thought91
Active Member
Oh golly, my mistake. Just a slip in my sense of diction; they're in the corners.
But seriously, will be curious as to what the OP finds is going on here.
I'm recalling that long before I ever had a place for my Khorns , they were stored in my garage. Even sitting out in the middle away from a corner and testing with a little Pioneer receiver they didn't sound horrible.
With the uprades the OP has on these they should sound fine, unless someone who had no clue what they were doing.... was doing the work.
thought91
Active Member
I'm really hoping it's an easy fix, but I'm thinking you might be right about the "no clue what they were doing". I'm at school right now, but I'll take a look when I get home.
thought91
Active Member
Absolutely I can do that.
toxcrusadr
Omelette au Fromage
Waiting for those pics, not much to add at this point except that there will be a solution.
Minor point but perhaps what was meant by 'hifi' in the OP was more like 'high end'.
Although many would still say the KHorns fit in that category too. 
Would tweeter and mid diaphragms even be interchangeable? i.e. is it even possible for someone to switch them when installing Crites diaphragms?
Minor point but perhaps what was meant by 'hifi' in the OP was more like 'high end'.
Although many would still say the KHorns fit in that category too. Would tweeter and mid diaphragms even be interchangeable? i.e. is it even possible for someone to switch them when installing Crites diaphragms?
I’d kinda work inside out with this one. Start by making sure the drivers are the right ones and not blown out, and not something out of the RatShack/PartsExpress catalog or stolen out of an old rack system speaker, then make sure the crossover’s okay. If the crossover is brand-new, it’ll need some burn in time before it eases up. Check the cables to make sure they’re not wimpy or damaged or wired out of phase. Check your source material, too. Throw a different amp at it, even a generic AVR, just to see if it makes a different. These are best on tubes, or so I’ve heard. Play some different music on ‘em, they might not be all that great at what you like to listen to. I suppose these fare better with classical and Jazz than on hard rock or EDM. They could have also been sitting a while, and will probably need some loosening up by means of listening to them for a while. Ears might adjust to their sound, too. Finally, put ‘em in another room or switch their locations in the room, to rule out the room acoustics. These are big ol’ beasts and need LOTS of room to breathe. Cramming them into a bedroom or small living room would certainly make them sound like PA speakers.
If none of that that helps, perhaps they’re just not living up to the hype for you. I’ve never been blessed with hearing a set, but I’ve certainly heard my share of oft-praised speakers that left me cold (Bowers & Wilkins, Martin Logan, etc.) and a host of critically-panned speakers that sounded just lovely (I’ll stan Sansui). You mentioned not liking how percussion sounded, which is what I never liked about the Klipsch’s I’ve heard/owned (Reference series and the little $150 bookshelves). They all sounded kinda hollow and sucked out right in the midband where the crossover is. Some might like that sound, but it wasn’t for me.
If they still leave you cold, no harm in just selling them and going back to what you like. Klipschorns can definitely qualify as “Velben goods”, which are goods that are desired because they are expensive and expensive because they’re desired. Take a Rolls Royce, for example. No one REALLY wants a 20-foot hard-to-park land-yacht with a big gas-guzzling engine. They want to be driven in a long glamorous automobile and show off their ability to collect money, because it’s expensive. While Klipschorns are certainly extremely good speakers, a big part of that price tag is buying into their legend.
If none of that that helps, perhaps they’re just not living up to the hype for you. I’ve never been blessed with hearing a set, but I’ve certainly heard my share of oft-praised speakers that left me cold (Bowers & Wilkins, Martin Logan, etc.) and a host of critically-panned speakers that sounded just lovely (I’ll stan Sansui). You mentioned not liking how percussion sounded, which is what I never liked about the Klipsch’s I’ve heard/owned (Reference series and the little $150 bookshelves). They all sounded kinda hollow and sucked out right in the midband where the crossover is. Some might like that sound, but it wasn’t for me.
If they still leave you cold, no harm in just selling them and going back to what you like. Klipschorns can definitely qualify as “Velben goods”, which are goods that are desired because they are expensive and expensive because they’re desired. Take a Rolls Royce, for example. No one REALLY wants a 20-foot hard-to-park land-yacht with a big gas-guzzling engine. They want to be driven in a long glamorous automobile and show off their ability to collect money, because it’s expensive. While Klipschorns are certainly extremely good speakers, a big part of that price tag is buying into their legend.
