KLH Twenty Three Restoration-PICS
- Thread starter GD70
- Start date
GD70
Lunatic Member
I WISH that's all I needed to do with these. But for 19.99 from SA, there's going to be some work needed.
They sounded great when I got them home which surprised me as usually the tweeters are dead due to bad caps.
Glenn
SoundOfSound
Super Member
GD70
Lunatic Member
Thank you sir! Just go slow, make many passes with the blade as to not split the veneer while cutting the pieces.
GD70
Lunatic Member
My Pleasure! This is the fourth pair of speakers which I've repaired, or completely had to re-veneer the cabs.
Hope it helps to see it's not hard to do.
Glenn
Looking good, you will be proud of these when they're done!
Dumb question, because mine are the first pair of cloth surround speakers I've ever owned... I applied a light coat of the surround dope that I got from Roy C I think Wednesday evening. The speakers definitely needed it because I had one of the drivers out for a recap when I did, and shining a dim flashlight from behind through the surround revealed exactly what I suspected, that they were essentially completely dry. They may even need another super light coat; I can tell from the one driver that is out that in some places the new dope went right through the cloth (because I could feel the tackiness on the backside of the surround.) The question is, it's Saturday morning and they're still a little tacky. I guess I just assumed that it would dry to the touch in a day or so. Is this normal and I should just proceed on and reattach the grilles? OK to go ahead and listen to them? As of right now the only things needed to call these "done" are one cap, Deoxiting the selector switches (not sure if it's needed, but when am I going to have the opportunity again?) and gluing the Velcro for the grilles back onto the backs of the grilles, but I don't want to push it if playing the speakers before the surrounds are in shape is bad for some reason.
Also, I see there's wire nuts in the driver wires. Do you think it's worthwhile to redo those connections with solder, or is this generally not a big deal?
Dumb question, because mine are the first pair of cloth surround speakers I've ever owned... I applied a light coat of the surround dope that I got from Roy C I think Wednesday evening. The speakers definitely needed it because I had one of the drivers out for a recap when I did, and shining a dim flashlight from behind through the surround revealed exactly what I suspected, that they were essentially completely dry. They may even need another super light coat; I can tell from the one driver that is out that in some places the new dope went right through the cloth (because I could feel the tackiness on the backside of the surround.) The question is, it's Saturday morning and they're still a little tacky. I guess I just assumed that it would dry to the touch in a day or so. Is this normal and I should just proceed on and reattach the grilles? OK to go ahead and listen to them? As of right now the only things needed to call these "done" are one cap, Deoxiting the selector switches (not sure if it's needed, but when am I going to have the opportunity again?) and gluing the Velcro for the grilles back onto the backs of the grilles, but I don't want to push it if playing the speakers before the surrounds are in shape is bad for some reason.
Also, I see there's wire nuts in the driver wires. Do you think it's worthwhile to redo those connections with solder, or is this generally not a big deal?
The sealer remains tacky. I believe the instruction say to give it 24 hrs.
Good to know, thanks. Sometimes a dumb question really isn't dumb because you just don't know the answer.
this is the only "instructions" I've seen...
http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...schematicsservice/klh_service_bulletin_60.pdf
beatcomber
AK Member
You didn't get instructions included with the order of sealant? Ask Roy to email it to you.
Glenn is correct, the sealant will remain tacky even after curing. I gave my Sixes two coats, and waiting 48 hours in between each application.
No worries. It's already done, just recoated this morning. I have to work today so hopefully I'll finish recap/deoxit tonight and maybe listen tomorrow?
One of the driver is still mounted and I could tell even after one coat the cone doesn't snap right back if you push it in like it did before, there's definitely a little delay in the return, which I'm gathering from obsessively reading about these speakers is the effect that I'm looking for. So hopefully two coats and new caps will make them sound like they're supposed to again.
In other news, when it rains it pours, I apparently have a line on another old receiver so I may be looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers to go with it for a kitchen or office system Just picked up some shelves for the kitchen last night too so there's already a logical place for the receiver to go...
One of the driver is still mounted and I could tell even after one coat the cone doesn't snap right back if you push it in like it did before, there's definitely a little delay in the return, which I'm gathering from obsessively reading about these speakers is the effect that I'm looking for. So hopefully two coats and new caps will make them sound like they're supposed to again.
In other news, when it rains it pours, I apparently have a line on another old receiver so I may be looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers to go with it for a kitchen or office system
Just picked up some shelves for the kitchen last night too so there's already a logical place for the receiver to go...
alteclipsch
Super Member
I have both the KLH 32 and AR4X, and I agree, either are superb for a smaller environment like a kitchen or office. Both have great presence for their size.
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GD70
Lunatic Member
Bummer! That was just a tease!
The 23's are such a good speaker, but they really love/want power. The best I've heard them are with my Harman Kardon Citation 19 amp, all 100 wpc. That's when they really open up and produce fantastic bass mixed in with the best attributes that the Model Six's provide. I've tried them with tube amps of 25-30 watts, and while they sound nice, they simply want more. The upside? Great r'n'r speakers.
yeah I was playing them on an old Kenwood KR-9940 in 2 channel mode, depending on who you believe it puts out somewhere between 80-120 WPC in 2 channel. Really sounded nice... and I believe the service was needed, bass definitely came alive with the dope on the surrounds and I could immediately tell a huge difference in treble response with new caps. I don't have a capacitance meter but this was so pronounced I can't believe that it was just placebo effect.
Now I just gotta fix the Kenny (again) or be patient and wait for my old HK 330c to come back from surgery (but that's only 30WPC and I'm guessing that one is better suited for driving smaller speakers like the newer KLH bookshelves I was pairing it with - and patience isn't one of my virtues anyway!)
Now I just gotta fix the Kenny (again) or be patient and wait for my old HK 330c to come back from surgery (but that's only 30WPC and I'm guessing that one is better suited for driving smaller speakers like the newer KLH bookshelves I was pairing it with - and patience isn't one of my virtues anyway!)
Steez51
Active Member
Glenn I just ran upon this thread. You've helped me in the past with speaker refurbs. You are a true artisan. I see you sand with power. I was told not to. That was until I got these Advent1s and tried it with great results. Thanks for this thread and keep schoolin us....It really means a lot!