khorn#1

Artto, I will admit that you have as much knowledge and understanding of Klipschorns and how to set up the room they are to perform in than anybody I have come across on this forum but, I can give you, I think, some great sound advice on the upper horns. I have 2004 khorns, bought them brand new from a dealer, should have bought used ones because I have upgraded every component except the bass driver ( k33 ). It was nice to get brand new in the box and help keep the Heritage line going, anyway, I have Alk es crossovers, completely inclosed the backs, reinforced the corners they are in, went from the k-401 horn to Alk Trachorns which was an improvement with the k55 mid driver used with the trachorns also. Went with Bob Crites tweeters which was also an improvement. Sound treatments throughout the room which also was an improvement In saying all of the above, I will say this, the best sound improvement I made to my khorn setup was buying and installing Greg Roberts vtrac horn with the BMS 4592 mid driver. Alk es networks are a close second on my upgrade list but, I have heard vtrac's with alk universals and it sound very good also. The es networks offer more control at higher volumns but I could live with the universal networks. I could not live without the vtrac BMS setup. To me its that good and others on this forum will agree that have them or have tried Greg's vtrac demo in their home. I have never heard the 402 so I cant make any comments on that setup but, according to others on this forum, they perform wonderfully. I think Greg is still offering the in home vtrac demo, I think it would be worth your time to hear these. Just my two cents. Regards, Randy

Greg, I hear ya, great album to shake the dust off the rafters. I wish I was there with you. ROCK ON.

Al, Forgive me for highjacking this thread but, What is going on with the ES network for Greg's vtrac? Is it still in the works? Thanks, Randy

Dan, This is one of the best forum post I have ever read on this site. I would love to meet you one day and share some tunes together. Again, I was the first to demo Gregs v-trac and new after a couple of hours of listening that I was hearing the great Paul Klipsch khorn sound like it never had sounded before. I have never heard the Avantgarde Duo, only seen pics of it and read other reviews, would love to hear them one day. I like you have been experiencing klipsch heritage for a number of years ( over 30 years ) and I have always like there sound but always new something could be better when it came to the khorn, the bass was always there but the top end lacked smoothness especially at higher volumns. My khorns were brand new ( 2004 model ) and through the years with the help of the klipsch forum site I have added ALK es networks, Crites tweeters, and also had Al's trachorns for several years. All of these upgrades were an improvement especially the Alk es networks but once I heard Gregs v-trac with the BMS driver, I knew that for the first time I had heard the mighty khorn at its best and made it a priority to purchase these from Greg. The v-trac improves the khorn in the mids as well as the midbass. It really transforms the khorn into a first class speaker. The cool thing is that you can purchase used khorns and add this upgrade with some crossover refinement and have some speakers that will rock your world and not have a really large money investment in these compared to the performance you get. It really is a no brainer. Thanks so much for the honest review, Randy

I was the first to take advantage of the v-trac demo and was quickly sold on this upgrade. I have been through the gambit of upgrades through the last ten years or so from amps to cd to cable upgrades,etc. The v-trac with the BMS drivers rates up at the top of the best money spent vs performance gains. I can honestly say at least at my house that I have the best pair of khorns I have ever heard. I have my bass bins completely sealed into the corners and the v-tracs, crites tweeters and Alk es-networks all mounted on a piece of birch that I can toe in or out however I want which I think is key to the total performance of this upgrade. It may not look the greatest but I like the complete adjustment factor from toe in or toe out and crossover adjustments on the fly. Everyone that has come to hear my system always comments on the size of the Alk crossovers as well as the v-trac horn and most of all is always blown away by the sound. I have noticed that Greg is in the design process of a new khorn that would allow the midhorn and tweeter to be adjusted as well as bass bin improvements. Can't wait to see what he comes up with. Thanks, Randy

