And then came the CornScaltec...

[Deang]

We've discussed this at length several times in the past, but you weren't around then -- so here it is:

There are two varients of K-55-V. The early version with the spring loaded terminals utilizes a single port phase plug. The later version, introduced in late March of 1980 utilizes a two-port phase plug. This unit has the soldered lugs. Now, the "new" K-55-X, though it has soldered lugs, is actually the same as the original K-55-V with spring loaded terminals. IOWs, it has soldered lugs but uses the old style single port phase plug. All three drivers are the Atlas Sound PD-5VH. What you are seeing in the pics is simply a newly purchased PD-5VH (soldered lugs, single port phase plug).

The 9000 Hz "artifact" you are referring two is present in all of the single port drivers, and is actually part of the driver's natural roll-off. In a percentage of the older drivers (some say 20%, some say more), the rise in response was higher than normal, and went high enough that it occupied and interfered with the tweeter's response at 9kHz. Bob Crites has tested a multitude of K-55-V's and has never run across one with higher output in that area than any other. OTOH, there are trusted sources who prefer to remain anonymous who say they are out there -- so we tell Bob to keep looking.

[Deang]

Charles, reading back over the thread I realized I never said anything about the kick butt work you are doing.

If you look at the plot below, you can see that there isn't a wide disparity in FR with these horns, but there are some differences which the ear is sure to pick up on. Something else the ear picks up on is lower distortion and/or coloration to the sound. I very strongly agree with Terry that you should give your ear/brain mechanism a few more days with this. With clarity comes a bit more brightness, but if it's cleaner -- the ears get used to it in a good way relatively fast. Don't forget the bit of putty on the lips of those horns the way Shawn suggests -- you might be getting some ringing.

Now you are ready for the most interesting of listening tests. Grab your copy of The Matrix (you do have have one, right?), and forward to the scene where they are taking Neo to see Morpheous for the first time. It is the scene with all the rain hitting the pavement. With the K-401, it sounds like the sound of bacon frying. With the Trachorn, it sounds rain hitting the pavement. I don't think the Pyle will fair well in this test (though that doesn't mean it won't:).

[chops]

Charles, reading back over the thread I realized I never said anything about the kick butt work you are doing.

If you look at the plot below, you can see that there isn't a wide disparity in FR with these horns, but there are some differences which the ear is sure to pick up on. Something else the ear picks up on is lower distortion and/or coloration to the sound. I very strongly agree with Terry that you should give your ear/brain mechanism a few more days with this. With clarity comes a bit more brightness, but if it's cleaner -- the ears get used to it in a good way relatively fast. Don't forget the bit of putty on the lips of those horns the way Shawn suggests -- you might be getting some ringing.

Now you are ready for the most interesting of listening tests. Grab your copy of The Matrix (you do have have one, right?), and forward to the scene where they are taking Neo to see Morpheous for the first time. It is the scene with all the rain hitting the pavement. With the K-401, it sounded like the sound of bacon frying. With the Trachorns, it sounds rain hitting the pavement. I don't think the Pyle will fair well in this test (though that doesn't mean it won't:).

Hi Dean,

Thanks for the super kind words there about my adventure in modding. I appreciate it! []

Also, I haven't watched Matrix in quite a long time (yes I have it) and I do believe it's about time to watch it again. Maybe even tonight if I don't get too wrapped up in listening to music.

And don't worry guys, I'm going to listen to my system as is for a while before I decide to do anything else.

[Deang]

BTW, when I said, "He can't", I was responding to Jordan who had suggested that you simply lower your midrange output a couple of dB. Actually you can lower the output, but not without changing a cap value, losing 3dB instead of the 1 or 2dB you're really trying to get, and the possibilty of having to lower the tweeter output as well to keep the sound balanced.

Find a corner and stack those subs.

[chops]

BTW, when I said, "He can't", I was responding to Jordan who had suggested that you simply lower your midrange output a couple of dB. Actually you can lower the output, but not without changing a cap value, losing 3dB instead of the 1 or 2dB you're really trying to get, and the possibilty of having to lower the tweeter output as well to keep the sound balanced.

Find a corner and stack those subs.

Oh, I see.

