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How to purchase new woofers for 1987 Klipschorns


RickD

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It appears that one of my woofers died today. Using my multi meter I could see the signal coming from the crossover and the fuse is good.

 

Before I take it outside and bury it, I thought I would find out how to purchase a new pair from Klipsch. Does the company have a parts department where I can buy replacements? Is it worth the extra $$ to buy Crites woofers?

 

My understanding is no, because of the folded horn.

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Used to be 1-800-Klipsch would get you to the parts department. 

 

I thought Crites woofers were cheaper than OEM Klipsch.  If Crites woofers meet K-33-E specs, they will work in your Khorns. 

 

You should be able to get the bad one reconed at a local pro audio shop. 

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7 hours ago, RickD said:

It appears that one of my woofers died today. Using my multi meter I could see the signal coming from the crossover and the fuse is good.

 

Before I take it outside and bury it, I thought I would find out how to purchase a new pair from Klipsch. Does the company have a parts department where I can buy replacements? Is it worth the extra $$ to buy Crites woofers?

 

My understanding is no, because of the folded horn.

Northwest Speaker in Smyrna can fix the woofer. 

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2 hours ago, mark1101 said:

You can call Klipsch and get genuine Klipsch parts.  They will request pictures of the badges on the back of your Khorns.  Once you provide that they will be able to provide you the proper parts.

Badges? Are you referring to the faded stickers with the serial numbers?

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9 hours ago, JohnA said:

Used to be 1-800-Klipsch would get you to the parts department. 

 

I thought Crites woofers were cheaper than OEM Klipsch.  If Crites woofers meet K-33-E specs, they will work in your Khorns. 

 

You should be able to get the bad one reconned at a local pro audio shop. 

Is that a DIY project or should I leave it to the pros? I've seen kits on-line for reconning the K-33

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34 minutes ago, RickD said:

That's a 40 minute drive from me. If I have one rebuilt, should I have both done given their age?

I had one done for my CW and they said if it sounds different to get the other done. I couldn’t tell a difference. Anyway they do Eminence warranty repair so I’d say they should know what they are doing. I wanna say it was under $100, but pre Covid. 

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16 hours ago, RickD said:

It appears that one of my woofers died today. Using my multi meter I could see the signal coming from the crossover and the fuse is good.

 

Before I take it outside and bury it, I thought I would find out how to purchase a new pair from Klipsch. Does the company have a parts department where I can buy replacements? Is it worth the extra $$ to buy Crites woofers?

 

My understanding is no, because of the folded horn.

I like your approach, trouble shoot until the toughest part (accessing/removing the woofer). I’m not convinced you have a blow woofer (that may turn out to be the case). However, it could as just as easily be a bad connection, and we have seen everything on here. 
 

You will need to get to it with an ohm meter and check it. Folks on here can help you do that, and about what resistance you should be seeing. 
 

Klipsch parts has them, if I had a shop less than an hour away I think I would try one for kicks and A/B them. 
 

Welcome by the way.

 

Travis

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8 hours ago, CWOReilly said:

Northwest Speaker in Smyrna can fix the woofer. 

Familiar with reconing for a variety of speakers, especially the ones with the foam parts that rot away with age. 
 

Will a “Re-cone” take care of situation where the actual cone and structure are fine but the voice coil is fried? Or does that require something else? Don’t know why I have never thought of that before, I guess it’s because never had that issue. 

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9 minutes ago, Travis In Austin said:

Familiar with reconing for a variety of speakers, especially the ones with the foam parts that rot away with age. 
 

Will a “Re-cone” take care of situation where the actual cone and structure are fine but the voice coil is fried? Or does that require something else? Don’t know why I have never thought of that before, I guess it’s because never had that issue. 

The full recone replaces everything but the magnet and basket. The tech there is known to be a miracle worker of sorts and has saved many a speaker without sacrificing original cones. 

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9 hours ago, mark1101 said:

You can call Klipsch and get genuine Klipsch parts.  They will request pictures of the badges on the back of your Khorns.  Once you provide that they will be able to provide you the proper parts.

I called Klipsch this morning and the woofers for my speakers are no longer available. The support guy recommended buying woofers from parts express or having both woofers  rebuilt which is the route I will take. I had an interesting conversation with the gentleman on the phone on what's snake oil and what's not. He also told me that Klipsch will be providing sound systems for new cars. I want to say Nissan but I can't say for sure. Nice guy. I'll give Northwest speaker a call this week.

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1 hour ago, Travis In Austin said:

I like your approach, trouble shoot until the toughest part (accessing/removing the woofer). I’m not convinced you have a blow woofer (that may turn out to be the case). However, it could as just as easily be a bad connection, and we have seen everything on here. 
 

You will need to get to it with an ohm meter and check it. Folks on here can help you do that, and about what resistance you should be seeing. 
 

Klipsch parts has them, if I had a shop less than an hour away I think I would try one for kicks and A/B them. 
 

Welcome by the way.

 

Travis

Thanks for your reply Travis. I put the Multi Meter on the input to the bass cabinet and it was infinite. Next I tested the fuse, it was ok. I'll open the cover and check the wiring. I can't recall if I replaced the woofer wires but they'll get new wires if I pull them. Once I have the cover off I should be able to test across the speaker terminals. Last summer we had a lightening strike close to the house and that went through my 200w per channel Mcintosh and blew the fuses in both speakers.

I never saw my dog jump so high, he may have set a record.

 

Regards,

 

Rick

 

 

 

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Just now, RickD said:

Thanks for your reply Travis. I put the Multi Meter on the input to the bass cabinet and it was infinite. Next I tested the fuse, it was ok. I'll open the cover and check the wiring. I can't recall if I replaced the woofer wires but they'll get new wires if I pull them. Once I have the cover off I should be able to test across the speaker terminals. Last summer we had a lightening strike close to the house and that went through my 200w per channel Mcintosh and blew the fuses in both speakers.

I never saw my dog jump so high, he may have set a record.

 

Regards,

 

Rick

 

 

 

Sorry I missed that part. 
 

Looking forward to hearing how the Re-cone goes with that firm and your thoughts.

 

Travis

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Klipsch told me to check Parts Express.Crites are 350 a pair.

 

This is what they have for the Khorn:

GRS K-33-4 Replacement 15" Woofer for Klipsch Klipschorn, Belle Klipsch, Cornwall, and Lascala Speakers

292-830_ALT_0.jpg

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9 minutes ago, Travis In Austin said:

Sorry I missed that part. 
 

Looking forward to hearing how the Re-cone goes with that firm and your thoughts.

 

Travis

I checked Parts Express. Woofers for Klipschorn a $99 each. Crites has cast frame woofers for the Khorn for $365. PE has free shipping. I'll call 

 

1 hour ago, CWOReilly said:

The full recone replaces everything but the magnet and basket. The tech there is known to be a miracle worker of sorts and has saved many a speaker without sacrificing original cones. 

Do you know what his typical charge is? I'm going to do both sides. Or purchase two new woofers. Parts Express has replacements for $198 a pair and Crites $365 a pair.

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36 minutes ago, RickD said:

I checked Parts Express. Woofers for Klipschorn a $99 each. Crites has cast frame woofers for the Khorn for $365. PE has free shipping. I'll call 

 

Do you know what his typical charge is? I'm going to do both sides. Or purchase two new woofers. Parts Express has replacements for $198 a pair and Crites $365 a pair.

It’s probably comparable. I think it was like $80 when I had one done, but again pre Covid. 

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