Wolfbane Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Are there certain years that Klipschorns are more desirable? For example: 1980 to 1984? I'm thinking with respect to construction and for replacement of parts? Wb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I prefer the last ones made from Baltic Birch and with the AA networks, late 70's to early 80's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfbane Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Recently both 1978 and 1984 Klipschorns have come up for sale. That, and my reading somewhere, that you can't replace the crossovers as easily on mid 1980's Khorns had me thinking. Wb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djk Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 If it has a AA and a K77M it would be a good choice in my book. Klipsch switched to some really poor plywood about the time they went to the AK network, and I dislike that network as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 (edited) The best year are ones that are easy to get home, in nice shape and a price that you can live with and be happy. If all of that is met, and you have a choice between a few pair, then look at the year. Replacement parts will not be an issue with any of them. Construction is also very good on all of them. New ones are MDF, which, if they never get wet (as in flood or soak a bunch of water) is inert and should deaden vibrations very well and never fail. Very expensive speakers are almost all made of MDF (or variants). As mentioned above baltic birch is very good plywood. That is the stuff you see with many small layers and is used for drawers on expensive cabinets. You will not find it at the Home Depot, it even comes in different dimensions (5' x 5' sheets). Really good plywood. Last, if I had my choice, all other things being equal, I would look take a pair with A or AA crossovers because they are so cheap to rebuild and considered to be very good. The coil and transformer are really the things that you need. I got lucky with a pair of Belles that had AB x overs, but they had the right inductor and transformer to easily make them into a pair of Type As. Finally, if you are handy and like to tinker, you will probably wind up changing everything except the bass bin, so keep that in mind too. EDIT: Just saw your post, go with the 1978's if they are the same price and condition. But if there is a difference and the 1984's are nicer/better priced/ closer, etc., a type A crossover can EASILY be put in the 1984 models. Edited November 24, 2013 by tigerwoodKhorns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 What Tiger said………………….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 in general I think that newer is better in k-horns. nothing wrong with older ones but I have heard recent vintages and they sound great, I suspect that crossover tweaking, etc. has wrought incremental improvements. some might mention the simpler crossovers and older drivers being superior, I would not dare to say they are wrong but my personal experiences has not been able to confirm older = better. honestly you cant go wrong with any k-horns of any vintage, settle your budget limit and buy the best condition k-horns you can find at that price point, just make sure the caps in the crossovers are not ruined and enjoy! Warm regards, Tony P.S. as always, I feel it good to mention that certain people like the k-horn sound and others run away screaming, I am a k-horn fan BUT if at all possible hear k-horns in someones systems and decide for yourself if its unique sound is for you before investing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 yes....before they went to MDF and after they made up with atlas sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 Wouldn't the "Best" K-horn be actually brand new from the factory? That is if you wanted to spend $7500 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 7500? more like $9000 for a pair today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) The engineers at Klipsch do continue to develop all the speakers, so the latest models are the most improved. Don't the new Klipschorns use the AK-5 crossover? Edited January 31, 2014 by Islander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 yes....before they went to MDF and after they made up with atlas sound. MDF... I thought it was determined that no MDF was in the current Klipschorn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axz Hout Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudeJ1 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I prefer the last ones made from Baltic Birch and with the AA networks, late 70's to early 80's. Yep, me too. My fist pair were KCBR 1977 and it blew my mind to see 11 layer 1/2 inch plywood. Quality stuff!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudeJ1 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 The engineers at Klipsch do continue to develop all the speakers, so the latest models are the most improved. Don't the new Klipschorns use the AK-5 crossover? The most major effort in the Xovers has been to tame the peaks in the bass horn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 #1 - any year up to 75 with pie slice logo AA networks #2 - 76-77-78 with the laser logo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricktate Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 The year that you can afford and go pick up......lol Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.