Is it just me, or, is Klipsch gaining momentum among serious audiophiles?

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bluegrassphile

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Not that Klipsch has been grossly overlooked. After all, as a speaker brand, they've been around a very, very, long time. But "recently" they seem to be shedding the (primarily) rock and roll speaker moniker/association and many audiophiles are turning to Klipsch for classical, jazz, and other types of music that Klipsch would have been overlooked for the last few years. Reviews of Klipsch speakers that I've read on the net, forums, magazines, etc. seem to be much more consistently positive than I've seen in some time. Steve Guttenburg, among other reviewers, has been very positive in his praise of speakers from the Klipsch line up.

First of all, let me say that I have no dog in this fight. Although I've been loosely following high end audio the last few years, I've just started to much more deeply explore it secondary to assembling a new 2 channel high end audio system for myself. I have a lot of catching up and learning (and re-learning) to do. I've tried to keep as much of an open mind as possible in assembling a new system. Mike (Suncoast Audio) has been a tremendous help in this process.

But, I digress...although Klipsch (so far) has not been included in this current round of (2 channel) system assembly I might subsequently want to upgrade my 7.1 home theater system for my upstairs living room. So I'm filing away ideas for that while I currently assemble and purchase my 2 channel, high end audiophile system. And Klipsch could very well become a part of that upstairs HT system.

So, is it just my imagination or have Klipsch become more acceptable as an option for those who might not have taken it as seriously as other options the last few years? BTW, I've always wanted to hear a pair of Klipschorns. However, like others, I don't have the corners for it.
 
The Cornwall III’s that I used to own were a blast and with a sweet amp, outstanding.

I do think you are right. Klipsch has been quietly improving all their speakers. Don’t be shy to consider a pair.
 
I don’t see what music style has to do with anything except the ability of the speaker to handle whatever style you are into. For those of us who cross genres at every turn, it gets more challenging to find a speaker that can handle that and do all the same justice.


I have been hearing about Klipsch in the same light as well. I don’t like horn speakers as I find them too shouty. However, everyone is saying the new Klipsch speakers are no longer shouty and sound really good. Of course, that is completely subjective. I will likely never hear them myself as I am not in market and don’t have any place to hear them anyway.


I don’t put any stock in what “audiophiles” accept or not or like or not because what is good one week is rejected the next. We all have different preferences. My criteria are: Does it play music? Does it meet mission critical requirements (price, size, matching….)? Does it sound good to you? Done!

As said above, don't be shy, check them out, if they meet most requirements and sound good to you = no shame.
 
Back around the time Klipsch came out with the Paladium line they had a Good Reference line, I was really considering the RF63 at one point. You really have to know or keep up because the Reference line varies over time.

I think it's the Heritage that is getting the buzz. I haven't heard the latest.

I went through a Klipsch phase, had some Forte II, Heresy III, a lot of fun but not the last word in detail.

Most theaters use horn speakers, Klipsch would make a fun set up for HT.
 
A year on and I’m still really enjoying my Forte III’s. They are just consistently enjoyable and more easygoing than a lot of other high end speakers I’ve had. They are also surprisingly well rounded in my opinion. I auditioned them thinking there would be blatant flaws but aside from a tendency to curtail soundstage height I haven’t found that to be the case. Of course they are a relatively affordable horn and do have their weaknesses compared to other designs, but they work well in my smallish room and have always been fun to listen to regardless of the electronics I’ve used.

For me they are very satisfying. For others with different music/listening preferences and/or a different room I would have other recommendations. As always with Klipsch, they aren’t going to suit everyone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bluegrassphile said:
Not that Klipsch has been grossly overlooked. After all, as a speaker brand, they've been around a very, very, long time. But "recently" they seem to be shedding the (primarily) rock and roll speaker moniker/association and many audiophiles are turning to Klipsch for classical, jazz, and other types of music that Klipsch would have been overlooked for the last few years. Reviews of Klipsch speakers that I've read on the net, forums, magazines, etc. seem to be much more consistently positive than I've seen in some time. Steve Guttenburg, among other reviewers, has been very positive in his praise of speakers from the Klipsch line up.
Click to expand...

Where is this information coming from?
 
mep said:
Where is this information coming from?
Click to expand...

