k53-k52-k57-k61 - are there any differences between these drivers

[OO1]

Ladies and Gentlemen , I need to clarify an ambiguity - The midrange drivers - k52k -k53k -k57k -k61k - are these the same driver with a different horn lens - or are the specs different - thank you -

[moray james]

as far as I know they are functionally the same driver, they all take the same diaphragm the lens may vary. Hope this helps. Best regards Moray James.

[Groomlakearea51]

Check with Bob Crites; I believe the 57 is different than the 53 regarding the magnet assembly.

[STL]

I am under the impression that the K57K is a K52 motor with a K601 horn lens. Can anyone else confirm or deny that?

I also believe the K53 is a weaker motor than the K52.

[Mighty Favog]

Check with Bob Crites; I believe the 57 is different than the 53 regarding the magnet assembly.

I'll second that. I think the crossover has to be set a bit higher for the 57, in the 600Hz range maybe? But the diaphragms are indeed the same between the 53 and the 57.

[STL]

I'll second that. I think the crossover has to be set a bit higher for the 57, in the 600Hz range maybe? But the diaphragms are indeed the same between the 53 and the 57.

The K-53-K, K-52-K, K-52H, K-57-K, K-58-K, K-59-K, K-61-K, and K-62-K all use the same diaphragm --see http://www.critesspeakers.com/klipsch_midrange.html .

According to the information I have collected, K57K in the Chorus and Cornwall 2 have crossover frequencies of 650 Hz and 600 Hz, respectively. While the K53K used in the Forte and Heresy 2 both have a crossover frequency of 700 Hz.

[Mighty Favog]

I'll second that. I think the crossover has to be set a bit higher for the 57, in the 600Hz range maybe? But the diaphragms are indeed the same between the 53 and the 57.

The K-53-K, K-52-K, K-52H, K-57-K, K-58-K, K-59-K, K-61-K, and K-62-K all use the same diaphragm --see http://www.critesspeakers.com/klipsch_midrange.html .

According to the information I have collected, K57K in the Chorus and Cornwall 2 have crossover frequencies of 650 Hz and 600 Hz, respectively. While the K53K used in the Forte and Heresy 2 both have a crossover frequency of 700 Hz.

It looks like the info has been updated since Bob make my crossovers. I was having problems blowing midranges in my Cornwall 1.5's with the K57. Bob figured out that the crossover point was set too low at around 450Hz. He made it right, updated my crossovers and all has been fabulous ever since.

[djk]

" K53 is a weaker motor than the K52."

Don't think so.

[STL]

" K53 is a weaker motor than the K52."

Don't think so.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but notice that the K53 is used in the Heresy 2 and Forte while the K52 and K57 (again, which I believe is a K52 motor + K601 horn lens) is used in the Chorus, Cornwall 2, KLF-20, and KLF-30. So the K53 is used in speakers with just 12" woofers while the K52/K57 is used in speakers with larger woofers (either 15s or dual 10s/12s). The larger woofer cone area would be able to move more air, thus the midranges paired with them would need to be stronger. That said I could be wrong because I do see where the T7A used in the Heresy 2 crossover is dropping the midrange out 10dB while the K52/K57ones are dropping the midrange less dBs (except for KLF-20 which also uses a T7A). So perhaps a K53 is just K52 motor + K701 horn?

If anyone knows definitively, please chime in!

[colterphoto1]

52 + 601 = 57

53 + 701 = 58 (there were bolt on, snoot, and threaded versions of this subassembly)

[Groomlakearea51]

Good thing these drivers don't drive under any influence.... Just saying.... [6]

[STL]

52 + 601 = 57

53 + 701 = 58 (there were bolt on, snoot, and threaded versions of this subassembly)

Thanks for the info! Have any details on the K61?

[djk]

" So perhaps a K53 is just K52 motor + K701 horn? "

Yes.

[STL]

So now we have

djk (who says a K53 is a K52 motor mated with a K701 horn lens)

vs.

colterphoto1 (who says a K58 is a K53 motor mated with a K701 horn lens).

[]

[djk]

Colterphoto is correct.

Transitional models in the early 80s used the K52 on the K600 and K700 horns. Later they changed the horn to include the top chamber of the driver, eliminating the threaded joint between the driver and the horns. It's a good little driver, it just doesn't work well in the Klipschorn/LaScala.

AFAIK, all the motors are equivalent, though some have metal phase plugs, some have metal top chambers, but most have plastic (which is fine).

One varient used in a two-way PA model may have a 4Ω coil, Colter might know.

[cheric]

Deleted! Sorry. I had put in wrong info. I was thinking of the K tweeter series instead of the mid-ranges.

[HudsonValleyNoah]

I once talked to a long time employee of Klipsch.

