RKH Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 After many years of inactive listening I’ve retired and finding time to enjoy music once again. Bought walnut K-Horns after visiting Hope facility in 1978 and still have them and love them. My question is have there been any updates since 1978 that I should take advantage of. I’m not interested in any “aftermarket” crossovers or replacement horns - just OEM updates. Have been listening a lot over last few weeks and can’t imagine how they could sound any better, but thought I’d ask to see what may be available. Thanks in advance for any help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWOReilly Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 Sounds to me you like you don’t need updates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKH Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 55 minutes ago, CWOReilly said: Sounds to me you like you don’t need updates! Probably not, but would hate to miss out on something great over last 45 years! I see you’re in Smyrna…I’m in Marietta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 the crossover capacitors are 1 way to refresh the sound 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWOReilly Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 37 minutes ago, RKH said: Probably not, but would hate to miss out on something great over last 45 years! I see you’re in Smyrna…I’m in Marietta. I’ll let others chime in on updates although as @OO1 mentioned crossover update would be a refresher. If you can solder order a kit from JEM and rebuild them yourself. as for Smyrna…. Luckily I’m just in unincorporated Cobb. 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKH Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 13 minutes ago, CWOReilly said: I’ll let others chime in on updates although as @OO1 mentioned crossover update would be a refresher. If you can solder order a kit from JEM and rebuild them yourself. as for Smyrna…. Luckily I’m just in unincorporated Cobb. 😉 We probably are closer than we think as I’m in N East Cobb right off I-575. I tried to send you a message, but says I can’t for some reason. Happy to meet for coffee some morning if you’d like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKH Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 27 minutes ago, OO1 said: the crossover capacitors are 1 way to refresh the sound That’s a great idea and I have a guy that is really good with a soldering iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khornukopia Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 3 hours ago, RKH said: finding time to enjoy music once again. Bought walnut K-Horns after visiting Hope facility in 1978 and still have them and love them. Nice that you kept them all these years. I would loosen and re-tighten the screws holding the speaker wires to the crossover board. Also give the K-55-V midrange driver a gentle twist to make sure it is snug against the horn gasket. Then I would play some music sort of loud, as a test, to make sure everything sounds clear and trouble-free at normal volumes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKH Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 9 minutes ago, Khornukopia said: Nice that you kept them all these years. I would loosen and re-tighten the screws holding the speaker wires to the crossover board. Also give the K-55-V midrange driver a gentle twist to make sure it is snug against the horn gasket. Then I would play some music sort of loud, as a test, to make sure everything sounds clear and trouble-free at normal volumes. Good suggestions. When I was setting back up I did remove speaker wires, cleaned all contacts and reconnected, but I didn’t check the driver - which I will do just to be sure. I bought these originally when I lived in B’ham then moved them to Dallas and now Marietta, GA. With every move I have the wooden creates built after covering them with moving blankets. They are in pristine condition and I’m glad I’ve held onto them all these years as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 You may, or may not need new capacitors. If the sound is not out in the room with you, consider it. I had a '67 H700 that did not and a '68 that did. I have an unproven theory that speakers used regularly will not need new caps as soon. At any rate, install high quality film and foil caps. They don't need to cost $250 each, but spend some coin. One very good update, was the K-77-F version of the tweeter with a recessed flange that placed the mouth of the tweeter flush with the front of the motorboard (no more playing through a hole). Not only does that eliminate the diffraction of the hole, but the tweeter itself responds to higher frequencies than the old AlNiCo tweeters you have. That new tweeter is a modification of the ceramic K-77-M the factory went to in 1980. The -F may be hard to find, but worth it. The factory added "Z" brackets the the -M to do the same thing for a while, but that would require enlarging the tweeter hole in your top section. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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