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KLH Model 12s for $300 w/one being muffled

M

marcushifi

New Member
I have the option to buy these KLH model 12 with the two crossovers for $300. They are in amazing cosmetic condition. The guy says one of the speakers sounds muffled. Question 1, would $300 be fair? Question 2, could the muffled sound just mean the x-over contour just needs recapped? Question 3, would these sound good with my Fisher 400? (I’m assuming they would sound fantastic).

Any opinions are helpful.
 
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Hitting me in a very soft spot there.
I really want a pair of 12's.

Yeah, I'd do it, but I'd expect both boxes to need reworking.
And I agree, wrong forum.
 
45rpmspinner said:
Hitting me in a very soft spot there.
I really want a pair of 12's.

Yeah, I'd do it, but I'd expect both boxes to need reworking.
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What kind of reworking? Obviously recap the contours. I’m just worried there may be blown speakers in the one that is muffled.
 
Certainly, I would expect you would demo them before closing the deal, so you should be able to ascertain if the drivers are functional. IMO, "muffled" is an appropriate term for vintage loudspeakers that have lost their top end, so this very well could be a simple matter of refreshing the caps, which should be expected if they have never been replaced.
 
I had a pair of 12's that sounded muffled before recapping. Perhaps use this as a bargaining chip even though the price seems fair? Also push in both woofers gently to make sure there's no voice coil rub. Check the tweeters for continuity as well as they may be contributing to the muffled sound. A Fisher 400 will run them but I found the best sound from mine was with higher powered ss amps. The 12's are surprisingly inefficient for their age which predates many of the higher powered ss amps. A vintage Soundcraftsmen 250wpc ma5002 really made mine sing compared to a 40wpc Sansui 1000a that I also used on them.
 
marcushifi said:
What thread should it be in?
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When discussing costs and values, then it should be in Dollars and Cents forum.
With that said, I'd say that's a great price. They are in time capsule condition, and a complete setup. Vintage KLH's are known for dead tweeters because of out of spec caps. New caps almost always bring them back to life.
 
GD70 said:
With that said, I'd say that's a great price. They are in time capsule condition, and a complete setup. Vintage KLH's are known for dead tweeters because of out of spec caps. New caps almost always bring them back to life.
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I'd be curious to A-B the Model Twelve to the Model Five. Probably a bit more bass with the Twelve, but cost and time recapping the contour boxes and the sheer size of them makes me think I might prefer the Fives, since they do share the same drivers. They appear to be in great condition however!
 
c5corvette said:
I'd be curious to A-B the Model Twelve to the Model Five. Probably a bit more bass with the Twelve, but cost and time recapping the contour boxes and the sheer size of them makes me think I might prefer the Fives, since they do share the same drivers. They appear to be in great condition however!
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Model 5 crossovers aren't all that much simpler than the 12 boxes. About the same number of caps.

I own the other big box KLH's, Model 7's, and they definitely pump out deeper bass than their closest relative, the Model 6.
While some think there should/could be a problem with woofer excursion in the bigger box, that hasn't been my experience.
 
The above advice is spot on. Personally I would grab them, but of course I would try to negotiate a lower price based upon their condition. Driver's are usually available on the pay site in the event you need any. Keep us updated and good luck.
 
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I bought them and got the guy down on price which was nice. They were a beast to move but are in pristine condition. I’ll be recapping eventually. Lots of things going on so my hobby takes a back seat most of the time.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!
 
marcushifi said:
I bought them and got the guy down on price which was nice. They were a beast to move but are in pristine condition. I’ll be recapping eventually. Lots of things going on so my hobby takes a back seat most of the time.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!
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Excellent!
Look forward to seeing pics as you progress.

Cheers, Glenn
 
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