Transfiguration Orpheus - Has anyone tried it ?

The job of being Larry's best friend is already taken.

Sorry guys.

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.

Maybe the egg is on MY face. I suppose I should leave the review to the person actually living with the equipment. I listen to Larry's system approximately once a week and he is obviously still tweaking. I know that I've yet to hear the best the Orpheus has to offer. Of course there's also the break-in issue. I still stand by my comments however. That was my honest opinion at the time.

Larry - At some point you're just going to have to live with the reality that your CD player will never quite catch up. Either that or you'll go broke trying to find a way to make them equal. As you know, I all but stopped listening to CDs/SACDs once I bought my Basis/Temper. Most of my funds now go to vinyl. Expensive vinyl. I think I spent over $500 this past month on about 20 records.

Speedy - I feel your pain. I had my pre in for service last year and went about 4 weeks without vinyl. I wasn't much fun to be around. It's like losing your best friend.

Andrew,
It's difficult for me to answer that type of question without hearing the Orpheus on MY system compared to my Temper W. I wouldn't call Larry's system all that warm to begin with. It's a very detailed system that excels with classical music, which IMO is no simple task. Also, we're talking about horns here.

That said, I didn't find the Orpheus to be much different than the Temper in the warmth category. It's slightly more detailed, digs a bit deeper and seem to have a blacker background with a bit more transparency. I really don't think it's a night and day difference as described above. It seems to do everything the Temper did, just a little better. There's also the issue regarding Larry's "V" which certainly sounded better six months ago than it did when he traded it in.

From what I've heard so far, I believe the Temper and the Orpheus are very similiar. Is the Orpeus worth the difference in price? It certainly was for Larry. I'm not so sure I'd feel the same way on my system playing old jazz LPs 90% of the time.

- Gary