BOOOM....with a macintosh amplifier ...electri q discotheque ...i worked for 15 years...BOOM ...MY DJ BOOTH MONITORS...NEVER EVER A SPEAKER BLOWN........NEVER EVER EVER EVER....HIGH DEFINITION ....BOOM ....BOOOM...BOOOM EVERY 4 MINUTES TO SINCRONIXE THE MIX....BOOM BOOOM FOR 15 YEARS........AND STILL IT BOOMS IN MY BEDROOM......I BOUGHT THE SPEAKERS AND STILL SOUND LIKE NEW....AND I AM NOT DEAF....WE BOUGHT THE SYSTEM FROM HOWELL ELECTRONICS EL PASO TEXAS...MR HOWELL...AND TOM...THE TECHNICHIAN....GOD´S TEC...INSTALLED OUR SYSTEMS...AND ALSO IN MEXICO CITY THEY INSTALLED THE BASILICA DE GUADULUPE...MEXICAN´S MAIN CURCH...BELLE KLIPSH...MAKES GOD ........CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD....PLEASE ....LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE SINGERS TAKE A BREATH.......BEFORE THEIR NEXT LYRIC...SWEAR TO GOD......JUAN TENORIO ..HOW ABOUT NEIL DIAMOND.....CARPENTERS ...BARBARA...LISA...LIBERACE.-........IS IT LIVE OR ISIT KLIPSH....

Dynamics. Sheer listening pleasure. Looks. Can be driven by low powered amplifiers. Cost - bought used, nothing comes close for value for money.

Needs a quality amplifier and source. They are BIG! For HT you could use a subwoofer. Like Maybe Klipsch's new RT-12d. But most speakers need a little help for LFE anyway.

The Belles have recently been 'discontinued'. The penultimate flagship is currently the La Scala 2. A not very successful attempt to dress up the commercially based La Scala. Unfortunately the new La Scala/Belle replacement is constructed of mdf instead of birch ply, although Klipsch have dressed up the new La Scala with a nice veneer. I think the La Scala 2 is a little heavy handed in the looks department. In contrast the Belle looks like a fine lady with good breeding.

The good news, I guess, is that Klipsch have left the electrical bits alone. A late model Belle will sound the same as the new La Scala 2 - despite protestations from those with 'audiophile' hearing.

Now to the Belles. I own a pair built in 2005, but purchased brand new at a discount because they were runout models. They are probably the most dynamic speakers you can buy. They offer a wide involving soundstage, with great imaging and excellent resolving power. In comparison, most other speakers costing less than the price of a new small car, sound anemic and undernourished in comparison. You can use any amplifier claiming more than a few watts in power output for reasonable spl's. But of course, if you use a quality amplifier with more power and bandwidth, you will be rewarded with the full glory that these speakers are capable of. Like anything, you need to try first. Some amplifiers may sound a little harsh. Well-designed amplifiers should sound smooth and revealing with the Belles - whether solid state or tube.

What about the bass? Maybe they don't go quite as low as some other designs. But most music doesn't go that low anyway. Regardless of the published specifications, the Belles have the most AWESOME bass you will ever hear. Play some Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' and your stomach will literally shake with the bass impact. Play the '1812' and the cannon shots will shake the books off your shelf. I am not kidding! But the Belles can be delicate too. I like listening to a little jazz and some choral and chamber music late at night. The Belles have the grace to throttle back and settle in for a long easy night of listening.

Maybe Klipsch will bring the Belles back on special order. Who knows? But at the moment, the Belles when purchased used, are the hi-fi bargain of the century.

Efficient. Engaging. Does everything a front loaded horn should do in spades. Active used market for re-sale. Life-like reproduction.

Very heavy and difficult to transport. Imaging is not what you can get in other designs. Placement can be picky. Near field listening is not strong.

