Klipsch Chorus II

audiocr381ve
audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
edited September 2013 in Vintage Speakers
The guy I bought my Adcom GFP-750 from tonight was a serious audiophile with some serious gear. He was also a gear hot rodder, like many of you guys. He let me take a listen to his Klipsch Chorus II's and I was very impressed. They had a very different sound than the SDA's. They were forward, but not harsh. Great separation, huge soundstage. Acoustic guitars sounded ridiculously good. It was a very in-your-face & raw type of sound, but it sounded awesome. He performed almost every available mod possible to the Chorus II's and I was convinced it was a good thing. They sounded better than the Sonus Faber Elipsa's I heard a few days ago, no joke.

Do any of you have experience with these speakers? I'm thinking they would be cool to own one day.
Post edited by audiocr381ve on

Comments

  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,133
    edited February 2012
    I owned a pair of the II's for quite a while several years ago. I didn't believe they were worth the effort of trying to do any mods to as they weren't anything like you're describing. I was quite happy the day they left and I've never had the desire for another pair; not my cup of tea. My memories; harsh; very harsh; no bass; took up more room than they were worth but they were quite efficient though.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited February 2012
    FWIW, I would opine that the Chorus II was the best sounding of the Klipsch "Heritage" speakers. They're not harsh in that "Sawzall" way that the earlier Klipsch speakers are (were).

    As a postscript, I've always been amused by the cottage industry of modifications for the much-beloved (in some circles) Klipsch Heresy, Cornwall, LaScala, Belle and (even) K-horns. There are, quite literally, folks who rave about their modified (e.g.) Cornwalls... and there is nothing left of their original Cornwalls but the boxes! (and those are often braced and tweaked as well).

    DISCLAIMER - I owned, and enjoyed, a pair of 1974 vintage Cornwalls for a decade. They were lots of fun driven by good quality, low powered vacuum tube amplification and fed very high quality source material ("software"). Anything else, and they were best utilized for removing paint! I got a pair of Altec Valencias and put the Cornies up for sale within days.

    Lcornieoly.jpg
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,644
    edited February 2012
    My Dad owned a pair of Chorus II - they sounded pretty good with the grills off.. with them on they sounded like someone threw a blanket over them, aka the grills
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • audiocr381ve
    audiocr381ve Posts: 2,588
    edited February 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    My Dad owned a pair of Chorus II - they sounded pretty good with the grills off.. with them on they sounded like someone threw a blanket over them, aka the grills

    Well I don't know what the hell the guy did to his speakers but they absolutely did not sound like a blanket was over them. He was running tons of heavily, I mean HEAVILY modded gear. He was pushing the Chorus II's with a 20wpc tube amp. They were really something special.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,963
    edited February 2012
    To my ears, Klipsch needs tubes, period. On SS gear they are just too bright and dry sounding. Looks like your friend figured that one out awhile back.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited February 2012
    I would concur... although there is a group of folks who felt that the vintage "twin power" harman/kardon receivers - specifically the hk430 - were a good, and possibly the best, soiled state match for the Heritage Klipsch speakers.

    whatmore.jpg

    I will say that the two folks locally whom I know that have Chorus IIs have virtually diametrically opposite approaches to driving them - one pair runs from a fleapowered (ca. 2 wpc) Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier (the original version, ca. 1997); the other pair is attached to a Sansui 9090, a fairly mammoth 1970s Japanese ss receiver. Both sounded quite good, I have to admit.

    sansui781.jpg

    EDIT: oh, for the OP's benefit... there's a sort-of parallel thread running at AK today. I already pontificated on this subject there :-)

    http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=423058
  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited February 2012
    Chorus II's are a good mix of all that is good about the Klipsch Heritage line. They have some bottom end not huge but like Tony and Mhardy said they need tubes.

    SS gear and Klipsch Horns can hurt the ears.

