I just inherited a pair of 1954 Klipsch Type 357-7 speakers. I knew nothing about theses speakers until I hooked them up to my Heathkit tonight, and wow! What a set of speakers!

What are these speakers worth? The sound great with my little heathkit, but is there a better amp match?

 
paul
 

Those are very early Klipschorns.  Depending on condition, they should be worth $1500 to $2000 + some collector interest, maybe.  Like a Ducati, you should never sell Klipschorns, especially ones that old.

At that age, the crossover capacitors will have deterioriated and the crossover are not too likely to be letting the speaker perform as well as it could.  Don't change the originals, but you should consider building one of the several designs we've published on the Forums, here.  IOW, if you thing they sound good, now, just you wait!

Here's a possibility.  You should change the 3.3 uF tweeter cap to 2.0 uF, but I discovered that after the schematic got out.

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/storage/6/253851/Type%20DHA22.jpg 

John Albright:

Those are very early Klipschorns.  Depending on condition, they should be worth $1500 to $2000 + some collector interest, maybe.  Like a Ducati, you should never sell Klipschorns, especially ones that old.

 

At that age, the crossover capacitors will have deterioriated and the crossover are not too likely to be letting the speaker perform as well as it could.  Don't change the originals, but you should consider building one of the several designs we've published on the Forums, here.  IOW, if you thing they sound good, now, just you wait!

Here's a possibility.  You should change the 3.3 uF tweeter cap to 2.0 uF, but I discovered that after the schematic got out.

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/storage/6/253851/Type%20DHA22.jpg 

MacDuff:

I just inherited a pair of 1954 Klipsch Type 357-7 speakers. I knew nothing about theses speakers until I hooked them up to my Heathkit tonight, and wow! What a set of speakers!

Welcome to the Forum!! Please post some photos!! After some other members look at them I'm confident that someone will be able to give you some guidance on a set of crossovers to build/buy for everyday use. I agree with the other comment about not tampering with the originals. Best of luck!!

Thank you for the helpful information on these speakers. My camera is not working just now, so I have not been able to get pictures.

As I said, I inherited these speakers last week, actually they were on the way to the dump and I saved them.  

I am not planning on selling them, was just wondering about the value.  I hooked them uo to a little Heathkit AA 32 tube amp, and it sounds like a very nice match.

However, one speaker sounds a little distorted when i pump them, so I should consider the crossover recommened.

I placed 3 Mapleshade brass footers under each speaker which improved everything, clarity, stereo image and bass response. This is an important tweak.  http://mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/vibrationcontrol_main.php

also I placed a huge lead weight on top of each speaker which really improved the mid - highs.

thanks again 

paul

www.fiddlestream.com 

Yes, i tried again today and the bass is better with the speakers flat on the floor.

I may be forced to sell these speakers after all due to personal medical circumstances. I really love the speakers though.

Thnaks for the advice

 paul