1976 Belles, oak with tan grilles. AA crossover, alnico magnets. An earlier review stated that the Belle was designed as a center channel for the Klipsch Horns. I was told that Belles were designed by Paul Klipsch for his wife, Belle, who wanted a pair of speakers pleasing to the eye that did not need to be placed in a corner. I do not disagree with the earlier reviews, but would like to add that Belles can be matched with solid state gear with great results. I often run my Belles with McIntosh MA 6100, or MA 6200 integrateds and the sound is wonderful. It should be noted that older MC gear was voiced to be *tube* like. At any rate, great care should be taken with matching amps with Klipsch speakers. Belles, like all front loaded horns, have a *sound*. My experience has been that all speaker choices are a question of tradeoffs. Some designs image better, some are more realistic or detailed, some do both OK but neither really well. Klipsch Belles are clear, precise and engaging. They are detailed. They make the music seem alive. Quick bass, fine highs, and stellar mids, are what you can expect. Do they image like an electrostatic? Nope. But it all comes down to tradeoffs. I prefer the Belles to Cornwalls, but it may just be an aesthetic. I do not have corners or I would recommend the K’Horn. My audio goal is to reproduce live recorded material in my home 2 channel stereo with as much realism as possible. Belles meet this goal.

Similar Products Used:

Most other Klispch products.

Everything with the right equipment

Everything with the worng equipment

UNBELIEVBLE DESIGN. Articulate...powerful clean and precise. These speakers MUST MUST MUST be setup with tubed amplifiers and tubed preamp of a high quality either SET in design or Push Pull and rewired internally with pure silver wire and run pure silver speaker wire to give them their just deserts...This speaker can smake anyting out there other than a Klipsch LaScala or Klipsch Klipsch Klipschorn.

Similar Products Used:

EVERYTHIING worth owning

Dynamic range, lightning fast transients, efficiency, can be ordered with your choice of wood finishes, designed by Paul W. Klipsch. Most of the Klipschorn sound for less money and does not require corner placement. Looks nicer than the La Scala. A piece of Hi-Fi history.

Lack of the lowest bass. Possible lack of imaging. Cost more than the La Scala which has the same drive components and sounds the same.

First let me state that I bought these speakers new. (No previous owner modifications). I cannot emphasize enough that you must listen to them first, even if you have to travel some distance. Persuade your dealer to allow you to listen with different types of amplifiers. These speakers have a very forward midrange and a hot high end when paired with solid state amps. Based upon my experience, these speakers must be paired with a vacuum tube amplifier. Try a single ended triode amp as well as push-pull. If you already have an amplifier that you intend to use with these speakers, bring that along. The bass is lightning quick and uncolored but is -3DB at 54Hz. (See Klipsch's website.) I would imagine that someone who listens to classical or jazz will find the bass to be perfect. I also like rock music and found the low bass to be absent. (The Belles as well as the La Scala's were designed as center channel speakers to be used with Klipschorns). The solution to the lack of the lowest bass, if it matters to you, is to add a subwoofer. Buy one with tight, defined bass. I could not get the speakers to create sonic holography (i.e. 3D, virtual surround sound, it is present on many recordings). Maybe the fact that the midrange and tweeter are mounted behind the front panel instead of in front of the panel and/or the fact that these speakers are so wide is the cause. Maybe it was just my listening room. (If you want to try to attain 3D sound with your current speakers, read the instructions under 'FAQ' for proper speaker placement on www.klipsch.com). Now the good stuff ! These speakers sound like BIG speakers. Smaller speakers just do not sound the same. The sound with these giants is less homogenized. Voices and instruments are reproduced with a greater degree of detail. The dynamic range of these speakers is incredible. Gunshots (from the musical Chicago), and cannons (from the 1812 Overture) will literally shock you. Belle Klipsch's are also incredibly efficient requiring only one watt to produce a sound level of 103 DB @ 1 meter. These speakers are built to order by the factory.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch KG-4

Power, clarity and mid bass tonality

Imaging

The Belle is simply a fun speaker. It is not the most accurate speaker I've ever owned by a wide margin but it's ability to convey power and emotion may be as good as I've heard and I've owned a large number of high end speakers( Duntech Marquis, Celestion 700, Quad 63,Magnepan MG 3 and 3A and about adozen others). If you enjoy "big music" large symphonic, opera or real rock these speakers do a many things right. If pinpoint imaging is critical forget these but if tonality in the lower mids and bass are important then seriously consider these speakers. These guys move air! You can feel the music. I'm using a Golden Tube SE40SE tube amp on them with an Audible Illusions preamp and these guys sing. I have my Quads in another system for music that is less demanding and where imaging and spacial characteristics are key, but when you put music on the Belles that has real kick it's hard to keep from smiling.

Similar Products Used:

Altec, EV and JBL horns