Transfiguration Orpheus - Has anyone tried it ?

SirSp. -- Thanks, you very perceptively pulled my approach right out of my subconscious! I really fell into my mahogany K's, which are very pretty, by buying them as the third owner from a friend over 20 years ago. I think I eventually found out why the previous two sold them: see the Klipsch Forum thread, on restoring the normal bass horn throat in these babies: http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/350047.aspx.

Comments on the Orpheus in a day or two! Is Roy still around?

Gary -- No, according to Sir's definition, I'M YOUR "best friend" -- I sometimes buy spendy stuff and then you get to pick and choose what to look for on Audiogon!

Best, all --

OK, troops, I've put about 12 hours on the new Orpheus, and am ready to give my opinions. I wanted to give it a good break-in and be sure, because recommending a $2,550 (Tommy from Apb3400c@aol.com) to $5,000 (full retail price) cartridge to folks is a serious responsibility. Incidentally, I tried e-mailing Roy who started this thread, but it bounced back and the website in his e-address isn't active. Maybe he'll peek in again soon.

I am very -- extremely -- positive about the Orpheus! Let me give you some background re my Temper V, and then what I hear in this cart. I first looked into getting a new cart because my V began to have funny things happen to it. It was originally a demo, and although it was supposed to be OK, the cantilever looked a little deviated to the LP's inside. Over the approx. year I've had it, it seemed to gradually lose its accuracy and, more important, musicality. Friend Gary (gdpowers who posted above; I'm the "best" friend, though, according to sirspeedy) thought so, too.

So, I decided to look at getting a new one vs. a retip, and was told about the Orpheus for the first time. It was at that point that I Googled up this forum and thread -- a GREAT find! I mention all this in order to be clear that MY comparison of the Orpheus and the V in its present state would obviously be flawed. It would have to be with how I (and Gary) remembered how great the V sounded a year ago. Well...it always seemed to exaggerate record scratch a bit, so it might not have been a perfect cart even then.

But, by and large, I'm really very sure that my comments below are a fair comparison, since I've listened to a few Transfigurations over the years and Gary has a Temper that he likes and so does everyone who hears it.

The Orpheus really stands out every time I hear it, and I've really gone back to listening to a lot of my LPs including some I haven't listened to for a long time because they didn't sound that good. ALL of them sound good, now. I hear the following:
- A great increase in clarity AND instrumental accuracy, all the way down into the bass
- A considerably more powerful bass than I've had with any other cart including the V
- A quieter background, like the signal-to-noise ratio has been improved. I didn't think a cart would do that, but there you have it IMO.
- The timbre or tone-quality of instruments is better, especially of string sections. Strings tend to get steely on Klipschorns, even with tube equipment, and the softer, more individually parsed-out sound of violins has been quite a pleasant surprise. It still probably isn't like great cone speakers, but then those aren't always that realistic in woodwind and brass reproduction, either.
- Record scratch is nicely minimized, more than my seemingly flawed V anyway, but also compared with that from Clearaudios and Benz's that I experienced. I myself am convinced that it the record noise is as good as it's going to be. I haven't tried any tracking tests yet (I will), but no big problems so far.

So, as you can see, I'm enthusiastic, though I really hope for more reviews, since only one can be misleading. I'd be glad to demo it if any of this group is in the DC area.

One interesting new thing (for me) in the installation instructions: to initially set the tracking force at 0.2 gm until most of the alignment is done. A great idea.

Lemme know if you have any questions.

Larry

Larry,as my son is starting his medical internship at George Washington Hosp/Med center,this June,and I will be visiting from time to time,so don't be so quick with the invites.Some of us fanatics may take your offer up!
Also,I checked out the Klipsh thread,about your upgrade process.Quite interesting.BTW,what polish/wax do you use for the finish?
I remember when I was in college,and working each summer as a letter carrier in NYC,I would walk into the better audio stores of the day,and was floored by the sheer mass that the Klipshorns presented.Of course I could not consider them at the time.One day I had a route that allowed me to deliver mail to Lyric Hi Fi.I remember being very impressed by the wonderful "new to me" stuff being sold there.Mike Kay was SO nice to this, then "young" and enamored college kid, that I never forgot his kindness,and the time he spent introducing me to quality audio products.Even though he knew I could not possibly purchase anything.A class act!!

