Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 I finished installing Altec 511b horns in my '89 K-horns on Father's Day weekend. A friend and fellow-Hornhead recently upgraded to ALK Trachorns in his K-horns and I was fortunate to get the Altecs that he had been using before the Trachorns. This is the K-401 as it was about to be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Here is one completed except without the grill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 An adapter flange was required to mount the K-55-M driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Of course new holes had to be drilled to mount the adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 I caulked the horns with rope caulk. Nearly three rolls of 90'per roll for each horn. The plumber's putty on the lips of the horn was already there when I got the horns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 My helper, my seven-year-old son. He is also a Klipsch fan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 The construction zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Top on, almost done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Here is the left speaker with the 511b and the K-77. The tweeters are now mounted vertically. This seems to improve the imaging. The hole where the tweeter is mounted was originally cut for a Beyma tweeter (future upgrade for me??). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 21, 2005 Author Share Posted June 21, 2005 Here is a completed speaker with grill. Notice the grill is larger and the strips of wood above and below the stock K-horn grill are now covered. I like the look of the stock grill better, but I like the sound of these much better! More detailed comments on the improved sound to come. But I will just say that everything that I have heard about these improving the clarity and enlarging the sweet spot are absolutely true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Seadog, That installation looks very firmiliar! Believe me, you're going to love the new sound! Al K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 great pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Nice job and beautiful photos. Thanks for the lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 22, 2005 Author Share Posted June 22, 2005 ---------------- On 6/22/2005 8:04:39 AM Al Klappenberger wrote: Seadog, That installation looks very firmiliar! Believe me, you're going to love the new sound! Al K. ---------------- Al, Great workmanship on that assembly! Aside from having to notch the inside brace pieces on the sides and top of the K-horn, the assembly fit like a glove! Its all the more amazing that they fit into the 89 K-horns as well as it did in the 70s vintage K-horns that they came from. Klipsch has obviously kept the overall dimensions very close over time. As for the sound, even my son immediately noticed a difference. When we had just one speaker completed, we did some A/B comparisons. He said, Dad it sounds really good even with just one speaker. The K-401 has a definite hot spot, whereas the 511b sounds consistent over a much wider angle, and even well off-axis, the 511b clarity is better than the K401 in the sweet spot. I really noticed this most in the voices. Detail seems to be more resolved as if the 511b is not competing with the tweeter (perhaps the vertical orientation of the K-77 has something to do with this also?). Maybe someday Ill consider Trachorns, but for now Im very please with the results from the Altecs. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Seadog, I can't take credit for the workmanship on that. Bob did it! I don't think there is any doubt that the K400 horn leavs a bit to be desired! It's been demonstrated many times. Al k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klewless Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 I do not understand you guys at all. If the Klipsch 400 Hz horn leaves a hole between itself and the bass horn, then the Altec 500 Hz horn surely leaves a BIGGER hole! Klipsch started out at 500 and went to the 400 in order to try and fill that hole. You guys like the Sound of Silence? or What? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Klappenberger Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Klewless, I was worried that the 511 horn might not make it down to 400 Hz at first too. I ran resonse curves and found that the 511 goes down to 400 Hz with no problem. So, there is no hole! Al k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadog Posted June 22, 2005 Author Share Posted June 22, 2005 ---------------- On 6/22/2005 4:38:52 PM Al Klappenberger wrote: Seadog, I can't take credit for the workmanship on that. Bob did it! I don't think there is any doubt that the K400 horn leavs a bit to be desired! It's been demonstrated many times. Al k. ---------------- Bob, great workmanship on those assemblies . BTW, I decided to remove the Dynamat in favor of the caulk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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