Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted March 8, 2003 Klipsch Employees Share Posted March 8, 2003 I would guess that all the Klipschorn owners that have heard of the AK-4 upgrade have had thoughts about making the change. With the price tag at $1800 for the pair, for the most part, it is a big step for most. The question comes up, is it worth the money? The answer to that is within yourself. I can only tell you that you will be in good company. Myself, Matt Whatley and Josh Hall (all from Klipsch) had the honor to travel to Nashville, TN to install the first production AK-4 upgrade kit. We went to a ladys house that many of you may know. Ms. Tanya Tucker. (www.tanyatucker.com) There will be more to come about our visit.. Tanya was happy to have her 1996 WO Khorns playing again. (blown tweeters due to an amp problem) She told me they sound better than they ever did, while listening to her new CD titled Tanya. She started singing along with the CD and I now know for a fact that the Klipschorn sounds just like the real thing. Tanya was / is featured in a CMT fame show this week and next. It tells about her life and music. She also was on MWL on CMT (www.cmt.com) as well as The Grand Ol Opry (www.opry.com) this week. Unlike some stars, Tanya is just good folk. Easy and fun to talk and visit with. She and her husband to be, Jerry Lasiter, even escorted us out to the main road on their Harley as we left. It goes with out saying that we had a blast! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 Aaaaahhhhh, the perks of being an insider. I'll bet you'ce earned every minute of it. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmslaw Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 Trey: I have a new (2002 redesign) pair of Khorns. You and I spoke on the phone a few months ago regarding the changes, at which time you indicated the speaker was changed fairly dramatically. How do these changes compare with the AK-4? Are the new Khorns better than, say, a 1999 pair with the AK-4 mod? I asked someone in tech support for a manual or white paper which describes the changes, but apparently none exists!! Also, are you, or anyone, aware of any aftermarket jumper wires to replace the rather flimsy Monstercable wires which connect all the drivers to the crossover? I LOVE my new Khorns, but I am interested in anything I can do to make them even better. Thanks, and good luck in your new position! Maybe you can help develop the Jubilee to where it will actually be released. I'll be the first to buy it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q-Man Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 Trey, In the past when the drivers changed, the network changed to compensate for the slight difference in efficiency of the drivers. Wouldn't the AK-4 network also require one to change to the new midrange and tweeter drivers? I did this upgrade once already to a couple of pairs, and it does get costly. I have been playing with a network that also improves the sound of the bass horn. Much to my surprise the bass horn can sound less boomy and more detailed. Does the AK-4 address this at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 If $1800 is merely the cost of two crossover boards, and does not include drivers -- then I would have to say shame on Klipsch, as that would be a ridiculous amount of money for crossovers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 ---------------- On 3/9/2003 9:18:54 PM DeanG wrote: If $1800 is merely the cost of two crossover boards, and does not include drivers -- then I would have to say shame on Klipsch, as that would be a ridiculous amount of money for crossovers. ---------------- Maybe it includes drivers and personal installation from Trey. The same treatment Tanya got... RIGHT??? JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 9, 2003 Share Posted March 9, 2003 Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted March 10, 2003 Author Klipsch Employees Share Posted March 10, 2003 I knew that this would open a can of worms... The upgrade changes every thing but the cabinet, woofer and mid horn. That is to say you get: the woofer access door with new input built to biwire. New wire (monster Z, built for Klipsch), the mid driver (k-55-x), the tweeter (k-77-f) and AK-4 network on a PCB. It took me about 1 hr per cabinet. We are working on a "how to" manual now. Older Khorns will require woodworking on the tweeter hole. Those built after 1982 (I think, but could be 85') will not have to change the tweeter hole. If your speakers are working fine now, I don't know that I would change. This is a lot of money. But if you strive for perfection or have bad drivers that cannot be repaired, there is a good amount of change to be had. Any one of you that has talked to me knows that I am always watching out for your dollar. So Please don't as me if the change is worth the money. I will not answer. Did I hear a difference? YES! Did Tanya hear a difference? She said she did, and by the smile on here face, I believe her. Tom, I have always loved the Heritage product. I guess that made me want to learn all I could about it. I got to go because Matt Whatley suggested that I was the best man for the job. What a friend. Jeff, If you have a 2002 Khorn, you should have the AK-4 version now. No need to change a thing. The manual is on the way; no white paper has been written. The wire used is Z series Monster wire built for Klipsch. Good wire. You could change, but I am not sure what benefit you would get. (Most know I am not a big wire guy, I use what ever I have around, and will not get into why;) Q-man, The bass is "better" in the AK-4 version. Just a change in the mid driver helped with that. The network change refined it. Dean, I would agree. You do get a lot for your money, but it is still a lot of money any way you look at it. JM, I am sorry, but none of you have I had a crush on for the last 20 something years. However, anyone that wants to bring me to their place on a weekend, (and we can talk my wife into letting me go) I will be glad to help. The manual with color pictures will be out soon and most of you can turn a screw driver. