LIVE REVIEW || Why I don't like the Klipsch Heresy IV
Vložit
- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- Written review/data can be found here:
www.erinsaudio...
Purchase from Crutchfield (affiliate link): shop-links.co/...
Support the cause:
Patreon: / erinsaudiocorner
Contribute via PayPal: www.paypal.com...
Your support helps me pay for new items to test, hardware, miscellaneous items and costs of the site’s server space and bandwidth. All of which I otherwise pay out of pocket. So, if you can help chip in a few bucks, know that it is very much appreciated.
____________________
All of my tests are conducted using KLIPPEL Hardware and Software. KLIPPEL is an innovative leader in providing unique test equipment for electro-acoustical transducers and audio systems. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Wolfgang Klippel, the novel techniques developed for control and measurement systems of loudspeakers and other transducers are the result of over 30 years of fundamental research. This provides more accurate physical models of loudspeakers, micro-speakers and headphones valid for both small and large amplitudes. The focus is on revealing the root causes of signal distortion and defects and giving practical indications for improvements in design and manufacturing of audio products. For information on KLIPPEL products, please visit their site below:
www.klippel.de/...
Purchase from Crutchfield (affiliate link): shop-links.co/chQWkBMmLZ5
Been blessed and fortunate to have owned or auditioned dozens of coveted “audiophile speakers” with top tier electronics. I always go back to my Klipsch Heritage collection. Probably the most polarizing speakers on the market.. either love or hate them. Forget the white paper. If you haven’t had a chance to audition the Gen 4 line of Klipsch Heritage I promise you will not waste your time. No other speaker has moved me emotionally than these. Honestly IMHO there is nothing that can suck you into a performance or recording and immerse you in total nervona .. ⚠️ they will expose the smallest imperfections in the source material. I do agree the small Heresey could definitely use a good quality sub Thanks for the time and effort in your review !!
I listened to them and cornwalls to. It was very disappointing considering their price
Best youtube channel on hi-fi! Keep on this way Erin!
Very kind of you to say.
this is the most sensitive speaker i have ever used when it comes to how they sound with the amplifier driving them. they aren't bad on tube, great sound, fairly lifelike. absolute earache on both solid state amps i tried them on when the volume came up. i know charts are good for videos but it just doesn't tell a person the magic question "does this sound like live music"
I bought Cornwall 4 to use when listening to rock music, I have since stop using my Sonos Faber olympica 3, not attempting to convert or convince anyone… but the cornwalls are my most favorite speakers…. Rest of the system..node2i, Ddrc-24,classe 2200 and Svs subs in a room that is 26x20… soundstage is amazing and detail and any volume level is great….. thanks Erin for your reviews and info…
I’d like to get my hands on those (the Cornwalls) to test but don’t see that ever happening. Keep rocking, dude!
Your toil is invaluable Erin and we appreciate you loads. You have one of the best HiFi related channels on youtube. Respect.
Don't apologize for critical reviews. I'd rather see those than the overabundance of false positivity that is so common on here.
Klipsch has issues and needs to change. Unless their engineers and project manager don't have access to enough electricity, or they live somewhere that it costs 50x as much, designing for sensitivity is the wrong thing to do in the modern era with cheap, powerful amplification more affordable than decades prior.
Designing for resonances is also wrong, and their engineers likely know this, though I imagine they are prescribed what to do rather than being told to solve problems.
I don't think Klipsch feel the slightest need to change. To me it seems like they have placed themselves comfortably in a part of the market that is mostly fueled by nostalgia. The "voicing", the pig-headed focus on high sensitivity and the 70's aesthetics. It's not something I care for much either (other than having a tiny soft spot for the aesthetics), but lots of people can't get enough of that stuff.
@@kristiankeller4335 Yeah. And they do great marketing and getting speakers in front of people at best buy.
