New Klipsch Owner

124

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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Zingo, what brand of capacitors and resistors are you going to use?

    Anyone want to wager a guess?
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Too easy.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    I'm not going to tip my whole hand just yet...
    Jake
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited May 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Anyone want to wager a guess?

    Looks like a mini-arc reactor there! Too much Iron Man..perhaps. lol

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • toucanet
    toucanet Posts: 580
    edited May 2010
    What is /are the story(ies) on the KLIPSCHORN speakers?

    I do not know anything about Klipsch speakers, and I have never listened to a pair.

    Just curious.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    toucanet wrote: »
    What is /are the story(ies) on the KLIPSCHORN speakers?

    I do not know anything about Klipsch speakers, and I have never listened to a pair.

    Just curious.

    I'll send you a PM.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Zingo, what brand of capacitors and resistors are you going to use?

    tn1273979251073907500.jpg
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    Glad to see you aren't using those blue things on your tweeters. :p

    Btw, your image host sent off all sorts of red flags on my anti-spam filters.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    For the tweeter I'm using the Silver Z-Caps and for the mids I'm using the Superior Z-Caps. It should be an interesting combo, and I've heard good things about the toroidal inductors.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    I'm currently working on the layout of the XO with all the new parts. I can electrically build the correct XO no problem, but I'm just trying to figure out how to best lay it out to look good as well...
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/coils.htm
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    Thanks. I've been chatting with Troels about XO layout and he's definitely a helpful guy; more knowledgeable than I could be in three lifetimes.

    I just need to tweak my design a little I think, or solder it together and test...
    Jake
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  • smcgov34
    smcgov34 Posts: 46
    edited May 2010
    I've been through a ton of speakers in the past couple years and the cornwalls and fortes are keepers for me. I did an A/B and the RTA15's sound an awful lot like the cornwalls to me.

    I have my fortes upstairs paired with a sansui au-9500 and they sound fantastic. I tried a G9000 on them and they didn't mate as well.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    smcgov34 wrote: »
    I did an A/B and the RTA15's sound an awful lot like the cornwalls to me.

    That's an interesting observation as the speakers are nothing alike. What was similar about them?
    Jake
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  • smcgov34
    smcgov34 Posts: 46
    edited May 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    That's an interesting observation as the speakers are nothing alike. What was similar about them?

    well they weren't alike until I did the crites xover deal...I had them in a 3 way shootout with some ads 1290s...some cornwall verticals..and the rta15.

    many people consider the cornwalls forward..which they are..but not in a bad way. For example on the ads I can hear ample bass..but on the cornwalls you get the bass feeling but also can hear the tone of the bass guitar distinctly....so I'm really not sure if the cornwalls have a mid hump, or if the ads have a dip in that frequency...it makes the ads seem cleaner sounding...but there are frequencies in the ads that you won't be able to hear...this is very close listening mind you....so I hooked up the RTA's and they have the great highs and lows of the cornwalls...and they have the same forwardness of the mids. I was once told by an engineer that worked at a very reputable NE speaker company in the 80's that speakers with similar frequency responses would sound very similar to each other..I've heard people debate that but I'd love to see a printout of the RTA15's versus the conrwall 1's...because to my ears..they were extremely close. The klipsch have a slightly more raw live sound..while the RTA's are just a tad more "polite"..sounding more like a studio sound, but they were similar enough that I had a very hard time figuring out which ones to keep. I based that on maintenance.....plus I've been holding out hope that someday I'll get some SDA's...
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    I dig that, thanks for the observations and your .02. I would definitely agree that Polks are more polite than Klipsch speakers.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    Old and new
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2010
    A couple of leads look as they're close to each other. I would also try to shorten them a little more if possible. Otherwise, it looks good. Now fire them up and start the burn in!
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    All the red leads are annealed, so it's not a problem. :) Some of the leads are a little longer than I would have liked, but it looks like and the inductors and autotransformer are well spaced, so I'm fine with that. I'm excited to get 100+ hours and see how they work out.
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited May 2010
    a3379cba57.jpg
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2010
    I pulled the original binding post cups and made a custom set of 3/8" plexi binding post plates instead to show off the custom crossovers. It's a good look and they might actually seal a little better too.

    c257a94947.jpg
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    Update:

