KLH 17 Resto-mod?

[JerStC]

Have a pair of the new KLH tweeters being put in all the new models. I am thinking of putting them in a pair of vintage 17’s.

I know, or I am sure, the crossovers will have to addressed. But, I have now idea how to address it, no experience. Any thoughts or directions?

 

[alteclipsch]

That's a real shot in the dark. What tweeter are you thinking about? It's not likely that its performance is similar at all to the 1970s tweeter KLH used in the Seventeen so crossover point and efficiency will be difficult to determine, IMO. KLH is only a marketing name these days.

 

[homebrew]

Without a crossover modification, you're probably wasting your money So you'd have to find a COMPETENT crossover designer willing to take on the job. If that's the way you want to go, cruise on over to the Parts Express Tech Talk board and see if someone would be willing to take on the job. Be prepared to ship one of the 17's and a new tweeter to the designer so he can take measurements.

All that aside, my recommendation would be to upgrade your old crossover components with new equivalents. Otherwise, keep your 17's original. They're worth more that way.

 

[JerStC]

That's a real shot in the dark. What tweeter are you thinking about? It's not likely that its performance is similar at all to the 1970s tweeter KLH used in the Seventeen so crossover point and efficiency will be difficult to determine, IMO. KLH is only a marketing name these days.

The new one that’s in the Albany’s, Kenwood, and new 5’s.

 

[JerStC]

Without a crossover modification, you're probably wasting your money So you'd have to find a COMPETENT crossover designer willing to take on the job. If that's the way you want to go, cruise on over to the Parts Express Tech Talk board and see if someone would be willing to take on the job. Be prepared to ship one of the 17's and a new tweeter to the designer so he can take measurements.

All that aside, my recommendation would be to upgrade your old crossover components with new equivalents. Otherwise, keep your 17's original. They're worth more that way.

Thanks. I was hoping I could send the crossovers only to someone who could
Rebuild if they knew the specs of the new tweeter.

 

[homebrew]

Thanks. I was hoping I could send the crossovers only to someone who could
Rebuild if they knew the specs of the new tweeter.

In order to properly design a new crossover, both driver frequency responses, phase characteristics, and impedances have to be measured in the enclosure. That information can then be entered into a suitable crossover design program to develop a preliminary crossover. Final tuning is usually done by ear. Manufacturer's specs aren't as accurate as actual "in the enclosure" measurements.

 

[EddyR]

Why bother asking this question. You have the speakers and the tweeters just mount them and try them. You are not going to hurt the tweeters. You know you are going to get the standard answer it will not work unless you do do a ton of work. I bet you could try if faster than it took me to type this.
Ed

 

[alteclipsch]

Why bother asking this question. You know you are going to get the standard answer it will not work unless you do do a ton of work. I bet you could try if faster than it took me to type this.

That's a pretty cynical answer for an audio forum. The above guidance is just that. Nothing "standard" about any of it.

 

[JerStC]

That's a pretty cynical answer for an audio forum. The above guidance is just that. Nothing "standard" about any of it.

Yep. I came across a set of the new tweeters and thought I’d have some fun with a set of inexpensive 17’s I picked up. While I’m not an engineer I know just enough that the match may not be optimum as is, so came here for guidance.
While I’m suspicious of KLH making product in China, they do have design engineers on staff.