JEM

The Klipsch sound is alive and well. The network capacitors that keep the sound alive are available thanks to Roy. We sat down over two years ago and discussed this matter at great length and the result was JEM Performance Audio being endorsed by Klipsch to provide the factory authorized capacitors for the vintage Heritage speakers. These capacitors were chosen by Roy for use in these vintage networks. Hundreds of customers have praised the sound of their speakers after their installation. There is no BS involving these capacitors. They work perfectly, as Roy said they would. The network kits are priced very reasonably considering the quality manufacturing of the product, mounting hardware provided where necessary, plus installation instructions and schematics included with each purchase. Since the proper parts are already available, what is the point of this thread? Don't you think that Roy knows what parts to use in a Klipsch network? Or is it that you just don't like the way these capacitors are made available? I really would like to know the answer and I am sure Roy would too.

Really? These capacitors are made to Klipsch specifications just like Klipsch does for their current networks. I don't understand why you find that rare. Can you imagine how many capacitors a factory would have to have on hand at any given time with all the various materials, tolerances and voltages let alone capacitance values needed? If you think these capacitors are sitting in a bin waiting for an order you are completely mistaken. They are made to order.

Why do my capacitor kits cost more than other brands? I am sure you are aware of the current inflation, manufacturing and transportation costs. I'm not like the huge electronics warehouses that buy tens of thousands of electronic parts very inexpensively, then retails them to industry and individual consumers. I am a small business. I have the capacitors I sell manufactured to Klipsch specifications in small quantities. I make up kits for approximately 24 different Klipsch crossover networks. When you buy a kit from me, you are getting the correct capacitors made to Klipsch specifications. These capacitors maintain the intended design of the original networks. Your speaker will perform and sound as designed by Klipsch. I don't understand what all the fuss is about regarding the service I provide. If you don't feel that my kits are worth the price or don't believe what Roy has stated concerning capacitors, then you obviously don't get it. The whole purpose of this service is to keep the vintage Klipsch speakers operating as PWK intended. I think my service does just that and at a very affordable price.

For some reason, I don't receive messages through the forum. The Klipsch community alerts me that I have a message but nothing appears in my inbox. I have mentioned this before on this forum: in order to get in touch with me you need to send an email to theaudioroom@verizon.net. Very easy to do.

I don't know the exact difference but it has been rumored as high as 3db. I can ask Roy.

The new PD5VH in my opinion is close to the single phase plug K55V. I would have to ask Roy if any tests have been done comparing the old K55V to the new PD5VH in the lab concerning frequency response and sensitivity before I can say if they are an exact replacement.

Here is the information I have gathered through the years regarding the K55V - K77Alnico - K77M. I own 1978 Klipschorns which came factory built with the K33E woofer, push-pin connector single phase plug K55V midrange driver and the Alnico round back K77 tweeter. Currently I am using the dual phase plug modified K55V and the K77M tweeter. Crossover network remains AA. Essentially my Klipschorns are updated to second quarter 1980 models in this configuration; the dual phase plug being implemented on home entertainment speakers built on or after after March 24, 1980. The change over from K77 alnico to K77M ceramic magnet was around the same time as the K55V dual phase plug midrange driver was introduced. I think it would be possible for some speakers made in early 1980 to have had the K77M tweeter with the push pin connector K55V. Inventory on hand of the alnico K77 would have determined that. I spoke with Jim Hunter a few years back and we discussed the two tweeter versions at length. Seems one of the first jobs at Klipsch for Jim was testing the new K77M tweeters against the K77 alnico to make sure the new model was compatible. According to Jim, both tweeters had the same sensitivity so no change to crossover networks were necessary. Keep in mind in those days all of the Klipsch models used the same midrange drivers and tweeters so a change to either one would mean modifying the crossover networks across the board! The K55V dual phase plug was the design of Klipsch engineer Gary Gillum. The idea was to improve response in the 4 - 6K region of the K55V driver. Gary's design worked and Atlas, the manufacturer of the K55, agreed to build the special version for Klipsch. Shortly after the modified K55V went into use it became apparent that the glue used to secure the phase plug could let go causing the plug to dislodge; probably more so in the industrial series than the home series speakers. Obviously not all of the drivers had this problem but enough did so I imagine some serious discussions between Klipsch and Atlas took place. A solution to the problem never materialized and Atlas ceased production of the modified version. This led to the Electrovoice K55M which had a different sensitivity than the Atlas K55 which led to the crossover network changes in 1983. Concerning the softer playing K77 alnico tweeters, I spoke with Trey Canon regarding this issue years ago as the K77s in my Klipschorns were exhibiting this problem. Trey explained that the alnico tweeters can loose magnetism over the years which will cause the tweeter to play softer. I agree with Trey as I have come across many K77s that play soft. The K77M version does not seem to have this problem, at least not yet! Which combination is best? Because of the magnet issue on the K77, I prefer the K77M. There is an audible difference between the K55V push-pin connector unit and the dual phase plug modified K55V. To my ears the modified version has a smoother sound. Others may not hear a difference or disagree! For historical correctness, only Klipsch could possibly answer the question of which tweeter / midrange combination were used, especially in early 1980. Since both tweeter versions are compatible, either may be used with the standard or modified K55V and work properly.

