Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[FloridaBoy]

Consider some older Klipsch speakers as an inexpensive way to get real HE. Have fun!


http://assets.klipsch.com/product-sp...I-brochure.pdf

[decooney]

Thanks, kinda trying to stay away from the horn "PA" speaker sound if I can help it. Just auditioned a set of Heresy speakers and already bought/resold a set of Klipsch RP-160Ms. Nice for the $ for sure but probably not my cup of tea. A little too midrange squawky to me. Looking for something smoother, warmer, Tannoy type of sound - If it exists in high efficiency speakers with a low watt amp.

Or, might try a good full range or coax speaker with the high frequency attenuated down a bit, but losing some efficiency of course. Built a number of 2-way speakers under 90db, but never played with full range or high efficiency stuff much.

Open to ideas here too of course.

[timeout59]

I had Tonian 12.1 S speakers with my Inspire high output amp and thought it was heaven. These have a Phy 12" Alinco driver and a ribbon super tweeter. Then I tried Spatial M3 Triode Master speakers, an open baffle design, and they blew the Tonian's out of the water in terms of dynamics and liveliness. The Spatial's come with with a 60 day in-home trial. After 60 days I knew the Spatial's sounded much better in my system, and sold the Tonian's. You might want to give them a try. If not your cup of tea, send them back just for the cost of shipping.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by decooney

Thanks, kinda trying to stay away from the horn "PA" speaker sound if I can help it. Just auditioned a set of Heresy speakers and already bought/resold a set of Klipsch RP-160Ms. Nice for the $ for sure but probably not my cup of tea. A little too midrange squawky to me. Looking for something smoother, warmer, Tannoy type of sound - If it exists in high efficiency speakers with a low watt amp.

Or, might try a good full range or coax speaker with the high frequency attenuated down a bit, but losing some efficiency of course. Built a number of 2-way speakers under 90db, but never played with full range or high efficiency stuff much.

Open to ideas here too of course.

Speakers are very subjective and elusive for sure. I'm driving Heresy III's with my triode Inspire. IMHO, Klipsch need PIO caps in the amp and something like the won't break the bank Dueland wire to become warm and smooth. It's a chain and the links are the trick. You have more options with the HO Inspire.

[Analog Addict]

Originally Posted by decooney

Thanks, kinda trying to stay away from the horn "PA" speaker sound if I can help it. Just auditioned a set of Heresy speakers and already bought/resold a set of Klipsch RP-160Ms. Nice for the $ for sure but probably not my cup of tea. A little too midrange squawky to me. Looking for something smoother, warmer, Tannoy type of sound - If it exists in high efficiency speakers with a low watt amp.

Or, might try a good full range or coax speaker with the high frequency attenuated down a bit, but losing some efficiency of course. Built a number of 2-way speakers under 90db, but never played with full range or high efficiency stuff much.

Open to ideas here too of course.

Think Altec. The right setup will blow you away....

[decooney]

Originally Posted by Analog Addict

Think Altec. The right setup will blow you away....

What model?

Always admired the larger Altecs. In fact, a few years ago I helped a friend on a design and build of three sets of the ultra large Onken/Altecs speakers for himself and his two buddies. Super cool, amazing sound but way too big for my den room system. Always loved the little Altec 19s, but again too big. If I wasn't married, I'd own both sets Never really knew much about the smaller Altecs. Have no clue which ones are good or "great" in the mid size or smaller monitor sizes.

Do you know of a small/mid size Altec model people like to refurbish today?

[decooney]

Wow, sitting here listening to the new DH KT150 FireBottle "Hot Rod" tonight on my big custom AMT speakers.

Playing countless familiar tracks from the 70s, hearing new things on songs I've heard hundreds of times before.

This little amp is unreal. I love it.

[FloridaBoy]

I've owned some nice amps over the years but I won't part with the Inspire combo.

I'm curious about the smaller Altec speakers too.

[decooney]

Agree, if I decide to let's say "downsize" and sell off some of my other/larger amps and other larger custom speakers that I like a lot, I could see myself holding on to the little Inspire for a long time due to it's smaller form factor and maybe even the simplicity of it. Okay, maybe its the "sound" it produces too I've also been looking at small 3-way speakers too, to try, and run a very fast little sub with it too. A nice ultra high-end mini sat/sub system with a super fast sub might be cool that way you don't have to go so big on the mains speakers. Totem does a nice job of it. I have some really small Totem Model 1 Signature speakers on another systems I use that sound like large speakers, but lower db sensitivity. Gonna try them next, this weekend to see what the little inspire does. One guy told me he is driving 82db speakers with his Inspire amp and he claims it sounds really good. I guess all little tube amps and transformers are not created equal.

[Analog Addict]

I don't have many of the "smaller" Altecs, although the Bolero/890 series has a good reputation. However, I do have a custom set of EV Aristocrat cabinets filled with Altec drivers that sound very nice, and an open baffle set of 604-8Gs that are also sublime. It's not a coincidence that Dennis designed and built the crossovers...