Klipsch Corner horns vs Altec lansing VOTT A7'S

[laatsch55]

Thank You!!

 

[ksrigg]

After some email exchanges with Al, it appears that Al agrees that the drivers and horns which come in the stock Klipschorn all need to be replaced, so I don't know if they (the vintage Klipschs) are worth much more than the value of the cabinet itself...and I don't know how low the seller will go. He does want to trade for some gear I have, so I may do better if I DID TRADE to sell all the Klipsch branded stuff on eBay and replace everything with Al's suggested parts.. Below is his email...in which he lists some choices.. Which are the better choices? As soon as the plans arrive, I think I may start on trying to get everything together to construct a pair..

"The Khorn is a superb woofer if you have the corners to put them in. The high end is an open book. The only requirement is that it reach down to 400 Hz. I can provide several 2-inch options. The B&C DCM50 is the best ort the DE85TN or DE750TN16 also a good choices. The horn is the most important consideration. I recommend the "Eliptrac 400" from Fastlane audio. The Fastrac K2 is also a good choice. The network can be any of the ones I make for the Khorn. From the Universal up to the ES400 + ES5800 extreme-slope set. The tweeter is less important. I can provide the B&C DE10 and ME10 combination that is very cost effective."

I'll wait for the Plan befoe I start trying to make the final driver and horn choices..unless someone wants to tell me what I will end up ordering..

 

[laatsch55]

The DCM 50, The Eliptrac, And the DE10 tweet and the "Universal" crossovers.

 

[ksrigg]

Thanks Lee. I've emailed Al to see what he can do on these pieces...and what I'll need to source myself. Looks like a great project...Can't wait to see the plans.

 

[laatsch55]

Sutton, I did not get anything packed today. Had hell at work, hope you understand.

 

[kevin]

Sutton....have ya got all my parts ordered for my new k-horns yet ???? LOL... You need to stay on top of all this now and lets get these things under way... When the wood comes in let me know and I'LL come out there and help you unload it !!! I gotta keep my ass in KY. selling cars so I can pay for em !!!!! LMAO !!!!!

 

[Skratch]

Men, I have heard both in their original condition. Back when these were designed the dynamic range and frequency response were geared to tape and vinyl so they both performed very well. Also the power amplifiers were low wattage tube. The Mcintosh, Harmon kardon, Dynaco and Marantz were putting out 75 watts max. With the advent of digital music with their wide dynamic range and unlimited frequency response these speakers needed to be upgraded. My current altecs are made of 3/4 inch hard maple with twice the bracing of the original plans, also the flares were backed with 5 layers of fiberglass and then foamed. With the reflex port of 100 sq in they will go down to 40-50 Hz with a 416A driver. My subwoofer out on the ashley will send 20-100 Hz to my paradim controller and to the 700 which powers the sub. I triamp the rest with an ashley electronic crossover so I can tailor the crossover points and slope to whatever I want. The horns are 311's and 811's. I have used passive crossovers in the past but electronic is the way to go, you can change drivers and not worry about impedance or sensitivity. As with the Khorns I will be listing to Lee's next month. Hope this didn't add any confusion? Also, I would recommend the use of wings on the sides of the cabinets

 

[ksrigg]

I agree with you. I really think during the 50's and 60's speaker design was really at its best. I think that modern production techniques, and the ability to model things using computers has fine tuned the products coming from that era, but other than the fine tuning, I really think stuff from that era is some of the best stuff ever made. Since that time, I really think that the costs involved in production, along with transportation costs have become more of a concern than anyone knows. I think quality has become a compromise and not a goal anymore...from most companies..

Probably the newly produced versions of the Khorns and the Great Plains reproductions of the old Altec drivers represent some of the finest quality components available at any time..

Listening to Lee's Khorns will be a real treat. It's tough to really do a direct comparison with your speakers in that the rooms there are in are probably so different, and it will be impossible to do a real A-B in the same space...but I know Lee's Horns will blow your mind..

I'd love to get into active crossovers, but I really don't know what to do. I'm kinda lost in that area. Living in a very rural area, there are not many like minded audio enthuasists, much less any "experts" who could help me set up an active crossover properly..

Confusion.......hell, I stay confused most of the time..

 

[laatsch55]

And I am looking forward to these gems being evaluated by an ear that has heard a few good speakers in their day.

 

[Skratch]

Sutton, Do you have the side wings on your A-7's

 

[laatsch55]

There are a few around who know how intense it can get, and Dr. Lucitt put it very nicely, "Sublimley Insane" sound levels. And it does get INTENSE!! And I toot my horn about how loud they get, but they're also a finely detailed speaker at low levels. In this day of specialization it's good to see ONE thing do MANY things well.
There is one speaker out there that intrigues me. A fella on AK built a set of 1958 Jensen "Imperials". A front firing ,back loaded horn bass bin with whatever else you liked as mids and highs. In some cases he ran them as a two way, or 3 way. The guy had a set of K-Horns for 20 years, as soon as he heard the new Imperials, his K-Horns were for sale--IMMEDIATELY--Now that's quite a turnaround, and boy does it whet the appetite.

 

[laatsch55]

Wings????

 

[Skratch]

Wings are 24 x 42 inch 1 inch thick panels that are hinged to the sides of the cabinet to keep low frequency waves from coming around the side of the speaker, supposed to increase low frequency output by 50-100%. As soon as I can figure out how to attach a picture I will post my altecs

 

[laatsch55]

Go to "full editor " mode then you'll see a browse button. That's how you attach.

 

[Skratch]

Lee, Are you looking for a set of original Imperials ? A guy I know has a pair 10 minutes from my house.

 

[laatsch55]

Yeah, if they are the same ones, about the size of a refrigrator?

 

[Skratch]

His E-bay monger is ERPI_MANS_MAN. He is an old oriental guy that has tons of old hi-fi gear and knows what they are worth and will not deal. I looked but he has nothing on E-bay now. I will see if I can get a hold of him

 

[Skratch]

How do you get to full editor?

 

[Rex Everything]

How do you get to full editor?

Just got to photobucket or another online host and link your pics from there. Better pics, easier and doesn't take up server space.

I still keep the attitude if you need a sub in your system for music listening then your speakers are lacking and need replaced.

 

[Skratch]

My kid showed me how to attach. The wings are attached to my prior post with the wings on my speakers