Okay, here is post #5. Now I should be getting the messages. Thanks for that info Randy! Mark, thanks for the kind words. Enjoy your speakers!

Forum members - Recently I have received request notification from members on this forum asking for information and assistance. For some reason, I cannot access or reply to your messages through the forum. Please send any requests directly to my email which is as follows: theaudioroom@verizon.net I apologize if you have tried to contact me through this forum and did not get a reply. Hopefully the problem will be corrected soon but to be sure I get your message, send all requests directly. Thanks for your support! Jim JEM Performance Audio 412-401-6915

Okay, I have to respond to some of the comments on this thread. Sancho Panza requested that I replace the caps in his AA networks that had been through a lot and were pretty rough. I gave him a quote to replace the caps. When received, the networks worked. Sonic caps had been installed by a previous owner. Normally, I don't replace caps the way those were done. Since all the wires had been trimmed, I installed the new caps in same manner as the sonic caps with the exception of soldering all connections. The sonic caps were installed with just the wires twisted together and some shrink tubing over the ends. I re-installed the shrink tubing over the soldered ends. It was tight so no reason to shrink the stuff anymore. Sancho informed me he had a much better looking set and sent me photos. Since the repaired networks worked and he had a better looking set, why start replacing parts in the ugly networks that worked fine? The job wasn't "half done" as a comment suggested, Sancho paid for a cap replacement, which is all that was necessary. Oh and by the way, all networks are tested before they are sent back to the customer. Do you really think a service approved by Klipsch would be that careless and not test for proper operation? So how do I normally install caps you ask? When I first started this service, I received a set of AA networks that had been serviced by the Klipsch factory. This information came straight from the original owner customer. The Networks were from 1976 and the caps were replaced by the factory in the mid '90s. PIO caps were long gone so current new production caps were installed. The caps were glued to the board, wires soldered to the cap leads. Nothing fancy, no shrink tubing. Simple to replace, just unsolder the wires, remove the old cap, install the new cap, solder the wires, done. That's the way the factory did it. I have had numerous customers ask me NOT to cut the cap wires anymore than necessary so they could re-install the PIO caps should they wish to sell their speakers 100% as-built. They ask that I return the old caps. So, in the interest of authenticity and the ability to retro-fit the original caps, I install new caps using the original wires and soldering those wires to the cap leads in a presentable manner. That's my decision. This may look crude as someone commented, but it works just fine and, well except for gluing the caps to the board, is factory authentic. If a customer wants the caps glued down, I will. On pricing: ricktate, the $106.00 from Crites is for an "A" network, not a "AA". At least compare the same networks. I am sure there is return shipping and insurance charges also. Our pricing is fair and you are getting genuine Klipsch approved with JEM. Yes, you can buy just the cap kit. As to not being a "full" repair center, as I have stated before we only use Klipsch approved replacement parts. What is so hard to understand? We can't use off the shelf parts in these networks and have authenticity. This service is all about keeping the older Klipsch models functioning as PWK intended. That requires factory approved parts. If you don't like or agree with what I do or how I do these repairs, don't use the service. But show some respect for what we are doing to preserve authenticity and proper operation of PWK's speakers.