Guys, Those chevy trucks with the 350 block will just about run forever as long as the oil is changed regular and general upkeep is done. Cant say that concerning all other GM engine offerings of the past 10 to 20 years, 3400 v 6, 3800 v6, and any of the 4 cylinder engines. I have a 94 Silverado that I bought new that has been the best vehicle I have ever owned, it has the 350 in it and still runs very well at 208,000 miles. I can say I really have maintained it over the years. My dad always taught me that if you take care of your car, most of the time it will take care of you. My son turned 16 this past Sept., turned the keys to the truck over to him. I still use it when I need to haul something because it has the bedliner in it. So what I am driving now? After lots of research and test drives ( chevy trucks only of course ) went and bought a 2009 Chevy Silverado Z71 crew cab with leather interior and all the goodies I wanted on it. Sweet truck and I love the xm radio and the blue tooth. Did not hardly drive it all summer, did'nt want to put alot of miles on it. Kept driving my old truck, my son had not turned 16 yet. My youngest daughter would kid me and say Daddy there is a dust build up on your truck so I would go down to the basement and dust her off. Driving it more now, got about 2800 miles on it and thats making me sick. I know you all think Im crazy, my family does too, new truck and you want to keep it in the garage all the time. I tell them the new will last longer that way. Got the no interest gm financing on it so when I pay it off it might still have a hint of the new smell. I can only hope. A funny side note, I took delivery on this truck on June 1st, the very day GM declared bankruptcy in court. I told the dealer that I was most likely the only one that bought a GM vehicle that day. It was a good time to buy, I got a good deal on the truck. Randy

Al, How is the extreme slope design coming along for Gregs vtrac - BMS mid driver setup? I am really looking forward to this becoming available. Thanks, Randy

I have a pair of k77"s that came out of my 2004 khorns. They were used very little as I went with the crites several years back. $ 75.00 for the pair and I will ship them to you for free. Randy

Greg, Hope you and your wife enjoy your vacation. Enjoy the warmth, those Maine winters must get very long just like the long hot summers do down here in Bama. Randy

Greg, You da man. I think I can speak for everyone that has been involved with the demo units, thanks so much for providing this service. I realize that because of this service you have been able to really promote and sell the v - trac but, I know most of all you wanted others to hear what a very positive sound improvement that these make to the mighty khorn. Thanks again for the passion and all the time and money you have put into this project. Randy

Greg, You can cook too? If your cooking is anything like the magic you do on restorations, I will be coming for dinner. Sounds delicious. Randy

Jay, I knew you would be impressed. Great review. Yes that BMS driver is the key and with Greg's horn its a no brainer. After I purchased the horns and drivers and now have had time to get things really dialed in ( WOW ) I have never heard khorns sound this good. It just really seems to improve the over all voicing of the khorns. I have always looked forward to listening sessions at home with my system but now it is really an event. Randy

Rudy81, I am using crites ct125 with my setup, I like the Beymas but cost and the fact that the crites tweeters are very smooth and perform well in my system. The key is the two inch horn with the BMS driver. You will like the Beymas but I'll bet you will keep the crites tweeter. Randy

Greg, Dont do it, it would be a waist of time. Jamming to Almond Brothers, live at the Filmore east tonight through the vtracs horns with the BMS drivers. It is unreal incredible. This setup just keeps getting better. Khorns with es networks and your vtrac horns running with Mcintosh 501 monoblocs is unreal. Greg has really discovered something here with his two inch vtrac and BMS driver. Its not a cheap upgrade but it is worth the cost. Simply stunning. Randy

Rick, Check over at Audioclassic.com. They restore and repair Mcintosh. They are great to deal with,first class people. Good chance they will have what you need. Randy

Cpt John, I have a dedicated home theater - 2 channel listening man cave in my basement. I have controlled lighting, no ambient light. I am really not expecting the Runco to rival the Mits. I guess really what I am after is a larger screen for movies only that will give me a decent display. The lumagen scaler will help a good bit with some of the pitfalls of this early DLP model. Connection cables from the projector to the lumagen I already have on hand. The rainbow effects have me worried, never had a projector and I do not have anyone that I know that has a projector that I can demo from. Placement and installation I can deal with, I have a drop acousticle ceiling that will allow me to play with differont install positions. I am trying to do this as cheap as possible but at the same time do not want a lousy picture Its got me thinking that maybe I just need to leave well enough alone and watch everything on the Mits and wait until I have the funds to do this right. John, thanks for all your input. Randy

