building a shop system - vmps + kenwood

I've written about this before,

as sometimes it seems things 

want to gravitate together.

Maybe that's the optimistic view,

as the actual story can sound tragic,

or even pathetic!

I'd been using a beater set of Klipsch Fortes

to pump sound in the shop.

For a relatively small speaker,

the sound was amazing.

Deep bass made the parts rattle.

These are the same speakers we blasted

In the Grateful Dead lot in the summer.

Now they don't look as small!

We had a generator 

with the kenwood kr-7600 hooked up.

Did I write about this yet?

The speaks held up for the two day event,

it was borderline crazy,

attracting deadheads far and wide.

Gotta teach the kids controlled mayhem!

After the shows the system 

was relegated to shop duty.

Right before xmas I got into a bind,

not gettin reimbursed for work.

Thanks a lot James...

Time for a fire sale!

Tommy T (grey shirt) scooped up the speakers.

Cue sad music...

I actually cleaned house.

Literally.

Two receivers,

four awesome speakers :(

and a bunch of miscellany for future posts.

Well fortunately that stuffs not cheap,

and a fraction was stashed 

for at least a replacement shop setup.

The Polk monitor 12's looked worthy,

and so did these Klipsch KLF-10's.

Got them both down to semi-affordable,

and the Klipsch guy bailed.

Then these Cerwin Vegas e-315's popped up,

more in my budget,

but had weathered woofers.

Cool but I wanted immediate satisfaction.

Then the Holey Chit of awesomeness.

The ad was terribly written,

not even the proper brand or model.

Only stating he had "blasted the Nuge"

for a New Years Eve party.

A quick online research frenzy

found they were VMPS Super Tower/r's,

designed by a deceased Brian Cheney,

and held in high regard,

even though they had that garage built finish.

On site these sounded horrible,

and the guy was seriously blasting them.

He had them hooked up to bass only

In the bi-amp path!

A little switcheroo,

and a deal was made for about 1$/LB.

Lucky me,

people don't have space 

or desire for big speakers!

That white woofer is 15"!

They really are monsters.

There's a slot on the bottom,

hiding a big passive woofer.

Tricky.

These would take some serious power,

the 85 wpc kr-7600 would struggle.

So out came another secret 

I had stashed...

A month ago this was procured...

Super friggin awesome.

This 1974 Kenwood KR-9400 is a landmark,

arguably the first 120 wpc receiver made,

bringing on the monster receiver wars of the 70's.

Needless to say we made a deal!

Now a reason for it's existence.

This was over an inch wider than the 7600!

In a testament to the efficient Klipsch Fortes,

the VMPS's needed the extra power

to keep up the same db's,

but they sound great!

Even the cheesy looking tweeters 

sound crispy enough.

Wonder if there's a way to modify?

Anyway I'll admit the fun is in the hunt.

We've got a shop system 

that was the same price as the fortes,

and I know Tommy will dig them.

And the wife's happier,

as the house isn't as cluttered!

Gotta be optimistic!

TP