La Scala maintenance?

[pragmatic001]

QUOTE=pragmatic001;2785138]Riser mod? Cool.
The nice thing with this Mod is it's totally reversable I'm hoping to have it done today and will give it a total work out tomorrow. Can't do it today, wifes off from work and my stereo is in the living room. That being the case, I do have to respect and be considerate of everyone. She's working this weekend... I'll let you know what I think of the MOD after a good hard work out. Besides, the Lascalas need to be cranked, the dust is starting to build up and the best way to blow that dust out of there is to "Turn It Up"

I'm interested in how it sounds. You wouldn't happen to be able to measure frequency response with/without the enclosures, would you? That would be definitive.

I'll probably build some stands. I think being off-axis may help tame the highs. However, none of the audio scientists I respect use vented enclosures for their subs (PWK, Edgar, Linkwitz). Maybe there is a reason =].

 

[pragmatic001]

The CT-125 tweeter are quieter, I recon 5 to 9dB’s going off my ears and the Attenuators, so that’s good if your tweeters are giving you headaches. They seem to be a good match for the universals as well.

I'm sold on these tweeters. I'll probably do the crites crossover upgrade along with them. That's $360 total cost I think. Affordable for me =].

What crossover do you have?

My x-overs say AL on them. Being 1990 horns I guess that makes them AL-3's?

If I go up two settings on the mid attenuation, after a few days I feel like I want to set the speakers on fire, so for me it's a must to be able to fine tune the speakers.

I know how you feel. I tried two SS amps with them and it was fatiguing at normal listening levels. I switched to a class-T that sounds much better and fixed 50% of my issue with the highs. For the other 50% I'm going to try building some stands to get the squaker/tweeter up to the height of the khorns. I think being off-axis will help.

Going back to you original question about maintenance, when I removed the K-400 horns I was surprised to see that one of the wires going to the mid driver had broken its solder joint and that the mid drivers were a touch loose on the horns. So checking for dry or loose solder joints and the tightness of the mid driver to the horn every 5 or so years might not be a bad idea.

That's a good tip. I'll check them out.

 

[Edriz]

I got the A/4500 crossover fromB&K and they were made with the CT-125 in mind. A perfect match.

The only way I have to measure anything is with my ears. They tell the story. I don't use science to tell my what I like to hear. My ears tell me what I like in sound.

My riser mods are about finished. All I need to do is add the insulation which I have in my shed and get the wife to give up a pair of panty hose for me to cut the feet out of.

Screw the bottoms on and away we go. 10 minutes tops and they are ready. I did use silocone around the inside of the pipe just to help hold them and seal them. I also took out a chunk of wood when i drilled the 4" hole so I added some wood filler. Now i have to wiat for that to dry, sand it and paint it. Oh well

 

[pragmatic001]

Found some data on ported la scalas. Looks like if you do it right & you cut the ports to the right length you can get some pretty decent sound out of it.

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/t/101361.aspx

 

[Edriz]

Yeah, I read all that, mant times. Thats where I got all the sizes, dimensions for the PVC, holes, etc.. Even the photo I posted. Ehm!! Also by reading that same post is why I chose to go with 7" lenght pvc instead of 10".

(Oh hey Prag ole buddy, all those numbers and scientific mumbo jumbo in all those posts over in the Klipsch community. I haven't got a clue of what all that junk means and I usually skip right over it. I know 35hz is low,30 better low and 20 too low for me ole ears, and 20khz is hi freq but everything mumbo jumbo to me. Like I said before, the only thing that interests me, is me ears)

Anyway, today is the test. I just took the bottoms off the lascalas. Soon I'll put those bottoms on the risers. If I really do like the difference it makes, I decided to make a new bottom to the lascala with the same cutour as the bottom og the bass bin and screw that on the lascala and then I want a more permanent wat of securing the lascala to the riser.

I have weather striping to seal the riser to the lascala but for this trial perios, thats just going to sit on the edge of the riser until I or my ears decide what they like best. Anyway, that'll come later, after the kids wake upo, breakfast is over and I finish watching Abbott and Costello Meets Frankenstien.

My Sunday morning ritual, a different A&C movie every Sunday then or maybe the East Side Comedy/Bowery Boys. I have them all :thmbsp::thmbsp:

 

[Edriz]

Okay, the concensus is in....

I have the risers on and I now think it's time to make it permanent. But not today. Not even tomorrow. I need a break for a bit and let my back rest for a bit.

My head is still buzzing though.

I don't have any gadgets to do any scientific tests or anything but if the buz in my head is any indication of the smile on my face from ear to blistering ear is any sign, the Mod is well worth the time and effort.

I don't know what the expense is as I already had the risers and insulation. I did spend $7 on a piece os 10FT 4" pvc but other then that. If your so inclined, go for it. The deep bass is well worth the effort. To my ears anyway.

And thats all I can really say bout it other than :guitar:

 

[pragmatic001]

Sweet!

I'm going to build a pair myself. Any advice to pass along?

From what I've read you use 3/4" plywood same width & length as the La Scalas and the height of the risers is 10", correct? Nail & glue I assume. Did you put any bracing in the box?

 

[Edriz]

Sweet!

I'm going to build a pair myself. Any advice to pass along?

From what I've read you use 3/4" plywood same width & length as the La Scalas and the height of the risers is 10", correct? Nail & glue I assume. Did you put any bracing in the box?

I used 4x4's in the corners
I did use glue but no nails. I used wood screws. They don't have a tendency to work themselves out like nails do. I guess nails would be okay though.

I didn't use any bracong in the box. Won't need it.

Check out the picture in my Photo Album and you will see the exact box to copy. Use the dimensions of your lascala speakers . The height is indeed 10". I think to get to my photo album you could just click my Profile. You will see the riser. This riser is a bit different then mine as I did put 4x4's in the corners and screwed the 3/4 plywood to that. And I did use plywood but that was 25 years ago.

I don't what plywood goes for now. Too bad you couldn't find scrap pieces laying around. I'd look first. Any houses going up, other projects in the area??
It doesn't take mych. I think the scalas are only 23-3/4 X 24 or there bouts X 10" Instead of using regular PVC see if you can get S&D pipe. It's a bit cheaper. Smaller OD also.

I think IMO it's well worth the effort. I can't wait til Monday morning when the house is Empty and I can crank some more. The sound is so ...Awesome.

I just can't describe how really great they sound. I'm going to have to get going and seal the riser to the bass bin. I don't think I will actually make a new bottom for each speaker cabinet. I don't feel they need it. Since the riser is going to be a permanent part of the bass bin anyway.

I wonder what the port through the rear of the horn would sound like. Hmmm
No, I won't even attemt that modification.....Nah! Don't even think of that one