postercollect

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Estate auction

Summary:
I've auditioned so many speaker models over the years and was very happy with my previous pair, Cerwin Vega D- 9s, which I bought in the mid- eighties. I know Cerwin Vega has taken quite a slide in quality but the D-9 model was quite impressive and reliable, requiring both woofers to be rebuilt after 18 years due to foam surround rot. The Cerwin Vega technician who did the rebuild told me the D-9s were keepers and similarly lamented the company's declining quality standards. I should mention at this time that loud and clean music reproduction has always been a mandatory requirement and all other speaker brands I've demo'd either fell apart at high volume output levels or were priced well out of reach. So, the D-9s served me well and I probably would never have replaced them had I not happened upon the Chorus 2 pair at auction. Visually impressive with nary a blemish, I made up my mind during the auction preview to return the next day to claim them. Up for auction was a pair of the Chorus 2s, a pair of Forte 2s and one subwoofer SW-15 2. Strangely, the auction rule was high bidder has choice of any number of speakers for the high bid price, in other words, take one or any number for that price. Lucky me, for the high bid of $100.00 I chose both Chorus 2s and reluctantly, the subwoofer. Because of the chance someone would take the subwoofer for $100.00 if I passed it up, I decided to buy it at that time. Ordinarily, the remaining items go up for bid right after the high bidder takes his pick but I've seen people step forward the take what's left behind for the same price and really wanted the subwoofer as well. The Forte 2s sold for $85.00 apiece and I would have tried to win them had they been in a better condition- very nice overall but a couple of cuts to the foam surround on one woofer and light scratching/ blemishes told me to be satisfied with my wins. Then, after straining my knees to bend and carry each to my truck, I happily returned home for my speaker challenge, something I hadn't done in a good number of years. I placed the Chorus 2s alongside the D-9s, then changed the speaker hookups to the Chorus 2s. A little taller and not quite as deep as the D-9s, the most noticeable difference was the cabinet quality, the D-9s shamed by the black vinyl covering over pressboard and decidely hollow sound when knocking on the sides. The speakers were evaluated with a number of CDs and DVDs routed through my Pioneer Elite VSX- 47TX Receiver, Oppo OPDV971HDVD player and Anthem MCA20 amplifier. I was relieved and quite satisfied when I walked back and forth between them and verified all drivers were reproducing only the music, no buzzing, rattling or noise. But I immediately noticed the high end presence and hooked the D-9s back up to verify. The D-9s have rotary output level controls for the mids and highs, which sound most natural at the middle settings and sound unnaturally pronounced when set beyond that level. So, I generally agree with some user reviews which mention a bright sound. Still, I spent the next couple of hours switching back and forth and even listening to one of each brand playing at the same time to better perceive the differences at all volume levels. I came to the conclusion that both brands play at ridiculously loud levels and sounded great at all listening levels. I gave a slight edge to the D-9s for perceived maximum output (D-9 specifications state a sensitivity of 101 dB and maximum output level of 125 dB vs. Chorus 2 sensitivity of 101 dB and maximum output level of 121 dB ). The extra brightness was a little bothersome at first and I wasn't convinced to replace the D-9s. But in the end, the difference was rather trivial and I decided the Chorus 2s with subwoofer to be more than a match for the D-9s. The cosmetics and build quality of the Chorus 2s are also far nicer than the D-9s and I've never regretted switching brands. I use the Chorus 2s in conjunction with the SW-15 2 subwoofer and highly doubt I will ever replace them, unless I come across another similar estate find.

Strengths:
Beautiful wood veneer, solid build quality, rear facing 15" passive radiator, detailed sound reproduction, play extremely LOUD.

Weaknesses:
A tad bright sounding. If you feel they are too large, put them in a bigger room!