To answer RandyHooo and others on kit vs. install. Yes there is a charge to install the kit. Base charge is $20.00 for a pair and increases depending on the network and what is involved. For instance, can the original wiring be used or is it in bad shape and in need of replacement? Is the network mounted on a board or is a circuit board involved? Why do I recommend do-it-yourself vs. sending in the networks? It's just this; I don't want to see a customer upset over a lost or damaged pair of networks. Right know COVID has caused the shipping industry to be less than efficient in many parts of the country. I know, that's why you insure your shipment. But did you ever try and collect for a lost or damaged item? It's not a fun process and it isn't fast. I don't know how you guys feel, but personally I like to keep the network my speaker was born with. Case in point, I mailed a AA kit to Annapolis, Maryland on December 30 USPS Priority Mail that had an expected deliver date of January 5. It is now the 11th and no delivery. Tracking says it will arrive late but is still in transit. I am sending a replacement kit to the customer via FedEx today. Will we ever see the kit mailed on Dec. 30? I doubt it. The cap kit can be replaced but your speaker is only original once.

There was a post on January 4 from jvs1670 in this thread that I feel requires a reply. This forum member contacted me regarding upgrades to the AL network. It appears that there are questions about the service I offer in comments that appeared in this thread. I hope this post clarifies the service being offered. Keep in mind my service only repairs Klipsch networks to factory specifications. The only parts for the VINTAGE networks that are available and approved by Klipsch at present are the capacitors I provide. Should a network require parts no longer available from Klipsch, the only way to maintain factory originality and have a genuine Klipsch product is to find and purchase a used, working ALL ORIGINAL network. I do not provide this service. It is up to the owner of the speaker to find a suitable replacement. I know there are parts available that can be used to repair a network, but then the repair is not factory approved because of the use of unauthorized parts. I don't get involved with those repairs. My company only repairs networks that can be brought back to factory specifications using Klipsch approved parts. That's it. We don't experiment with off the shelf parts or perform unauthorized "up-grades". We do install the new capacitor kit for a customer if they prefer, but recommend they do the installation themselves if at all possible. The crossover network is the "brain" of the speaker and is very valuable. With shipping costs what they are and with the possibility of loss or damage in transit, we suggest avoiding the risk. The decision is up to the customer. We provide detailed instructions and will answer questions if you have difficulty. If one cannot solder, then the choices are send in the networks to us or find someone local to help with the installation. I had no idea when I responded to the email from jvs1670 that it would show up on this forum and would prompt responses that are totally out of context. I was simply offering information gained through the years while working with Klipsch products. jvs1670 asked me what could be done to improve the AL network. I did not say the AL network is no good or "sucks", my words were "isn't really the best". If you are asking for a better network than the AL, you have the pre-owned market AL-3 or a brand new LaScala II complete upgrade. These options, as well as back-dating to AA and the K55V, will maintain an authentic Klipsch product which is what this service is all about. As far as the K55V and K55M drivers are concerned, I follow factory recommendation as to what network is suitable for each driver. Some may like the sound of the K55M with the AA network. That's fine, but it's not what Klipsch recommends and your speaker is not performing to factory specifications. By the way, I do offer replacement caps for the AL network. I am not the enemy. If you are interested in maintaining your Klipsch speaker as an authentic Klipsch product, contact us. If you like to tinker, modify, whatever, have fun. It's your speaker. My company is simply offering a Klipsch approved service to those who wish to keep their vintage Klipsch speaker operating as PWK intended.