Klipsch Love or Hate, it’s all good

[NickMimi]

My recently acquired Klipsch K-Horns finally made it into the house. I spent the last 3 hours polishing, vacuuming and dusting off every speck of spider webbing and particulates that had made their way into or onto them over the decades. I used Parker & Bailey lemon oil polish to help saturate and re-invigorate the wood. They will now sit around in this room for a few days as I re-apply the polish and make sure it gets into every nook and cranny along with coming back up to proper humidity levels.

The various Klipsch sound signatures of the Heritage line (and others) are not for everyone. I am fortunate in that I enjoy the SQ and can thus get away w/owning and enjoying several varieties of the brand.

Feel free to post your speakers, experiences, and comments (good or bad) in this dedicated Klipsch thread.

Edit to add, you could not pay me to put the amount of effort I have put into cleaning and polishing these speakers today. To all the DIY hobby folks, more power to you, my energy levels and attention span are not what they used to be…

[dB_Cooper]

Some assembly required!

[Timmeh]

Long story short. I got myself the RP 600M’s after much ague on Friday only to get some free time on Saturday to realize after hooking it up that one of the woofers was doa. I immediately contacted the dealer and I’m hoping it’s just a loose wire or equivalent from shipping overseas. So I am hoping for a good response later today.
If It’s worst and needs replacing, that’s another month or 2 without them. I did like the sound of the one that did work though so hoping for the best.

[dB_Cooper]

I love that last shot, you get a sense at to how old school they are. They look fantastic!

[Mr_Makua]

They are not the big boys but they are mine. RP 600M currently serving in the home theater setup with a nothing special AVR. I enjoy them for casual music listening and movie watching. One of these days I’ll buy them a proper amp, but this works for now. I can get a boost in performance for more active music listening by running my Mojo into the RCA input of my AVR to bypass the internal DAC. Most of the time though I just run music on the TV for convenience and let the AVR take care of it.

[Delta9K]

I got nothing, really - this is in down in my man cave space The Klipsch (RF-3, RC-3 and KSW12) are 20+ years old and due for some updating… One sub died and the only remaining one is fading fast. Not sure what I’ll replace with yet but I’ll have to start slow. I was thinking the RP6000F’s would be modern updates and two new 12’s for subs

Oh the PC is long moved - replaced with a pi hat roon endpoint into a Zen DAC that feeds into line in on the Sony ES AVR - also 20+ yrs old…

[NickMimi]

So again i owe gratitude to @M0N for a stupendous recommendation based on my desires and preferences. I spent the day re-wiring some things and positioning speakers as best as my space allows. There is no WAF or nagging in this household currently (no ring on her finger and honestly she doesn’t seem to care ) so I have extreme leeway.

It took a bit of effort to get these (K-horns) tight in the corners, and i will eventually have to come up with a better solution for the one on the left of the picture, there is a partially blocked off window behind it, but the bottom end is tight and punches you in the chest . The top end is typical of vintage K-horns, bright, airy, and Old school horn sounding, yes these are the metal horns, you either enjoy them or you don’t. These sound very concert like, big bold sound, the bass And midbass punches you, the vocals are vivid, the high’s crisp, i have a small REL sub tuned into the very bottom octaves.

The soundstage is massive, and much taller than any other speaker i own. The sound is rich and full, i absolutely love it. They can crank, like really get loud, louder than I would ever play them even when I’m in the mood for volume. Pure satiation on that front, complete satisfaction.

the imaging is OK, nowhere near as tight as other speakers i own, but i also own particularly good speakers that can image ridiculously tight so I’m spoiled. The interesting thing these do though is Somehow throw some sounds behind you on some songs. I’m not sure WTF that is about but it’s awesome when it happens. I need to pay attention when and which songs do it, I’ve heard it 2 or 3 times today and i’ve had them on several hours so far.

Lastly, i can finally enjoy classical, organ and opera. Hell yeah, that was a massive hole in all my systems that i was getting pissed off i was not able to fill. Songs that absolutely destroy other speakers sound bold and beautiful on these Monsters. The bottom end is so fucking powerful, these are complete speakers! These are full range, 3 way speakers that play every genre w/ authority, Rap…have at it…EDM, pop, hip hop, electronic music, no problems so far they handle it all with aplomb.

If you have room in your home for big speakers, any of the top name or boutique brands, and you don’t have neighbors to annoy, I can whole heartedly recommend adding a pair to your collection. I love all my speakers, but there is something bigger, bolder, more powerful and energetic that the big hoys bring to the table that’s so very satisfying to experience if you can. Happy listening always, I am so happy i just had to ramble on for a while today.