As for the subs, they actually sound better out of the corner, and I can't stack them because they like to walk around too much.

[chops]

As usual, you guys are correct! []

I listened to selections off of several different CDs today on my lunch break (the joys of living 6 minutes away from work), and now since I've been home for the last couple of hours, I've played a few more CDs.

I no longer think the mids are too loud over the rest... well maybe just a slight tad, but not enough to worry about. My ears/noggin might have to do a little bit more adjusting. However, these horns have made an amazing difference in the sound. Talk about open, natural and clean!

Something else I have noticed with these 511s is how they put the sound into the room. I am constantly popping my eyes open and frantically looking to either side of me or behind me seeing if someone or something is there. These horns really put you "in" the music.

Also, even when I crank the volume, they still remain smooth and clean. I no longer "cringe" at the speakers with higher volume levels.

Dean, I'll let you know how the rain dropplets sound tonight. []

[cjgeraci]

"Something else I have noticed with these 511s is how they put the sound into the room. I am constantly popping my eyes open and frantically looking to either side of me or behind me seeing if someone or something is there. These horns really put you "in" the music.

Also, even when I crank the volume, they still remain smooth and clean. I no longer "cringe" at the speakers with higher volume levels."

That is a pretty good description. I have had similar experiences with 511s, and now with 811s and Trachorns.

Nice work, Chops. But, you are warned.......once you like the sound of a certain horn, there is no real going back...........

Carl.

[travisc]

hey gang,

looks nice chops, bet it sounds better.

ya brought back some memories of last summer

[chops]

Thanks again guys!

Dean, I watched Matrix last night. Boy, I forgot how much better than movie was over the last two! Anyway...

Depending on the camera angle and shot, the rain sometimes sounded like frying bacon, and other times is sounded just like rain. Hmm...

Now what sounded really good was all the shell casings hitting the ground throughout several of the various scenes. Not that I've ever heard real ones hitting the floor before, but I'm sure if I did, they would sound just like in the movie. And the great thing about it is that they were hitting the ground all around me, not just up by the front speakers.

Oh, and an hour or so before we watched the movie, I was playing a pipe organ CD (go figure) that seemed to be recorded rather close to the instrument, so there was very little reverb, very dry sounding. The good thing about it is I had the volume cranked LOUD and it literally sounded like the organ was right here in the room. I know this for a fact since we have a 19 rank pipe organ in our house, and it was like standing out in the chamber while the organ was playing. I could here all the different stops being used and could also here the clicks and pops and ticks of the chests. Very cool indeed!

In short, these 511s are here to stay! Now all I need to do is scrounge up the money for a set of new 902 drivers to replace the K-55s. []

[chops]

hey gang,

looks nice chops, bet it sounds better.

ya brought back some memories of last summer

Hey travisc,

I saw your thread a week or so ago about the 511Bs while doing a forum search. It helped me a bit on my decisions. BTW, nice vert CWs!

Charles

[chops]

I just did a couple of extra things my system, including pushing the Cornscaltecs (CST) back into the corners, removed the towels from under the top hats and placed some nice .25" thick foam padding under them (2 strips 16"L x 4"W), and put the grills back on. It's definately more pleasing to the eyes now, and with them in the corners, adds a little extra space to the room.

Also, with the CSTs in the corners, the bass has improved slightly. They have a little better low end and have also flattened out a small peak around 60-80Hz. At least in my sweet spot, the bass seems to be a little more flat now, which is good. [H]

Anyway, a few pics as always...

BTW, in the last two pics, you'll see what looks like damage to the grills when in fact it is nothing more than a little bit of cat hair stuck to them. A small price to pay for having 5 little mews roaming around the house. []

[jt1stcav]

I can tell you this much...these ol' Cornwalls never sounded this good in my tiny room![]

I wonder if all these mods along with the 511Bs are a close proximity (or better) to the grand sound of Klipschorns (last time I heard Klipschorns was back in '80).

The overall sonic characteristics have drastically improved from the original and are not subtle...much more open, with an air and presence not readibly noticable through the stock horns. Excellent recordings just plain sound "live" and fill the entire room with a more realistic presentation than before IMHO.

