estelegalize
-
Posts
41 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by estelegalize
-
-
1 hour ago, billybob said:
And I agree with you. Like to listen awhile before deciding what to do. Took me years before asking *Dean for a cap rebuild kit for Chorus. My 84 LS with original ALs were good.
Cool...☕
I definitely plan on living with them as is for a good while, at least until I finish sewing the hole in my pocket. I like to scheme ahead, or daydream if you will, it keeps my mind busy and can be a good distraction (at times) from my daily work. That's why I wanted to ask the good people here for advice.
-
2
-
-
6 hours ago, Peter P. said:
I think the reason they sound different than your first experience with them in the "warehouse" environment is just that; your home and the "warehouse" are entirely different acoustic environments, including room volume and liveness.
I doubt you can reproduce the volume aspect of that first listen, but maybe you can simulate the acoustic qualities of that warehouse, whether live or dead or somewhere in between and you'll find that sound you first heard.
I'm not a fan of all that tweaking jazz. I think the LaScalas are best at filling large environments and I'll bet if you played them outside they would absolutely rip the drivers out of any other speaker!
I think you're right. Often I listened to that warehouse pair at loud volumes, and damn do they sound good. They still need a bit help with a sub, but even without, I was amazed.
That'll be my puzzle to solve, making our pair give a similar experience. I'm still having a good time as is. Relistening to music I know very well, while also enjoying music I don't often listen to. These things are keepers.
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, jimjimbo said:
The A55G and the SMAHL DE120 from Dave A are an outstanding combination. No lie.
I'll look more into those. Thanks
-
1 hour ago, Marvel said:
I had a pair of beater LS (one was a clone cabinet). I front mouted the cast k400 horns. I used a 3rd party tweeter in a baffle, placed on top, at the back edge so the mid/tweeter diaphragms would be acoustically time aligned. You have lots of options if you want to tinker. I think they sounded pretty good. My older son has them now.
What are the benefits to time aligning? Better imaging? I've seen a few pairs with top mounted tweeters. Saw one with an altec horn, wonder if its for the same purpose. I wish I had a beater pair to play with, but this seems like an irreversible option. Did you use a gasket between the horn and cabinet?
-
Still open to hearing recommendations tho! Please and thank you
-
14 minutes ago, 001 said:
you mean that klipsch lied to us all these years , and klipsch is sub-standard , hurry up , TMZ News may be interested in the scoop
I'm calling no one a liar. I'm sharing that I'm questioning standards because of the mixed information I've read ("this has lower distortion than stock"). Everyone seems to have an angle. Hard to determine what info to consider as potential truth. One of the main reasons I hesitated in asking for advice.
-
1
-
-
20 minutes ago, jimjimbo said:
I would just replace it with a 13uf, but once you hear the difference, you won't want to......
Thanks for this tip
-
17 minutes ago, Budman said:
i just sold my Jupiter set to a forum member because i got the V-caps from Deang that are sooooooo good i ordered another set.
Jupiters were fantastic but the ODAM caps or V-caps are off the charts
As an amateur I dunno if it's smart to try and solder $700 caps. Seems like some of the custom crossover builders are retiring. Crites and JEM seem like the only options outside of experimenting with suggested caps. The Audiocaps are closer to my comfort zone, but I keep reading about the advantages of paper in oil caps.
-
1
-
-
21 minutes ago, Budman said:
Crites has been the go to guy on the forum for 20 years with the best parts money can buy and the best service on the planet
you can talk directly to Michael Crites for all your needs
Budman, I noticed that all your speakers in your description have or had custom crossovers. How were the jupiter caps? They're expensive but I keep reading good things about them. Zu used to offer them as an upgrade for my other speakers.
-
39 minutes ago, drboar said:
If the tweeters are rear mounted flush mounting it will be an improvement.
Seal the doghouse with the foam tape used for sealing drivers.
Crossbraces between doghouse and sidewalls can be a good idea.
Aren't the tweeters and squawkers originally flush mounted? I'll try the tape, thanks.