@@kristiankeller4335 I'm one of those guys trying to find that sound of my youth... I remember Klipsch from back in the day... Put it like this, as a kid, I always thought that Klipsch was a German company, and we were still at war. I never liked that sound, friends and family had plenty of these, along with the JBL lineup.
Me, I always liked the Japanese sound, if you want to call it that, the Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood and then the old USA KLH. I just picked up a pair of the new KLH Model 5's and am now reliving those good old days back in the 60's and 70's. Just incredible sound, along with quality cabinets in a gorgeous walnut veneer with white linen grills, real high quality binding posts, and all for under $2000. Oh, the cabinets are braced. ;-)
@@michaelwright1602 I get it. I'm too young to have any nostalgic ties to these kind of speakers, but I bet my mom would love them. Big woofers and compression drivers are right up her alley.
Yeah the problem is all the false negativity in the comments of people who don't like klipsch
I've had different speakers from a lot of brands over the last 4 decades. I can make about any of them sound really good, including Heresy's. People say "no bass no bass" not if you know how to set them up. Love the Heritage series, the great Heresy included.
I can’t wait to get a pair.
This series of videos related to the Klipsch Heritage series is fascinating as it's inadvertently revealing the measured effects of proper or improper box/driver alignment. I noticed while playing around with the K-28E in WinISD that changing the port tuning from 36Hz to 43Hz in the standard 53 litre box caused the predicted group delay to drop from 20.6 msec to 15.8 msec, and the two impedance peaks became evenly balanced. At the higher tuning frequency the predicted acoustic output at 30 Hz dropped by about 1.5db, but there was little change in the 50-80Hz region. When modeling the same driver in a 110 litre enclosure tuned to the same frequencies, the group delay and cone excursion remained about the same, but the acoustic output in the 40-50Hz region increased by a whopping 5db, indicating that the K-28E driver is idealy suited to a much larger enclosure than used in the Heresy. (probably why they also make the larger Forte) Regardless of brand, an in depth discussion by you and Laurie relating to how various box/driver alignment scenarios can affect measured and perceived bass performance would be very interesting to many of your viewers.
Really gleaned a lot useful information off this review. Great job. I auditioned many Klipsch speakers over the years. Never cared for them, until I auditioned this new generation of product. Though not my favorite, I did find myself liking the Forte, Cornwall, and LaScala. These were powered by a Rouge Sphinx (Class D hybrid), McIntosh mc275 (tube), and McIntosh 452 (SS). In this listening session the Cornwall's being powered by a tubes amp did not outshine than the LaScala's. Goes without saying, Klipsch speakers still have an Klipsch sound. I feel one should never purchase a pair without a listen first, they are too polarizing. You will either like or hate them.
I remember Klipsch from when I was a kid. I thought they were a German company and we were still at war! They definitely have their sound. I found the KLH Model 5, very happy, and now happily reliving the 60's and 70's. And I did not have to break the bank to do it. Very happy! ;-)
In some vids that take it apart... there is Zero insulation inside of cabinet. Also, Klipsch Heritage line uses super thin plastic for their horns. People often modify/dampen them by adding sticky-backed Dynamat on the horn's plastic (on the inside/backside). Additionally, They use cheap woofers with stamped-steel cages/baskets. And also cheap crossover components. And minimal bracing. Long list of meh engineering, lol.
its like an android forum where everybody hates iPhone even never used one :D yeah sure i listen measurements, next time i go to a concert to measure everything after i tell was it good or not (its not you Erin just for the comments section)
For the money, you can't have it all I suppose, like bracing 😄
You mentioned Andrew Robinson. He often mentioned his roommode around 40Hz. Perhaps that evens out the bass a little, but still... That said, it doesn't explain not hearing audible resonances.
great in depth review and analysis! priceless! thanks so much!
Thanks for watching!
Nice review. I think with a sound processor with great room correction. Eg. LYNDORF and McIntosh room perfect can help.
Thanks Erin, great information.
