whoaru99
Epic Member
Sounds like the same thing to me, although you'd probably get more improvement on the speakers unless the amp really sucked out of the box.
Why do so many people modify Klipsch?
- Thread starter capt.chaos
- Start date
Sounds like the same thing to me, although you'd probably get more improvement on the speakers unless the amp really sucked out of the box.
Luckily, the Counterpoint did not suck out of the box when my neighbor bought it and it still doesn't suck all these years later but I'm sure a cap upgrade/replacement would be beneficial now.
idadude
Super Member
Klipsch & others cut corners /production costs.
I've modded a few different Klipsch products because they cut corners when it comes to production costs. The 'okay' sounding electrolytic cap in the crossover and the thin wire inductor were good enough to give the products a 'good' sound, but using better & more expensive parts can bring out the full potential these have.
Its just not Klipsch as others have said. I opened up my Von Schweikerts to find several lytics which got replaced with poly and PIO caps and WOW!!! what a much improved difference it made.
Everyone has production cost limits except for maybe the uber expensive top of the line stuff and I will not be in the market for that anytime soon, maybe later......
I mod everything I get a hold of since what I can afford always has room for improvement. As gadget73 said, modding is fun and if I had a pair of Dynaudios I'd open them up to see where I could make some improvement(s) to them. I'm sure there's something that could be improved upon. If not, then I'd be surprised 'and' content.
So, its not that Klipsch are bad speakers, but that you can get great results with a little modding and uber wonderful results with a lot of mods.
Larry D.
I've modded a few different Klipsch products because they cut corners when it comes to production costs. The 'okay' sounding electrolytic cap in the crossover and the thin wire inductor were good enough to give the products a 'good' sound, but using better & more expensive parts can bring out the full potential these have.
Its just not Klipsch as others have said. I opened up my Von Schweikerts to find several lytics which got replaced with poly and PIO caps and WOW!!! what a much improved difference it made.
Everyone has production cost limits except for maybe the uber expensive top of the line stuff and I will not be in the market for that anytime soon, maybe later......
I mod everything I get a hold of since what I can afford always has room for improvement. As gadget73 said, modding is fun and if I had a pair of Dynaudios I'd open them up to see where I could make some improvement(s) to them. I'm sure there's something that could be improved upon. If not, then I'd be surprised 'and' content.
So, its not that Klipsch are bad speakers, but that you can get great results with a little modding and uber wonderful results with a lot of mods.
Larry D.
moray james
Super Member
Larry: how about those KLF20 speakers that you have what's the time line for them look like these days? Spring is a coming fast. Am looking forward to seeing what you do with yours. I am thinking about a whole new build for the set I have now with more volume and some other tricks like either flipping one of the woofers around or maybe even installing them into a manifold and possibly time aligning the tweeter and mid horn. Did I mention I was thinking a bigger mid horn? There is always something fun to do. Best regards Moray James.
Coytee
Super Member
Just a curious question (since I'm not too familar with the brands listed)
How much would a stereo pair of their 'top of the line' model cost that doesn't have any need or benfit from being 'hot rodded'??
I once saw/heard a pair of Wilsons at a dealer in Georgia. With NO disrespect meant to owners of these specific Wilsons, they didn't hold a candle to the Jubilee's in my room.
I think the Wilsons were about $30 (or was it $60K??) . They were the "boxy" looking speakers, 3 maybe 4 way and the top 'box' could be angled down) They were not the top model.
Jubilee's with Walnut or Cherry or perhaps other finish can be delivered to your door for under $8K. I've since hotrodded mine (as have some others) by swapping HF drivers with the TAD-4002 (just under $4K retail). Did they benfit from it? yep. Am I still in for under half of the Wilsons I once heard and (in my opinion) sounded less? yep.
Now, in fairness.... these are now special order. My understanding is had the factory actually produced a 'residential version' (these are special ordered via their Cinema lineup) they might have been price pointed closer to $25K.
I personally think they are probably one of the best bargains out there.
Side note regarding "top model".... I was once talking to Roy Delgado (co-designer of the Jubilee with PWK) and he said that in his opinion, the Jubilee represented the best design they had available.
SET12
Super Member
While dumping $2500 into a $1200 Forte may seem like insanity for some, it was getting the performance of a $10,000 speaker for the return in investment for me.
As simple as a stock Forte network is or even other Klipsch networks it would of been easy for me to pour $10,000 into the networks if so desired.
The late Steen Duelund often said he had more funds into his networks than the cost of his speakers drivers. I can tell you I understand why!
No Regrets
SET12
As simple as a stock Forte network is or even other Klipsch networks it would of been easy for me to pour $10,000 into the networks if so desired.
The late Steen Duelund often said he had more funds into his networks than the cost of his speakers drivers. I can tell you I understand why!
No Regrets
SET12
SET12
Super Member
Simply put, cost.
Manufactures typically charge 4-5 times or more over material and labor costs.
It is said that for DIY dollar spent, that dollar is capable of being worth up to $10 in returned retail manufactured dollars.
And lastly there is a greater level of satisfaction from DIYing and the ability to match the performance of products costing thousands that for some are simply unaffordable.
SET12
moray james
Super Member
I agree with SET12 plus when you DIY you have the ability to get what you want not what the mass market wants. Best regards Moray James.
Tapehead47
Addicted Member
131east23
...near Frank's Pizza!