    I have owned many but I doubt I will ever buy another pair. They get boring after a while.
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2012
    Never heard a Klipsch I could stand. Way too in my face for me. I haven't listened to them all though.

    Polk and Klipsch couldn't be more at the opposite ends of the pole.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • motorstereo
    motorstereo Posts: 2,133
    edited February 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Never heard a Klipsch I could stand. Way too in my face for me. I haven't listened to them all though.

    Polk and Klipsch couldn't be more at the opposite ends of the pole.

    H9
    Couldn't agree more. My 2.3s replaced a pair of chorus II's and it was one of my better moves audiowise.
    Now if I could've listened to some good advice and set those 2.3s up correctly...........
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited September 2013
    Going to pick up a pair today.... In your face is good. They will be garage speakers!
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited September 2013
    Two things with heritage series Klipsch's.
    1. They need Bob Crites tweeter upgrade otherwise most find them too bright. Older listeners who don't have perfect ears like them more.
    2. They work best with tube amps.

    I've had few different old Klipsch's and don't like them.
    I am now considering Klipsch RF series for home theater to see how I like the new models for movies.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited September 2013
    Mystery wrote: »
    Two things with heritage series Klipsch's.
    1. They need Bob Crites tweeter upgrade otherwise most find them too bright. Older listeners who don't have perfect ears like them more.
    2. They work best with tube amps.

    I've had few different old Klipsch's and don't like them.
    I am now considering Klipsch RF series for home theater to see how I like the new models for movies.

    Yes the Crites drivers are going to ordered likely. Doubtful I will use tubes as I don't want to mess with bias issues etc. Low maintenance is good for me.
    I may do Crites xover upgrade too, unless I can find someone on here to do it cheaper/better.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited September 2013
    I wonder if I can try my tube pre/DAC to get a taste for it. I have an Aune T1 that is pretty warm.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited September 2013
    You can do it yourself for cheaper, and Klipsch makes fairly easy to XOs to work on.

    Try a tripath based amp on those as they are cheap, no tube maintenance, and most have a warm sound with horns.
  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited September 2013
    nguyendot wrote: »
    I wonder if I can try my tube pre/DAC to get a taste for it. I have an Aune T1 that is pretty warm.
    Yes you can or get a different tube buffer that works well with these.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited September 2013
    I'll try it with the Threshold CAS-2 (only 2 chan I have right now). I also have some low powered Pioneer SS equipment that I believe is warm. Guess all I can do is try it and see.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited September 2013
    tonyb wrote: »
    To my ears, Klipsch needs tubes, period. On SS gear they are just too bright and dry sounding. Looks like your friend figured that one out awhile back.
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I would concur... although there is a group of folks who felt that the vintage "twin power" harman/kardon receivers - specifically the hk430 - were a good, and possibly the best, soiled state match for the Heritage Klipsch speakers.

    whatmore.jpg

    I will say that the two folks locally whom I know that have Chorus IIs have virtually diametrically opposite approaches to driving them - one pair runs from a fleapowered (ca. 2 wpc) Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier (the original version, ca. 1997); the other pair is attached to a Sansui 9090, a fairly mammoth 1970s Japanese ss receiver. Both sounded quite good, I have to admit.

    sansui781.jpg

    EDIT: oh, for the OP's benefit... there's a sort-of parallel thread running at AK today. I already pontificated on this subject there :-)

    http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=423058

    Totally with Tony and Mark here. Unfortunately, though I do have an HK 430 in the fold I don't currently have any vintage Klipsch to test that out. I will say that so far, I haven't found a vintage bookie that hasn't liked the 430. I currently have some Dynaco A25s that are oh so "smooth" on this receiver and a pair of JBL 2600 whose titanium tweeter popped, so I substituted a FAR more listenable VIFA treated fabric dome that is SO MUCH better than the originals on these it's hard to believe they once had cheap metal dome tweeters in there. I love the VIFAs and they're almost a perfect match, just a tiny bit of sizzle on some tracks up top which is still very listenable.

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]