Hi all,
I've just sadly decided I have to part out the pro LaScalas I bought used with a home theater project in mind. They sound(ed) great, but never got further than my garage and I've got a pair of Chorus I's to keep the Klipsch thing going in my listening room.
They aren't a matched pair, one cabinet being around 1979 and one early 80's and the cabinets are very well worn.
When I advertise the components, I want to give prospective buyers good information about their pedigree. I don't want to just assume the drivers have not been replaced at some stage in the life of these cabinets.
I've not found a way to date the whole assembly - the serials on the connection / fuse panels are 4 digits, not in line with anything I've found. The panels on the two cabs are slightly different - one with a copyright 1980 text and one without. The handles are also slightly different between the two cabs.
I've got my basic dates from the K-43 woofers, assuming the 67-xxxx is where I decode the date via the published YYMM code, giving me 1979 and 1981 respectively. Correct?
Neither of the K-55-Vs have date codes - they have serials stamped on the Klipsch center label - can those be decoded?
The K-55-V in the "1979" cab has spring terminals and a 6 digit serial beginning 13xxxxx, plus a red paint blob - no other markings. Are these likely to be original or at least contemporary?
The K-55-V in the "1981" cab has solder terminals and, in black stamped letters, F1F on top of the driver (the surface where the magnet attachment screws are). This again has a 6 digit serial, making no logical sense to me! I think this may be the rare dual plug variety, but I've been unable to find out what F1F means.
The K-77 in the "1979" cab has no "M" on it. It has the round magnet assembly and 14 824-9946 on the back of the horn. Is this perhaps a 1999 replacement? The one in the "1981" cab is a K-77-M and it has 14 824-0137 on it. Is that a 2001 replacement? Guessing here.
Both crossovers are AA, with nothing I can find to indicate date of manufacture. I think these match the assumed dates, based on the woofer date of manufacturing.
Although these sound bell clear on open jazz combos, with balanced cymbals, I'd like to be confident about the state of the crossovers, without de-soldering and checking the caps (which I can do). Is there a simpler away of checking the crossovers aren't dumping signal that should be heading to the mid / treble units?
Grateful for any assistance.