Crites Crossover vs. Klipsch in the Forte II

[Aliso Bob]

Hey everyone, a quick question…


Bob Crites builds his crossovers to the same values as the original Forte II specs… correct?

I'm swapping out 30 year old OEM crossovers this weekend, for the Crites replacements.

If I put a ohm meter across the input “+” and the tweeter “+” on my original crossover, I will get some kind of reading. Let’s say 500 ohm’s just as a example. (I will also do this for the mid horn, and woofer)

Then, if I measure the new Crites product and I get a significantly different value ( + or – 10% or more) I can safely say “Father Time” caught up to my original crossovers. Right?


Thoughts?


Thanks

 

[wdecho]

Not a good judge doing such. The only thing that deteriorates is the capacitors. You will need to measure them with an ESR meter to be able to judge how much they have deteriorated. You may or may not like the sound of your new crossovers vs the old ones. Film capacitors deteriorate very little over time vs electrolytics. In 30 year old amplifiers rarely are the film capacitors are needing replacement. Different film capacitors do sound different. Many have said that the caps Bob uses, sonicaps, sound too bright for them. Then there are many that like the sound new sonicaps have. On the Klipsch forum the sellers of new crossovers praise the sound of their products. Sound like advertisement? If I were selling crossovers I would praise mine as well.

 

[Aliso Bob]

From B&K Enterprizes

"Bob,
Unfortunately it is not that simple. Crossovers have to be measured electrically using a Spectrum Analyzer while under a load and at frequency. I can tell you that we have been doing this for a long time and I have tested many thousands of caps - after 20 years they are bad."
Thanks,
Michael Crites
General Manager/Director of Operations

 

[wdecho]

So bad that they will sound bad? Maybe a small amount of attenuation but doubtful if it will be heard. Do not get me wrong, I love Bob Crites and his company B & K Enterprises and recommend them for all of the Klipsch aftermarket parts. From what I have read and heard the Cornscala's are excellent speakers at a reasonable price. And if one wants to replace their crossovers buy them from Bob. In my opinion Bob Crites is a reputable Christian person I think highly of. If one is not happy with their old speakers you may want to try new caps or if not comfortable doing that buy your crossovers from Bob.

 

[Aliso Bob]

I supposed this is never a good sign. A capacitor so swollen, it popped the ID band, right off! I'll reassemble them tomorrow, and let you know how it all works out.

 

[wdecho]

When that happens in an amplifier it is a sign of handling to much of a load. Never seen it happen in a crossover network especially a horn network. The reason being that there is very little current going through a crossover network of a highly efficient horn system. Most of time one will only see 1 watt or less usage, more just on peaks for a few seconds at most. I would say just a bad cap. Replace with a higher voltage rating.

Another point that I had already said, it is always sellers of crossover networks that say film caps need replacing every so often. Technicians working on 30 to 50 year old tube amplifiers find that the coupling film caps in the circuits still are working fine and do not need replacing. Film caps are used as coupling caps to prevent DC from the grids of the next stage and stop DC in the range of 300V's or more and pass the small AC signal. Go figure. What one measures and what one hears are 2 entirely different things. Unless the dielectric breaks down and there is leakage of current a film cap rarely needs replacing. With polyester and polypropylene dielectrics, plastics sealed up, it is very unlikely that it will break down in our lifetime or short out or leak current. When paper was used the paper soaked up moisture from the air and caused shorts thats when they started using paper in oil, PIO, caps to prevent this. More likely to fail with time.

All this being said there is nothing wrong with replacing your crossovers with better ones if it makes you feel better and you have the money to spend. It will certainly not hurt anything and you may like the new sound. Different caps do sound different. I have my brand preferences as coupling caps in my tube amplifiers. Some new ones I use do not test as good, ERS, as others but to me sound better than the ones that test better. I recommend Bob Crites and his company if you choose to replace your caps or crossovers. A fine gentleman who sells quality parts and crossovers. I have purchased parts from him many times over the years and was always satisfied. Visit his website for all Klipsch upgrades. Klipsch speakers are kinda like Harley motorcycles. Always looking to replace something with something better. I highly recommend his aftermarket tweeters.