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Klipsch tweeter question

Coytee

Coytee

Super Member
I've read & heard about how Klipsch speakers are honky and/or perhaps have screechy tweeters or other unflattering comments about them.

Oh, by the way.... for the sake of clarity, I'm presuming those comments to be "all" Klipsch and since my personal experience is really with the Heritage I'd like to narrow my question down to that lineup. Perhaps this is a mistake of me but I want to keep my comments in perspective.

So, if the Klipsch K77 is a horrible tweeter by various definitions, I'm left to wonder why I never hear any similar negative comments on Electrovoice speakers that might also use the "K77" (T-35)

Seems to me if it sucks on the Klipsch, it should suck on the EV's.

The ST-350 and if I recall, the T-350 use the same diaphragm. The T-350 uses the same horn lens as well, doesn't it? (I know the magnet structure is far larger on the T-350) I know the ST-350 uses the baby-cheek style horn lens.

What, if anything, am I missing here?
 
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75% of the time the people who make those comments don't know what they are talking about, the other 25% make the comment because they believe that is what they should say. ....:thmbsp:
 
An EV T-35 or T-35B is an extremely harsh sounding (and "un-extended") tweeter with or without a Klipsch speaker wrapped around it. I really cannot comment on the T-350 as I don't have enough ears-on experience; and I know squat about the ST-350.

I do find the T-35B in a pair of Esquires I have to be less offensive. Maybe it's because it's a "B", maybe it's the EV XO, maybe it is the far smoother midrange of the EV LS-8 twincone driver compared to, say, a stock Cornwall horn and driver. The T-35B in an EV LT-12 coax isn't as offensive to me, either... cannot say quantitatively or qualitatively why, though.

Some folks do like T-35s, though, and I'll admit that I have a small collection of them because they are cute little drivers and horns and they are actually worth something if I ever need a few bucks.
 
mhardy6647 said:
An EV T-35 or T-35B is an extremely harsh sounding (and "un-extended") tweeter with or without a Klipsch speaker wrapped around it. I really cannot comment on the T-350 as I don't have enough ears-on experience; and I know squat about the ST-350.

I do find the T-35B in a pair of Esquires I have to be less offensive. Maybe it's because it's a "B", maybe it's the EV XO, maybe it is the far smoother midrange of the EV LS-8 twincone driver compared to, say, a stock Cornwall horn and driver. The T-35B in an EV LT-12 coax isn't as offensive to me, either... cannot say quantitatively or qualitatively why, though.

Some folks do like T-35s, though, and I'll admit that I have a small collection of them because they are cute little drivers and horns and they are actually worth something if I ever need a few bucks.
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Wow. My La Scala's tweeters have never sounded harsh. They are quite good actually.
 
I think the problem with the older Klipsches is in the upper midrange not the tweeter. Steve Schell for one is of the opinion that the T-35 is well controlled and it's sins are of omission rather than commision.
 
More questions then....

If the K77 sucks (just cutting to the chase and being blunt) then what makes the major difference between it and something like the ST-350 A/B which as I understand, have the same diaphragm, motor BUT, have different horn lens?

(I'm not 100% about the magnet structure)

If the horn lens is the only difference, could that alone account for the disparity of descriptions I tend to read?

I have a pair of ST-350 A's, so over the years, I've noticed the commentary on them as well.

I've never heard anyone say their EV Interface C/D, Sentry (don't know model numbers) with the ST-350's have a sucky tweeter. In fact, isn't the Sentry lineup one that is used in studios??

Just in case it comes across wrong, I'm not trying to stir anything up, this genuinely intrigues me. It simply seems to me that the K77 has a little star tattoed into its forehead and other speakers that might use the same exact driver or its cousins, don't even get mentioned.

Something strikes me as a little inconsistent with this.
 
Hi,
I love mine. With just a silmple cap upgrade and padding down the midrange, like I said before and stick by it, it's one of the best I own.

Stan
 
I have no idea what horns are in my Cornies.. but they sure don't sound harsh or shrill or screechy to me...
 
OH.. I meant to add too.. my Klipsch horns sure aren't as silky smooth as my 2" JBL's, nor are they as natural sounding as my Altec's were... and they don't reach up near as high as my BMS drivers do... but over all, I think they are pretty plesant sounding horns..
 
similost said:
OH.. I meant to add too.. my Klipsch horns sure aren't as silky smooth as my 2" JBL's, nor are they as natural sounding as my Altec's were... and they don't reach up near as high as my BMS drivers do... but over all, I think they are pretty plesant sounding horns..
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I'm sure you really meant to say "I think they are pretty plesant sounding.... for horns....."

:D
 
I guess you could say that.. I'm a horn person.. so saying "for horns" is really a moot point to me..
 
Hi,
you know ,coincidently, about a half hour before reading this post I had mine taken apart. I was trying to see how I'd mount it and all the other drivers externally outside the cabinet. Every slot would need to be enlarged to perform this. I'm not ready for that yet, although the benefit of doing so would obviously improve the horns in every way. Maybe this is why some Klipsch owners are'nt fond of it's sound. Being mounted from the inside?

Stan
 
I was reading up about flush mounting the horns on the front. From the things I read, the only reason Klipsch went to that way was because it lowered assembly costs. From what I read the sonic differences were negligable. Even saw some before and after measurements, and I sure couldn't see a difference between the graphs, and supposedly that was the over all consensus.
 
I'm guessing alot of complaints about Klipsch speakers come from people who did not have them matched with an appropriate amplifier and/or from people who did not have them placed properly in their room. I've experienced both issues and I can definately understand where some of the comments are coming from.

When I first got my khorns I was driving them with a Marantz 2252b which is a very clean sounding receiver and sometimes considered overly bright. The Khorn being very amplifier sensitive picked up on those characteristics and multiplied it making for a very offensive experience. I immediately switched it out for my smoothe and warm sounding 2245 and the sound was totally different. I've also had my khorns in a smaller room and they did not sound right at all. In fact if I wasn't able to have switched them back to a larger room they would have been sold as they just didn't have enough room to breathe.

I've had a similar experience with my Fortes. When I first got them I put them along the short wall in my basement facing straight ahead and the sound was blary, incoherant and just plain irritating! I switched them to the long wall and toed them in and what a complete 360, the sound blended beautifully.

If you're going to buy Klipsch just know that they are placement and amplifier sensitive and if you get it right you will understand just how amazing they can be.
 
I have built and owned numerous systems with T35 horns.I have always found it to be a fine tweeter. I have found the ST350ato be a little more open sounding due to its better dispersion pattern Regards, JOHN:music::music::music:
 
Lets mix this up a little. Add Crites ct125 in to the mix. It is supposed to be an exact replacment with a titanium diaphragm - correct?

I have had both. I am one of the very few who prefer the origianl K77 over the ct125. And yes, my hearing is really bad. This might tell you something too.
 
Jcricket said:
I have had both. I am one of the very few who prefer the origianl K77 over the ct125. And yes, my hearing is really bad. This might tell you something too.
Click to expand...

So, interestingly, was Paul Klipsch's (at least in terms of limited HF response, even when he was younger).
 
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