Austin Speaker Works KTS 70 (Are they still worth the hype?)

[wishkahdaddy]

I am looking to buy another pair of ASW KTS 70's and found myself reading through threads of yester-year where many were "falling over themselves" for how great these speakers were. I owned a pair of KTS 70's and Elegantes and sold them and I've been kicking myself a bit ever since. Just curious what people think of them now that the honeymoon is over...

[dbeeman]

I have them and greatly prefer them to Cele h12H or the Scumback H for most applications. More harmonic complexity than the Scum, sweeter high end than the G12H

[pula58]

I thought the 60 and 70 were fine speakers...

[traviswalk]

I still really dig my 2x12 with KTS 70s, great speakers especially after using them for close to two years now.

[KOG]

After much speaker swapping in my Marshall 2061cx (2x12), the combination of the ASW 70 & ASW 60 is easily the best I have found. As a stand alone 1x12 speaker I have others that I prefer. I have used this cab with a Marshall 2553, Two Rock's and Reeves. ASW's are still worthy of the praise, IMHO.

[Sean French]

Great speaker.:aok
I've had a pair for a couple of years or so and will never will part with them.
My fav overall speaker.

[Joe F]

I had G1280's reconed to the ATS60 and that's my best 4X12 (and I had tried most of the G12H-55 types around as well). you have to want that kind of speaker obviously, but they are among the best (out of a lot of good choices). When I use that cabinet, I don't think about the speakers anymore, just playing.

[Hangfire]

yes

[v-verb]

Love my Elegante! That said, one day I would like to try Jim Seavall's Sumnicos and compare.

Cheers

nigel

[Billion81]

I never should have sold my 2061CX cab which worked great with the KTS 70s

[carty]

just bought a pair of asw and loving them!!

[zoooombiex]

they are a great speaker for what they do. kind of clean and on the bright & clear side, though not harsh. not a ton of low end, but very punchy.

[Ampegasaur]

I think they are great for classic rock type tones, vintage tones. For modern styles, they did not have the bottom end I needed, and sold them. Good speakers, for the right applications.

[tejastubes]

I have a KTS 70 in a Pure 64 1x12 and it sounds amazing with the meanstreet Classic 20W amp. Having said that, I have tried the same speaker with a variety of other amps, and have not found it to sound nearly as good as other speakers.

In fact, the Scumback M75 speakers sound amazing with my Trainwreck amps, and have not found anything new production which even comes close. ASW KTS 70 sounds incredible with the pure 64 Meanstreet 20W as Mark said it would so I am happy with that combination, but I use the Scumbacks for just about everything else and I am thinking of getting another M75 65W 8 ohm for my Deluxe Reverb as Jim says its is amazing with that amplifier.

[dbeeman]

I think Joshua makes some good points above.

It all depends on application and your tastes / ears

I can see the Scummie taming the trainwreck treble

My Scumico sounded very good with a Deluxe Reverb - another well known trebly amp

[wishkahdaddy]

Yes, I agree. I'm trying to find the right speaker combo for my Two Rock Tone Dog as, IMO, it's a bit on the dark side and has plenty of bottom. I just don't need a speaker that leans more to low end and dark...I want a pair of Celestion H30's but worry about the power rating as my Two Rock is a 100 watt head. I also know my 4x12 cab is a semi open back so I need a speaker that loves the semi open back application...
I do agree, however, that there a lots of great speakers out there and not one speaker fits all. Great point!
I think Joshua makes some good points above.

It all depends on application and your tastes / ears

I can see the Scummie taming the trainwreck treble

My Scumico sounded very good with a Deluxe Reverb - another well known trebly amp

[rburkard]

I still like them and especially their KTS60 in combination with Plexi Marshall type amps.
One of the nicest strat tones I recorded was a Magic Brit 15 amp driving an ASW KTS60.
The song is "Lenny" on http://hellonheelsrocks.com/id4.html
Rene

[fusionbear]

I love the KTS 70! I use it on my Clean tone amp, but would use them with my CA OD2 if I filled my 4x12 with em. No cone cry with my OD2 when they are in a 4x12...

[Creighton]

Could a KTS 70 handle a 50 watt tube head all by it's self in a 1x12? Probably not... need a 100 watt speak I think for this application.

Too bad ASW doesn't have a 100 watt version as I think it is the best sounding guitar speaker I've heard.

[jwri9790]

Could a KTS 70 handle a 50 watt tube head all by it's self in a 1x12? Probably not... need a 100 watt speak I think for this application.

Too bad ASW doesn't have a 100 watt version as I think it is the best sounding guitar speaker I've heard.

I'm pretty sure it could handle it

[neville5000]

I have a KTS60 and Elegante in a 2x12 cab and love it with my Matchless Clubman.

[Hangfire]

Great speaker.:aok
I've had a pair for a couple of years or so and will never will part with them.
My fav overall speaker.


Agreed!