20 minutes ago, jimjimbo said:Yes, replace the 13uf cap with a 6.8uf cap, and change the tap on the autoformer from tap 4 to tap 3.
Put blue painters tape on the K400, and then apply dynamat. Contrary to other statements here, it works quite well. I have done it many times, and it makes a difference.
Recommend against stuffing the doghouse.
Wondering if I use a 6.8uf cap and decide later to get it close to 13uf, would a second 6.8uf cap in parallel work?
Painters tape, great idea. Easily reversible.
20 minutes ago, scalawag said:One factor that might be contributing to the "bloated/boomy" sound you are hearing are the "hard" surfaces of your listening room, ie the walls and floor. You might try laying down an area rug and maybe a put up a couple of wall hangings to absorb some of the reflected sound coming out of your speakers. I'm sure others on this forum can explain/resolve these issues in better detail than I....
Hard to tell from my photos but I do have a few throw rugs. I my walls are covered with art, most of which is 3D (I'm an artist). I'd be surprised if I was getting perfect reflections. I may be able to whip up some sound absorbing panels to place behind them, but wondering if this would help much since my older speakers didn't seem to require them in the same room.
-
As far as Crites vs JEM. Both seem to wave their flags pretty hard. I've heard great things about Crites from the start, but have also read confusing info around their caps. JEM may have convinced me to chip off my Klipsch emblem, (I don't like freely advertising anyway). I kinda wish I had the capacity to experiment with all the caps suggested. Really interested in what the JEM caps sound like, but my curiosity was swayed when I read about Cirtes A-55-G/2 vs Atlas PD-5VH, which made me question if contemporary Klipsch standards are the way to go (that maybe an irrelevant comparison). I may be tangling myself, just writing out loud.
-
1 minute ago, Curious_George said:
In the original configuration, the LaScala midrange is hot (level is high compared to the rest of the system). I suggest lowering the midrange -3dB to start.
As far as buying a new driver to replace the K55, I would suggest against. The K400 horn is the problem in the midrange, not the driver. Since you are contemplating modding the LaScala, I would suggest experimenting with stuffing the doghouse to see how it changes the sound. If you don't like the result, take it out.
I stuffed my modded LaScala (with eggcrate foam) and prefer it that way.
I've read it's possible lowering the midrange by altering the AA network. I've never soldered caps together, but ain't afraid to try. Can this be accomplished in a similar way with tone control? I'm hesitant to damp the K400 horn with material since it would seem a pain to undo.
Regarding stuffing the dog house; would it be recommend to seal with silicone once opened?
-
Just now, svberger said:
Even a brief experiment away from the walls will at least give you some idea if they are making the boominess worse, or having little/no effect. You can always move them back. You might also experiment with moving your other speakers away from the LS's, at least just to hear what effect giving the LS's some space might have.
Good ideas. I'll try this. Thanks!
-
17 minutes ago, jimjimbo said:
If I may ask, what drivers are currently installed? And, I would pull them out from against the wall.
I assume they're the og drivers, but they have the push pin K-55Vs. Pulling the out may pose an issue. The room they're in is a long rectangle about 450 sq ft, shooting sound long ways. The center of the speakers are about 10.5 ft apart, and my couch is about 10.5 ft away from the speakers. I can't push my couch any farther back (at the moment), moving the speakers forward will push them too close to listening position. Hopefully soon I'll be able to move the room around to pull these out.
Anyone recommend tone control? Is that a blasphemous question?
23 minutes ago, Schu said:Boomy or bloated might be related to another issue as opposed to the speakers design. check those caps first and go from there.
I also agree moving them away from a boundary layer is a good idea, that is how I have run my La Scalas.
Regarding caps. Is matching necessary? I see that some sellers offer matching services for an extra fee.
-
Thanks everyone, happy to be here.
1 hour ago, Schu said:Congratulations E... and welcome to the forum.
Ive never heard someone say that a properly functioning La Scala LF as being bloated... it generally should be one of Klipsch's BEST performing low frequency image... even if it doesn't extend as low as other speakers.
