K52k, k57k & k61k

[Alexander]

As I understand it the k76k tweeter has a smaller magnet and the k75k & k79k are the same driver other than the k79k has ferrofluid added to the k79k. So with the mid squawker are the k52k, k57k and k61k share the same driver with the lens being the only difference? 

[geoff.]

I recently stumbled across a listing on fleabay that piqued my interest.

 

The listing was for a (another) previously unknown to me pro model, the KP 320. It had a K-62 on what appeared to be the same horn as the K-61.

 

I think the the K-53 and K-62 are also the same as the 57 and 61. 

 

I thought I had read on here the K-52 was different (better?) but used the same diaphragm.

 

 

[Alexander]

Came across this here on the board

Quote

HudsonValleyNoa said:

 

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