tubelion

It seems both addresses below, you can contact Mr Cooper, if you are in USA, it is easier and send him the money order, try the type A , let us know your excitment. Universal Transformer #3619 P.O. Box 472 Farmersville, TX 75442 972 784-7700 voice 972 782-7000 fax Contact Mark Cooper at Universal Transformer Co. Phone: 972 784-7700. The part number is 3619 and costs $22.50 or 24 each. I contacted them about 6 months at: Universal Transformer #3619 P.O. Box 1300 Wylie, TX 75098 972 442 2231 voice 972 442 2233 fax United Transformer Co. Talk to Mark Cooper and ask for a number 3619. Their phone number is: (972) 442-2231.

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Hi, The first photo shows the original caps used The second photo shows the first upgrade 10 years ago with MIT and Solen caps the other original coils. Any upgrade in the parts quality should result in better sound easily, judge it yourself. Compare it with the recommended parts quality used in other designs of network, the much better and (larger) caps and coils. The third photo shows my new type A with only 3 sets of parts. The original transformer T4a ( will soon be replaced by 3619) The 13 mf oil caps (in parellel 8+4+1) The 2mf caps (1+1) The wire is pure silver from swiss audio-consulting.ch, maker of silver rock potentiometer. It sounds really good. And the solid ebony board looks beautiful, right? Conclusion: good design + high quality parts= excellent sound. I am going to have my la scala AL3 modified as well, it is in my office. Tubelion

Hi Kh, I think the same John we are talking to. My type A is done. Will take time to fine tuned. Tubelion

Dear John, From your other post, I learn that you are knowledgeable in many areas and is a serious audiophile because you enjoy music. For this simple issue, I am glad you have AA network with audiophile grade parts. So you need to do very little things that you can try the type A like Randy has done. If again there is not much difference , then you are happy with your decision. If there is improvement like we claim and like what PWK has enjoyed, try some better parts too. I have a few tips: you are inUSA, so not difficult to get good oil caps and will get them cheap, right? try to make up the 13 mf by several caps, I use UK tcc in the .5 mf , it is famous for the mid range. I hate to lose the tcc in ebay last night but it is 80 for two 1mf, checked under tcc capacitors. I am busy today otherwise I will put up the photos and result in a few days on a separate topic about the process. It is my shame to learn post up photo when everyone says it is so easy. But when it is so easy to do a type A or convert one , give it and yourself a try, give PWK's design a fair try. My best regards ( to you and all music lovers and serious audiophiles ) Tubelion

Hi John, I gladly accept the comment to attend live performance. It is the greatest reason for me to own klipsch, it is better than other speaker in this very aspect, reproduce live music! It sounds great for Peter Paul and Mary live performance, or other live recording. I tcould be due to the dynamic headroom. But sadly in other area klipsch has many better rivals. As far as modification or tweaks concern, Usually there is no need to do it if the design is good and the selling price allow the designer to use good quality parts. My Jadis 300B has no modification done, only good tubes are used instead, when it is so easy to change the tubes back and forth, unlikely the sound difference can't be due to psychological reason or the Beraneck effect OR Beranecks "Law". When good design is using fair quality parts that is another story. Marantz 7 is a wonderful design but leave many rooms for improvement, but certainly one can enjoy the original one with no regret. But come to good design but bad quality parts (price concern), that is a must to change it. Crossover of Klipsch heritage line is an interesting example, as the original design is good- type A but was force to change to poorer design many years later for protection reason, not only that the parts quality is really bad. Back to type A is better, using good quality parts make it an excellent product. We don't bother any poor design be it using bad parts (usually) or good quality parts ( a waste). Many owners modify the crossover, there is good reason behind, we have good design by PWK, resonably good drivers and wood building work, back to type A with at least fairly good parts is logical, not much psychological effect in it because it is cheap to make it. My result is good , I shall post it with photos later, the original network and parts will be displaced too, what a shame! Everyone can judge himself. PWK and klipsch got the reputation long long time ago with the type A network and using good oil caps at that time. Why not hear the orignal original original klipsch? Try it yourself, my friend. Have fun in your holiday. Tubelion

