Klipsch KG 4.5 speakers

[chris@panteg]

Curious about these and wondered if anyone has heard them and what they thought ?

http://images.klipsch.com/dab85057283ecbe061a971e4446d679d_63504217120462000 0_medium.jpg

[Macca]

They look pretty serious. Is that a 10 inch metal cone mid bass? I'd say purely from the look of them they will take no prisoners. Careful partenering required.h

[Haselsh1]

I used to own Klipsch KG3.5 speakers that I partnered with an Audion 300B SEL amplifier. It was really a match made in heaven but when I tried them with a class AB push pull amplifier, the treble was as fierce as hell.

[Ninanina]

Curious about these and wondered if anyone has heard them and what they thought ?

http://images.klipsch.com/dab85057283ecbe061a971e4446d679d_63504217120462000 0_medium.jpg

Chris yes I've heard them and they are really impressive... I may be just a little bit biased though as I use Klipsch myself. They have MUCH more bass than my Heresy's but still retain the horn magic. I heard the 4.5's with an EL34 amp that was falling to bits but it still sounded superb :D

They also are not that expensive for the sound quality you have on tap....

They are about 95dB so only need a handful of good watts to sound superb. They were made between 1994-1997

[chris@panteg]

Chris yes I've heard them and they are really impressive... I may be just a little bit biased though as I use Klipsch myself. They have MUCH more bass than my Heresy's but still retain the horn magic. I heard the 4.5's with an EL34 amp that was falling to bits but it still sounded superb :D

They also are not that expensive for the sound quality you have on tap....

They are about 95dB so only need a handful of good watts to sound superb. They were made between 1994-1997

Thanks, that sounds good, I've heard they like a valve amp but one with some omph despite the high sensitivity, feeling a bit adventurous to be honest, seen a pair for sale and am looking at getting back into valves.

[Ninanina]

Thanks, that sounds good, I've heard they like a valve amp but one with some omph despite the high sensitivity, feeling a bit adventurous to be honest, seen a pair for sale and am looking at getting back into valves.

PM sent

I'm not sure if they really need some 'omph' as you say though. I run my Heresy's with about 8 watts of Audio Note Oto SE and it drives them with absolute ease, in fact I'd hate to drive them with anything much more than 8 watts. The Heresy's are about 97dB and the KG 4.5's are about 95dB so not a lot in it really

[chris@panteg]

Is that heresy 2s Bev? They don't seem that popular here in the UK.

I am intrigued though, why not.

[Ninanina]

Is that heresy 2s Bev? They don't seem that popular here in the UK.

I am intrigued though, why not.

Chris, yes I am using Heresy II's. They had a VERY long run between 1985 and 2005.... I have no idea how good the Heresy III's are as I have never heard them

[Ninanina]

But what do I know??

I am a Klipsch convert and have been for many years.... I think anyone not liking the Klipsch sound have just not heard them with the right amp setup...

They MUST be used with a high quality, probably low powered SET, valve amp to hear them at their best.... then you will understand why I hold them in such high regard.... they are super 'quick' and 'super' resolving and if your amp is not up-to-it then they will not sound very good

I have NEVER heard a Klipsch run with a SS amp and I don't think I want to as I think they will definitely be too 'HOT' if that makes sense.....

The Heritage range, which includes the mighty Klipschhorn, La Scala, Cornwall and Heresy, were designed when only valve amps were made and they MUST be used with a good valve amp to hear them as they were intended..

The very best speaker I have EVER heard was the La Scala and if I had room for a pair i would have them in a flash... a truly superb speaker!!

[PaulStewart]

Hi All,

Last time I heard the 4.5s was when I helped a mate set a system up for his dad about 5 years ago. Both he and his old man are professional orchestral string players albeit the dad is retired, he still has all his high frequencies and of course they both know what sounds good. The system was his existing TD124 which I had serviced for him, Mayware F4 unipivot arm with a Mayware MC with Ortofon T10 SUTs, Marantz CD player all going into an Art Audio VPS pre and a Quintet EL34 power in triode mode.

This give about 15 watts and the whole thing sounded sublime, bags of detail and dynamics in the way only horn tweeters and high efficiency can do, serious slam in the bass department and in his 30 by 15 ft lounge they were capable of some realistic sound levels. His dad still have the system and still loves it. I would always partner Klipsch with valves myself, it's a match mde in heaven.

[Ali Tait]

Agree valves are de rigeur with Klipsch. Not sure what the impedance is like, if it's reasonable an OTL might sound astonishingly good. You could ask Alan (Firebottle) about building one, or Transcendent Sound do very good kits.

[Firebottle]

I could recommend the Transcendent Sound 'Son of Beast', but with a few little tweaks :D

Not least a bigger value smoothing choke in the negative supply rail.

:cool: Alan

[chris@panteg]

Thanks for the response guys, mmm, yes I wouldn't dream of using a ss amp with Klipsch, though the Marantz is quite a warm a civilised performer.

I was thinking of the Puresound A30 or possibly the 2a3? The latter would probably be a dream match perhaps.

I need to hear the 4.5 1st though, I might hate it I don't know?

I did once hear the mighty klipschhorns in a room far too small !!! It was a scary experience.

[Macca]

If you don't mind me saying I think there is a bit of knee jerk thinking going on here with regard to the valve amps - the point of very sensitive loudspeakers like Klipsch is to get good dynamics and fast transient response, not so that they can be partnered with low powered valve amps. Although they can be driven that way there is no reason why a solid state amp would not do as good a job unless you want a 'mushy' sounding valve amp to 'take the edge off' but that always strikes me as a tits-up way of doing things. And not all valve amps sound soft and cuddly in any case. My Akais are 94dB sensitive and I am using 180 watts per channel of solid state with them. Also I have a Ken Kessler review of the Heresey II somewhere and I am sure he uses a Krell with them at some point in his test and reports great results.

