Intriguing knock offs

Thing is, if I were to replace every cap, every resistor and all of the wiring with my own stuff, I think this would elevate the Krell beyond the original levels of performance, when they were new.

I noticed you bought some of those and have to admit my first reaction was 'What is he thinking?' but ofc one man's meat is another's poison. I have always found them a little bit ragged and shouty, which is presumably why JMH preferred his facing the wrong way.

I've only ever heard them with valves! Although granted some valve amps are just expensive tat so that could have been the case. I think the shoutiness is down to the horn loading though.

It's value is only important if I wanted to sell it. Which I don't! Lol.

I'd swap as many bits as possible in a like for like fashion, so should be fine, if I decide to do it!

Yeah probably worth trying. Sometimes it’s the original parts used that give the sound you like though. Newer isn’t  always better and all that.

As it says on the site, just short out the padding resistor and reverse phase on the tweeter, turns them into a different speaker. My initial findings were the same as yours, very shouty at times, it with the mods I can now listen all day, they sound great.

So do I.......there’s something special about them

Would be a tad surprised if you've encountered as much gear as him from reviewing and retailing over the course of the past 40 years. But then maybe you have. Perhaps you should start a blog.

Peter Belt.
Life being what it is, he had his supporters and critics too. You obviously fall into the latter; the manufacturers that employed some of his techniques in their products, obviously fall into the former.

Impulse Speakers.
Others have commented so I won't bother.

Unconventional Speaker Set-Up.
Have you ever asked yourself why he uses such a set-up?
He doesn't know how to set them up?
His hearing is defective?
He's deluded, has a slate missing?
His listening environment is unusual?

As I said previously, after he heard a pair of flagship Acoustics Research speakers, MGC 1s, he began experimenting, I think. These had drivers firing at the side wall, which outputted indirect sound and could be varied and delayed. The effect of this was to extend the soundstage somewhat beyond the speakers.

As far back as 1981 I was using an unconventional set-up. It was something I discovered for myself and nothing to do with anything JMH was suggesting. His experimenting came later than this. I wrote to Hi-Fi Answers raving about it, but can't remember if my letter got into print (I had a few). 10 years later, I wrote to Hi-Fi World, still raving about it. My effort got into the letters section but the sketch they came up with didn't represent what I had drawn.

In one issue he suggested turning your speakers in and firing them off the side walls. I did gave it ago, but it didn't work for me. No, I didn't delude myself into thinking that because Jimmy Sez this might work, that I convince myself it would. I do have a mind of my own and don't accept what I'm told willy-nilly. If that was the case, I wouldn't be banned from that haven of yours, now would I?

A reviewer's opinion is no more valid than the man in the street.
What were you smoking when you came up with that gem? I'd suggest the average bloke in the street knows sod-all about hi-fi. I'd suggest the average bloke in the street thinks a £300 Samsung soundbar connected to their 50" Samsung 4K telly is the height of audio/visual sophistication, if the ones at work are to go by. Perhaps they're more informed in your locality.

So, the next time I fancy some new speakers, I should just ask the bloke next door for his opinion?

"Dwain, I fancy some new speakers. These Kitch FAB 1s seem to be well thought of. Steve Guttenburgh - who IS the audiophiliac - seems impressed with them. Or should I just stick with what I have - and have me cock pierced?"

"Steve, I'd have me cock pierced - every time, mate. Every time. No two ways about it. All due respect mate, but hi-fi speakers - for sad old gits.

Just splashed out on a Samsung soundbar. £300. Sound quality: off the map, mate. It's off the fucking map!

See that bird on Game Of Thrones last night? What a set of knockers she had on her!"'

I wouldn't be looking for a Xmas card off Noel Keyword, Mr Beobloke or hifidave this year, Martin.

If I'm taking flak I must be over the target...

I agree subjective opinion can't be a fail. We like what we like. It's when we start drawing conclusions as to why we like it that things get gnarly.

Why did JMH prefer his speakers firing the wrong way? Probably because they sounded a bit rough firing the right way. Added to which his floor to ceiling window would help in the same way you see in cars some have the tweeters firing at the curve in the windscreen. It works.


I have my speakers about 8 foot from the back wall. I have to walk behind them to go upstairs or go to the kitchen or bathroom. I have had systems where it sounded better behind the speakers than in front of them. Without exception these were always systems with problems. The JMH method might work in making a flawed system listenable, but surely better not to have a flawed system in the first place?


I agree some reviewers can be a good resource. But they are not 'experts' any more than you or I. And when I see fawning adoration, or people quoting them as some sort of authority I regret that I roll my eyes a bit. Plenty of times I have disagreed with a reviewers opinion, and his has disagreed with mine, but most reviewers simply take the review item and slot it into whatever they are using. We all know this is not ideal. Most stuff I have tried I have tried with a variety of different components because I have a stable of them. I think that gives a much better idea of what something is actually capable of.

I can't take car stereo seriously. All that background noise? And like you say, no real stereo image. what's the point in spending a fortune on it? Cassette is good enough for in a car. Except when fast forward eats the tape.

not in a Tesla....