maddog07
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I would strongly suggest you audition some crossover-less, high-efficiency, wide band, single driver speakers before you make your final decision. I have owned nearly every “type” of speaker ever made over the last 40 years. To include many types of ribbons; Magnepan, Apogee, Carver, Newform Research. The list of conventional multi-driver, dynamic speakers I’ve owned is too long to list, but to name just a few; B&W 803’s, Wilson Watt/Puppy, Legacy Focus, Acarian Alon IV, Mirage M3si, and the list goes on and on. Each speaker excelled in some ways, but always seemed to leave me wanting for “something” . Ribbons were my favorite for a long time (love that “boxless” sound). Then along came the latest curvi-linear, micro-perf stator electrostats from Martin Logan. Those won out over the ribbons I had owned for nearly a decade. Then I went to RMAF a few years in a row starting back in 2010 and there I was “exposed” to the high-efficiency, crossover-less, wide banders, driven by flea-watt tubes, and I was completely smitten. Maybe “possessed” would be a better word. I just “had” to obtain that sound. All the models I saw/heard at RMAF had “second mortgage” range price tags. And I only go so far down that path of lunacy. The 80/20 rule has never been more prominent than it is in high-end audio. I would argue, especially nowadays, that it might be more like 90/10. Anyway, my quest led me to Decware and to a whole world of “not in the mainstream” single-driver, high-efficiency, wide-band speakers, such as Omega, Tekton, Hawthorne, Decware speakers, etc. If you’re into a little DIY, Audio Nirvana, Tang-band, some recent Dayton models and numerous others. My first DIY’s were made with Audio Nirvana cast frame Alnico 12’s in a ported box – the results exceeded my expectations. I still have them, but another experiment with these drivers, led me to my current reference, which is Audio Nirvana’s running full-range in an open baffle, augmented by Hawthorne Augie’s. If there’s better sound (to my ears) I haven’t heard it yet. I have a friend in my local pool of audio buddies, who recently stole a pair of Omega SUPER 3XRS’ off of our local Craigslist. I guess somebody needed some money or something. Anyway, he brought them over to my place, and other than quantity of bass, and absolute bass extension, and max SPL, these little Omega’s sound more like my huge Trio baffles than not to my ears. The micro dynamics, resolution, speed and tone are all there. Of course everybody hears “differently”, as hearing is at least 50% perception. And everybody’s room, equipment and preferences are different. But I would recommend you giving one of these types of speakers a listen before you spend a load updating your Klipsch's. I still have my vintage Klipsch Chorus’ and my Martin Logan Vista’s. I would not have believed it, if I had not heard it with my own ears, but the crossover-less, wide-banders are faster, more resolute, more dynamic that the electrostats – I kid you not. And the ole Klipsch’s aren’t even in the same league for rez and dynamics, despite being 101db efficient. I suspect the caps in the Klipsch are in need of replacement ultimately. But I really think “no crossover” is at least 50% responsible for the incredible “life” of the single driver, wide-banders. The next best thing to crossover-less, wide-banders would be something like the Decware 945 which run the 7” driver wide-open and only one Clarity Cap on the ribbon tweeter ( I have a pair of 945’s too ).
The “thing” with these types of speakers, is that you have to get the “right” amp paired with them. I cannot stress enough that “Synergy” between amp and speaker is more important here with these types of speakers than with any other regular, multi-driver speaker with a crossover. But when you get it right - there is magic! My Decware Torii sounds incredible with every wide-band, crossover-less speaker I’ve ever hooked it to so far, which is 3 different Audio Nivana models, Decware HDT’s, 945’s, HR-1’s and ERRs and the Omega 3XRS’. I have another buddy with Avantgarde Duo's. And after I brought my Torii to his place and hooked it to the Duo's - he sold his BAT mono's and bought a Torii - I'm not joking. The Duo's do sound good with the Torii, but they are not as fast or resolute as the single-driver, wide-banders. In fact the Duo's are "warm" sounding to my ears when driven by the Torii, but my buddy loves the sound of this combo. He has been happy with this pairing longer than any other in his life so far.
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