Ed Cook Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 As a newby to the forums, I complicated my previous post and confused folks about my question. I'll try again. I've heard and read generally good things about the ALK X-overs. Does anyone have experience with Al's Trachorns? How appropriate would they be to update a pair of 1970 K-horns? 1970 K-horns, 2006 La Scala, 2006 Heresy rears, Outlaw and Denon electronics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Welcome to the forum Ed. Why don't you talk to Al at alkeng.com or read the testimonials on his site. Al will walk you through what you are trying to do. Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgeraci Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Ed, I've had Trachorns first in my '77 Belles and now use them in my '60s Khorns. I think they would make a substantial upgrade for your Khorns, even with the stock Klipsch drivers. Here's some links to past threads. In the first thread, I also posted some more hyperlinks to past threads. http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/850907.aspx <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/826871.aspx http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/865500.aspx http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/676821.aspx http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/632097.aspx Carl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Cook Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Carl, Many thanks for those threads. Those are the sorts of experiences I was hoping to learn from. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Al's Trachorn is the single greatest improvement you can make to the Klipschorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khorn#1 Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Amen to Deans comment. Also, Al's ES crossovers perform magic in the mighty khorns. Both upgrades are worth every penny and don't forget crites tweeters to give you one smooth sounding khorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Cook Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Bob Crites name shows up all over these forums (it's probably supposed to be fora or something - I never took Latin) and all the regulars seem to "know" him but I have not been able to figure out how to contact him directly. Any help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 BEC click on the BEC underlined above, scroll down half a page, and select, send email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Roland Posted April 20, 2007 Share Posted April 20, 2007 Ed, Welcome to the forum! I have had my Trachorns for about three months now and I think they are a serious improvement over the K 400 horns. I am using the stock K 55V drivers with them. ALK will allow you a trial period and refund your money if you don't want to keep the Trachorns. I don't see that you have anything to lose. I'd say go for it.. George Roland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me Loves Khorns Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 George, I have the same set up as you do, with the A crossover and the BEC tweeters. How big of a difference did the Trachorn make in the Khorn? Did more of the midrange become more clear? Louder? more details? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFP Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Hi Ed... Well, my experience with the Trachorns is probably not the best testimonial for the horns themselves (the Trachorns went into my K-horns along with a whole bunch of other mods). But I am 100% confident that Trachorns raise the performance of the Klipschorn to a whole new level! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Isnt it fun foolin with this stuff? [8-|] Cheerz, Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Roland Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Paul, The Trachorns improved my K-horns greatly. As an intermediary step, I used Altec 511Bs, but the trachorns are even better. They are smooth, detailed and removed a lot of the honkiness I sometimes experienced. The sound is clearer, less colored, more detailed--clean. I just got a pair of Welborne 300B SET amps and they, along with the Trachorns, have really made these K-horns sing beautifully. The detail the SETs provide is simply breathtaking...7 gorgeous watts!! George Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me Loves Khorns Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 George, You are using the same, stock drivers as before? Did the Crites tweeter mount in there without any problem? Appreciate you thoughts on this. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 George, You are using the same, stock drivers as before? Did the Crites tweeter mount in there without any problem? Appreciate you thoughts on this. Paul Paul, my understanding from my chats with Al is the biggest 'issue' with the Khorn is the K400 horn and not necessarily the drivers. Meaning, swap out the K400 and that will yield the biggest bang for the buck. The drivers perhaps yield a bang, just a smaller return on investment. The stock tweeter either fits outright or has an adapter perhaps. Al has it cutout so a JBL 2404 or the Beyma (Model ??) will also fit. With the gain in sweetspot I had with my JBL's, I was really intrigued to get the Trachorns in due time (had also obtained his ES networks). Unfortunately, a trip to Hope and a big black fugly newfangled speakerbox stepped in the way of that path. with a wife like yours... you ought to make a 3 day trip up here and spend some time listening to them in stereo. Once she sees the lovelorn look in your eyes, she's sure to surprise you!! We'll never tell her you finessed her!