    I just received a pair of titanium diaphragms for the tweeter horns on my Fortes, which are an upgrade from Bob Crites. It will be interesting to install them and see how the sound changes from the stock phenolic ones. Bob says, "The titanium diaphragms for the tweeters simply smooth out the high end and extend it higher." Should be interesting at the least, and I'm a little disappointed that he does not make matching diaphragms for the mid horn, but if he says it doesn't need upgrading, who am I to argue? Even if I end up not liking the titanium sound, I can easily replace the original diaphragms and $52 for the pair is pretty cheap for SQ improvement.

    tidiaph-2.jpeg
    Jake
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,082
    edited November 2010
    $52 for the pair seems very reasonable. Keep us updated!
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited November 2010
    Damn I want some new crossovers for my ForteII's, but the Bob Crites price is way over my budget..
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    I wouldnt recommend sonicaps for klipsch speakers, which is what bob uses, and neither does sonic craft. Build your own crossovers like I did as the forte crossovers are fairly low in parts count.
    Jake
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  • Audioquest
    Audioquest Posts: 104
    edited November 2010
    Nice! Tubes and horns are a match made in heaven. The Klipsh speaker is so efficient tubes are a perfect match. A friend has some Klipsh K-Horns that are just dying for some good tube gear. Alas he loves high power solid state which is completely wrong for these, and I don't think they will ever perform as good as they can.
    HT: Polk SDA SRS 2.3 main fronts, Klipsch RC-25 center channel, Polk RTi-150 rears, M&K V1B sub, Denon AVR-5800, Samsung 52" LCD, Sony BDP-S550

    2 Channel: Carver ALS Platinum, Audio Research LS-2B preamp, Counterpoint SA-100 amplifier, Integra CD player, Denon SL7D tt, TC750 phono pre, Nikko tuner
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  • hangon
    hangon Posts: 228
    edited November 2010
    Nice speakers, but I sold my Forte's just the other day and replaced them with the CornWalls.
    When I demonstrated the Forte's versus the CornWalls I almost lost the sale.
    The CornWalls sound stage and performance walks all over the Forte's.
    Sell the Forte's and get the CornWalls or better.
    HT Theater

    SRS-SDA 2.3tl RDO's
    Custom Center made out of a RTA15tl
    Pioneer Elite SC-25 Receiver
    CineNova Grande 5 channel Amp
    Klipsch KA-1000-THX Sub Amp
    (2)Klipsch KW-120-THX Subs

    Basement System

    SRS-SDA 1.2 upgraded Xover
    Pioneer Elite SC-25 Receiver
    ADCOM GFA 5500
    ADCOM GFA 5503
    Yahama P7000S Pro Audio Amp
    dbx 120x-ds Sub-harmonic Synthesizer
    2-JBL 4645C Subs
    1-Paradigm SW2200 Sub
    Klipsch Reference in wall's
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    My uncle has Klipschorn, La Scala, and Cornwall, and they are all great speakers. However, I don't think they are over all better than my modded Fortes. Sure the Klipschorn has awesome bass, as all horn loaded speakers do, and the increased sensitivity is always nice, but I don't think on a whole that the heritige line of Klipsch speakers is better than the Forte. I know that mods help, but I actually think my Fortes sound a little more musical than the larger speakers. No matter which Klipsch speakers I have in the future, I do know that I will only be able to listen to three-way Klipschs with mid-horns as that makes all the difference.
    Jake
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited November 2010
    How much did the crossovers cost you, and how long did it take you to assemble? I'm very limited on my knowledge of constructing these....but would love an upgrade.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    The crossovers were probably about $350 with all the parts including Bob Crites Autotransformers. It was a fun process, but the physical layout of the new boards takes a while to find the shortest signal paths and component connections; which I'm sure is perfect on mine either. It probably took me a week of off and on evenings to simulate, construct, test, and install the new crossovers, but the sound quality is well worth it. The physical difference is also substantial as well, and since I knew the caps and resistors weren't going to fit on the binding post cup crossovers anyway, why not get crazy.

    I hesitated on building completely new crossovers as I had swapped caps and resistors on many speakers before, but all new and improved parts did improve every aspect of the Fortes and they are not going any where any time soon.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=48985&d=1274497086

    I was able to install one of the new titanium tweeter diaphragms with my limited time this week, but I might be able to get the other one in tonight (working 12 hours yesterday as the state does my license survey this week doesn't leave much time at home or with the family).
    Jake
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