My photos of type A in progress, best parts include the solid ebony board, NOS oil capacitors better in parellel to a value 13 and 2 mf here, 8+4+1 and 1+1 is my choice. very resonable price only. Other information at the 2 channel audio session Khorn crossover advice. Good luck tubelion

Hi kelly, How to post the photos without the need of download when someone want to see them. I am excited that you like the set up. Someone ask me about the Belle, it is a long story of fighting, if limit the discussion to crossover, I change most parts with MIT caps ten years ago because the parts was really bad, the sound was improved but the AB2 network is no good when I compare mine to friend's TAD , Lowther TP1, there was some harshness that I all along believe it is the crossver problem. After many search in this forum, I see two questions there, the network and the quality of parts, I believe PWK is a genius, the original design was really good, only because fo the solid state amp and blown tweeter make the worse networks to replace the type A. I believe good parts make better sound, and my feeling type A was, is, and will remain the best ( until proven otherwise). That why I am building the type A with best parts. If anyone want to build a type A , it is so easy, anyone can build it though I am lucky to have a whole team of professional technicians to help me after their normal duties. We all enjoy that. Anyone interested in photos of tubes, let me know My sympathy to you Pat that I hope you may get your money back, I understand the frustration because I am also chasing my 85 dollars back by bidpay too. I guess it is quite risky to use it after my recent event Tubelion

Photo main circuit currently using radiotechnique from France 1960, one of the best ecc83, beat mullard telefunken in my system, beffer using GB5751 sometimes with GE 5 star black plate. Rectifier supplement- can use 274b good sound telefunken 4V 1064 mesh interesting sound Cv378 GEC black base great stage bendix 5852 6106, fine red wine Gz 34 mtal base lovely and many more for a lot of fun on different music tubelion from Hong Kong Tubelion

Photo- My very fine tune DIF preamp almost on every parts for 10 years, they are getting better . separate power rectifier tubelion

Photo- my jadis mono 300b, I love them with 1960 WE 300b NOS, GEC 5r4gy, many many bests of the best 6sn7 like 6sn7w metal base ECC 32, tungsol, kenrad black glass vt231, they are magic. Also with ebony board under them. tubelion

The photo - ebony stand for my Belle It sounds good, yes the stand has its sound. tubelion

Hi, It is my type A project in progress. I use solid ebony board, high quality oil caps NOS, no coils. I read that Mr PWK did not have the bass coil in his system too, why not have a few db more bass. I like this idea. More caps in parallel is better according to audio-consulting swiss. It is only the begining, I would move on to experiment how far I can go to perfect this project. Tubelion

Many people own K-horn, Belle, LS here and find the need to upgrade, why shouldn't. But which direction to go? Especially for owners like me using tube amp.,likely SET to drive these horns, the protection is not needed. I just always wonder why few experiment was done on a fair basis which is different design using similar quality of parts. I am tired of people saying ALK with such better parts is actually a superior design than original early type A by PWK, yet not considering such a simple logic.Unfortunately that is the fact I found so far in my search. To make my thought simple, spend 200 or less counting less number of parts for the Type A, and have a fair comparison. The above argument by people here is not to the point, and would misdirect the future owners who wants to upgrade, I am one of them. It is a big issue. Let's find it out. tubelion

Hi Guy, your next move is promising, as the Hovland may provide more details in the high while the oil caps should be more musical in the mids. I remember the day (and night) when I was a junior doctor, I have no energy to do anything else after 32 continuous hours'work but experimenting my stereo, it was fun. Also in hong Kong, being a small city, we are able to hear different set up and we are lucky to have most good brand tube and SS just across one street, I then become a commited tubephile, tube is much better. NOS tube , transfomer and oil caps are just wonderful, I am collecting as far as I can, tubelion is my name on ebay. Let us know your result, it will be great to guide me further for good music. Good luck SZE

Hi Randy, Nice try, mixed the "2.2uF Hovlands in parallel with the 2uF metal PIO caps", you may get the best from both world. It is another area not so well studied so far with two group of people claiming their finding without trial on a fair basis, I seem to like this word from now on- FAIR BASIS. The quality and price of PIO caps varies so much, take the similar price range parts to make the comparison, or if price is not a concern , have the best from both world to compare. I have PIO from swiss, audionote ,TTC at hand to try only if I get my 3619, my autotransformer is T4a not T2a at hand, no information about it, I won't use it in my new crossover. Good Luck Tubelion