Reviews of Klipsch speakers that I've read on the net, forums, magazines, etc.
Click to expand...

Its on the internet Mark, so you know :D


But ! what is interesting, I was at my local dealer last week,and I asked him what speakers are you moving lately. He told me, for some reason Conwalls and Forte III. He also sells the complete line of Revel, JBL and Focal and Paradigm and GE. I find that interesting.
 
CPP said:
Its on the internet Mark, so you know :D
Click to expand...

Good one Chris! Seriously, I'm not aware of any speaker research focused on consumers switching to any particular brand of speaker, let alone the statement I bolded in my above post. It's always dangerous/disingenuous to make statements that say "many" "most" "the majority" are doing something that fits your narrative unless you have facts that back up your statements.
 
mep said:
Good one Chris! Seriously, I'm not aware of any speaker research focused on consumers switching to any particular brand of speaker, let alone the statement I bolded in my above post. It's always dangerous/disingenuous to make statements that say "many" "most" "the majority" are doing something that fits your narrative unless you have facts that back up your statements.
Click to expand...

Not sure of any promo's by Klipsch, but their Forte III and Conwalls III do sound pretty decent with tubes.
 
CPP said:
Not sure of any promo's by Klipsch, but their Forte III and Conwalls III do sound pretty decent with tubes.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are people who love the vintage Klipsch speakers as well as the current upgraded models of the their vintage speakers. I also think that Klipsch is big in the home theater market. It's just the statement that "Many audiophiles are turning to Klipsch speakers..." doesn't ring true without some type of context.
 
mep said:
I'm sure there are people who love the vintage Klipsch speakers as well as the current upgraded models of the their vintage speakers. I also think that Klipsch is big in the home theater market. It's just the statement that "Many audiophiles are turning to Klipsch speakers..." doesn't ring true without some type of context.
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Agree , without sells numbers is all speculation.
 
Back in the day, when I managed higher end stereo stores back in Syracuse we sold ALOT of Klipsch. They were very popular speakers and VERY reliable. I do not recall every having a pair come in for service... they just worked. Customers liked them and the store did ok with them. Win win so to speak.

With that said, I personally was never a fan of Klipsh for my own use. They were really great at loud listening but I simply was not a fan of horn speakers and at that time they were the pinnacle of horn speakers, in my view. I was more of a fan of KEF and European designs.

I do not have to be a fan of a particular product to appreciate that product. Klipsch was a good product and I assume that they continue as such.
 
I like the Forte III, a lot.* I don't have the space o'wise id be playing a set now. The Cornwall by comparison have more bass and maybe too much mid-bass energy, that--to my ears--colors the mids.

*not to be confused with the Forte II that looks almost identical but sounds much different.
 
mep said:
Where is this information coming from?
Click to expand...


Certainly nothing official. Just what I've read on forums, Youtube reviews, reviewers (i.e. Steve Guttenburg), others, online mags. I don't recall who said what and when. Maybe I've noticed it more lately since in the not too distant past many audiophiles seemed to turn their noses up at Klipsch. It seems like most comments now are much more positive. OTOH, this could all be a figment of my imagination. But they do seem to garner a lot of positive comments, reviews, etc. of late.
 
While I knew that there were other speakers I could not afford I would rather have back in the late 1980s when I owned a pair of Klipsch La Scala loudspeakers (e.g., Apogee Diva), I still have fond memories of pissing off the neighbors by playing live Judas Priest at "call the cops" levels.

There was something about those speakers that really did well for high SPL heavy metal sound reproduction. The high-end audio folks made fun of them, but for what I was using them for, I thought they were great. I have not heard any of their models since, so have no clue on what they sound like now.
 
I have a pair of Cornscala's which are modified Cornwalls (the Squawker is from a LaScala)and it's about 103 or 104db of sensitivity compared to the Cornwalls 102db. I drive it with an HH Scott 299C which has 28 watts per channel and it's pure heaven. For normal listening I have the volume at about 3.5 which is plenty loud. I recently acquired a Bluesound Vault 2 and it's the greatest thing since sliced pumpernickel!

P.S. I was told you don't get the shout sound from horn speakers if you use a tube amp......anybody get it with solid state? Have never heard it on my system.
 
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