This one review has been posted by you in every audio forum known to mankind. Clearly, you have an axe to grind with Klipsch.
Nah. I was just trying to grow my channel at the time. I’ve reviewed other Klipsch speakers positively.
This was a batter review than the other one before from these speaker, i have seen a buch of videos from your channel, great work man! Thank you
I really like the sound of this speaker the thing you dont like, i liked 🤓 very funny, im coming from cheap sony sc5, monitor audio rx6, focal chora 826 and yes, they need a little EQ on the bass, but thats all, for me its about the color this speakers can give to music.
Much as I love the sound of my F2s, I don't think I could live with these either. Great review ! The Pinhead from SHF.
I'm so glad I didn't waste 7 grand on bad measuring dynaudio speakers!
I love my La Scalas and I love K-Horns but I’ve never heard a Heresy I liked. Cornwalls are just OK. Must be all horns or no horns.
Wise and honest, thank you
Between you, Amir, and Danny at GR I'm starting to think many speaker manufacturers 'voice' their speakers so they have something a little different between models to suit the many tastes that exist. If they applied the Harmon research to the whole of their range, they would have nowhere to go in terms of suggesting going to the next, more expensive model up in the range. I'm speculating somewhat.
Which one of these is not like the others. Hehe
@@MrConcord75 I'm guessing you mean Danny at GR is not like the other two. If so, I agree...but...
@@deanedgx correct. I’m just teasing you. The more you watch, the more you know. Just keep in mind that some stuff from Danny is a little…..
Speaker design is all about trade offs. Even if they really wanted to get a nice Spinorama, a $300/pair bookshelf from their lower line will not be able to achieve it as well as a $3000/pair bookshelf from their higher line.
Now, if you are talking about companies where even $10,000 isn’t their highest line, then probably.
@@MrConcord75 ...sure...which stuff in particular? Cables? Yeh, defo. I included Danny in my original post because I do think he does some very interesting tests on commercial speakers. He also makes some fine speaker kits, does he not?
The copper coned av speakers are competitively, probably at a loss, so in my opinion Klipsch "Heritage" speakers (and their obscene pricing) exist to bring the company into into a more profitable venture. The way the foam damping material is just thrown in the box along with the lack of bracing at this price point is inexcusable.
They're competitve, but they are by no means selling at a loss. They have a huge markup (just like most other speakers)
Source; good friends with someone who works at a Klipsch dealer.
Hi Erin, so.....here is the deal about these old school Klipsch speakers. People like them because they tend not to compress, the drivers needs to barely move and therefore *not* distort in an objectable audible way. People perceive this *easily*. We have become so accustomed to the "soft" distortion sound of non-horn -loaded-direct-radiators that they are shocked when they hear these, having never heard dynamics of this type except at a concert, movie, etc! Obviously the first person (company) who uses inexpensive dsp *and* better designed high efficiency horn drivers plus delivers this at a reasonable price is going to re-take this Market from Klipsch. If PWK was still alive, well he would do it himself! It's wide open people! And possible now.
There is a reason these crazy uneven speakers are still around and its *not* their "signature" unevenness. It's the dynamic signature! The unevenness is now fixable. I know Earl Geddes gave this kind of a shot but now is a better era.
Some compared the Heresy IV vs Forte IVs and said they sound close. Looking at these measurements vs the Forte IV you have done as well. I'm scratching my head how they say it's hard to choose between the two speakers.
They definitely don’t sound similar.
@@ErinsAudioCorner Always enjoy your thorough reviews!
I wonder if the peak around 90hz is because its ported. My heresy 1 is sealed
Great review
Hey Erin, do you recommend any books about measuring speakers ? I've already got the D-Appolito book.
They like class A amp gives them a warm sound an amp with atleast 200 watts if not they will sound hollow and cheap tried them with 13 different amps you can only go cheap with avr and light on power if you have an aggressive crossover with a sub
I have heard various mainstream klipsch speakers and they never were impressive to me in the sense of the "wow factor" that I get with the Revel Performa 3 line of speakers.
