Why do so many people modify Klipsch?

[capt.chaos]

What is it about Klipsch speakers or the people that buy them that leads to so many modifications? I have noticed that over half the people I know with Klipsch have modified them. As opposed to my friends with other brand speakers. I do not know many people who have modified their Wilson,Sonus Faber, or B&W speakers. When I say modify I do not mean replacing crossover caps in old speakers. Any thoughts?

 

[nickrobotron]

A moderator should move that other thread to the Klipsch forum and delete this one. There's already 5 posts on it.

 

[moray james]

Klipsch are a sound design and they made good decisions as to where cut costs. So that leaves you with mostly hollow six sided box cabinets which need reinforcement and better cap and inductors to install in the crossovers that kind of thing. The a worth the time effort and expense because they were so very well designed. Best regards Moray James.

 

[Hyfi]

Klipsch are a sound design and they made good decisions as to where cut costs. So that leaves you with mostly hollow six sided box cabinets which need reinforcement and better cap and inductors to install in the crossovers that kind of thing. The a worth the time effort and expense because they were so very well designed. Best regards Moray James.

Not trying to be a wise guy, but if they are "so very well designed" why would you need to touch them?

You also said you are left with a hollow 6 sided box that need re-enforcement. Again, if so well designed, wouldn't they already be braced properly?

 

[markw300d]

Also, speakers with horns and compression drivers are a good platform for folks who like to experiment. Look at the dozens of variations in the Econowave thread. It's easy and relatively inexpensive to swap a tweeter diaphragm. You'd have to swap the entire tweeter in a conventional speaker which would likely require some crossover tweeking as well. I think that if people could try to extract as much as they could out of other models that many owners would try to but the design simply doesn't lend itself to doing that like the large horn designs of the Heritage Klipsch or vintage Altecs.

 

[tensleep]

#1 reason is because it is fun!!!!!
#2 reason is because they are easy to modify
#3 reason is the original design for the crossovers and driver installations are simple (not talking about the horn designs - the cabinets can be very complex)
#4 reason is I learn a lot about speaker design. When I modified my Klipsch kp301, I learned how port tuning works, how to determine cabinet volume and how to use modeling software.

I think of it like hotrodding - is it necessary to modify a vehicle for it to perform its basic function very well? No, but it sure is a hoot and performance can be enhanced!

 

[avguytx]

Not trying to be a wise guy, but if they are "so very well designed" why would you need to touch them?

Think of it in terms of owning the Counterpoint amp you have. Why does Alta Vista/Michael Elliott offer a bunch of "upgrades" to his amplifiers that were designed and built 15+ years ago? Were they not designed well enough then? Some of those "upgrades" can cost over $6,000.

Not trying to be a wise guy, but...

 

[rebellovw]

I seem to see this comment on this site quite a bit. Funny because it seems like people mod everything.

I've done some mods - but not because I didn't like the original sound:

1) Replaced the caps in the crossovers - did this because it was recommended due to age (mine are 1977 models) along with the squawker gaskets which were dried out.

2) Replaced the woofers with Crites cast frame woofers - not because the woofers sounded bad - because my CWs are decorators - and the woofers were discolored once the old grills came off - one was much darker than the other I guess due to sun light - one dust cover pretty wrinkled - so as part of the restore process I chose new woofers. I've very pleased with the before and after - best speakers I've ever had.

3) I did splurge on the Crites C125 tweeters - only because I've heard so many great things about them. One of these days I'll place the old ones back and give a serious listen.


I did this because it was fun and in the end I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

[gadget73]

Modding stuff is fun. Its nice to sit back and say to yourself "I made that better". Buying better stuff is cool but theres a sense of personal gratification that I get out of having my hands in something and getting an improvement.

Just my $0.02 on the matter.

 

[rebellovw]

Not trying to be a wise guy, but if they are "so very well designed" why would you need to touch them?

You also said you are left with a hollow 6 sided box that need re-enforcement. Again, if so well designed, wouldn't they already be braced properly?

Mine are tanks and need no re-enforcement - no MDF - just heavy birch plywood.

 

[markw300d]

Modding stuff is fun. Its nice to sit back and say to yourself "I made that better". Buying better stuff is cool but theres a sense of personal gratification that I get out of having my hands in something and getting an improvement.

Just my $0.02 on the matter.

