The heritage Klipsch can be tough to listen to (even) with good quality program material -- but they can be downright unbearable with poorly recorded, mixed, and/or mastered program.
Beg to differ .... at least with the
fully horn loaded Klipsch Heritage ... except once.
My Klipschorns, in my somewhat dead and treated room, with Audyssey Flat, and tone controls set carefully, by ear, are warm, ultra dynamic and great for most, but not all, disks. With orchestral music they sound like the orchestras I have heard or in which I've played. My center channel is a Belle Klipsch, with identical drivers, and modified to have the same midrange horn (K401-- yes, it sticks out the back into a bumpout that goes through the wall). I wouldn't ask the Belle to do a full range job -- it has a small peak at 60Hz, then drops like a rock below that. So, to add warmth to all front channels, the Belle crosses over to a sub at 60Hz, and the Klipschorn at 40Hz. Both crossover points were set by ear, over months,
So, virtually all SACDs and Blu-rays are fine, and most CDs after the initial f**k-up period when they were rushed out (?), as are vinyl and 15 ips tape.
"Once?" In about 1973 I went to an art show, and the Punk band was using a pair of Klipsch La Scalas (the La Scala is much like the Belle). They were, to use
mhardy's words, "tough to listen to," and harsh, well, punk in the old, nonmusical definition, sour, hostile and wack. That was the first time I'd heard them. Later, I was in a store and asked to hear the La Scalas. They were fine -- so clean, so precise, fast, tight, all those audiophile words. That has been my experience with them ever since. The Punk people
wanted harshness. If that's what you want, if that's the way you mix it, Klipsch Heritage can transmit it well.