@Erin's Audio Corner
Sorry I missed the Livestream, mate, but excellent revelations here!
IMHO, I think that Klipsch just really knows their target market and how to appease (swindle) them...which is most of the now older gents who have plenty of disposable income and just want to take a trip down memory lane back to their teens & twenties and simply "rock out" how they remember listening to their favorite music in "the good ole days".
90% of their purchase decision must be made solely on the aesthetics and nostalgia, without much honest research into truly good performance or SQ and value for money, and they just go by the popularity and "heritage" of the Klipsch name.
Just with what we know about good cabinet/enclosure design alone, you can almost simply look at these and KNOW that they will have some major issues, especially if you see them in person and not just the "glamour pics" in their advertising.
Regardless of their aesthetic design, I think that it is absolutely a slap in the face to consumers who spend *$3,200 Large* and are then bestowed with a pair of speaker cabinets equivalent to those supplied with a complete budget 1970's consumer RadioShack Realistic/Optimus or Sears/JC Penney/Zenith "All-in-One" home stereo system. SMH :-/
I'd definitely want (and enjoy) the Selah Audio Purezza's, or any number of other speakers in this price range over these Klipschsssssshhhh.
Your nostalgia comment is spot on. I have been looking for an old school speaker for a few years, the memories... But, I could not justify the prices these companies are asking for a wooden box with nothing special components stuffed in them. There is no way a speaker like this should be anywhere near this price. I bet they have more time and money invested in the boxes they ship these in then the entire design and manufacture of these "speakers". To say these are a ripoff is being to kind, this is criminal.
And, I found my speakers, the KLH Model 5, love them. And only paid $1800 delivered to my door. Now that is a fair price for a quality old school cabinet speaker to my mind. I have heard the Klipsch, I was never impressed with them, the Model 5 walks all over them for pennies on the dollar.
Would love to hear these in person! Until then, I have a question: Do vocals on these speakers sound natural or do they sound like someone singing through and amplified sound system at a club (horn pa sound)?
Judging from the pictures and website, it looks as if they are only using a 1" mid-range compression driver. I'm sure it was getting over worked at the 700-1KHz range, coupled with the shallow mid-horn, causing that bump on distortion and dip in output from power compression.
Jup, 1" with a 1.75" diaphragm
They may be nice but way overpriced. I have a friend that has these speakers. We did a sound comparison test with My Klipsch RF7's. I'll take my RF7's any day over these Heresy IV's.
It is outrageous what they want for these, I would bet that the shipping boxes cost more then the entire speaker looking at that construction. Looks like one of the old K-Mart or Sears house brand speakers from back in the day.
I did not compare klipsch rf7 but other high end speakers when I was listening to heresy 4 and I didn't liked them at all for the price
@@wadimek116 I have 2 pair of the first original RF7's and I haven't heard anything yet to make me feel I am missing anything in sound and with the added benefit of 2 original SW15's I feel the concert in my home.
I auditioned heresy iv and rf7iii in the same room. Wanted to love the rf7iii as they are so beautiful. But after hearing the heresy's the rf7iii just sounded lifeless.
It is a FUN speaker.
I'm gonna make a better replica. I love the look but klipsch rarely measure great.
OK. I have been trying to figure out this review, the measurements and what I hear. I personally love the Heresy. I think what you hate is what I like about them. That forward sound, the feeling that you are at a live concert, even though the sound is not balanced. This is what I want from my speakers, the feeling of a live concert. Heresy have flaws, as you point out. But for some people these flaws are their preferred sound. I come from a music background, playing guitar jn bands and violin in orchestras as a hobby. I can hear the flaws in Heresy. But at the same time I find it hard to find a speaker that evokes the live concert sense as much as they do for the price.
My biggest gripe is the resonance in the lower vocals.