Maybe during the weekend I'll sneak 'em back into my room and hook them to my electronics just to see how well they sound now...uh, guess I was thinking out loud again, eh?[:S]

[chops]

Maybe during the weekend I'll sneak 'em back into my room and hook them to my electronics just to see how well they sound now...uh, guess I was thinking out loud again, eh?[:S]

Yeah, you even attempt it and it's my boot up your @$$. LOL [6]

[travisc]

thanks chops, btw I am with Tom. "Voice of the Corn"

I have a new room and the 511's sound a bit hot. I am grateful for this thread, with my new business audio has gone to the back burner.

hey Charles can ya show me a shot of that projector in action, with the model, your impressions and money involved? I really want one of those baaaaad!!

[chops]

thanks chops, btw I am with Tom. "Voice of the Corn"

I have a new room and the 511's sound a bit hot. I am grateful for this thread, with my new business audio has gone to the back burner.

hey Charles can ya show me a shot of that projector in action, with the model, your impressions and money involved? I really want one of those baaaaad!!

No problem. []

The projector is an InFocus SP4800 DLP. The screen is 9' wide. Yes, wide, not diagonal. I got the projector on eBay for $600 only a month old. That was about 1.5 years ago. The screen I think was about $40, also from eBay.

As for image, this project (eventhough it's a cheaper unit) looks 100% better than ANY plasma, lcd, or dlp TV I've seen. Plus, who can refuse a 9' wide screen?!?!

Check out this link on my website...

http://chops.tzo.com/theatre.htm

[fanbrain]

No problem. []

The projector is an InFocus SP4800 DLP. The screen is 9' wide. Yes, wide, not diagonal. I got the projector on eBay for $600 only a month old. That was about 1.5 years ago. The screen I think was about $40, also from eBay.

As for image, this project (eventhough it's a cheaper unit) looks 100% better than ANY plasma, lcd, or dlp TV I've seen. Plus, who can refuse a 9' wide screen?!?!

Check out this link on my website...

http://chops.tzo.com/theatre.htm

Nice place you have there (the website). It looks as if things have changed up a bit. I too have been trying to persuade friends that projectors are better and sometimes cheaper than plasma LCD tv systems. Not all rooms and situations would be proper for a projector system, but if you can swing it, I say do it. I can't wait

until I can!

PS- It's good to know there's another organist around here.

[Guest " "]

I have been thinking of going projection as well. Working on adding an additional room and may implement as part of this project.

[IB Slammin]

.........."I wonder if all these mods along with the 511Bs are a close proximity (or better) to the grand sound of Klipschorns"....... [6] Ahha, Houummmmmm.......

Now Jim,......

Do a search on "dbb".....[]

Terry

[steamer]

Chops said:

In short, these 511s are here to stay! Now all I need to do is scrounge up the money for a set of new 902 drivers to replace the K-55s.

When you get those 902's try running them in a 2way setup,you might be surprised at the sound quality.Crossed over at 400hz and run all the way up to 20k like Altec did with the VOTT speakers is impressive.

I knew you would like these horns,they do have a sweet sound to them.

Greg

[chops]

When you get those 902's try running them in a 2way setup,you might be surprised at the sound quality.Crossed over at 400hz and run all the way up to 20k like Altec did with the VOTT speakers is impressive.

I knew you would like these horns,they do have a sweet sound to them.

Greg

Hi Greg,

I saw on Altec's site about the new A7 that they rate the new system all the way up to 22kHz. I see no reason why the new 902's wouldn't do the same in my system. So with that in mind, I might as well try it out, right? []

Now to let the 902 run all the way out, all I have to do is take the 500uH inductor out of the chain, but what do I do about the CT125?

I thought I read somewhere that either Dean or Al said that you can't just remove the tweeter because the network will sense a change in resistance from the tweeter not being there and squew the crossover freq of the other drivers, or something like that.

Did I read that right? If so, wouldn't I have to add a resistor of some value to put across the tweeter output terminals on the networks?

And yes, I do like the sound of these horns... a lot! However, I can't help but feel that the push-terminal K-55Vs are holding these horns back from really showing me their full potential. I still get a little of that typical "honk" on a few notes at higher volume levels. I can say though that I can play these speakers a lot louder than before without making me cringe or making my ears hurt.

Charles