Quote:
Originally Posted by timm
It was interesting. The more I read that article - the more the description sounded very similar to a magnepan.
How big is a room you wanted to put them in. One other thing to consider... humidity.
So what does he do a complete rebuild? Would you need to get your hands on an old pair? How much for the refurb? Both of these speakers need room.
|
There was one point I left out of my comments on
Stereophile and their comments on the KLH Model Nine. At
https://www.stereophile.com/floorlou...klh/index.html this article is repeated with a March 5, 2006, date. This listing references a June 6, 1975, date, and that 1975 article references (and expands on) the 1968 article. It is highly unusual for a speaker to receive mention thirty eight years after its initial evaluation, especially in the grandiose terms that were used.
As to what David Janszen does to the Model Nine, his website shows three levels of service. Rather than attempt to re-describe them, take a look at
http://www.janszenaudio.com/klh-nine...shment-upgrade which is his website.
As to the size of the room, it is my office which is 11x21 feet, with a ten foot section that is 12 feet wide. I believe the total is 243 sq feet. The office is fully carpeted. One wall is covered with mahogany bookcases and credenza. I have five client chairs (two cloth wingbacks and three leather captain chairs), my Aeron chair, a conference desk (42"x84"), and a set of Legacy Signature IIIs. Acoustically, all of the furniture and the carpeting (along with all the bookcases) makes it more "dead" than "live" sounding.
My speaker placement is limited because of needing to keep a "working" atmosphere in the office and to allow for reasonable "traffic" flow. Right now the Legacy Signature IIIs are about nine feet out from the back wall (against the side wall on one side, and against the bookcase on the other wall), toed in to be pointing at my chair behind my desk. The speakers are about 12 feet from the wall behind me.
However, the Legacys (at about 12 inches wide) are considerably narrower than either the KLH Model Nines or Maggies. So, if I go to planer speakers, they will probably have to go fairly close to the 11 foot wall, across the room from my desk. Having wide planer speakers in the present speaker position would not allow the room to function as an office. Hopefully, I can get the planer speakers far enough out from the back wall to allow the bass sections to "breathe" properly.
I have a McIntosh MEN220 (with "Room Perfect" equalization established by a series of test tones while putting the calibrated microphone in various places) driving the Legacy Signature IIIs in bi-amp mode through four Mc2255s (two each channel - one for high and one for low). The MEN220, (with an active crossover allowing bi-amping) made a significant difference with the Signature IIIs. I hope it will help to give me a little more flexibility in speaker placement if I go to panel speakers.
As to getting used Model Nines, right now there is one listing on Ebay that shows two Model Nines, but reading some of the Q&A on that listing reveals that he has a third set. He is willing to sell all three to me, but we are having problems lining up shipping for these monsters. There is another listing on Ebay for a single pair of Model Nines. In my telephone conversation with Mr. Janszen, he mentioned that they had ten pair in the shop they were currently working on. He has one pair for sale (but, obviously, he wants more money for his re-worked pair than the people on Ebay).
Having purchased nineteen McIntosh units (as well as a Teac Reel to Reel deck, several equalizers, two Advent Dolby units, and miscellaneous other gear) on the internet, I have learned about the "risks" of purchasing used audio gear. In addition to the 19 that I have, there were four more McIntosh units where I refused to accept delivery because of damage in shipment. However, if one limits oneself to "top drawer" gear, it is worth the risk. Well made gear can always be put back in working order. One MC2255 worked for 15 minutes and then quit. But, I was able to get it running properly again with the able assistance from Audio Classics.
As to humidity, yes that is a problem on the Gulf Coast. But, we keep the Air Conditioning on 24/7 for the sake of the computer network, and to keep the humidity level in blank paper low enough that the printers do not jam. In addition to cooling, the office system also monitors humidity levels.
But, to get back to my original posting, has anyone had experience with both the KLHs and Maggies that can give a comparative perspective.
Thanks,
Jim