Forte 1

[pezzzzx]

Any thoughts on the plus or minus's to either rebuilding or buying new Crites crossovers for Forte 1?

"Good Music, Single Malt and Old Motorcycles"

 

[Fastslappy]

there are no minus's to getting new crossover for those BUT there are alot of pluses to getting new crossovers

 

[JonL]

Any thoughts on the plus or minus's to either rebuilding or buying new Crites crossovers for Forte 1?

Any thoughts? A little light reading here. I think you'll find it interesting.

 

[rage]

ALK modified crossover article:

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/120300.aspx


I would start there. ^^

The thread linked above my reply for the Modified Forte's is a great source of input for using exotic parts.

 

[kconnor]

ALK modified crossover article:

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/120300.aspx


I would start there. ^^

The thread linked above my reply for the Modified Forte's is a great source of input for using exotic parts.

I agree. Al Klappenberger’s crossover is probably the best researched one you will find for the Forte 1. If you want do it yourself, you can probably get the parts for a pair for around $100. I’m about to pull the trigger on this one myself in about two weeks.

Just an afterthought here, I have a copy Julian Hirsch’s review of the Forte 1 in Stereo Review. It is amazing to me how closely Julian’s comments and measurements on this speaker parallels Al Klappenberger’s. Julian gets ridiculed a lot for his rather pedestrian reviews but I’ve always respected his pragmatic approach to audio.

 

[lunchmeat]

I'm kinda old school when it comes to my Fortes. I like them pure stock. I also run them with a SS amp. Primitive but thoroughly enjoyable.

 

[alteklipsch]

Don't fix what ain't broken. The forte sounds great stock. Unless you are going to go hog wild like our friend SET12, leave them alone. In the unlikely event the stock capacitors have drifted significantly, just replace them for about $30.00 and leave the rest alone.

 

[SET12]

Any thoughts? A little light reading here. I think you'll find it interesting.

Thank you JonL,

On page 28 is a small review written by AK member Robie whom I met just a couple of weeks ago and invited him to hear my Forte's. He has hosted several AK get together's in his home and has heard many many systems through his yrs.

I am a big fan of ALK, but if I were to use his new design I could not afford the cost of what I feel are IMO, subjectively superior parts simply because of the number of parts and the values are high.

While the ALK is more electrically correct. It would be interesting to do a subjective comparison.

I have a pair of stock Forte's and there is nothing subtle in the differences between the two.

One doesn't have to spend what I have spent, but if one follows the basic path as I have, subjectively the performance will be enhanced beyond the typical replacements offered commercially.

While Forte's are enjoyable stock, what they can do with tubes and network improvements have been nothing but revelation to me and a few others should you care to go further down the path of enlightenment.

Enjoy :thmbsp:

SET12

 

[soundguy]

Don't fix what ain't broken.

If you have forte 1's, it is very unlikely that the electrolytic bipolar cap is performing anywhere NEAR spec, and if the blue mylar's are in spec, they sound so terrible, there is little reason to keep them in there. I have worked on a few pairs of forte 1's, and those caps leave alot to be desired but the electrolytic on the woofer has got to go.

not knocking anyone that thinks an unmodified forte 1 in 2010 sounds great, but if you do the work on the crossover, there isnt one of those guys out there that wouldnt hear a difference. And its not some audiophile difference, its absolutely measurable and repeatable.

caps have a shelf life and more of the "leave it stock" people really need to get a better understanding of that concept. They dont last forever and in the case of electrolytic construction, they dont last for decades and decades, this stuff needs replacing. Too many people on these boards look at the idea of changing a 20 year old electrolytic in a crossover as a mod or an upgrade when the stark reality of the situation is that its simply maintenance. Changing old forte crossover caps specifically is no more of an "upgrade" than putting new oil in your car. Sadly, many view the difference in sound as an upgrade because the old caps can be so dried and out of spec. An electrolytic turns into a resistor as it dries. You put a new cap in there and thee is huge bass again but its not because of some new super part, its because your old part was no longer a cap... Not all caps are of the same integrity and construction, some will last a very long time, others not long at all. In the case of the forte 1 crossover specifically, there is absolutely no holy grail of capacitor on that crossover and if you carefully clip them out, you can reinstall them if you think youve made a mistake by putting new caps in there...

dont service your equiment if you dont want to, but there are few things as critical in a playback system as a properly set up crossover network on a three way speaker... No matter how good your source, no matter how much you put into an amp, no matter how much youve spent on a turntable, no matter how much youve tweaked your preamp, its ALL gotta go through the four caps on that crossover. You can spend tons of money, $20 for four caps or $8 for four caps and hear an improvement...