I have been presented an option to purchase a brand new in the box Runco cl-700 DLP front projector. This projector is first generation DLP form around 2002 or 2003. I cannot find alot of info online concerning this model. I presently have a 73 mits rear projection that I use in my home theater. It has been professionally calibrated and is being fed by an lumagen outboard scaler which has been also professionally calibrated. the picture is really first class watching HD, DVD, and BLUERAY. Im thinking of buying this Runco and an affordable electric screen and installing the electric screen to come down in front of the Mits TV and allow me to watch movies at around 110 inches. I would use the Runco just for movies to save bulb life and watch everything else on the Mits.I would need to recess the Mits into the wall which would be no problem and the projector screen would come down in front of the Mits when it was big movie screen time. I can also feed the Runco into the Lumagen scaler and do all the switching from there. I could get the Runco for about 350 to 400$ and a budget electric screen for around 300 to 400$. I would like any feedback on this model projector. I know for the price even being an older technology projector it might be a no brainer. Just wanting any advice on this front projector setup. It's only a 720 projector. Thanks, Randy

Everyone, I have had several weeks of listening with Gregs v-trac horn, BMS driver and es networks. I have made several adjustments with squaker tap settings as well as tweeter attenuation. I even went from 8 ohm taps to 4 ohm taps on my Mcintosh 501's which was an improvement in this setup. I think I have got them dialed in and the BMS drivers broke in. I had a musician friend of mine over last weekend to hear the new horns and drivers. He is a drummer and has been to my home over the years to hear my system from stock khorns to trachorns with alk es networks and now to Gregs horn with the two inch BMS drivers. I made sure to have everything warmed up before he arrived. We listened to a few songs of his choosing. After about three songs he got up and walked over to the horns and drivers and looked them over and looked at me and said what in the hell are these. I filled him in on what I had done and told him that the Klipsch forum strikes again in a good way of course. We listened to various music selections well into the early morning. He said that this upgrade made more positive difference than any other time he had heard my system. He called me the next day and went on and on about how he heard things in songs he had not heard before. Like I said he is a drummer, he said he had not heard overall drums sound like that on a home system. These 2 inch v-trac horns with these BMS drivers are something special. Thanks again to Greg for all his work on this upgrade.

Look, like I have mentioned before, get in line to hear Greg's v-trac demo's with the BMS drivers and you will then get it.Until you have heard a high quality 2 " mid tractix horn and drivers that the demo's offer, there is nothing else for the average home khorn setup that will beat it. One inch, two way or whatever. You people have to hear this. I realize that there are better bass bin designs and Greg has admitted to this but this is a next level upgrade and one as for as home use will be hard to beat. Like we all say, let your ears be the last word. Thanks, Randy

colterphoto, First time I posted pics on the forum, I will try and get it right next time. Randy

Jay, Never did try them on the inside. Set them up on the outside per Gregs setup on his website. As I have stated, did not have the time to spend with the demo's like I would have like to so I did not ever try any other tap settings and or of course tweeters to the inside or my es networks. It was frustrating because I had planned to try all the above mentioned setups but Like I have said " it was sounding very very good " just the way Greg sent then to me. The positve that I see is knowing that there is even more potential with these horns with time and a little tinkering. By the way, I receive my order today from Greg. These horns really are gorgeous, Greg's work is second to none. Working out the funds for the BMS drivers, hopefully will order them the first of next week. Will post pics and impressions once I get everything up and running. Can't wait to hear these cranked with ALK es networks. Thanks, Randy

Craig, I ran them as delivered, because of work and other things, I did not really have time to try any other taps nor did I have the time to hook up my Alks es networks and see how they sounded. It was a tad bright but in a good way, more effecient driver and the universal networks are to blame for that. I am use to the es networks which at low and medium levels are not very in your face so to speak. They shine at higher volumn levels which when I am am doing some serious listening is where I run them. Can't wait to hear Greg's horn with the BMS driver hooked up to the dialed in es networks. Craig, even though I did not have or take the time to try other tap settings, Greg's horn with this BMS driver is special. I think even after tinkering a bit you have found this out. Good luck with your booth or setup at the AK fest and we all look forward to your report on how things went. Randy

Mcintosh 501's monoblocks carried this setup very well.

Right bass bin

V-tracs installed on top of bass bins.