Klipschorn Cretin

Wow, looks like you've done what I considered the impossible! I tried my hand at it, failed miserably. So I just bought my k-horns on ebay. Now that I have a pair (klipshorns that is), I might take another whack at it. It was hard to picture the final outcome with the poor plans I had. Of course, I sold the parts I had (your welcome Tom Mobley). But I think I'll build the cabs before buying the speakers this time, that way I won't have speakers waiting for me to build them a home.

Well guys, your info has been more than appreciated. The pics were very useful. However, my wife isn't to keen on me redoing the room just yet. She's still miffed I left her for a weekend for "just speakers." The false wall will have to wait. Regards, John B.

Thanks guys for all your input. To answer some questions; no it's not a manuf. home, but a frame house built in the 60's on a crawl space. The room that the entertainment center is in was an addition, also on a crawl. They did use a dropped ceiling (acoustical tile)and paneling on the walls. The ceiling is only dropped 6" with unfinished drywall above that. Makes it easy to run the wires for the rears hanging from the ceiling though. Unfortunately, this is the only wall that I can do this with. The other 3 have doors in the middle of them. Do you think pulling the paneling and drywalling would help? Was going to do that anyway. Should I get rid of the EC or would the window be the next factor? The window is up pretty high, probably 6" higher than the top of the K-horns. I think I'll pull the EC forward a few feet and see, I mean hear if that improves bass response. I know these don't require alot of power, but I'm running another GFA-555 to them. In stereo the wattage isn't that great. I just don't crank it. Just a nice listening level. (for the whole neighborhood, hehe) Maybe I should hook them up directly to my HK receiver, it's 100W RMS. I have alot of playing around to do with these. Has anyone built a center ch. out of a k77, k55V, and type AA crossover. It would be huge, but would it make for a level sound across the fronts? Thanks again guys for all your help. Regards, John B.

OK, I pushed them into the corners real snug; still not getting the bass response from them like I remember. Maybe I have this exaggerated bass in my mind on how i think they should sound. It's been 13 years since i heard a pair. Unfortunately, there isn't a local retailer that carries Klipschorns so I could hear them and compare. Are they supposed to "pound" like i think they should. HDBR what do you suggest I use to "seal" them to the walls; foam perhaps. The bass isn't a huge issue, because I have an 18" JBL Proaudio downfiring with 600W RMS being pumped to it that fills really good. But, I'd like the K-horns to perform to their optimum. I've enclosed pics to show you how close they are. Do you think that they're too close or the room might be too small? The pics were taken approx. 7 ft from the back of the room. Wow they do sound extra snappy, though. The Mids and highs are right where they should be. The more I listen the more i like 'em.

Thanks Shapeshifter for the info. Apparently they are 84's. They're in great shape though. I did inspect them quite thoroughly and there is no sign of water damage and/ or anyone tampering with them what soever. The bass shortage could be a placement issue. What is the recomended distance from the wall on each side? I have a Big screen TV and a large entertainment center so the Khorns are a tight squeeze. I only have about an inch on either side of them. I'm thinking if he thought they were power hungry and he actually had MacIntosh tube amps he might've slammed the hell out of the woofers. I'm going to swap'em and see if that improves anything.

Well after a hellified journey my klipschorns are where they belong. These are alot prettier than expected. I was told that they were made in '84, but I swear they look newer. The guy I bought them from was a little peculiar. He told me on the phone the reason he was selling these. He said his 60's era La Scalas are a better match for his MacIntosh tube amps, but when I got there he had sold his tube amps and was running these with a small NAD amp and what looked like a build your own preamp from Radio Shack. Needless to say it sounded like crap. I think that's the real reason he was selling these. Why else would you take La Scalas over K-horns (he also had a nice pair of Cornwalls). He said that Klipschorns are power hungry!! I was always told the opposite. I wonder why someone who had to be into Klipsch say that. Anyway, I didn't drive 550 miles to turn around empty handed. So i bought them although they sounded like crap, but they looked great. I hooked them up at home and they just came to life the highs and mids are great, but the lows just don't seem to be what I remember them to be. I heard these years ago at the local Klipsch retailer and the bass was so intense it felt like someone beating my chest. Do you think the woofers are "loose"? Also, the crossovers are type AK-2; should I try the Type AA's I have? I emailed Klipsch with the serial # asking when these were made; will they tell me? Does anyone know how to decipher serial #'s? Regards to all, John B

Hello all, I'm new to this BB, but now that I've finally bought a pair of K-horns, I'll be on daily. Actually, I haven't bought them yet, I'm leaving tonight to pick them up; 10 hour drive each way, ugh! I do have a couple of questions of course. This pair I was told was made in '84. The serial#'s aren't quite consecutive. ****160 & ****162. Any ideas on how they might have been mismatched? Also, prior to buying these I was going to attempt to build my own. I have a pair of new K-33E woofers; should I swap them out? I also have a pair of type AA crossovers, a pair of K55V w/ K400 horns, and K-77 tweets that I will be selling. What crossover was used in '84 and should I change it? Thanks in advance for any info.