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmslaw Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Trey: Thanks for the response. I am reassured to know that I have the AK-4 crossover in my new Khorns. I would be very interested to know what other innovations have been incorporated into the new design. My dealer just said that the engineers at Aragon looked at the old design and reworked it. You have indicated, and rightly so, that the changes resulted in a warmer midrange. I have definitely noticed this and really enjoy the tonal balance of these speakers. The more I listen, the more I love 'em. Maybe as they break in they become even more detailed and refined. Maybe it is the monster cable breaking in. Does anyone have an idea of how much break-in a new pair of Khorns requires? THANKS a million, Trey!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Tanya Tucker has seen a few more bad miles than I have, but we are the same age. She lived in my county about 15 miles from my house in her teens. Might still. She was really hot riding a Hodaka in a bikini. Still, I had no courage as a 14 -year-old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted March 11, 2003 Author Klipsch Employees Share Posted March 11, 2003 She is in Brentwood now and rides a pink Harley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 Ewwweee Pink Harley... That is an oxymoron if I have ever heard one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdm56 Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 ...working for klipsch, trip to the home of tanya tucker on the company dime...geez, some people just know how to live, don't they? shoot, even the name, "Trey Cannon", is cool. sound's like a super-hero! as for the upgrade package, until something blows, i ain't changin' nuthin'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted March 15, 2003 Author Klipsch Employees Share Posted March 15, 2003 LOL Superhero I am not... BTW: Trey is not my real name. It is a nickname that I have had from birth. I have the same name as my father and his father before him. That makes me the third (or tird, as my mom called me at times) My oldest son is the fourth. And no we do not call him quarto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q-Man Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Trey, real name or not, I have another question or two for you. How much for just the AK-4 network? $1000.00? I remember the midrange and tweeters costing $200.00 each. Would the AK-4 increase or lower the output of the K55-M? Thanks, Q-Man. Q-man has been my nick name for some 35 years now. It came durning my old football days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted March 15, 2003 Share Posted March 15, 2003 Trey is a common appelation (sp?) for the third generation with the same forename and surname; it may require the same middle name, if any, too. A buddy of mine is the fifth in line. Does anyone know of proper references to the fourth and fifth, or thereafter? Incidentally, I'm named for my maternal grandfather, William Gilroy. I got his nickname and forename. Gil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted March 15, 2003 Author Klipsch Employees Share Posted March 15, 2003 Q You will have to call parts. I do not remember the price of just the network. With the xover point different and the new HF drivers down 1.5-2 db, I dont think they sound good with the old drivers. The HF is "hotter" with old drivers. More "in your face". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipsch Employees Trey Cannon Posted April 17, 2003 Author Klipsch Employees Share Posted April 17, 2003 Well gang, Steve and I are working on the manual for the upgrade. Finding out some cool things about the ALK and the AA networks...When everything is finished I will post all the info. Let's just say that if you are thinking about changing your AA out for the ALK you may want to wait until you see what we find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Cornell Posted April 18, 2003 Share Posted April 18, 2003 Trey Can i get a set of empty tops new, for k-horns? E-mail me Regards Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted April 18, 2003 Share Posted April 18, 2003 Trey, I think there is something unfair here. The design for my crossover network is public domain. Anybody can download it from my web site and build it if he wants to. I even sent you my original prototypes to test. In fact, one of your new employees now owns that very set! The AK-4 network, on the other hand, is hidden inside the woofer hatch of the new Khonr where it can not even be seen. I challange Klipsch to send me the schematic diagram of it. If you are going to criticize my design directly and specifically, BY NAME, I think it is only fair that you send me an AK-4 for me to evaluate. After all, you know I will eventualy get one! Are you afraid to do that? Also, any defficiencis you find in my design and make public will be fixed! If they really exist. I also ask for this opportunity mainly to find out if my network is compatible with the new k55X squawker driver. If it is NOT compatible, your customers deserve to know so. I will not recommend my design to anyone to build or to buy if it is not compatible! Al K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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