Klipsch Speakers

[IROC]

Long story short, I have a need for some 'new' home audio speakers. I am leaning towards some older Klipsch because I like them. I had a pair of kg 4s that I gave to my son in a moment of weakness and my Dad had a pair of kg 3.2s that I really liked. I have also heard many other models over the years (including Klipschorns). I just like the sound of Klipsch speakers.

So, in the market. I am not looking to spend a lot of money so have been perusing FB Marketplace. Several things have come up in my area...some kg 4.2s, some Fortes, some KLF20s recently. The kg 4.2s are cheap and would meet my requirements but now I am experiencing scope creep and looking at more expensive models like the Fortes.

I'm purely a 2-channel guy and would only be listening to music on these (powered by a reasonably good 2-channel Yamaha receiver). I am not an audiophile - I use coat hangers for speaker cable. Just kidding...

Thoughts? Opinions?

[cabmandone]

From the research I've done while looking for speakers to go in my media room, they're a good "mid" level speaker. A lot of reviews for their products can be found on different audio sites. I've been looking at Klipsch, Paradigm, Definitive audio, and Polk. Haven't settled on anything yet.

[908/930]

I normally start with how large is the room?

[Tidybuoy]

Depending on your budget and space available, there are many options.

I personally have the Klipsch Cornwall for my front speakers. I also have ceiling mounted speakers for my Dolby Atmos, and smaller Klipsch for center channel and rear surround. The Cornwall's alone sound great - I don't have the proper space for Klipschhorns.

That said, you stated that you are purely a 2-channel guy, and I am able to do that with my system, but the additional speakers are for watching movies.

I too love the Klipsch sound. My current setup replaced Definitive audio which I liked but blew speakers after only a short amount of ownership and not playing overly loud - that was disappointing. The Definitive replaced my original Bose cubes which I loved and after 40 years, still sound great but have been relocated to my garage.

Lastly, there is a guy on YouTube "Sound Sommelier" that reviews many high-end speakers. It was his videos that convinced me that I could go with large speakers in a relatively small room.

My Setup:

Front Cornwalls


Center Channel


Ceiling for Dolby Atmos


Front vs. Rear Surround

[aschen]

had many pairs over the years. Not my fav but plenty of people are big fans especially the heritage series and older ones.

Any of them listed will meet your requirements easily. Loud, high sensitivity, low distortion, with the vintage look. I had both fortes 2s in the 90s and som kg 4.0s at some point. The fortes are better overall speakers, but kg series are decent enough, built in arkansas as well.

[bleucamaro]

Your room matters a ton.

I have a pair of Forte IV's (that look like a little brother to Tidybouy's Cornwalls), powered by a Pioneer SX-1250 (way overkill). When I was speaker shopping, I listened to the Fortes and the Heresy. In the store's listening room, the Forte's bass response was a ton better. mid-lows on up were comparable. The listening room was moderate size, about 12 x 16, with low ceilings, a good sealing door, and lots of stuff in it to break-up reflections.

In my home, they're in a bit bigger room 15 x 19 with tall ceilings and an 8ft opening along one wall, and not as full of stuff. In my home, the bass isn't as tight or clean as the mids/highs. And they don't sound as good as they did in the store.

Also, placement matters. For the Forte's, Klipsch says to place pretty close to a wall (get that passive radiator working for you). But to me, i hear extra brightness from the horns when they're right up against the wall. If I pull them away from the wall a couple feet they mellow way out and sound more balanced. (unfortunately for the room layout, I can't leave them out away from the wall.)

For me, the pros are the clarity, sound stage, and looks. They sound really good at conversational levels, but will also get loud.

When I bought my amp, I listened to some Pioneer HPM-100's, and Wharfdale Lintons. They're both very viable.

So, now I'm shopping for subwoofers to fill that bass gap...

[jyl]

I'm a sucker for horns. They look so cool. If you have room, why not? If you buy vintage used, you're not going to lose money.

[Scott Watkins]

I had been Klipsch guy for many years, but went with Monitor Audio in recent new build media room.

https://www.monitoraudio.com

Very pleased with the immersive audio experience.

[stevej37]

I use the Klipsch R-120SW....works great.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1135683-prime-truck-dropped-off-today.html

[pavulon]

Whatever you decide to buy, take the time to find them used and in acceptable condition. Some people buy stuff new, don't use or like it and sell it at a major loss. I bought my Klipsch speakers on Audiogon nearly new, undamaged, matched and in original packaging at a substantial savings. The dealer included shipping to my house with the purchase but they're hernia heavy.

[IROC]

Great conversation!!

Regarding the Cornwalls - I worked for United Van Lines in 1985 and we were packing up a house for a family relocation. The husband had already moved and the wife and kids were left behind to coordinate the move. We're walking through the house as the wife is giving us instructions and we get to the living room and she points to a pair of Cornwalls and, rolling her eyes says, "Don't pack those. My husband has given me strict instructions that those ride in the car with me and the kids.".

I originally was just looking for something in the kg line as I 'know' those and like them and then a set of Fortes showed up and then some KLF20s this week.

Does anyone have experience with the KLF series? 10, 20, 30? I remember loving those when they came out but don't know of anyone with real-world experience. There is a pair of KLF20s locally for $900. Tempting.

Maybe I should title this thread, "help me spend money"...

[IROC]

I should mention that I am sort of an old school guy. My current speakers are a pair of Advents from 1978.

[Rtrorkt]

Old school. Find a good pair of DCM Time Windows first version. You will not be disappointed

[Scott Watkins]

The Youthman channel is full of great information, if you've not seen.

[bmcuscgr94]

I've got a set of Klipsch Heresys I bought in 1976 from a shop in Oakland when I was stationed in Alameda. They still suit my needs quite well. I wasn't planning on buying them, had my eye some B & O speakers but the salesman put me in the sound room and we listened to everything they had and I was sold. We built the rest of the stereo system around the Klipschs.

[911 Rod]

I went into a high end stereo store to see how other people live. My system is an old NAD amp/preamp and Bose 901's.
The advice I got from the owner was you can use old quality amps, but speakers lose their crispness over years and as our ears age we need it to hear all of the music.

[911 Rod]

I went into a high end stereo store to see how other people live. My system is an old NAD amp/preamp and Bose 901's.
The advice I got from the owner was you can use old quality amps, but speakers lose their crispness over years and as our ears age we need it to hear all of the music.

[908/930]

911 Rod, what store did you go to, lots of excellent audio shops north of Toronto that will empty a bank account quickly, Audio Excellence, Audio Eden, American Sound?

I'm not sure that I totally agree with the owner you were speaking to, lots of opinions with audio. The part that is likely to change the sound in speakers is also used in amplifiers that being capacitors, but they can usually be replaced, but not always. No doubt that speaker technology has improved lots in the last 20 years, the use of beryllium or diamond tweeters for example. Unfortunately most if not all on this forum likely can not hear frequencies above 13khz anyways, so missing some of the detail that is available. I do find most people hear things slightly differently, so what is perfect for one person is not for the next.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by 908/930

911 Rod, what store did you go to, lots of excellent audio shops north of Toronto that will empty a bank account quickly, Audio Excellence, Audio Eden, American Sound? .

www.liptons.ca

[HardDrive]

I have some 80s era ones in storage. No clue which model. The bass cones are on the back.