Superb
Holy cow... Looking at the near-field measurements, it's a damn mess. That mid-range is entirely mishandled, and badly designed. That humped response is... Wow... That should have never left the design table.
The woofer circuit is... I just don't get why they would do this. To save money on components???
I could not get pass the cabinet. Looks like something that was built in a Jr High School wood shop. Talk about cheap and flimsy, no wonder it resonates, and all of that for $3000+ No thanks.
@@michaelwright1602cabinets are beautiful actually. You guys also need to put down the measurements for 2 seconds and just listen
Well. That was a clue to why I could never stand the sound of Klipsch. This is just more cowbell...
No bracing in the cabinet is criminal at this price range. The stuffing haphazardly jammed is just cheap. The woofer performs like something you would see in budget PA speakers.
This speaker looks like something an intern put together over a weekend.
How to deal with the beautiful background : join the t-shirt wearing group, use a camera with shallow depth of field so it gets bokeh'd out ;p
you need to put down the measurements and start listening
You must not have watched the video. I talk all about what I heard. Don't go into reviews with your blinders on, biased by your disdain for measurements.
Exactly. So does the comment section which is filled with haters of Klipsch. Lol shocker. Guys still don't understand klipsch speakers
I'm going to disagree but that's why they're different speakers for different people. IDC if they said you can use whatever you want, Klipsch SHINE with tube Amps. 10000%. They're noy going to tell you no you can't use other Amps
I really don’t understand all the hate for this video. These look like poorly made speakers. If people enjoy them, that is fine. But this is like people calling a dumpster fire “art”. It might be art to some people;but to the majority, it is just a dumpster fire.
Klipsch. Might have a reputable name, but built wise. Crap. No thanks, I'll stick to my JBL speakers, a name you can trust, my JBLS are made in Holland, 31 year old lx44s and still kick arse. Thank you Erin for your informative videos, cheers
You should not have to listen to an amp that adds coloration and distortion to make a speaker sound good. That's an asinine assertion to make.
I recently listened to these in a HiFi store along with modern Klipsch Corner Horns. I was very disappointed with these as well, and they didn't seem to sound better than my Zu Omen speakers. I was honestly left feeling pretty flat. The Zus (not looking at any charts) seemed to also have lots more bass.
...
It would be great if you could one day review some corner horns. Those actually really really did sound great to me. Amazing actually. Like I was at a concert, or "in the room" with the musicians.
They're definitely better than zu omens. Come on man
@@el34glo59 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
How do they sound different in your opinion?
It Definitely wasn't a night and day deference.
K Horns vs Omens were night and day. But not these...
They were definitely peers. I was just expecting to hear a much more destinct difference.
I grew up in the 60's and 70's listening to those old school cabinet speakers from the likes of Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, KLH, etc... I have never liked the Klipsch or JBL sound, I have heard plenty in my youth. I grew up thinking Klipsch was a German company, that is how much they impressed me, LOL!
Seriously, I have looked at a few of the Klipsch models, and even toyed around with purchasing the JBL 100 or whatever that is. I could never pull the trigger. I had and have the money, there is just no F'n way I am spending that kind of coin for something I know I am not going to like. Even if I did like them, $5000+ for two MDF boxes with veneer, cheap binding posts and what, $150 in electronics and speakers? There is nothing special about anything Klipsch puts in their speakers to justify their ridiculous pricing, NOTHING. They just scream K-Mart to me, always have.
So, I was still in the market for that old school sound and getting nowhere... Suffering with the bookshelves...
Then a few weeks ago, I was bumbling around on CZcams and found a review on the KLH Model 5 speakers, I had no clue they were even still around! Three Way Acoustic Suspension? Real wood veneer wrapping the entire cabinet? Internal bracing? Top of the line binding posts? An attenuation knob? Just like back in the day? And that grill! White linen? All for under $2000? WOW!