I asked him about the K52H, K53, K-57, K-61 and K-55 motors, diaphragms and adapters.

I asked him about the 700, 600 and 400 family of horns. (and the 01 "upgrades")

For the most part, this is what he told me.

As to your question, as to the motors,

the ones that you list above were the same (except for the K52H and some K-52H's marked K-53H)

Also that they were ALL the same - as far as intent goes.

Klipsch gave the same components, differing designations due to where Klipsch was intending to use them.

Klipsch would then (very rarely) go ahead and use those components in other places as it suited expediency and and availability.

Some

days, the product had to get out the door and a little ink stamp "that

no one is going to see" doesn't change the sound of that product.

And Klipsch has always (to my understanding) cared about the sound of the product.

[and yes, (also to my understanding) there is also a LONG tradition of love and care for the look as well...]

That

k-53 motor / diaphragm assembly would (and did) find itself attached to

both 600 HZ horns (K-601, K-600 and the Quartet,Forte II,Chorus II

trattrix [crossed at 650 for forte II and Quartet].) and 700 HZ horns

(K-700, K-701.) Tractrix horns were never referred to as "x#" Hz horns

like he did the others. All he said on the horn Hz question was "the

motor will do its job with a lower Hz but a horn that can't follow the

Hz down, will kill the diaphragm".

Sometimes crossed higher than 600 HZ on a 600 HZ horn but never lower (that's a diaphragm coil killer...)

He implied that 600 HZ was "pushing it" for the k-53 motor/diaphragm and K600/601 horn of the day...

Sometimes

the K-53 motor / diaphragm assembly would have K-53 stamped on it...

(intended to be used in the last Heresy runs, Tangent, some pro stuff.

some other stuff) but, as needed (and only on rare occasion) might end

up elsewhere.

Some times the K-53 motor / diaphragm assembly would have K-61 stamped

on it... (intended to be used in the forte II and Quartet) but, as

needed (and only on rare occasion) might end up elsewhere.

The K-57 was the same as well. Intended to be used with the K-601

and K-701 horn but would work with the K-600 horn and adapters and

K-700 horn and adapters..

All used the K-53 diaphragm. All were interchangeable (when needed) using screw on to bolt on adapters and / or sealing spacers.

ALL of the above were Klipsch or Klipsch designated (not saying designed) parts.

The ONLY truly different one was the K-52H.

The K-52H was

at the point of change-over from the "1's" to the II's in the Heritage

line (here used only to mark an era time) and were used elsewhere

as well, until those parts ran out of stock.

That was a Hepner Motor and a Hepner sourced diaphragm; the Klipsch K-53 (A.K.A. K-52 no H) was modeled on it, but it's NOT it.

The Hepner motor looks quite different, and all that looked like Hepners, WERE Hepners.

And to my ears, they do not sound exactly alike.

For my money, it (the Hepner) was a better part, a physically tougher part and audibly better sounding part.

I would bet it was a more expensive part as well.

Lastly, there is a more modern K-52.

I would have expected Klipsch to have called it the K-52K but I have only seen it called the K-52. There seems to be no difference between the K-53 and K-52 BUT I never spoke to the Klipsch old timer about the (non Hepner) K-52 so THAT'S just a guess.

Now I have done basic testing on the Klipsch K-52 and K-52Ti.

No determinable difference from the K-53. Same size, shape, weight and diaphragm fit.

The K-52Ti came with a Ti diaphragm from the factory (that's cool...)

So

to sum it up. when talking about those MOTORS, except for the K-52H (and some K-52H's marked K-53H,)

the only real difference that I know of is the ink stamp on the back of the motor.

All this is just to the best of my understanding.

(Except for the underlined stuff; that's purely my opinion and observation.)

Noah

[OO1]

I wanted to thank HudsonValleyNoah , for giving us such a cool essay on the K52H, K53, K-57, K-61 and K-55 motors - thank you for taking the time to answer our questions - regards

[colterphoto1]

here 

[10hz and Deaf]

On 3/16/2012 at 7:11 AM, STL said:

Perhaps I am mistaken, but notice that the K53 is used in the Heresy 2 and Forte while the K52 and K57 (again, which I believe is a K52 motor + K601 horn lens) is used in the Chorus, Cornwall 2, KLF-20, and KLF-30. So the K53 is used in speakers with just 12" woofers while the K52/K57 is used in speakers with larger woofers (either 15s or dual 10s/12s). The larger woofer cone area would be able to move more air, thus the midranges paired with them would need to be stronger. That said I could be wrong because I do see where the T7A used in the Heresy 2 crossover is dropping the midrange out 10dB while the K52/K57ones are dropping the midrange less dBs (except for KLF-20 which also uses a T7A). So perhaps a K53 is just K52 motor + K701 horn?

If anyone knows definitively, please chime in!