Help: I've been Klipsched

Plato:

I have used the follwing amps on my 2002 Klipschorns:
CJ Premier 8A(275 wpc);
Wavelength Cardinals (8 wpc);
Welborne Laurels (7wpc);
VAIC VV52b (30wpc).

I found the lower wattage amps provided the quietest background and, particularly the Cardinals, created a very smooth and palpable sound. The bass does doesn't have that ooomph as with the CJ and VAIC amps. My room is 21x18x11. I would hardly say the bottom end was anemic, but in contrast to the deep growling of the large CJ amps, the SETs just didn't have the same bite. The tradeoff is the somewhat noisier background, since the Khorns magnify any noise exponentially.

Thanks JM, I appreciate the benefit of your experience regarding the amplifier question. One final thought I'm having about the Klipsch, and probably what surprised me the most, is their incredible speed and clarity. I expected the great, virtually unbridled dynamics, but did not realize the transient speed that the horns provide. Fast fretwork on acoustic guitar, nuances of the voilin's rapid undulations are sharp, crisp, and natural -- not blurred or smeared as they are by so many other speakers.

Frank :)

Regarding the power item -- I've used Cornwalls, which are less sensitive than the KHorns with an 3.5w 2a3 amplifier on both 4 and 8 ohm taps, using a passive preamplifier (Audio Consulting Silver Rock), in a 24x14 room firing down the length of the room.

In most cases you don't need more power, and regarding flea powered amplifiers and Klipsch's -- I understand what was stated regarding the bass -- this to me is more of a reflection of the amplifier itself regardless of the speaker. I listed to just about every kind of music out there, and regarding SETs specifically, it becomes more of a you like it or you don't. Sure you aren't going full range, but that's the thing -- the beauty of the amplifier makes you forget whether there's more bass or less bass -- your seduced basically. Again, this is amplifier specific and there are ones that can to an extent, do it all.

Definitely browse through the forums at www.klipsch.com, part to see people's comments and comparisons, and part to see what people use -- you'll find everything from people using 1-2w 45 tube amplifiers, to 30w PP tube amplifiers, to a couple hundred watt solid state amplifiers.

Everything varies, but one combination a lot of people have found heavenly is push pull 2A3 amplifiers, as well as a lot of the vintage amplifiers -- the Scott's, the Fischers, etc. A lot of 8-15w PP amplifiers and receivers.

Anyways -- you mentioned you have another system, and you mentioned that you're having fun with the Klipsch's -- browse the forums, find yourself a good deal on a vintage receiver for a couple hundred bucks, and then you don't have to get rid of the other system, and you can greatly increase your fun for a very minimum budget.

Cjr, I've been hearing about the 2A3 amps and it seems like a lot of folks like amps that use this tube. I may look for an affordable one to try.

Meanwhile, I have an old Van Alstine modified Dyna 70 that I just replaced the input jacks on, and it seems to work great on my Stax headphones, so I will probably see what it can do for the Klipsch.

Thanks!

The Klipch that really blows my...er...horn...is the Corner Horn. I remember a friend playing the 1812 overature on them. When it got to the cannon part I actually saw the shock-wave ripple down the wall! Wild!!

The didn't sound bad on music either. We did change a few things; like going to the better EV drivers and tweeters and some minor x-over changes (caps and such). In his room (always the caveat) they were awesome, clear, sweet and dynamic.

I recall that he was using one of the Mac tube amps, don't rememer which one.

Did I mention dynamic?