So, $1800 later... A gorgeous pair of speakers and stands arrived at my door. Thank YOU KLH!
Not enough bass
Has no bass
What?? This is pure blasphemy and HERESY! haha I couldn't help it
You do realize that's "Heresy" 😂 😂
The Heresy has always been the most disappointing of all the Heritage line, with the La Scala being the best, IMO. The reason they are called the Heresy is because Paul Klipsch felt that any design not using a folded horn was heresy. The La Scala may not measure as well as some other speakers with other driver designs, but to my ears they have a very immediate and effortless in the room character to the sound that few others can match. As for tube amps, Klipsches sound really good with a big rich sounding McIntosh.
Disagree. Love the Heresey
Why I don’t like this. Shows charts. Yikes
Did you not hear him say he listens to the speakers before he measures them?
Who cares if you don't like them.
You. 🤷♂️
You're missing the point completely here, genius. Btw, I care.
I still have my original beautiful timber veneer Klipsch La Scala's my father bought for his audio room back in the early 70's I think? Unfortunately now aged 91 he's deaf as a post so I now have them. First song I heard coming out of them was Supertramp's track School off their Crime of the Century album, running off his Linn Sondek turntable and DBX processor using his Marantz 4400 in a SMALL room and the weird sound from the DBX was so obvious but it still made my eyeballs jiggle and kicked me in my gut when the bass lines roamed through my tiny body. Wow!!!!!! Just blew me away. @@ErinsAudioCorner
He talks more about himself than about the speaker.
I love the look (and the heritage), but Heresys always sound box-y to me (in a way the Fortes just don't...)
I’ll try to hold myself back but that other reviewer (influencer) who had an orgasm over the Heresy clearly doesn’t understand what good sound is and is heavily influenced by how things look in his living room.
Shame on Klipsch for keeping this thing out on the market. Especially the mark 4 version which was supposedly totally redesigned. Klipsch must have known some of the issues reported by Erin, no?
Don't hold back, well explained.
Lol ok bro
@@el34glo59 😉🙂
Heresy is the worst of the klipsch
Erin wonderful big thumbs up -this speaker is garbage and always has been I heard a pair regularly 20 odd years ago and my friend purchased them based on the old Klipsch demo of drums -listen how fast they are etc -but no vocals -immediately shows the horrible colouration. Interestingly even back then the the larger one with the 15 inch radiator on the back sounded 20 times better -I actually could enjoy it
Erin I guess you know your in big trouble with the wife when your speakers in your theatre are all replaced by Heresy's 😆
Thanks for watching and the feedback.
Tried to like these, just can't, they are terrible..brand loyalty is all I can come up with.
I have heard the entire current Klipsch heritage line and I also think they all suck. For the life I me I don’t understand these. The La Scala was one of the worst speakers. It sounded like wooded Grado headphones with no pads. Really take the pads off your grados and you have a similar tone. The Cornwall IV was meh too. The RP800F if their best speaker regardless of price.
For perspective I use Revel 228be speakers with subs in my main rig.
James I own the RP8000fs and I think it’s really funny that you think they are the best Klipsch 🤪they are good for the money better than your revels and yes I have listened to them! I also own Cornwall lVs they blow away my rp8000s. I think everyone knows including Erin that specs are not everything. Personal preferences.
@@patrickmcgee283 nah, I own the RP8000Fs too (I use them as rears in my theater). I have played them side by side with the revel 228be in the same system/same room back to back (among other speakers, B&W, a Thiel Paradigm… all speakers I own). The Klipsch is simply outclassed in every way by the revels, no contest. People see one review online that says they are good and believe they are good.
I demoed the Cornwall IV several times at two different dealers. They are a colored speaker but again nothing wrong with liking a colored sound. Accuracy is not for everyone and I mean that not in a negative way.
You do realize that's "Heresy" 😂 😂
Not liking Klipsch is common, it's even fun. Doesn't matter how many times you post it. lol.