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tanker 200
Super Member
Funny you said that, I found a mud dauber nest in the midrange of my K-horns, it wasn't big enough to cause a problem but it was there.
even with poor placement mine sound great, are your crossovers wired properly? sounds like something is definitely wrong, they're sound is anything but muddy or low-fi.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
First thing I would check is the polarity of the units. If that doesn't work change the polarity of one of the woofers on the crossover board. . Second: get a piece of cardboard and cover each mid horn and make sure the tweeter is working. Third: change the tap on the mid horn autoformers to tone it down 3 or 6 db. K-33 woofers* are easy to wipe out but I think you would know if one isn't working. If you have a hard room with no drapes or carpet and leather furniture, you maybe be right. Klipschorns are the wrong speaker for you. I wouldn't try Altec or JBL either... Back in the 70's I had the same issues with Korner horns you had most of the time. When we got our Rosewood pair at the retail store they sounded a little bight so I got out the spectrum analyzer and a pair of Urei 1/3 octave room equalizers. 1/10th octave filters spaced a 1/3 octave apart that subtract only. We tuned up the Rosewood Kornerhorns and were very satisfied at how great they sounded. It was the room . We combined them with two more walnut units in the classical disco hook up pushed by a single MC2205 and you have never heard better disco sound. They were flat from 70 hz to 3 Khz with a smooth 8 db roll off at 16.3 Khz. 70 HZ to 32 HZ was emphasized about 6db. The Bee Gees never sounded better. Sold a bunch of La Scala with MWM woofers for discos by auditioning Klipsch sound with those 4 Corner horns. Sadly the Rose woods sold far too soon. E Power Biggs sounded great on Pipe Organ, too, playing Bach.
*. I was using 4 La Scala one time out door for PA speakers with the split boxes. One of the entertainers that night dropped a ALG 451 condenser mic and the two DC 300 A's damaged all 4 woofers. A SINGLE MC 2200 pushing four MWM s would cause the spider wires to fatigue and fail powering 4 woofer boxes with the Power Guard turned on or about 130 watts per speaker. We use to order the boxes empty and cut down Altec woofers from 16 to 15 inches, They would Handle a 2255 channel each, 340 watts per channel, with no issue with more output sustained for years. Klipsch finally put a label saying to use a HP filter set at 35 hz on the MWM as I remember. But we used 32 HZ filter long before that.
*. I was using 4 La Scala one time out door for PA speakers with the split boxes. One of the entertainers that night dropped a ALG 451 condenser mic and the two DC 300 A's damaged all 4 woofers. A SINGLE MC 2200 pushing four MWM s would cause the spider wires to fatigue and fail powering 4 woofer boxes with the Power Guard turned on or about 130 watts per speaker. We use to order the boxes empty and cut down Altec woofers from 16 to 15 inches, They would Handle a 2255 channel each, 340 watts per channel, with no issue with more output sustained for years. Klipsch finally put a label saying to use a HP filter set at 35 hz on the MWM as I remember. But we used 32 HZ filter long before that.
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thought91
Active Member
The mid-range is stock I believe. The entire tweeter has been replaced though. Same with the woofers. The original drivers were included in the purchase.Waiting for those pics, not much to add at this point except that there will be a solution.
Minor point but perhaps what was meant by 'hifi' in the OP was more like 'high end'.
Would tweeter and mid diaphragms even be interchangeable? i.e. is it even possible for someone to switch them when installing Crites diaphragms?
So, unless the crossovers are not wired correctly, the speakers are wired correctly. I have checked and doubled checked. Because I can't easily remove the grille, I just removed the tweeter from the box, and sure enough, it sounds. At this point, I am certain the problems with these speakers cannot be boiled down to them just not being my cup of tea. None of the descriptions of their sound that I provided were exaggerations. They sound like they're broken.
toxcrusadr
Omelette au Fromage
What were the woofers and tweeters replaced with? Or did you say that already earlier.
If the original woofers are OK I wonder why they replaced them?
If the original woofers are OK I wonder why they replaced them?
thought91
Active Member
Replacements are as follows
"Type AA Cap
Pair CT125 Tweeters
pait of 1" gaskets
Pair CW1526 Steel Frame woofers"
thought91
Active Member
Original crossovers and drivers included
I’d put em back to stock and work from there.
dontmindme
Creature
Looks like the Crites rebuilt crossovers are correct. I’ve got a set that look the same. Odd that you have an additional set of crossovers. I just sent mine to Bob, he rebuilt them and sent them back, versus buying another set. Maybe the original owner wanted the original untouched set also?