I have a pair of 1980 Cornwalls. When they were new they were real nice speakers that cost 1600.00 a pair. I bought them for 300.00 a few years ago. The design and the build quality of PK's heritage line speakers is very good and within "that" is the potential for better sound through upgrades or mods. Klipsch speakers are like "Hemi engines". They're already fast when you buy them but you can get so much more out them because of the superior engineering that went into them. Just ask Don Garlits!
michaelhigh
mind's eye music
Why mod? Because it's there. Why did the chicken cross the road? Same answer.
dc270
Now Off the Reservation
Why do so many people modigy their Klipsch? The reward is far greater than the risk and so many times it has beed proven to be a better sonic payoff! The modification are relatively easy and affoardable as well.
Depending on what you want to do like a simple cap c/o or a full blown modification it is a great platform to improve upon. PWK had to hold to price points and his own preferances when he put them out there. As time moved forward better grade components and designers steped in and improved his designs. It is the nature of some things for this to happen- Klipsch speakers are meant to be improved on I personally think so especially the older, larger ones!
I took ownership of a couple 1980 Cornwalls a few months back. I initially listen to them for several days and concluded the were good speakers- even in stock form- but they had much more sound potential if modified. I modified mine with ALK type networks, flush mounted horns, driver wrapping, etc and now have a product vastly superior to stock. In many ways it still sounds like a 1980 Cornwall- minus the warts with better dispersion, stable ohm loading and a more clear sound. I liked the sound of the 1980 Klipsch Cornwalls enough to leave that in tact and polish what was left.
DC
Depending on what you want to do like a simple cap c/o or a full blown modification it is a great platform to improve upon. PWK had to hold to price points and his own preferances when he put them out there. As time moved forward better grade components and designers steped in and improved his designs. It is the nature of some things for this to happen- Klipsch speakers are meant to be improved on I personally think so especially the older, larger ones!
I took ownership of a couple 1980 Cornwalls a few months back. I initially listen to them for several days and concluded the were good speakers- even in stock form- but they had much more sound potential if modified. I modified mine with ALK type networks, flush mounted horns, driver wrapping, etc and now have a product vastly superior to stock. In many ways it still sounds like a 1980 Cornwall- minus the warts with better dispersion, stable ohm loading and a more clear sound. I liked the sound of the 1980 Klipsch Cornwalls enough to leave that in tact and polish what was left.
DC
angusruler
New Member
well said!
I believe you mean "Why does a man climb a mountain?" ans. "Because it's there." The Chicken crossed the road to get to the other side.
The reason Klipsch' are modded is they are usually still around and in good condition. Also there are excellent modifications available.
I've had my KG4s since the early 80s. Parts wear out. Particularly caps have a tendency to dry out. I feel since Bob Crites went to all the trouble to make the titanium tweeters and xover rebuild kits available and affordable... Why not? I wasn't disappointed.
If he cared enough and created upgrade kits for "White Van" type speakers, I might try them too.
no1herenow
New Member
Well, everyone has different reasons.
Mine are several-fold:
--Since Klipsch is a company, and has to make money, they cannot afford to use the 'best' (subjective of course) of everything, and be able to make a profit, since then almost no one could afford their products.
--I bought a 'real' Khorn, to take it apart and assess, comparing it to the ones my father taught me how to build, from original plans that were reverse-engineered and drawn up at Bell Labs in 1945 (I still have the original plans!).
I now have 7 of them I built. (would make a killer 7.1 system
)
Since:
1). I don't need to make a profit
2). Don't care what they cost
3). Don't care about how long they take to build
4). Can pick-and-choose the best materials, drivers and horns (here is a hint: the bass unit materials are denser than water).
5). Use modern-technology crossovers (no passive stuff here)
6). Want much high power-handling capacity
7). Have access to an anechoic chamber, spectrum analyzers etc.
My belief is to take a really good thing, and make it better. (JMHO)
Simple enough.
Mine are several-fold:
--Since Klipsch is a company, and has to make money, they cannot afford to use the 'best' (subjective of course) of everything, and be able to make a profit, since then almost no one could afford their products.
--I bought a 'real' Khorn, to take it apart and assess, comparing it to the ones my father taught me how to build, from original plans that were reverse-engineered and drawn up at Bell Labs in 1945 (I still have the original plans!).
I now have 7 of them I built. (would make a killer 7.1 system
)Since:
1). I don't need to make a profit
2). Don't care what they cost
3). Don't care about how long they take to build
4). Can pick-and-choose the best materials, drivers and horns (here is a hint: the bass unit materials are denser than water).
5). Use modern-technology crossovers (no passive stuff here)
6). Want much high power-handling capacity
7). Have access to an anechoic chamber, spectrum analyzers etc.
My belief is to take a really good thing, and make it better. (JMHO)
Simple enough.
no1herenow
New Member
:scratch2: I'll bet your passive stuff didn't go far enough for me
But more or less I have the same opinion as you :yes:
SET12
Not sure who the response is directed to.... I only use active crossovers. Nowadays, amplifiers are relatively dirt cheap, and I can design an active crossover that is way out of the league of passive inductors, capacitors and resistors... (though my very first pair of speakers I ever built when I was a kid used the oil-filled caps, and hand-wound toroidal inductors, but I had access to a myriad of T&M equipment.. geez, the xovers weighed 10 lbs).