+1...what he said. I paid $200 for a nice pair (after lots of cleanup) of Fortes that were $1200 when they were new. They were reviewed very well at that time in Stereo Review. I could have been quite happy with them as they were but like many on this forum, I have a strong desire to involve my hands in this hobby as well as my ears. I recapped the crossovers, moved the boards off of the terminal cups and I upgraded the tweeter diaphragms. I'm done (I think). It was fun and rewarding. This platform lends itself to that where many do not and their popularity has allowed for folks like Bob Crites to develop aftermarket improvements for them that are an easy install for the average DIYer. The end result is the best $200 that I have ever invested in audio. The upgrades cost me nothing because I flipped some smaller speakers that I picked up the same day as the Fortes. :thmbsp:

oh ya...I like the term "hotrodding" for this too. It makes me think of all of the hours I spent in the garage listening to music as I worked on my '66 Chevy II

 

[moray james]

Not trying to be a wise guy, but if they are "so very well designed" why would you need to touch them?

You also said you are left with a hollow 6 sided box that need re-enforcement. Again, if so well designed, wouldn't they already be braced properly?

Start a company of your own some day and you will be able to answer you questions yourself.
Klipsch did a nice job on the esthetics and a fine job on the veneer the horns are great the woofers are very good and the crossovers are solid but basic. You only have so much money to go around and you have to be able to be competitive at your chosen price point. You need to be good enough to outperform the competition but you cannot cost a lot more. There are trade offs that have to be made. The fact that they are so very well designed makes them so very much worth the diy effort and cost of parts and materials. I cannot think of anything in the 5K range which I would trade my KLF20 for. Best regards Moray James.

 

[Brian]

I've always wondered why Klipsch did not offer options to upgrade their speakers; yes it would mean custom builds but it could have been profitable. The auto industry did it and today companies like Honda offer a broad range of moods and addons depriving the aftermarket companies or profits.

Maybe little things like dynamite to deaden a cabinet, upgraded premium caps, addded bracing, etc. I understand this could backfire if the upgrades are not carefully chosen.

 

[Hyfi]

Fair enough. thanks for the answers.

 

[kconnor]

Over the years I have owned four models of Klipsch in addition to many other manufacturers’ speakers. My unbiased opinion is that Klipsch’s build quality generally exceeded all the others by a wide margin. Klipsch seems to be built for the long haul, most other home speakers not so much.
I once took a chance and modified the sets of KG4 and Tangent 30 I owned with Klipsch titanium dome replacements long before they were available from Crites. The difference was subtle but definitely an improvement and well worth the $70 and half hours time spent implementing the changes.

 

[JohnVF]

Fair enough. thanks for the answers.

Is it fair enough? Because it seems that every other company would be in the same position, but not every other company has a host of upgrades meant to improve their product.

Having listened to a host of Klipsch products stock, I have my own feelings why people go out of their way to modify them.

 

[Hyfi]

Think of it in terms of owning the Counterpoint amp you have. Why does Alta Vista/Michael Elliott offer a bunch of "upgrades" to his amplifiers that were designed and built 15+ years ago? Were they not designed well enough then? Some of those "upgrades" can cost over $6,000.

Not trying to be a wise guy, but...

Touche'

The fact that it is over 15 y/o does deem it close for some service.

They were actually designed very well but when CP went under, Mike needed to make money. I'm sure the mods are good but I don't think they are worth the cash as far as diminishing returns go.

He wants $75 for a copy of an owners manual or schematic which is a bit nuts.

Any mods I ever have done will be by Bob at Sound Dezign in Richboro PA for the CP or VAC.

 

[Hyfi]

Is it fair enough? Because it seems that every other company would be in the same position, but not every other company has a host of upgrades meant to improve their product.

I would never even consider opening up my Dynaudios thinking I could make them better, but I guess there is a big difference in brands.

Having listened to a host of Klipsch products stock, I have my own feelings why people go out of their way to modify them.

Me too, but if buying new, why not buy a speaker that has the sound your looking for right from the start?

 

[JohnVF]

I would never even consider opening up my Dynaudios thinking I could make them better, but I guess there is a big difference in brands.

Yes, Dynaudio makes several speakers that would be difficult to improve upon with simple modifications.

Me too, but if buying new, why not buy a speaker that has the sound your looking for right from the start?

Good question.

(I like Cornwalls for what its worth...)

 

[Dave C]

I would never even consider opening up my Dynaudios thinking I could make them better, but I guess there is a big difference in brands.

They you'll never know will you.