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me Loves Khorns Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Coyote, I thing that so amazed me with the big black ugly thing in the corner in Hope was its absolute clarity in the mids and highs. They essentially were driving it with very so so equipment. Kmart DVD player and all. Yet, it sounded to clear. Would not cost a ton to upgrade to the new horns with the Khorns. Would cost a bit more to make the ulitmate upgrade in horns, so to speak. One day I would like to make the change to the Jubs, but tough to swing that right now. Wonder if the new horns would do what I am thinking they would or not. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Would not cost a ton to upgrade to the new horns with the Khorns. Would cost a bit more to make the ulitmate upgrade in horns, so to speak. Wonder if the new horns would do what I am thinking they would or not. Copied from Al's site: www.alkeng.com TRACHORN 400 ..................... Horn will accept 1 inch diameter throat drivers with JBL 3-hole 1 1/8 Inch radius or Altec 2-stud 1 1/2 Inch radius. Set of two horns: Black ................................................. $565.00 Two adapters for Klipsch K55V, K55M or K55X drivers (installed). 1-3/8 Inch - 18 TPI round thread screw-on mounting (SELENIUM ADF25-25) ................................... $12.00 Set of two grill frames with detachable flush-mount tweeter bracket (black, no grill cloth) * Specify tweeter type: Klipsch K77, Beyma CP25 or JBL 2404 for Belle Klipsch (Includes top section raisers and hardware) ...... $105.00 for Klipschorn ........................................ $87.00 Klipsch equivalent grill cloth installed * Specify grill cloth: Black or Cane. ................. $75.00 Shipping: Complete set of two horns, grill frames and tweeter rackets: Box: 31 X 30 X 13 Inches. Weight: 28 Lbs. Professional packing cost: $30.00 I was under the impression that he gave a 30 day money back guarantee. I further understand that no one has ever taken him up on it. If you think about it, have you ever noticed anyone selling them here, ebay, other like they might his networks or other items?? Seems everyone who's nabbed a pair has kept them. I do NOT see any reference to a 30 day guarantee on the page I looked so I might be wrong about that. I've never heard them but enough here that I respect have & made comments. Now, the REAL question would be for DeanG... How do the modified Khorns WITH Al's tractrix horn and modified networks, compare to his bone stock Jubilees? I think he's about the only one qualified to give an opinion on the differences he hears on the two setups, side by side since both have been in his room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Found it! ** The ALK Engineering warranty ** Any crossover network or horn upgrade you buy from ALK Engineering will be worth the money you spent for it, or within the firt two weeks, I will buy it back so long as it is unmidified and undamaged. In the case of the Trachorn, you don't even have to install it. Just set it on top of your speaker, move the squawker driver and listen! All you will lose is shipping cost if you don't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me Loves Khorns Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Does Dean have his Jubs up and running? Is he using a passive crossover with one amp per side? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 26, 2007 Share Posted April 26, 2007 Does Dean have his Jubs up and running? Yes http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/5/897363/ShowThread.aspx I've been looking for his 'review' and if memory serves me, he made his biggest remark in a thread that has been deleted. If memory serves me, I've got a snippet of that at the office and can PM you some exerpts of it. Is he using a passive crossover with one amp per side? I believe so. He is the only one that is running passives. I dont know if he's using one amp per side or a stereo amp. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 27, 2007 Share Posted April 27, 2007 I had really wondered about whether the trachorns were enough bang for the buck. That answer, is of course, a subjective thing, but I was definitely impressed with the sound. It is a more open, free, and airy sound. I was actually surprised that the difference was as noticeable as it was. To my ears, I would call the difference an improvement. I don't think I realized the K400 had a somewhat constricted sound until I heard the trachorns. Dean has mentioned an interesting thought, that the trachorn is the single most significant upgrade one can make on a Khorn. I think I'd agree that it ranks as a significant upgrade. To my ears, though, I think the single most significant upgrade for Khorns would be changing the K77 to CT125 and crossing over to the K55 at 4500hz. That one made me say wowie. In the bang for the buck dept, it's a champ. In my system, this tweak was a shot over the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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