John Warren

Compression instability (also termed "air overload distortion"): 2cnd Harmonic distortion caused by the non-linear relationship between pressure and volume of the air in the throat of the horn as it undergoes adiabatic compression and expansion. Mathematically-- %2nd Harmonic distortion = <1.73(F/Fc)I>x10^-2 where: F= driving frequency Fc = cut-off frequency I = throat intensity (watts/sq.cm) So Ed, as you state the speed of sound in air for a given temperature, pressure and humidity is a constant....now that I've explained compression instability can you explain this statment and were it was supposed to take us?

I believe "squawker" has it's roots in the UK.

Al-It's air movement. large diaphragm (large throat) moves less for a given SPL. small diphragms like K55M strains at moderate levels results in air compression instabilitites at throat=distortion. You hear what goes on in the throat in a mid horn because your ear is at max sensitivity in that region. The Khorn mid cannot reproduce strings or solo piano at moderate SPLs without appreciable distortion. djk recommends to hack a few inches of the Klipsch K400 and mount 2" compresion unit. I've not heard this setup but it is reasonable and in the right direction. an adapter of some type is needed and if you have a plastic horn it might not be feasible. throwing away the OEM crossovers and replacing with other units isn't a viable fix IMO. Like auto engines, there is no substitute for cubic inches. PWK has admitted that the mid-range is a tough nut to crack and it is evident in the many variations in the horn over the years. I don't really know why PWK held on to the K55-series driver for so long, maybe it was some sort of passion but pice gets high when compression drivers get large.

who said anything about caps? I know his design.

a battery would of told you the same thing.

From a price perspective maybe, considering that the LLC wants $186 for the K55M. Regarding fit into Belle....A bigger horn won't fit, you have to mount it outside the enclosure.

What the big deal with these drivers?? I've got a pr of them on LaScalas I don't think they sound a any different than the K55M (they all suck). There is no magic fix here---> you need a midrange with a bigger throat. it physics nothing else, stop fooling yourselves

I just read this post and I have to wonder---ALK network is installed wrong, components inadvertly bypassed which obviously effects impedence curve and design intent and listening tests with this set-up sounds great? We should all become familiar with Beranecks' "Law".

M-small array would be an assemblage of four 6" drivers.

listen to a good quality piano or violin recording played thru a K-horn. A recording with good dynamic range. in fact listen to it thru just about any horn loaded mid-rage even JBL pro equipment, Altec etc (A7 is the worse). Based on my hearing tests, accuracy is lost. The larger throat horns sound better but IMO direct radiators can be superior in the mid-range, especially small arrays. the concept of bi-amped K-horn folded bass unit and direct radiator mid-range array has been persued by others with good results.

oh yea...

"...reserve was too high..." gee, that almost never happens!?

foldedhorn- don't be embarassed to ask questions here. the more you do it the easier it gets!

5 channels = 5 speakers + 5 speaker stands + 5 sets of cables = 5X MARGINS

free standing brick walls crack.

its "beyond stupid". Ebay is great for laughs. $325 was paid for the "highly sought after and hard to find" 1962 2cd Ed. of A. Cohen's "HiFi and Loudspeaker Enclosures (1st came out in 1958). This edition is easy to find IF you know where to look. Klipschorn "Plans" (copies) are sold for $50-$75. They're the Speakerlab-K plans sold for $25 by Speakerlab. "...guaranteed not a DOA but due to it's age, it's sold AS IS.." What the hell does this mean? Got a nice Bozak Urban or Wharfedale 90W Achromatic loudspeaker? Just tear it down and part it out, sell each piece as a seperate to make an extra $10, throw the cabinet away. Here's a nice Altec 15" woofer, I want top dollar for it. Here's a picture of it sitting in the snow on my back porch. Let's start the bidding at $400 (reserve not yet met) Please don't ask me what the reserve is (because it's 2X what this piece of crap is really worth) Please don't ask me to end the auction early (even though you are willing to pay $250 over my reserve). Schematics and plans..sure all this stuff is "Copyright Protected" but that doesn't seem to stop some sellers from running it thru the copier ten or twenty times to make a quick buck (Ebay turns blind eye to this practice, claim ignorance). And then there's the emotional buyers that have more money then common sense... $2800 for a Jensen G610 Triaxial...hold on folks, have you heard this driver, it sounds nice but is waaaaaay overated. $4500 for an EV 30" woofer with a cracked frame (but it was expertly repaired).

1 down 6547 to go

It looks something like this: http://www.sundial.net/~rogerr/national.htm

Anyone have back issues of this flyer. Published out of NY state.

Where can I find a set of plans for this unit? Anyone know?

i'd figure the least thing they could do is take all the crap of the freakin thing before taking the pic. soem sellers are beyond stupid.

my comments aren't bad, the're the facts wrapped in dripping sarcasm.

sorry for not being all warm and fuzzy here I think PWK gave the world a great folded horn! He's clearly a giant in the Audio field. Phil H- putting a little mid-range horn in a box is not the power of horn loading, I can see PWK rolling his eyes over your comment.t that's just marketing hype but it sells and i understand that but pls don't sling the BS here, i can get it at Cicuit Circuit City, Best Buys or Sears "Brand Central"

New line will be exciting! Some features will include MASSIVE (almost 1lb.) woofer magnet structures, "extra heavy duty" stamped sheet metal woofer baskets, extensive use of 1/2" THICK MDF, Injection molded polystyrene tractrix mid-range horns, CO networks fabricated from the finest FAR EAST (Chinese) components avialable, all wrapped up in cabinet work that would make "O'Sullivan" envious. Costs will be partitioned according to what market will bear, will have no basis on actual manufacturing costs ("Joe Chevy" and his T-shirt clad girlfriend expects to pay $499.99 for a pr. of "Klipsch" speakers, then "BY GOD" we'll give him a pr.)

the mid and tweeter horns used on the Khorn should be pack away in a box, sealed and stored in the attic for 40 or 50 years. at that time, get them, and sell them on Ebay for 10X what they are really worth--make sure you call them "Vintage". Also throw the word "Alnico" in too, even if it's a mud magnet, most buyers don't know anyway.