Edit to add: The other really great thing about these is that you have leeway in the listening seat. The sweet spot is many feet wide and is not limited to 24” like many other speakers. I think i can purchase a large couch that comfortably fits 3 amd reclines and center it where it will sound best and use the whole thing. Eventually my OCD dictates that there be some symmetry in the room. I must have a nice symmetrical triangle…

[dB_Cooper]

That is one hell of a lot of work with all the stuff you’ve moved around since I was there! BTW, those Omegas left me very curious and given their nature, it’s not a matter of if but when.

With the no one speaker does it all philosophy I think I’ll wind up with something from them and a tube amp. I was actually surprised by their relatively easy to afford retail pricing as well.

On the Klipsh though is there no boom to them? They look so fucking imposing and they remind me of the huge things DJs would bring to my HS dances.

They better impact the way you describe them with the way they dominate the room. Give me a little more description on the low end, leading attack to the drums, are they fast or are they designed for the grand ballroom type of sound you’d expect in a symphony hall?

[NickMimi]

Dude, i can play BOTH Rodrigo y Gabriella and The Bounty Bligh to boat and they will wack you in the chest w/ snap and then afterwards fill the room with deep low notes. It’s really great low end. The problem with these speakers is not enough people place them the way they were made to be placed, really tight up against a wall. Also my room has particularly good corners which both emphasize the low end, but as you also experienced when you were here, allows the music to flow throughout. I hit a winner w/ this pair.
Nothing else i have in the house even comes close and i have a whole bunch of speakers all over the place. As M0N pointed out, i was gonna have to blow the budget by double or triple to really upgrade, these i think are a hidden gem in the audio world, IF you have the right room/space for them.
The dudes house i was at auditioning them was not correct, they did not sound anywhere near as awesome, neither did a bunch of his other speakers because space was tight despite the actual square footage of the place.
Yes other speakers may do some of the particulars better, but these are exactly what i asked for. Bigger, bolder sound in MY space/room for $10K or less. Snap, pop, target hit. Can’t wait for you to hear them. Buy yourself some Ωmega’s, they will be the best money spent for your space, next beyond those everything costs double or triple That was my problem too…

[Veritas]

Uh oh. I’m going to get performance anxiety now for when you hear my setup lol. Jk. I would always love to hear feedback to make it better

[NickMimi]

This is me just putting down my thoughts and experiences for future folks going through the speaker buying process etc.

There is nothing i can say about the Klipsch K-horn speakers that many better trained and experienced audiophiles over the past 70 years have not discussed in painful detail, argued over and disagreed about over multiple generations and decades. Klipschorns were designed by Paul W. Klipsch with a purpose in mind and over the decades have competed w/ the likes of Western Electric, JBL, Altek Lansing, and other heavy hitters I am barely familiar with but learning about. The DIY folks have been designing horn loaded speakers for even longer than this and some of the designs i have experience with are wild and monstrous.
Personally i appreciate and enjoy the sound signature of horns, and it varies greatly just like every speaker out there. My problem has been the design and layout of my main listening area. I plan on making some furniture, layout and cosmetic changes in the near future ( if finances allow) but I am stuck w/ the dimensions and this is where my problems arise. I have a large amount of volume and open space that i have been learning to work with. As i have grown into the hobby and slowly acclimated myself to the “sticker shock” that inevitably becomes a barrier and challenge to most I have found “creative” ways to sacrifice and overcome some of these combined challenges.
I’m still working on solutions to; listening spot placement, room treatment, lighting, room symmetry and the addition of visual entertainment in the same room. Upon my initial listening and placement experience with the K-horns i believe I lucked out finally and found a speaker designed and built to operate within the parameters of my particular space. there are other designs and manufacturers which would also apply, my speakers just happened to fall into my hands; dumb luck and timing so i took the plunge without overthinking the purchase. I would have done the same thing had the opportunity arisen for at least a dozen or more other speaker choices.
My significant other just asked me a moment ago if I’m finally done. Nope, there will probably be another purchase, more ideas, swaps, trades, desires i’m currently blissfully ignorant of at the moment, etc. that arise over the years. The K-horns definitely scratch and itch though that has been driving me for a while now. As all hobby induced purchases go these are the best thing in my possession at the moment and are versatile enough to keep me playing w/ different combinations of equipment and gaining experience for a long while.
This is a hobby of passion, and we all have our opinions, preferences and favorite choices. I am including pictures of my listening space in this post. If anyone reading this someday gets something useful out of my rambling thoughts I will have done something good for the hobby. Happy listening always.

