Help: I've been Klipsched


I finally took the plunge into high-efficiency speakers and bought a set of Klipsch Chorus for a good price here on Audiogon.

When I first hooked them up they sounded okay, but a bit overbright in the upper midrange/lower treble region. After warming them up for a while and putting AQ Sorbothane half-sphere-type footers under the solid-state amplifier, the sound has smoothed out and much of the upper-mid agressiveness has been tamed.

Now they are very dynamic, fast, detailed, and they actually image quite well, which surprised me. The highs are much purer and more extended than expected, and the bass is articulate, though a little plump around 70 Hz and not that extended in the low bass. In truth, the Klipsch are faster and more dynamic than most speakers I have experienced. I can't believe I can get this level of performance so inexpensively!

My much more expensive system using AP Virgo IIs is still better, overall, though it is certainly no faster or more dynamic. But I have to say I think I'm having too much fun listening to the Klipsch with only a CAL Icon II, Perpetual Technologies P-3A and an old Onkyo TX-2500 receiver. No one would believe how great it sounds. It's really terrific on retro-swing like the Squirrel Nut Zippers stuff, and it just killed me on Cassandra Wilson's "Strange Fruit". Yikes!

I'm contemplating going to a nice little tube amp, but I honestly can't complain about the sound from the Onkyo and wonder how much improvement is possible.

Has anyone else had this type of experience?
plato
Throw at tube amplifier at the Klipsch's and watch your smile grow further -- they crave tubes.
Hello!
I have owned my Klipsch Chorus for almost twenty years.
Recently, I have obtained both tube amplification, and then a tube output front-end. Both of these changes made a significant change in sound quality. In my opinion, the sound became warmer and more liquid without loss of detail.
My spouse has a similar opinion, all positive, of the changes. Saxophone and trumpet solos became "live".
Snu00, which tube amp have you had the most success with on the Chorus? Thanks!
I've been listening to AK-4 speakers for the last 9 years. In design they are very similar to Klipsch Cornwall. I love how they sound connected to McIntosh. I had a huge improvement in bass when I placed them on brass cones (which you can pick up at PARTS EXPRESS for approx. $20 for a sat of 4). The bass became tighter and they became even smoother and more musical than before.
Enjoy your speakers and happy holiday.