[Ali Tait]

I've heard Klipsch with SS and it could take your fillings out. Different story with a decent valve amp. Still a very deeeeetailed sound, though if that's your bag it's a great sound.

[chris@panteg]

Martin I'm pretty open minded on the subject, not impossible for say my Marantz to sound right with the klipsch? I'm in no rush to make any drastic changes, just curious at the moment.

If I see another pair of Snell J's I'd go back to them TBH.

[Macca]

I've heard Klipsch with SS and it could take your fillings out. Different story with a decent valve amp. Still a very deeeeetailed sound, though if that's your bag it's a great sound.

My take is that it is the speakers revealing the source component sound due to their nature. same issue with my Akais they are very fussy about partnering with digital sources. Using something with the right 'voicing' is crucial. So I think you may be blaming the amplification when what you were actually hearing was issues with the source that the valve amp was masking/softening and the SS amp wasn't. Not saying this was the case just putting it out there as a possibility.

[Ali Tait]

Aye, maybe so. I knew the valve amp in question very well though, having sold it to the Klipsch owner, and I never noticed it having a veiling effect on what it was fed from.

[Whell]

I've heard Klipsch with SS and it could take your fillings out. Different story with a decent valve amp. Still a very deeeeetailed sound, though if that's your bag it's a great sound.

Just came across this thread. I'm sitting here now with a pair of KG 4.5's and enjoying them as I type. I've got three amps to choose from and I tend to rotate them in and out as the spirit moves me. Right now the KG-4's are running off of a SS amp, this one to be specific: http://www.avahifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=221. NOT AT ALL overly bright. My favorite combo is a lower power EL-84 based amp, but the KG 4.5 / SS amp combo is very nearly as enjoyable. Of course, if I want to watch at a higher volume level, the SS amp is a must.

Just a thought to take care with generalizations. While I've heard Klipsch speakers mis-matched with electronics or sources, care in system matching and synergy yield great results with either SS or tube amps.

[Haselsh1]

I would never use Klipsch loudspeakers with solid state as the treble would kill bats. I definitely would use single ended valves though with the best being 300B or EL34. I have heard both with KG3.5's and they sounded sublime.

[Whell]

I would never use Klipsch loudspeakers with solid state as the treble would kill bats. I definitely would use single ended valves though with the best being 300B or EL34. I have heard both with KG3.5's and they sounded sublime.

That's you, and maybe your choice of solid state amplification. Broad generalizations like your statement above can be mis-leading. There are plenty of solid state amps that synergize quite well with the KG series. Pairing Legacy Klipsch with solid state is a bit more challenging but can certainly be done.

[Haselsh1]

That's you, and maybe your choice of solid state amplification. Broad generalizations like your statement above can be mis-leading. There are plenty of solid state amps that synergize quite well with the KG series. Pairing Legacy Klipsch with solid state is a bit more challenging but can certainly be done.

This is not a broad generalisation like the one you just made, this is the result of listening to both sets of equipment with the same loudspeakers and then coming to a conclusion based on fact.

[Arkless Electronics]

Lots of generalisations and total tosh being bandied about as always when things such as "valve V transistors" are discussed :rolleyes: Unfortunately any attempt to discuss the real deal on such issues will be technical and therefore kill the thread..... whereas if superstition, old wives tales and a complete lack of technical understanding are allowed to prevail it will probably run and run! :eyebrows: Sa la vie.... Carry on...

[walpurgis]

Lots of generalisations and total tosh being bandied about as always when things such as "valve V transistors" are discussed.

I agree Jez. I've heard dire valve amps and blissfully good transistor ones! (and vice versa of course) :)

[Arkless Electronics]

I agree Jez. I've heard dire valve amps and blissfully good transistor ones! (and vice versa of course) :)

Indeed! I've also heard bright tinny valve amps and warm woolly transistor amps. The point is there are often good technical reasons for all this which have little to do with whether its valve or transistor and much more to do with other facets of the design.... to generalise! :D

[Haselsh1]

Which is exactly why, in post #3 I specified the particular amplifier I used at the time I listened to the KG3.5's. I also used an Audion ETSE and an Arion Elektra. The track 'Dear John' by Eddi Reader I have never heard sound so beautiful as it did using the 300B SEL with the KG3.5's.

I guess the seriously rolled off treble of the two single ended amplifiers helped the sting of the treble of the Kilpsch's.

[DSJR]

I must admit that the smaller Klipsch speakers I've heard (Heresy II's years ago and some flashy looking floor standers a few years ago) tended to be very 'treble-strong' and not very 'clean' with it, so any matching would have to be carefully done IMO.

[walpurgis]

I must admit that the smaller Klipsch speakers I've heard (Heresy II's years ago and some flashy looking floor standers a few years ago) tended to be very 'treble-strong' and not very 'clean' with it, so any matching would have to be carefully done IMO.

Anybody liking this kind of balance, but wanting a bit more finesse, should have a listen to Triangle speakers. They have a very vibrant, live sound to them, a little reminiscent of older JBLs.

[Haselsh1]

Anybody liking this kind of balance, but wanting a bit more finesse, should have a listen to Triangle speakers. They have a very vibrant, live sound to them, a little reminiscent of older JBLs.

Do you remember the Triangle Zephyr loudspeakers...? I always thought they were excellent but back then I was using Castle Harlech's and I thought they were better so I kept them in preference.