Maybe bloated is the wrong adjective. Boomy maybe, I'm not hip with audio terminology. I got the idea for the insulation because of (what I think is) the upper bass, maybe lower mid range being very forward.
1 hour ago, jimjimbo said:Yes, I highly recommend Jantzen or Audiocap PPT Theta caps from Parts Express, or, if money is no object Vcaps ODAM.
https://www.parts-express.com/electronic-parts/capacitors/film-and-foil-crossover-capacitors
https://www.v-cap.com/odam-capacitors.php
Yes to the squawker gaskets, from Crites.
NO to the insulation in the doghouse.
Have fun with your project.
Thanks for the recommendations! Was really hoping for that, I'll check out those links.
Any chance a new compression driver would help? I called Crites and was turned onto the A-55-G/2. If I hear the lower mid range being too forward is that coming from the woofer in the dog house? Maybe placement is the issue. They're pushed back against that wall, pivoted a bit so that those horns don't center on my face.
Thanks again.
-
1
-
-
Sup peoples!
I guess it’s customary to mention that this is my first post, but I’m a long time lurker. Just recently acquired a pair of ‘79 LaScala. Our first Klipsch pair. Been drooling over Klipsch and Altec for a while and the opportunity finally came.
I’ve been really enjoying these speakers so far, and I plan to continue enjoying them as is for a while. Big BUT, I want to plan and scheme potential tweaks and mods to help them get comfy with their new home and friends. I kinda understand the few camps around upgrading vs restoring vs not fixing if it ain’t broke. I guess I’m in the tweaker camp with one foot in the restoration camp.
These things are og, and sound great, but compared to my previous speakers, they can be a bit bloated with certain music, vocals can be a tad bit veiled, squawks in the face at times, and low end needs help from heaven above. My ears may just need to get used to to them.
For context, we listen to a lot of vinyl and digital music through a Schiit DAC, tube preamp and monoblocks. Running balanced mostly. My turntable doesn’t have the black background it used to, thought I had it made. Generally we listen to music with real low end often enough to realize it’s missing. I have 2 subs running in mono, still having issues with placement and blending them with LaScalas. I now realize how low my previous speakers went compared to LaScalas (I had an idea of that getting into it). I fell in love with LaScala first with my eyes, and then more so after listening to a local pair very frequently. Tripped out on how lovely/lively they sounded, how detailed they are. That pair is an early 80s I believe, and sounded really well in it’s large and open environment (not a home, more like a warehouse).
First thing I tried was detaching a diode on the AA hoping it’d help the perceived veiled vocals. A/b-ing them made me think it made a slight difference. I believe I‘m becoming a bit more accustomed to them since a lot of my initial concerns are easing. I a/b’ed my older pair with the monoblocks, and damn, it made me forgive a lot of my initial beefs with our LaScala.
I decided to ask for advice after much hesitation. I’ve been diggin through this forum exhaustively, as well as others, to get tips around these speakers. Mind boggled. Not tryna start any more beefs between camps, plenty of that in our politics, just tryna get some advice. All that to say, I’m interested in seeing how I can adjust, improve, and accustom myself to them.
A couple things I’m considering: new caps, checking the squawker rubber gaskets, also wondering if using a couple pieces of pure wool insulation in the dog house may help the bloatedness. Also considering a tone control as a bandaid, seems cheaper.Any advice which way to go? I’m open minded. I feel like I’m on the shore with my boat (LaScala) and staring out to open waters. If being vague, it’s because I’m curious to hear peoples ideas in hopes that it sparks an interest within me. I’m hoping some of the info I shared helps with ideas. Here’s a pic for more context. Thanks in advance, hope all on here are well.
Salud,
E
-
2
-
1979 LaScala (Asking For Advice)
in Technical/Restorations
Posted
I was fortunate enough to listen to Khorns with AK3s for one song (I played Charles Mingus' Goodbye, Porkpie Hat). It was a trip. Crazy imaging.