Edited to add: About the sound, the K-horn sounds like a live concert, the depth is not there but the soundstage is massive, the top end is not delicate or airy, it is pronounced and strong, the vocals sound “real” very much like what you hear at a live performance. The bass is where the money is at, even without a subwoofer to re-enforce the lowest octaves the bass regions kick ass with a wild variety of genres and sound very concert like. If you can hear it at a live performance and you have a good recording going, these beasts will allow you to enjoy it at home. They are NOT forgiving speakers and will let you know your source chain is poor or your recording lacks quality. It’s what they do, feel free to research this as much as you want or stop by for a listen yourself.

[NickMimi]

I want to take a shot at posting some of my experiences with another speaker. These are all my opinions and personal experiences your mileage may vary.

Klipsch Heresy speakers…I am the happy owner of a pair of 1984 Heresy model speakers. This speaker is the “baby” in the Klipsch Heritage line of loudspeakers and has an interesting and colorful past. I am the second owner of his beautiful pair which came with the original packaging materials and paperwork. (I LOVE OCD, meticulous audiophile owners… )

My speakers have had no upgrades and are 100% original and continue to function as designed w/ no degradation in sound quality that i can hear or even suspect. This model has been difficult to work with. I have used them in various locations in the house along with a good variety of source gear over the past 3 years. This model is particularly heavily maligned and cursed by the audiophile community, usually by folks who do not bother to take the time to understand how this speaker operates in different environments, or worse yet who flatly ignore its limitations and compare it strictly to other speakers in its price bracket with no regard to its own actual abilities. These are not cheap speakers and the newest models retail for a fair chunk of money.

I have opened mine up in order to inspect them and properly oil the wood to refresh it of its natural moisture, completely from the inside out. They are a very simple design with almost nothing beyond the birch plywood rectangular box you see in front of you. Despite their simple design and the criticisms many an audiophile has made of them i went out of my way to locate a pair and have spent good money and time working to coax the sound i have heard these speakers reproduce in a well thought out showroom environment many years ago.

I’m currently running my speakers in a small 12x14x8 room that is acoustically quiet, it has good sound absorption but Is lacking in length and is typically boxy without enough room for me to get some better distance from the speakers so it is basically a near-field experience / environment. Not horrible but far from ideal for use as a music room.

I was surprised by how close i could be to the Heresy’s and actually get what I perceive as excellent music out of them, I have them pulled forward about 1/3 the distance into the room, which puts my head at only a 7ft or so triangle. They are tight, with a deep and wide soundstage which encompasses the whole 12 ft width of the room along with sharp pinpoint imaging, I use a small 8” REL subwoofer to reinforce and bring the bottom end into more respectable range because these have a spec’d limitation of around 55hz on the bottom end so using a subwoofer is essential if you want them to go lower. The newest models have a slightly better low end but not by much. They can be fatiguing and harsh with the wrong combo of DAC, amp and room. The upper end in these does not hold back. The midrange is forward it has vivid presence in the music. The mid bass is very tight and a true joy to experience in many vintage rock classics, along with blues, jazz, indie and the like. I have enjoyed modern pop, rap, R&B etc on these, but they are not my preference on these genres, I don’t usually want this much detail in such genres. This is an extremely lively and vivid speaker that took patience to find rewarding combinations for my personal sound preferences. I have a preference for the speaker on tube amplifiers w/ laid back or analog sounding DAC’s. The top end can be tamed to my preferences and I find it very enjoyable when it’s not at its maximum output or performance ability. The midrange sound is a personal preference w/ my music choices and as such is part of a regular rotation into my system every few months.

Would i spend upwards of $3k for the newest model, nope, because i am not a fan of the new port, but yes i would spend up to $2k for the older models because the sound signature is one I want available to me when the mood strikes. These speakers have detail, rock solid imaging, excellent depth and width along with the ability to disappear in the room if you are fortunate enough to get the set-up correct. They are not for the timid and would not be my choice for an all encompassing system as the only pair available to me for use. I would not recommend this speaker for audiophile neophytes and those whose equipment choices on hand are limited. I have used this speaker as part of an all Klipsch home theater set-up in the past and even though I found them excelling in that role because I was able to add DSP and mate their sensitivity to the rest of the system output they are expensive for their roles and I only tried them as such because I could, not because I would.

I have been using them in 2.1 near field music only for several weeks now and continue to marvel at their abilities and for the moment have no desire to swap them out. They are a solid recommendation for more seasoned users who want a unique speaker which scales immensely with equipment, positioning and room treatment and has many upgrade and modifications available to be done should they choose so as part of a DIY project. Happy listening always.

Almost forgot, gratuitous pic of current set-up:

[don]

Nick I’m loving all this commentary. Really great to hear the k-horns have worked out for you so well. Would be pretty tragic getting those beasts into your home only to to realize it was a mistake. Lol.

I’m solidly in the love camp after owning Heresy iv’s for the last few months. Since acquiring them they’ve been the only speaker I’ve listened to and I haven’t even window shopped other speakers. That’s saying a lot for me because normally I seek out variety and upgrade-itus is historically unavoidable.

