jrebman

Fritz and DJK, Thanks for the clarifications on the autoformer and inductors. From reading the patent material I saw only the one reference to an autoformer, and connected as a step-up device on the tweeter alone. This is also what Bob Crites told me what he thought he remembered. BTW, the speakers are not in my posession and are still listed on audiogon by seller name Jason300b -- a really nice guy to deal with. He's alo selling a pair of CWs, and he's located near Denver, CO. Thanks, Jim

Hi Bruce, Thanks, and yes, I do understand and that's why I will be using the ALK ap12-600 and ap15-6000 on my Cornwall rebuild. I'm currently using an SE el84 amp at 1.6/3.2 watts and while not exactly a linear response, they drive the CWs fairly well, especially considering that they are completely original, including 34 year old crossovers, etc. I think I need to explain my situation here a bit more -- I live in a townhouse and don't have a real shop, or even a garage, and space of any kind is at a premium, and storage space is all but claimed at this point, and whatever work I'd need to do would have to be done in the living room, and I'm sure my wife isn't really keen on the idea of yet another long-term disruptive project in our main living space. I also really have no corners to use (ok, maybe one, but it would be awkward at best), and if I go through all this effort and end up not liking them, I'm out a lot of money, time and spousal patience. It's not that I think they will be horrible, just not what I'm looking for, and I really must just get a decent pair of speakers in this space that sound good, can easily be driven with various SE amps, and don't impose themselves on the small space like the Cornwalls did (and why they are now in my office). Yes, I'm sure there are a zillion things I can do, but without a shop or space to put them while working on them, it's just not going to be practical. Understand that I am also very limited for electrical outlets, floor area for the entire system, and as I said, my wife, as supportive as she really is, just shouldn't have to deal with my endless audio musings. The system in the living room is the one she uses, so some of the kinds of things I can get away with in my office system, just will not fly in this system. BTW, Moray, appreciate the pictures, but I don't know if I told you or not, but I'm totally blind so pics don't do me any good at all. Really folks, I do very much appreciate all the help and advice, but my klipsch tinkering is/has to be confined to my private listening space, and that's why I've already made my plans for, and bought parts for the CW-to-CornScala conversion, including the ALK crossovers, the fastrac Cornwall mid horns, and some new tweeters, etc. The LBs are just too much to deal with, especially with the fairly substantial chance that I won't get what I'm looking for from them. Thanks, Jim

Hi Moray, I don't even have them yet so I can't tell you any more about the sonics. As for subs, this is a sub-free zone here -- no room, an I just plain don't like them -- or at least the ones I can afford. I also live in a townhouse and don't want to rattle the neighbors' cages. My primary reason for wanting low bass and very high efficiency isso that I can get a very satisfying/convincing sound at low levels with SE tube amps. The only way I've ever been able to do that is with an efficient speaker with a large woofer and extension into the 30 hz range. -- Jim

Thanks to you both, gentlemen. Hmmm, didn't realize that the low frequency cutoff was so high on these. Looks like it could be even higher than LaScalas. Think it's time to read the writing on the wall on this project... Thanks, Jim

This coming week I'll be getting apair of the very rare Lttle Bastard '76 J-horns and I'm looking for anybody who might have any information on the crossovers, crossover points, slopes, etc. of these speaers. I've been told that the crossovers don't have any autoformers in them, but the rated sensitivity is 108 dB, and yet the K77 is only 104, so I'm not sure how this all works yet. Driver complement is the same as Cornwalls and K-horns of the mid-70s -- k33, k55v, and K77, but not sure which mid horn is used, but am assuming K600. One potential plan for these would be to build them into a 2-way with an eliptrix 400 horn and Faital driver, but then finding/designing a suitable crossover would be the next step. Any help appreciated as I try to learn more about these, especially if somebody has a contact at Klipsch who may remember these. BTW, they are from 1977 -- same as my CWs. Thanks, Jim

Moray, Thanks again. I'll have no trouble with getting the height right, and I'm really going to consider switching horses mid-stream, though if I were starting from scratch, yes, there would be many other interesting options to pursue. My listening room is fairly small and has been nicely acoustically treated, and I was getting decent bass from 6 and 8 inch drivers, so the 15 is going to be plenty. In fact, my biggest initial concern with moving the cws to this room was that it would overload on the bass. Fortunately, it seems very good, and significantly better than the other speakers I've had in here. When I have some more cash I'll post an ad for the tweeters or look on the bay -- thanks for the suggestion. -- Jim

Moray, Thanks again. and yes, I do want to stick with the 3-way, though if I wewere building from scratch, I'd certainly consider one of the larger coax horns. I don't mind itting something on top, but otherwise I want to stick with the basic look of the cornwalls. these are walnut and the veneer and edges are all perfect, as are the grilles. Think I'll start looking around for a pair of k79s, though not sure how difficult that will be. Also, I plan to stick with the stock k55v mid drivers for now. Too many other projects in the pipeline and I can only fit so many speakers in this house. I also want to finish my zigmahornets (also polka dotted by Bud) and plan to build a pair of Lowther Alerions for my dx-55s this summer. P.S. -- I sadly don't have the fonkens anymore -- but my nextdoor neighbor bought them from me, so I can give them a listen whenever I want. The only problem with them, and I mean the only one, was the 89 db sensitivity -- I really need to be in the upper 90s or better for my SET addiction :-).

Moray, Well, we've only met in a virtual sense, so you wouldn't know what I look like either :-). And seeing as I'm totally blind, I wouldn't have any idea of what you look like, but I'm the guy who Chris built the first pair of F120A fonkens for, a few summers back, and which I believe you heard at the annual fest at Dave's place. I have seen a number of people saying the same thing about mounting the tweeters in order to correct the time/phase alignment. I wonder how far back this means the tweeter would have to go. Is the idea to get the throats lined up? Maybe I should start a new thread once I do a bit more research... Anyway, the crossovers are going to be a while yet, so no rush on all of this. Thanks again, Jim

Hi Moray, Thanks for the note and interesting to see you around these parts -- I always associate you with electrostats. If you don't remember me, we've met through the Planet10 guys. Anyway, I'm not sure there is enough room in the CWs to mount the tweeters vertically, and in some ways it's a bit counterintuitive that the longer opening should have the narrower dispersion, but then again, it also sort-of makes sense. Unfortunately, with the k77s, I do really miss the more extended response, as my tonian speakers with ribbon tweeters spoiled me and that was among the first things I noticed when I moved the CWs into my listening room. That and the lower, but much less articulate/controlled bas, and the resonance in the squawker. In the end my aim is to have a very smooth, clean, and balanced response from 30-something hz to something more like 18 or better khz on the top and with an impedance load that can be easily driven with various 2a3/45/el84 SE amps, and do so with nice tone and great dynamics -- macro and micro. In some ways I'm just starting this, and in others, I've been listening to these very carefully, albeit in another room and different amplification, for a year or so so do have a good idea of what I want to change/improve. Thanks again, Jim

Hi all, First post here, though I've been lurking and checking in here for a few years now. I'm updating and modifying a pair of 1977 cornwalls that I bought locally over a year ago and are in immaculate condition. I'll be ordering a pair of fastrac horns from Dave, and just placed my order for a pair of ALK ap12-600s and a pair of alk ap15-6000s. Once all that is done I'll most likely be looking to upgrade my tweeters, and wonder what the various differences among the Crites ct-125, the Selenium d220ti + hm25-25 combination, and the B&C DE10/ME10 combinations are. The current plan is to flush mount as well. Thanks in advance, Jim