Forte is my favorite klipsch, but the few I have heard in the last year with original crossovers are flat and lifeless sounding. It takes only about 15-20 minutes to replace the caps on the original crossover and its really not difficult to do. Many people out there have no idea what they are missing from equipment sitting right there in their living room...

 

[Fastslappy]

see above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If you have forte 1's, it is very unlikely that the electrolytic bipolar cap is performing anywhere NEAR spec, and if the blue mylar's are in spec, they sound so terrible, there is little reason to keep them in there. I have worked on a few pairs of forte 1's, and those caps leave alot to be desired but the electrolytic on the woofer has got to go.

not knocking anyone that thinks an unmodified forte 1 in 2010 sounds great, but if you do the work on the crossover, there isnt one of those guys out there that wouldnt hear a difference. And its not some audiophile difference, its absolutely measurable and repeatable.

caps have a shelf life and more of the "leave it stock" people really need to get a better understanding of that concept. They dont last forever and in the case of electrolytic construction, they dont last for decades and decades, this stuff needs replacing. Too many people on these boards look at the idea of changing a 20 year old electrolytic in a crossover as a mod or an upgrade when the stark reality of the situation is that its simply maintenance. Changing old forte crossover caps specifically is no more of an "upgrade" than putting new oil in your car. Sadly, many view the difference in sound as an upgrade because the old caps can be so dried and out of spec. An electrolytic turns into a resistor as it dries. You put a new cap in there and thee is huge bass again but its not because of some new super part, its because your old part was no longer a cap... Not all caps are of the same integrity and construction, some will last a very long time, others not long at all. In the case of the forte 1 crossover specifically, there is absolutely no holy grail of capacitor on that crossover and if you carefully clip them out, you can reinstall them if you think youve made a mistake by putting new caps in there...

dont service your equiment if you dont want to, but there are few things as critical in a playback system as a properly set up crossover network on a three way speaker... No matter how good your source, no matter how much you put into an amp, no matter how much youve spent on a turntable, no matter how much youve tweaked your preamp, its ALL gotta go through the four caps on that crossover. You can spend tons of money, $20 for four caps or $8 for four caps and hear an improvement...

Forte is my favorite klipsch, but the few I have heard in the last year with original crossovers are flat and lifeless sounding. It takes only about 15-20 minutes to replace the caps on the original crossover and its really not difficult to do. Many people out there have no idea what they are missing from equipment sitting right there in their living room...

:yes:Hey I couldn't say this any better than the above post:yes:^^^^



Do It ! .... but to each his own ...

 

[RT Fan]

My 1987 stock Forte 1's sound very good to me, but I will eventually go the Crites upgrade route. I bought a new crossover and upgraded to the Titanium diaphragm on my Chorus II's and was very happy with the result.
I am not familiar with the ALK crossovers, but from everything I have read here, and on the Klipsch forum, they also are very well regarded.

 

[pezzzzx]

Fortified

I bit the bullet and sprung for the new Titanium tweets, New mid diaphragms and New Crossovers. With all the positive posts about how great the Forte's can sound I had no other choice.
I will let you know the results and send some pics.
My Forte's are late 88's and the boxes are in beautiful shape.
Thanks for the input and the backposts in the Klipsch Corner.

"Good Music, Single Malt and Old Motorcycles"

CARVER MX 130, Dahlquist DQM 9's (Until I get the Forte's back on line) Denon CD player and AR/XA turntable. (Living Room)
Carver AVR 100, OHM 2's, Sony 6 Disc, and a Technics SL-Q2 (Bedroom)

 

[soundguy]

soniccaps are real nice in a forte, I have a pair I did with them and they are nice. Give them a few hours to calm down though... They'll probably break in before the diapraghms do though.