Vintage Klipsch KG4 + Sonos bi-amp with IKEA Symfonisk

[@nshandy]

You inspired me to try this. I need some garage speakers and some vintage klipsch with sonos smart technology sounds awesome. I can't believe you got those KG4's for free! I havent been able to find a pair for less than $350.

[@todd.parker]

Yeah it was crazy lucky. Someone put these on the curb along with Adcom separates!

[@nshandy]

@@todd.parker That is crazy lucky. Im having trouble installing the switch. Your other video says run 2 pairs of wires from the amp, one to the binding posts and one to the drivers with the switch, How do you run multiple wires from the amp when it uses a plug and socket? Do I run the wires straight to the binding posts, then back to the symfonisk drivers with the switch between the binding posts and the sonos driver?

[@todd.parker]

@@nshandy This video covers every wiring scenario in detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3PZoJlmnatngqc

[@mkfmkf55]

Not sure what that $400 price shown in the video means, but Audiogon's bluebook shows they were introduced in 1985 at $570. I remember wanting a pair in the 1980's & the local dealer's new price was $600.

[@PackardDog]

KG4's are a solid speaker. Just do a cap replacement ( I used dayton audio caps 1%) and a crites titanium tweeter diaghram and you'll be blown away. Cool video though!

[@todd.parker]

Just installed the new diaphragms and they sound great! No need to re-do crossovers, I’m bi-amped

[@PackardDog]

@@todd.parker cool !

[@charlesingalz3561]

It wouldn't surprise me midrange is bad with the passives. The x-overs on these had electrolytic caps and they are likely doing nothing at this age.

[@Majoox1999]

The measurement at 12:00 with the passive crossover can not be correct, a KG 4 can play with appropriate tuning and the change of the damping material linearly down to 35 Hz. I own a KG 4. An unmodded KG 4 makes it linearly down to 40 Hz. Also with the tweeter, with the original tweeters you reach about 16 kHz, with the titanium tweeters most likely up to 20 kHz, but I can only hear up to 18 kHz.

[@todd.parker]

Yeah, could be my room or listening position but I agree it should go lower (and does sound deeper). My measurement gear isn't super great either. y old ears can't hear up to 20k but the Crites diaphragms do make these sound a lot cleaner. I will say that I still love the sound of these bi-amped and are my everyday speakers.

[@pmholler]

This is really nice. I’m wondering if a setup like this with the IKEA Symfonisk could be used with a set of E.G. Active Beolab 3 speakers. I would use a MiniJack to B&O Powerlink cable.

[@todd.parker]

This technique will work with any powered speaker as long as you can get a wire connected to the woofer to feed to the sub.

[@ivansbacon]

EQ (room correction) vs not EQ (room correction) of coarse is going to be a different sound. Run em with a tube amp and tone controls or an EQ and bet they will blow away the sonos "AMP" sound. Mine are fantastic, I got the bob crites titanium diaphragms for the horns and better capacitors, also lined the inside of the box with sound dampening material.

[@renekristensen2162]

Hi Thanks for a great video, i am getting the sonos amp, sub, 2 one sl for rear and 2 dali spektor 2 for front speakers i would like to be able to do trueplay with the dalis can i do that with this setup and after trueplay disconnect the ikea symfonisk so they are not part of the setup anymore or do i need to keep them in

[@todd.parker]

Is the Symfonisk for the sub only? If so, it’s technically just another room you’re grouping with your other speakers so it’s not part of the Trueplay setup. One thing to note: I don’t think the amp decodes surround sound, only their soundbars do so check that before investing!

[@renekristensen2162]

@@todd.parker the symfonisk is for the dali spektor 2 only so i can use trueplay on them, the amp setup will be a 4,1 no center speaker the fronts will make a virtuel center

[@todd.parker]

@@renekristensen2162 So you're bi-amping the Spektor fronts with the Symfonisks, then grouping those with pair of One SLs as a quasi surround sound? Still don't understand where the amp fits in though

[@renekristensen2162]

@@todd.parker yes that was the plan, the amp will run everything my shield, tv box, apps, the speakers and the sonos sub. But i cant run trueplay with thirdparty speakers so was hoping i could if i connect the symfonisk to the dali speakers

[@todd.parker]

@@renekristensen2162 If you use the symfonisk to bi-amp these speakers, Trueplay works great. You can't however, Trueplay them with Symfonisk then "transfer" that profile to the Amp.