[rburkard]

The KTS 70 is a very interesting alternative to an EVM 12L. It does not quite get as big sounding, but combines a relatively flat response, like the EVM, with an earlier cone breakup similar to a Celestion G1230H Heritage 75hz but without the upper midrange spike. Very full sounding and pleasant speaker. I love it.
Rene

[MasterEvan07]

Haven't had chance to try the KTS70 or 60, but I've used the Elegante, CrossRoads, Absolute, and am trying a beta prototype soon too...I'm blown away by the character of the Absolute in my Morgan Dual 20; I preferred it to a two year old, well broken in Elegante and this was literally straight out of the box. Plus they're really cool cats to work with!

[pine]

I use one by itself in my Redplate Blackverb, and though I have tried several other speakers in this amp that sounded good, (the Celestion Gold, the WGS Blackhawk, WGS Retro 30) the ASW always sounded the best.

[dbeeman]

Haven't had chance to try the KTS70 or 60, but I've used the Elegante, CrossRoads, Absolute, and am trying a beta prototype soon too...I'm blown away by the character of the Absolute in my Morgan Dual 20; I preferred it to a two year old, well broken in Elegante and this was literally straight out of the box. Plus they're really cool cats to work with!

What is the prototype speaker like?

[MasterEvan07]

What is the prototype speaker like?

Haven't had a chance to try it yet, I'll let you know when I do but honestly I'm not as versed as you and probably won't be able to give you as useful of feedback as someone more experienced in speakers.

[JoeB63]

I bought a KTS70 a couple of years ago, and tried with the amps I had at that time (a Two Rock Topaz and a Two Rock CR Sig2). I didn't prefer it over the other speakers I had at that time. It was too "zingy" on the high-end, IIRC. I drove it over to ASW and they kindly took it back and refunded my money. They also, very nicely, offered to have me and my buddies come over to test any of their speakers with any of our amps.

The operative question here is: Is a $250 speaker really better than any other speaker you can buy for $75 or $100 or $150 for your application. There are lots of good speakers that sell for under $100. I'd expect a $250 speaker to be clearly superior, not just "an excellent choice."

[celestialpivot]

they have a new speaker out called the peacemakers.
Awesome sound. I am going to be trying a pair. heard them at the amp show in Jan, Best speaker I ever heard for distortion tones.

[MasterEvan07]

That's the one :)

[dbeeman]

I just talked to ASW. They said it is like the KTS-60, but hotter - around 101dB

[MasterEvan07]

Oh Lord...ears ringing from the Peacemaker...what a beast!

[wichita]

I have a peacemaker in a 1-12 cab. It rocks.

[jwri9790]

Any info on the web about the peacemakers? Pics?

I have a KTS-60 in a 1x12 and am thinking of matching it with a KTS-70 in a 2x12. The peacemaker might be what I'm after.

[dbeeman]

I have a peacemaker in a 1-12 cab. It rocks.

So how do you compare it to other ASWs ?

[wichita]

Its like a KTS60 with more output.. louder, bigger.

[jbp]

Starting a new thread on the Peacemaker now: :)

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=1061164

[LJOHNS]

I have the KTS-70 in a Morgan DAG and I also tried it with my DR. Z rxjr and it sounds really great clean to mild OD. High gain is sounds very buzzy to me with a Strat or Tele - I don't care for it at all.

[wichita]

Probably the Z and not the Speaker.
I would use a darker speaker with an amp like that.

[dbeeman]

I have the KTS-70 in a Morgan DAG and I also tried it with my DR. Z rxjr and it sounds really great clean to mild OD. High gain is sounds very buzzy to me with a Strat or Tele - I don't care for it at all.

The KTS-70 is a great speaker. But, I don't use it with every amp. Some may be better with Kts-60, Elegante, Crossroads, Scumback, Celestion G12-65, WGS Invader .....

[ItJustRocks]

I still like them and especially their KTS60 in combination with Plexi Marshall type amps.
One of the nicest strat tones I recorded was a Magic Brit 15 amp driving an ASW KTS60.
The song is "Lenny" on http://hellonheelsrocks.com/id4.html
Rene

Link do longer works, do you still have the clip Rene?

[rburkard]

Bummer. I will take a look at it when I find the time.
Rene

[deluxe83]

How does this pair with a Celestion Gold? Don't sell me on the Elegante! I have one and like it, but the Gold is different.

I have a peacemaker in a 1-12 cab. It rocks.

[ItJustRocks]

I found the clip. An error screen pops up at first but then it works. Nice tone!

[Hangfire]

Could a KTS 70 handle a 50 watt tube head all by it's self in a 1x12? Probably not... need a 100 watt speak I think for this application.

Too bad ASW doesn't have a 100 watt version as I think it is the best sounding guitar speaker I've heard.

I believe the ASW KTS 70 is rated at 80 watts.

[MasterEvan07]

Just got an amp that came with a somewhat blown G12H30...I figured since I need to replace the speaker might as well give the ASW take on it a try. Hopefully it rocks like the G12H30 does, or better than!

[miamimart]

They might be able to recone it as a KTS 70. I love mine.