kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Once you get used to the more forward, 'live' quality of the Heritage stuff it can be hard to go back to more relaxed speakers. 
Klipsch Speakers Thread
- Thread starter Slimwhit33
- Start date
TrainFan73
Frothy
I had seen it said that biwiring doesnāt really do anything. Iāll be very interested in your thoughts as this was something I figured I might play withā¦. But you know donāt want to spend a few hundred bucks doing nothingā¦
Well @Lee Newman @David A. (because he asked in a PM) I can tell you that my guy Nate at MD and @Slimwhit33 and @kvetcha are right. In my case, biwiring the Fortes makes a big difference. Big. Difference.
I was kind of surprised that I didnāt have more/deeper bass considering the 12ā woofer and the 15ā passive radiator. I had good bass, but expected, well, more. And that was ok. The dynamics, realism, and midrange purity are so awesome I didnāt really worry about it.
Everything I played up until last night was awesome. Then I figured Iād try Lynyrd Skynyrd āOne From The Roadā. Nope. Didnāt even get through the first track. Bright and tinny. Leon Wilkersonās bass was way way down in the mix. A dozen great experiences to 1 dud. I can live with that but the dud was a surprise as this album sounded a bit above average on the Lintons.
After installing the AudioQuest Gibraltar single biwire cable, I figured Iād try it again. Yep. We are good. Still a bit more treble energy than the Lintons, but it sounds like it sounded when I saw them- floor seats in Tampa. Imaging is insane. These cables stay. I expected a minor difference, and a difference where it comes down to personal preference. I didnāt expect an improvement. @Lee Newman these were a few hundred bucks more than a few hundred bucks- at 50% off.
Why the big jump in performance? I can think of some reasons. This is just a list in no particular order.
The Fortes need to be biwired to perform their best.
The AudioQuest are just better cables than the Analysis Plus that Iāve had for 20 years.
The AudioQuest solid conductor cables sound better than stranded cables.
The banana plugs make a better electrical connection than spades.
The wacky 72 volt DBS system battery power on the AQ cables makes a difference. Nate at MD says it sounds like snake oil but isnāt. He said in 4 years or so when the batteries die, Iāll know. They are easily replaced at any hardware store apparently.
So in short, should you biwire if you can? I donāt know. Itās going to come down to your speakers and what cable you choose. If you are curious, get some cables from somewhere with a money back guarantee. If you donāt hear or like the difference, return them.
The other thing you could do (and probably should if you arenāt going to biwire) is get some wire jumpers to replace the jumper plates your speakers came with.
For now, I have a Lynyrd Skynyrd show to attend.
David A.
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, now I need to try to figure out how to biwire the Dentonās to the AudioSprout. Do I need to go with Audio Quest cables?View attachment 173753
Well @Lee Newman @David A. (because he asked in a PM) I can tell you that my guy Nate at MD and @Slimwhit33 and @kvetcha are right. In my case, biwiring the Fortes makes a big difference. Big. Difference.
I was kind of surprised that I didnāt have more/deeper bass considering the 12ā woofer and the 15ā passive radiator. I had good bass, but expected, well, more. And that was ok. The dynamics, realism, and midrange purity are so awesome I didnāt really worry about it.
Everything I played up until last night was awesome. Then I figured Iād try Lynyrd Skynyrd āOne From The Roadā. Nope. Didnāt even get through the first track. Bright and tinny. Leon Wilkersonās bass was way way down in the mix. A dozen great experiences to 1 dud. I can live with that but the dud was a surprise as this album sounded a bit above average on the Lintons.
After installing the AudioQuest Gibraltar single biwire cable, I figured Iād try it again. Yep. We are good. Still a bit more treble energy than the Lintons, but it sounds like it sounded when I saw them- floor seats in Tampa. Imaging is insane. These cables stay. I expected a minor difference, and a difference where it comes down to personal preference. I didnāt expect an improvement. @Lee Newman these were a few hundred bucks more than a few hundred bucks- at 50% off.
Why the big jump in performance? I can think of some reasons. This is just a list in no particular order.
The Fortes need to be biwired to perform their best.
The AudioQuest are just better cables than the Analysis Plus that Iāve had for 20 years.
The AudioQuest solid conductor cables sound better than stranded cables.
The banana plugs make a better electrical connection than spades.
The wacky 72 volt DBS system battery power on the AQ cables makes a difference. Nate at MD says it sounds like snake oil but isnāt. He said in 4 years or so when the batteries die, Iāll know. They are easily replaced at any hardware store apparently.
So in short, should you biwire if you can? I donāt know. Itās going to come down to your speakers and what cable you choose. If you are curious, get some cables from somewhere with a money back guarantee. If you donāt hear or like the difference, return them.
The other thing you could do (and probably should if you arenāt going to biwire) is get some wire jumpers to replace the jumper plates your speakers came with.
For now, I have a Lynyrd Skynyrd show to attend.
No, but you want āsingle biwireā cables. 2 connections per speaker at the amp (normal) but 4 connections on the speaker side. The connections on the speaker side will be marked ābass and trebleā or ālow and highā or something like that. Get banana connectors.
Having seen your setup, youād likely get more for your money with speaker stands, getting the speakers off of the same surface as your turntable.
TrainFan73
Frothy
Iām going to have two speaker outputs. Would I still need a single biwire cable or can I just run to both outputs and turn speakers to a+b? (Like Iāll remember however many years from now I get some klipsch/any speaker with the possibility)
I mean i kind of thought it didnāt make sense that you would have to have two amps. Rather just enough power to push effectively, but I donāt pretend to understand most of this yet.
