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LA SCALA CROSSOVERS ( ALK OR CRITES ) WHATS BETTER?


klipsch1

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24 minutes ago, USNRET said:

I didn’t go there but if his work was the ultimate at $5 each I would never buy another thing from him.

 

Don’t sugar coat it.  How do you really feel?

 

On a related note, Bob Crites is knowledgeable and always a pleasure to deal with.

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I'd go with ALK

 

I purchased Crites Cornscala Type B. Nice speaker but headache inducing. Replacing the xover with ALK Universal solved that problem. Much more musical presentation.

The Universal goes for S320 and will work with your lascalas. Crites Type AA is $310 so price shouldn't  be a consideration.

The Universal also has tweeter and midrange  adjustments if you want.

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Of you scroll through the pages in the Technicsl/Mods area there are at least 2 good discussions on rebuilding AAs.

 

As far as autoformers go, I always thought they'd be fine till I had Bob run my boards on his spectrum analyzer and found problems with the old ones.  New ones fixed it.

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Take that $300+ and rebuild your AAs.

 

(x2) 3654 Autoformers from Bob = $65

(x2) 2.5mH low pass coils = $45

https://www.parts-express.com/erse-super-q-25mh-16-awg-500w-inductor-crossover-coil--266-908

 

Reuse the tweeter coils

Reuse the zener diodes, or remove them.

 

Capacitors: buy AudioCap PPT Theta film and tin foils for the tweeter circuit. Why settle for metalized caps when you can buy the real deal.

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/audiocap-theta-2uf-200vdc-p-69

(x4) $70

 

The primary cap (12 - 13uF). Parallel two 6uF Thetas to get 12uF (each network).

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/audiocap-theta-6uf-200vdc-p-73

(x4) $160

 

Total = $340.00

 

Total no brainer.

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22 hours ago, klipsch1 said:

will they  sound much better  if I got a complete new AA crossover 

with  a new set of auto transformers from crites ? or should I just replace the capacitors and keep the old autotransformers? thanks

 

 

If you don't want bells and whistles, rebuild yours.  Replace the caps with the best caps you are willing to pay for, in the OEM size.  Remove one of the KLiP Zener diodes from the heat sink, *IF* you have square magnet K-77-Ms *AND* only use them at home.  Don't bother the rest and enjoy. 

 

I would choose ALK Universals for a total upgrade.  If the tweeters are too hot (I thought they were), a 1.5 dB L-pad just before the tweeter should do it.  

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17 hours ago, Deang said:

Reuse the tweeter coils

Is that the only thing being reused?  I ask as I do not have a pair and would like to know where one could obtain a pair,  ( of tweeter coils of course). 

 

How would this AA network fair with aftermarket horns and tweeters?  I only consider the Universal from ALK as it is just that, universal.  If I know something else will work with aftermarket horns and drivers, then I would try it.

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19 hours ago, Deang said:

Take that $300+ and rebuild your AAs.

 

(x2) 3654 Autoformers from Bob = $65

(x2) 2.5mH low pass coils = $45

https://www.parts-express.com/erse-super-q-25mh-16-awg-500w-inductor-crossover-coil--266-908

 

Reuse the tweeter coils

Reuse the zener diodes, or remove them.

 

Capacitors: buy AudioCap PPT Theta film and tin foils for the tweeter circuit. Why settle for metalized caps when you can buy the real deal.

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/audiocap-theta-2uf-200vdc-p-69

(x4) $70

 

The primary cap (12 - 13uF). Parallel two 6uF Thetas to get 12uF (each network).

http://www.soniccraft.com/product_info.php/audiocap-theta-6uf-200vdc-p-73

(x4) $160

 

Total = $340.00

 

Total no brainer.

 

So if I just purchased a totally new AA crossover from Crites, will that new crossover include all of what you just mentioned to buy and replace? because I'm not very good at reading schematics. if it would cost about the same, wouldn't it be better to just order new ones from crites, or will the parts be less quality than from the ones that you mentioned ? thanks

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On 11/6/2017 at 6:34 PM, klipsch1 said:

What is a better crossover for la Scala ALK OR CRITES ? I just want the basics no bells or whistles lol. I'm just looking to upgrade my AA crossovers that are in there for 40 years. thanks to all in advance. 

 

I think it depends...

 

As I understand, Bob tries to build 'replacements' and Al tries to build 'upgrades'

 

If you listen at lower levels, a more traditional passive might be fine.  If however, you step into it fairly often, then the steeper slopes might give you an extra level of clarity, better driver protection (by being steeper cutoff's to said driver) BUT BUT BUT....  (at least in my experience) the steeper slopes might require some extra room space before the three drivers melt into a "single" sound that you hear.

 

This was my experience with ALK's (ES) and Khorns.  Took 30 feet before they sounded absolutely outstanding.

 

My opinion.... you know what they say about those!

 

(well, those and ankle bells)

 

 

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