal on its own.  I have the Cornwalls to "thank" for this life lesson.  We continue to do Klipsch performance mods.  We know "stuff" about Klipsch speakers to make them sound better.  I know there are popular kits out there that do a good job.  But, I like the draw the analogy of spending $4k for a turbo upgrade on your car and driving around with the parking brake on.  We start by making sure the parking brake is disengaged.  If you want to compare notes on Klipsch performance, we can compared notes on this as well.

A few years ago, I removed my (really good sounding) modified "industrial look" separates and replaced them with amp/preamp brand that I had aspired to own to my entire life -- McIntosh.  I'm sure your M50s are a great choice to drive the Cornwalls.

I haven't messed with H-frame subs.  Sounds interesting.

Thanks for the post.  Got my wheels turning.

In classical economics as defined by Marshall you have come up against the punishing law of Marginal Productivity. One could draw a graph with audio "quality" on the side and $ spent on the bottom resulting in a curve that rose steeply at the start, then flattened to the point there was no real increase for ANY  amount extra spent. In other words you hit a plateau of economic and hi fi reality.

Before he music industry and home reproduction to the DIN 4500 standard crumbled in the face of commercialisation of the digital domain for hedgefund profit, a thriving electronics industry catered for a wide range of needs providing on the whole equipment and listening pleasure that was realistically priced in the mid range.

I suggest you delve into the world of vintage electronics (but make sure you have the services of a good tech!) whether it be 1970s Japanese monster amps and receivers such as Sansui or design led beauties from B and O or Philips from the same era. A Linn Sondek table will still deliver the gods as well as anything looking like a prop from a SciFi movie. Lastly remember the audio chain is only as good as its weakest link. Sticking to one manufacturer for components that have been designed to work together will cut out a lot of wasted time. Audition speakers before buying and place and tweek the room to get the best acoustic. Aim for simplicity. Unless you live in a mansion with a dedicated music room surround sound will be a waste of time. Stuck to two channel stereo. Avoid silly theories such as pre-amps without tone controls - bi-wiring speakers - spikes for speakers - over priced inter connects and speaker cable - valves sound "better" than transistors "full stop" - all digital is bad - you can get good sound via streaming and downloads - etc. etc. Finally the MORE you spend the better it IS! The basics are: if you are listening to the equipment, after setting up which should not take a lifetime, and not the music then give up! 

Bose 901's.......

What can you say?  Rags got ears.

Enjoy!

Rajugsw

There is a nice DIY mod for  those Cornwalls that really add to their performance.  Involves damping those plastic horns.  Bracing the cabinet.  And some work on the crossover and wiring.  It's a few hundred bucks but it's a good nice positive change.  Don Sachs let me in on it from someone else and brought those Klipsch up to another level.  Look it up. 

I’m 78 and am a professional symphonic musician. (Principal clarinetist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra)  I am extremely happy with my system:

sansui g-9000 receiver

dahlquist 20 speakers

pioneer pl 518 turntable with a Benz micro gold cartridge

onkyo dx7555 cd player

I don’t need anything better. Perfect