Youād connect the single biwire amp end to your A outputs.
B is if you want to run a pair of speakers in another room or outside.
View attachment 173753
Well @Lee Newman @David A. (because he asked in a PM) I can tell you that my guy Nate at MD and @Slimwhit33 and @kvetcha are right. In my case, biwiring the Fortes makes a big difference. Big. Difference.
I was kind of surprised that I didnāt have more/deeper bass considering the 12ā woofer and the 15ā passive radiator. I had good bass, but expected, well, more. And that was ok. The dynamics, realism, and midrange purity are so awesome I didnāt really worry about it.
Everything I played up until last night was awesome. Then I figured Iād try Lynyrd Skynyrd āOne From The Roadā. Nope. Didnāt even get through the first track. Bright and tinny. Leon Wilkersonās bass was way way down in the mix. A dozen great experiences to 1 dud. I can live with that but the dud was a surprise as this album sounded a bit above average on the Lintons.
After installing the AudioQuest Gibraltar single biwire cable, I figured Iād try it again. Yep. We are good. Still a bit more treble energy than the Lintons, but it sounds like it sounded when I saw them- floor seats in Tampa. Imaging is insane. These cables stay. I expected a minor difference, and a difference where it comes down to personal preference. I didnāt expect an improvement. @Lee Newman these were a few hundred bucks more than a few hundred bucks- at 50% off.
Why the big jump in performance? I can think of some reasons. This is just a list in no particular order.
The Fortes need to be biwired to perform their best.
The AudioQuest are just better cables than the Analysis Plus that Iāve had for 20 years.
The AudioQuest solid conductor cables sound better than stranded cables.
The banana plugs make a better electrical connection than spades.
The wacky 72 volt DBS system battery power on the AQ cables makes a difference. Nate at MD says it sounds like snake oil but isnāt. He said in 4 years or so when the batteries die, Iāll know. They are easily replaced at any hardware store apparently.
So in short, should you biwire if you can? I donāt know. Itās going to come down to your speakers and what cable you choose. If you are curious, get some cables from somewhere with a money back guarantee. If you donāt hear or like the difference, return them.
The other thing you could do (and probably should if you arenāt going to biwire) is get some wire jumpers to replace the jumper plates your speakers came with.
For now, I have a Lynyrd Skynyrd show to attend.
Nice! Just watch out for the Spanish, theyāll keep claiming true ownership of the cables
Lambswool grilles have arrived.
I think the Fortes are fully broken in now. Iām beyond thrilled with them. I really cannot imagine wanting anything more or what I could possibly be missing.
I mentioned up thread that Iād try them with the NAD 316BEE and I have. The little NAD has no problem driving the Fortes to satisfying levels (and way beyond) but honestly itās not a good pairing. The 316BEE canāt show the full capabilities of the Fortes. Bass response is diminished and the midrange (already somewhat forward compared to Lintons) is a bit too forward for me.
I far prefer my existing NAD separates but itās not a fair fight- they retail for over 7 times the NAD (although I didnāt pay that) and my speaker cables are far more expensive than any sane person would use with the 316BEE.
The 316BEE is still my favorite budget amp and is likely to pair well with anything most would pair with it. Itās an amp I could live with long term connected to another pair of more reasonably priced speakers.
My little experiment did reinforce something Iāve known for years- the āspend most of your money on speakersā crowd is misguided.
I mentioned up thread that Iād try them with the NAD 316BEE and I have. The little NAD has no problem driving the Fortes to satisfying levels (and way beyond) but honestly itās not a good pairing. The 316BEE canāt show the full capabilities of the Fortes. Bass response is diminished and the midrange (already somewhat forward compared to Lintons) is a bit too forward for me.
I far prefer my existing NAD separates but itās not a fair fight- they retail for over 7 times the NAD (although I didnāt pay that) and my speaker cables are far more expensive than any sane person would use with the 316BEE.
The 316BEE is still my favorite budget amp and is likely to pair well with anything most would pair with it. Itās an amp I could live with long term connected to another pair of more reasonably priced speakers.
My little experiment did reinforce something Iāve known for years- the āspend most of your money on speakersā crowd is misguided.
Satchmo2go
Active Member
Hope to be joining this subgroup soon. My first foray into adult electronics had me with a Klipsch Reference set up. Started with RB3's and then had some RB5's that ended my journey. I think if I had gone the floor speaker way vs. bookshelves, I would have stayed the course. I moved to danish speakers and have been there ever since (die hard Dynaudio speaker fan...which present their own issues - power issues). I picked up a Fischer 500c tube amp and I am ready to get back into some Klipsch. There are some Heresy's going up at an estate sale next week, and I plan on going super early and maybe walking away with them. I am not interested in spending more than $400 for them. I have no way of telling which gen heresy they are. Is there any way to tell from the label on the back?
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Itāll be on the nameplate on the back.
Heresy III and IV have 5 way binding posts. Series I and II have screw terminals for bare wire only.
Satchmo2go
Active Member
After living with the Forte IVs for a while, I can confidently say that someone else can have these only when itās time for my dirt nap.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the club! I think a pair of IVs are the only thing I can realistically see replacing my IIs.
Satchmo2go
Active Member
Any of you fine folks have any experience with the newer Klipch non heritage stuff? Specifically the RP Line (RP 160 bookshelf)?
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Sadly no, though I have heard great things about the RP-600m IIs.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Still plotting to get some La Scalas in my life! Itās all about the long game.
When I move into an empty warehouse I'm getting those Jubilees.