[@themountain3637]

What do you think if I try this with Bose series 301 ii , i just got them for cheap and they are in mint condition. Bi wire it . Cant seem to find any information about the drivers on them tho

[@timstulen9195]

I did the exact same thing with my Bose 301 II. Sounds really good!

[@m4sta2k]

@@timstulen9195 nice , sold them right away and bought some cheap dali and removed the crossovers on them so busted it , it does sound better :)

[@timstulen9195]

@@m4sta2k Sick! Would Love to hear what they sound like.

[@GRAAmusic]

What was the crossover point? Does it change with a different ohm driver?

[@todd.parker]

With a passive crossover, the driver impedance can mess with the xover frequency. In a bi-amp setup, the signal is divided between highs and lows before its amplified so the impedance won’t shift the crossover point. I think the symfonisk is around 3k but that’s a guess

[@GRAAmusic]

Todd Parker thanks!

[@schristall]

I tried this with some small, relatively sensitive monitors with bi-amp capability. After trueplay it sounded OK at lower volumes but when pushed the Symfonisk amp(s) appeared to struggle to supply enough current at peaks resulting in muddy, slightly distorted sound. No one else having this issue?

[@todd.parker]

I think the amps start sounding stressed over 60-70% even with the built in drivers. They are fairly small amps so efficiency is key. The klipsch are really darn loud around 50% but things so get rough when pushed near the max

[@schristall]

@@todd.parker Yes agreed - I thought the issue was the drivers, but in hindsight it is the amps. I actually found the original drivers better at high volume, even though they are missing low freq's. At the end of the day it is an impressive streaming speaker for the price

[@WordPressForms]

What model speaker stands are you using?

[@todd.parker]

I’m using the stock bases that I angled a bit so they lean back more

[@kokkuinyip4854]

Anyone tried a Bose 901 plus a tweeter with this?

[@arupdas4237]

Love your videos.You inspired me to try this. Awesome...👏🏻

[@ytbengpf]

Which app for spectrum analysis do you use?

[@todd.parker]

apps.apple.com/us/app/spectrum-analyzer-rta/id490078884

[@Mrdk82]

Nice! I'm still waiting for my Symfonisk. Can't wait to rebuild my old JBL Ti 200. I'm also thinking about getting some RP-6000F from Klipsch. They also have a nice sensitivity of 97 dB and the crossover freq. is at 1800 Hz. I hope Sonos will never release any update to prevent modifications like these. I'm not sure if they can do that at all. PS: still waiting for your donation button. ;)

[@todd.parker]

Those JBLs will sound nice bi-amped but those RP-6000F will really rock! I don't think there is anyway for them to prevent us from messing around. Once the signal is amplified, it's hard for them to police anything (I hope, having too much fun messing around). I need to look into donations, thanks for the nudge. I appreciate the sentiment.

[@mikehorgan3258]

Damn...this is awesome. I wonder how these would sound with a couple of Play 3s instead of the Symfonisk...🤔

[@todd.parker]

I’d guess the amps have a bit more power, yeah

[@Allenmarshall]

Whered you get those stands?

[@todd.parker]

For the KG4’s? Those are the factory bases I modified. See 6:00 in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYiXmIB5greAn9k

[@GRAAmusic]

Nice setup!!! I would like to hear that setup

[@todd.parker]

It sounds really good. I’ve heard a ton of setups and this is really engaging. Love the bass.

[@GRAAmusic]

Todd Parker this would be a fun pair to do a active pair kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5vKnpaCebGVfrs

[@todd.parker]

Yeah, that would be a great match for this - 96db efficiency!

[@daijoubu4529]

+1 class-d bi-amping with dsp/digital crossover, gone are inefficient class ab and analog crossovers lol

[@todd.parker]

I think DSP and room correction is the first leap forward in 75 years. Speaker tech hasn’t changed much ever.