I feel like this new model might have a smoother more forgiving top end and go a little deeper into the low end than earlier models. It’s detailed and lively and can have a very spacious sound. I needed them placed any from any boundaries to get the mid bass to a place where it sounded good to me. Messed around with toe in to get the mids to fill in as well. So it took a bit of fiddling around but once I got positioning right I’ve been more than content with these speakers. I think the takeaway is they can be tuned pretty affectively based on positioning. I’ve heard them sound bloated, bright, v shaped, flat but also smooth, balanced, spacious.

I had these going pretty well off the 1 wpc LTA MZ3 and it sounded surprisingly good so what’s been said a million times about their efficiency is no joke. The LTA is my current pre amp and adding a First Watt F7 was tremendously beneficial for my preferences. Tonal density and stage depth were seriously levelled up and I enjoyed the timbre and dynamics a bit more as well though pretty good on the MZ3 alone. Switching Bifrost 2 and Amber 3 in and out is unmistakeable and instantly quieter and more natural sounding and more spacious. My system benefits greatly from the higher tiered Amber 3 and the Heresy iv’s aren’t shy about showcasing that.

That’s all well and good but I was also very satisfied when I had these speakers paired with a Primaluna Prologue One integrated and also a 3.5 wpc Ampsandsound integrated both with the Bifrost 2. You really don’t need to spend a fortune to get to an enjoyable place but it’s also nice to know they can scale up too.

IMO and in my room I need subs. Mid bass performance is really nice but sub bass isn’t really there. No surprises there and based on musical preferences and room size you may not need one (or two) but I certainly do.

They’re also stylish and well built. Tonally not always the most refined but for me they scratching the itch nicely.

[NickMimi]

@don, so very happy you chimed in especially w/ the more detailed audiophile vocabulary and descriptors!

[don]

So recently @NickMimi gave me a little push to play around more with placement. So I pulled my Heresy’s out even further into room and drastically toed them in so both speakers were directly facing me. I wanted an extreme change just to see what would happen.

Fast forward after playing more with toe in a distance between speakers. They’re now slightly toed in and slightly closer together. I was going to resign to the fact that Heresy’s just don’t disappear and the stage is always going to be short. I was wrong.

In my room these changes in placement have been a game changer. The stage has infinitely more depth is taller and some sounds/recordings come into the room more placing themselves nearly beside me. It’s the most enveloping stage I’ve experienced in this (still newish) room. Micro stuff is also more apparent at exceedingly lower volumes.

The speakers are 4’ into the room and 5’ apart and I’m 7.5’ away from the speakers. Tonight it’s all come together for me again and to another level. Just by moving some stuff around. Can’t be said enough… experiment with placement. It’s free and the gains can be huge.

Thanks Nick

[NickMimi]

@don i appreciate you so much for posting this info, I know I’m starting to sound crazy about listening in the dark, gutting my rooms, and spending countless hours on gear swaps and other “free tweaks”, but some of these experiences have produced results I did NOT know much of my equipment was capable of, thus really allowing me to focus on where my next “upgrades “ will be based on known facts rather than guesses.

[NickMimi]

Another PSA, this one on sub placement.

I decided to play w/ subwoofer placement in my main 2x channel listening area using the subwoofer crawl (it’s been a long time) I placed the sub at my seating position and picked a known song w/bass, I used Madonna’s, Medellin song because I like it and tuned the room and the sub to the song.

Results were a difference of night and day, sitting in the sweet spot resulted in a substantial performance enhancement BUT I realized I was tuned to only the hardest hitting bass frequencies of that particular track.

Using orchestral and classical tracks that hit at much lower frequencies there was a lack of hard hitting room filling bass enhancement.

The lesson learned is to use 2 or three various tracks of completely different genres which span the lower frequencies across various ranges and then decide on a spot to place your sub. based on overall experience so you don’t lock yourself into a tighter frequency response.
I was also honestly surprised the testing pulled the sub almost dead center along one wall of the room, no corner placement or anywhere near the speakers. This placement uses very little gain and hits much harder and tighter than ever before.

[Veritas]

Out of curiosity, where did the sub end up being in your room?

[NickMimi]

Currently with this crawl it is in front of the fireplace which is basically damn smack in the middle of the front of the room. It’s impossible to describe, i’ll send a picture when i get back home this weekend. It’s a damned weird spot for good bass output but the proof in the sound is real

[Lephantis]

This is my first pair, the promedia 2.1 thx. They sound amazing, but I’m having a hard time with the location of the whole setup (because my desk is one of those that goes on corners); I’ve unlocked a bit of their soundstage, but I’m planing on changing desk for them to sound better.