Bigbob4kwp Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 I have a set of forte 1985 vintage. I love the sound but keep hearing of the Bob Crite mods. I dont want to lose the vintage aspect of the speaker but would love to upgrade them if worth it. Ive had them since new along with my ten home theatre speakers (all Klipsch!). Give me some thoughts on what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjptkd Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 23 hours ago, Bigbob4kwp said: I have a set of forte 1985 vintage. I love the sound but keep hearing of the Bob Crite mods. I dont want to lose the vintage aspect of the speaker but would love to upgrade them if worth it. Give me some thoughts on what to do. Great speakers the Crites Titanium diaphragms are a nice improvement and the capacitors are old enough now in the crossovers to justify replacing other than that they should be just fine. I've bought a few of their drop in replacement crossovers and did notice a slight advantage in sound quality over just having the originals rebuilt but you'd probably not notice during casual listening. I've probably had a dozen sets of crossovers rebuilt by Crites over the years great service and fast turn around used to cost around $150 but parts prices are through the roof I'm sure its a bit more than that now. JEM is the Klipsch authorized crossover specialist they should be able to supply parts if you can do the work yourself, not sure where they're at as far as rebuilds go for the forte hope this helps good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob4kwp Posted February 22, 2022 Author Share Posted February 22, 2022 Thank you so much for your input. Im very handy and would have no problems with the upgrades. I have looked at the mods and upgrading the cabinet, speakers and components. about a year ago it seemed like it would cost me about $400-$500 complete. I was told that the mods. would diminish the value of the speaker and since i love how they sound already so why change a good thing? You do have a good point about the age of the caps and failure may be a issue. I think im going to revisit the idea. any other suggestions for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimMeader Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 To a purist they would be less valuable , at the same time a buyer wanting an updated pair they would be a no wait bargain. I have a pair of 1987 La Scala's, a garage find that were in very rough shape. Two different tweeters, one woofer torn and gouges and scratches all over. I made several "modifications" new crossovers, and new drivers all from Crites, and added 1/2 inch MDF to all outside surfaces, with new veneer. So big question did it make a difference Yes, is that difference better I believe so. The difference is that the original 1987 La Scala's were true PA Speakers and had a very enjoyable "Live Sound". If Live sounding speakers were the goal, I would not have changed anything. My goal, in my words, was to refine the sound from PA Speakers to upgraded HIFI speakers. Look at the difference between a 1978 La Scala and the latest est La Scala's The new ones have a 1 inch MDF cabinet, the squaker and tweeter are now in seperate cabinet and they have a new crossover and are critically acclaimed. I am no speaker designer, no electrical engineer and have no previous speaker modification experience. I am an enthusiast and have enjoyed the process and the results. Everyone that comes over says WOW your system sounds outstanding. Great center stage with depth and it fills my listening room with sound. Would I do it again yes, I would probably also separate the squaker and tweeter, why I think it enhances your ability to adjust your system to your room which is a critical factor with any speaker. So If you want to Modify/update your speakers go for it, if you are concerned about resale value then refresh your speaker exterior surface and enjoy your speakers. it is all about hearing the music you enjoy the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rackmeister Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 I also have a pair of Forte 1s that have Crites Ti tweeter diaphragms, modernized caps (Daytons, nothing boutique) and damped mid horn lenses (rope caulk). The latter two are worthwhile. I would say the Ti diaphragms are a taste thing. They are just a bit zingy to my aging ears compared to the originals, maybe good for some genres, not so much for acoustic/symphonic IMO. My experience with my superb DIY "chimeric" (hybrid) La Scala man-cave system leads me to believe the Fortes could be greatly improved by DSP active multiamping and appropriate digital EQ and delay tweaks. This can be done at far less expense than is widely thought if one is willing to work with non-boutique components (not unlike Klipsch drivers, which is a compliment to Klipsch IMO). I might eventually try that with my Fortes too. Other upgrades to consider would be to brace and further dampen the enclosures to reduce the audible boxiness, and to glue-in septum vanes in the mid lenses to further dampen mechanical resonances (even jammed-in trimmed tongue depressors help; think of them as single-ply Baltic birch 😁). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcbiz Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 10AWG copper wire Dave A's SMAHL V2 tweeters ALK, or comparable crossovers Dynamat on the mid horn Ask around for a modern crossover, as ALK is over booked. These updates made my Heresy I pair come to life in a way I didn't think possible. I'm making similar updates for my vintage La Scalas. This time I'll try the Volti crossovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainbeefheart Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 My advice is do not choose a capacitor by name, choose it by application and it's dielectric properties. I have had many a conversations with Bob Crites and he chooses to use Polypropylene because the superior dielectric properties of very low loss angle making them as close to a theoretical perfect capacitor (current and phase perfectly 90° apart) as we can get. The argument was once that if they had the polypropylene capacitors back when the speakers were made PWK would have chosen them. But that's a pretty big assumption, to this day Klipsch has the option to use polypropylene in both new and replacement parts in crossovers but they don't, they use Polyester capacitors. I highly doubt the film caps inside the 1985 network have gone bad or drifted from spec. There is always a chance of damage for one reason or another but the chances are slim. People may hear a change thinking their caps must have been bad if the sound is brighter or is it that now you have a different type of capacitor in there with different dielectric properties? My point only is if you decide to replace them for whatever reasons, curiosity even, then replace them with the same dielectric type. They are most likely Polyester types and not only do I recommend that you go with the same type but JEM does also. If I didn't go with Polyester I still wouldn't use polypropylene, a good paper capacitor seems to be the best to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 Leave them alone if they work and sound good. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob4kwp Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 Thank you so much for your input. Im very handy and would have no problems with the upgrades. I have looked at the mods and upgrading the cabinet, speakers and components. about a year ago it seemed like it would cost me about $400-$500 complete. I was told that the mods. would diminish the value of the speaker and since i love how they sound already so why change a good thing? You do have a good point about the age of the caps and failure may be a issue. I think im going to revisit the idea. any other suggestions for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 If you have to scratch that itch do things one at a time so if your mod sucks it's easily reversable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob4kwp Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 Jason thank you so much for your advice. I just wrote a reply thanking you however im a better audiophile then a computer geek and I just erased the damn thing! What I was trying to say is you gave me the BEST advice "If it works dont fix it"! How many times have I told myself that!!! These are the best sounding speakers I have ever heard with exception of larger Klipsch. I dream system would be a pair of Klipschorn for my main speakers, my Forte's as rear surrounds and a Heresy as a center channel (of course McIntosh tube components for warmth). What a system that would be and a goal to look forward too! Thank you again for your great advice! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob4kwp Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 Anytime I need to "scratch the itch" I will contact you to put me back on track! Lol 1 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.