BTW,I notice on the Klipsh site that many folks list ownership of Cornwalls,Hersheys(?) and others.Do people own multiple Klipshorns.Like the multi cartridge crowd?Whew!!Also would the addition of a superb super tweeter,like the Townshend or Murata,be an improvement?I've heard these can further some horn designs.I did hear the Townshends on a pair of wonderful Sonus Faber Extremas(WAY underrated speaker,with these tweets,btw)and they were superb.Totally seamless!

As to the Orpheus,though I love the quick comments from you,it would best serve us all if you waited about two more weeks before making definitive statements regarding performance.I guarantee you will find subtle changes will occur,and you will most likely revoice the arm/table accordingly.You'll then have a better handle on "things sonic"!Man,you are a lucky guy.God only knows when my set-up will be back,up and running.I sent out stuff,for mods and service and am beginning to wonder if I did the right thing(I know I did,but am running out of patience).In the meantime I must admit to be getting about 120 mph on my serve,literally,so I'm putting the time to a good cause.Yet,I'd rather be listening to my new music acquisitions,as of now.

Best of luck!

Let's see if I can answer some of your questions, plus I have another: I sent e-mails to you and Roy, and got bounce-backs. Any idea why?

I'll be glad to come back in 2 weeks with further comments, but was concerned the thread would die from disuse if much time went by. Besides, the elements of my comments are very unlikely to change (or I hope not), so I saw no reason to hold back. I also sensed that the sound blossomed out over the 4 days, but have hearing in only one ear and thus can't pick up on soundstage subtleties.

I use Formby's lemon oil. I used Murphy's wood soap one time and was chagrined to find it darkened the darker part of the grain, a loss in the way it appears to shift with the light. It's mostly come back, but I decided to stick with lemon oil and not experiment from that point on.

While a few have multiple K-horns, it's more common to have 2 or more systems in the house, sometimes with different sized Klipsch speakers from system to system. Some also experiment with different tweeters and midrange horns, and different crossovers. I don't recall either the Townshend nor the Murata being mentioned on the forum. It almost seems that you and the others here move in a different world, component- and mod-wise from the Klipsch forum guys.

I'm pretty conservative, have not gone for mods except (1) Basis factory mods to the Ovation and (2) mods to the Wadia units by Steve Huntley of Great Northern Sound, who used to have a responsible position at Wadia and did factory-authorized work for them after leaving. I would be very leery of modding any of my electronics. I did try a new tweeter made for Klipsch products, but was one of a small number who found it had too many disadvantages.

Anyway, I don't think the essence of what I reported will change except for the better, so I'm comfy with reporting now.

Hey guys.

I'm one of those Klipsch Forum fanatics and I own Klipschorns (1976), Cornwalls (1980 - original owner), and I recently sold my '72 Heresys. Those are just the ones worth mentioning. Most of the folks on the forum with multiple pairs use them in a HT environment, but many have 2 or more 2-channel systems like myself.

I heard Larry's Orpheus Monday when it was still breaking in and all I can say is WOW! I own the Temper "W" and have been listening to Larry's "V" for a couple years now (which is why I now own a similiar Basis/Vector/Temper combo).

Even with just a few hours of break-in, the Orpheus sounded fantastic as Larry described. I don't know what I can add that he didn't already cover. What suprised me the most was the improvement in the bass. It really tightened up and it digs as low as I've ever heard on his system. The mids and highs were amazing as expected.

If Larry decides to give you guys a demo, you'll probably see my arse parked on one of his living room chairs!

BTW - I've never heard a system that does classical music better than Larry's.