Dear Ed, Thanks for your encouragement to try on a fair basis comparison. From the research I did, someone had experiemnt with cheaper part like solid coils without sucess in the ALK design, best air core is strongly suggested by Mr ALK. So it further consolidate my thought that if ALK design demand best quality parts to avoid produce poor sound, it would be unfair to ask for a type A design with usual grade parts to produce good sound. The second fair setting would be ALK against Type A both with usual grade parts, right? Of course I unlikely do it, but it can be easily done with little cost. I am still waiting Mr Cooper 's answer to my mail for the 3619. Thanks again Randy, I will wait for one more day before asking your help. maybe Cooper is busy. Thanks SZE

Dear ED, It is possible or likely ALK's design is a better one, I am not saying no. I just get the impression from my search that few comparison was done in my so-called fair setting with same or similiar quality of parts, despite so many reports were there in the forum. By the way, do you think my suggestion is a fair one and worth doming? or you know someone had done the comparison in this way before giving their reports. As an audiophile, I will find out the truth with sincere respect to all. I always enjoy hearing good music and the process of experimenting how to improve it. Best regards SZE

Hi Guy, I have seen them all, trust me I've worked very hard. I shall try them one by one, likely type A first. But the commment from Cannon is new and he is the klipsch technician, it would be great to listen to him. I think, until proven otherwise, same quality of parts is essential for a meaningful comparison of different design. In this aspect, no doubt the ALK design has taken the advantage to be fair, I am going to experiment that. Now I only need one or even two pairs of transformer. I have contacted the universal transformer, even with the help of Randy, they don't yet reply for my request to sell and ship the 3619 to Hong Kong in one month time. otherwise I would have posted my findings. regards SZE

Hi Mr Cannon, You said AB-2 is a overall better crossover, people in this forum usually think ALK or Type A is better. Please elaborate your comment, and your comment is much respected because you are a insider. I own a Belle with AB-2, I am buying parts to build a new crossover. Do you have comment on the quality of the parts/ I ask this because I think only all the crossover designs built with similar quality can make a reasonable and meaningful comparison. For example, the popular ALK use a superior transformer, caps and coils etc, it should be better than type A or AB2, but not necessary better in the way of design. I am going to rebuild the crossover with best parts anyway, it is the respect to Mr PWK and Klipsch , and see how far can the sound be improved of the classic, but I have get the information to decide which design to go first, for example, I can rebuild the AB2 with best parts if you can further elaborate your claims. I shall post the result to all who is the same confused by the mestery of crossover. I understand the design of crossover by klipsch is changed because more customers use high power SS amplifier. I use high quality SET amplifier, so protection of the tweeter is not my concern. Thanks with best regards SZE MSB platinum plus CD player First sound preamp Jadis 300B Mono Belle

Hi all, Hope no one feel hurt and everyone enjoy good music and be happy. I feel so grateful to you guys'advice, I understand audiophiles have very diverce opinion and passion to his liked theory, same here in Hong Kong. I have learnt a lot, really. i hope I can have some contribution as well if I find something good Dear AL and randy, thanks so much. All the best Tubelion

Hi all, Hope no one feel hurt and everyone enjoy good music and be happy. I feel so grateful to you guys'advice, I understand audiophiles have very diverce opinion and passion to his liked theory, same here in Hong Kong. I have learnt a lot, really. i hope I can have some contribution as well if I find something good Dear AL and randy, thanks so much. All the best Tubelion

Dear KH, I know you like oil cap as I do, I used a lot in my preamp rectifier circuit. But in the crossover, do you use the same value of cap when you shift from oil to metallic or vice versa, some people said no, use smaller value in oil caps. In klipsch's original type A, he must have used oil caps, right? So the value must be right if we use the oil caps to rebuild a new one. That also mean if you use modern cap, you may need to increase the value of them? What do you think? Thanks SZE