Similar Products Used:
Cerwin Vega D-9

72340cuda

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $675.00 from ebay

Summary:
I purchased my Klipsch Chorus speakers on ebay several months ago, but my father owned an identical pair for the past 18 years, so I knew what kind of sound to expect. My speakers are the walnut veneer which is very sharp, and popped up on ebay with a buy it now price of $450, and also $225 to ship, so a total investment of $675 was all I needed. That's a lot of money for me, but not for a near perfect pair of original Chorus'. I've seen heresy's fetching that much, and they just do not compare to the Chorus. These speakers are tremendously sensitive, 101 db, so my 35 w/pc integrated tube amp is more than enough, I need not put my volume knob past 9 O'clock. I have mine about 12 feet apart, that's all my room will allow, but I think you should go for 15-20 feet if you can spare the room. They really don't need to be mated with subs, the 15" woofers move a lot of air on their own, but I have two subs simply to fill in the bottom end even more, allow a more defined lower midrange and it takes it a lot easier on my tubes, all in all it's a win win situation, but I do like overkill because it works. The difference between powering them with solid state amps versus tubes is like night and day, no comparison at all!! My father powered his with a 300+ w/pc @ 8 ohm solid state amp, and while it did sound good, it tended to get overly bright, especially when given some extra juice, it would suffer from a high end glare. That is all resolved when you power them with tubes, no high end glare, you get a very well defined top end typical of horns, but not overpowering. I prefer to listen to smooth jazz/ acoustic type music, but I've heard everything through these, country, pop, rock, you name it, I've played it, and they just sound terrific. They are a large speaker, which means sneaking these past your significant other is virtually impossible. But I must say that my wife was against me getting such a large speaker, once she heard them she couldn't get enough, I think she listens to MY system more than ME!!! There really is no replacement for displacement, I've heard a ton of tower speakers and fancy overpriced bookshelf speakers which all cost more new than I got my used Chorus' for, and they all sound shrill in comparison. I love the sound of the tenor saxophone, these speakers put the sax front and center, not make it sound like it's playing behind a curtain. I love the way drums come out and hit you like your at the show, not like they are being played in a cardboard box. The best way to describe them is they have the kind of detail and imaging very comparable to the B&W 801, but they have the sensitivity a B&W could only dream about, and the best part is they don't take up anymore room than an 801, and are available used for a fraction of the cost.

Strengths:
Extremely easy to power, tight bass, no mud here!! Vocals are very accurate, minimal coloration, especially on female vocals. Crystal clear top end, pianos never sounded better, horns sound live, if you listen to jazz type music, look no further!! Solid construction, built like a tank.

Weaknesses:
You really should put these in a bigger room to get the best sound from them. Klipsch doesn't make them anymore, but you can find plenty of good examples on ebay.

bob243

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Audio Classics in Ve

Summary:
Iv'e had these for about four years now, and I still never get bored listening too them. I first seen these speakers new about 15 years ago when I was still in H.S. and then I decided that I will have a set of these some day. When I got them I had them in a bedroom with an old Hitachi SR2004 reciever and I played everything under the sun through them and they kept going.. Recently I moved my girlfriend into the house which brought more furnature and the room got cramped. Basically got to the point where the speakers were loud, but didnt sound that great.. I moved them into my big open living room and connected up a NAD 7240PE reciever (40WPC) and these things really came to life. (the Hitachi was great but no place to put it) I just added a NAD2400 100WPC amp and now she yells at me to turn it down LOL (so I will be finishing off my basement as a dedicated listening room) one thing i will note, these have passive radiators in the back I've found about a foot from the wall to be a sweet spot for these.

Strengths:
Super efficient 101db SPL
If you play rock, your clothes will vibrate and you will think your at the show.
exceptional clarity with any kind of music ( even classical and opera )
Top notch quality cabinets

Weaknesses:
Klipsch stopped making them :(

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from Audio King

Summary:
I have used these as my mains in my HT system for 6 years and have never been disappointed.

Strengths:
Great audible listening range. Effortless sound with minimal power.

Weaknesses:
They scare my kids during movie night!

Similar Products Used:
Klipsch KG 4's, Klipsch Academies, Klipsch KSP C6, Klipsch KSP S6

Price Paid:  $500.00 from second hand

Summary:
Possibly the largest single audio mistake that I've made in the last ten years was getting rid of my Chorus II's. I bought them at a pawn shop for $200.00. Put another $250.00 in them to bring them sonically back to perfection and refinished their fine wood veneer cabinets. I then, because of the thought of not getting enough accuracy, imaging, detail etc, sold them and went on a 5 speaker foray into finding something that I could live with. I went through Magnepans, Theils, Totem Staaf (loved those) and ended up with Totem Model 1 signatures. The point here is that I should have kept the Chorus II's. They simply played everything I listened to well. All the other speakers mentioned above were quirkier. They were more finicky about room placement, type of music, associated electronics, cabling etc. The Klipsch's just sounded good, great in fact. All of my non-audiophile buddies think I'm crazy for going through so many speakers when I already had the Klipsch's. Don't get me wrong the Totem's sound is better, more accurate but in my estimation only by the thinnest of margins. Plus they don't play as loud, are harder to drive and are much more demanding on the source componetry and recording quality. I think the Chorus II's are the best all around speaker on the used market. My experience with them was excellent.

Strengths:
Regardless of the music played they sound great. Available on the used market. Very efficient

Weaknesses:
Large, but I think attractive in the real wood finishes

Similar Products Used:
KEF, Magnepan, JBL, Theil