Klipsch "K" Horn

floyd carter · 11:16 PM

I built a pair of Klipsch "K" horns from plans. They are BIG! As I remember, the LF is an Altec 415 15", and HF is a 608C driver with their #511 500 Hz sectoral horn. An additional super tweeter sits on top in its own box. The super tweeter doesn't add much that I can tell.

If anyone is crazy enough to build these things, the plans are probably available. My plans came from Radio & Television News, April, 1955.
Beware! There are MANY small pieces, many of which have compound angles--not a job for a beginner in woodworking!

Floyd
Eugene, Oregon

p.s. I'll copy the plans for you....

head_unit · 20th February 2010, 02:28 AM

The Klipschorns are classic...but are they truly a good horn to build anymore? I'm asking, I really don't know offhand. A lot more theory and art has been ascertained since those were designed...and the original horns, being rectangular, will have time-response problems...

mtj · 20th February 2010, 02:56 AM

Wow!! Absolutley beautiful woodwork Floyd. You are a true craftsman. How do they sound?

TerryO · 20th February 2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by head_unit

The Klipschorns are classic...but are they truly a good horn to build anymore? I'm asking, I really don't know offhand. A lot more theory and art has been ascertained since those were designed...and the original horns, being rectangular, will have time-response problems...

Mr. Unit,

The Klipschorn is an excellent horn, which is why they're still being made. The advance in theory and computer modeling has certainly made it easier for ordinary people to design horns. However, Paul Klipsch wasn't an ordinary person and laid down a lot of the foundational work on horn theory.

BTW: Your last sentence doesn't make any sense theoretically or in the real world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Floyd,
Those horns turned out very nice, congratulations! I built a pair back in 1975 from the plans that Speakerlab sold and it's a complicated project to say the least. I really enjoyed mine and I'm sure that you'll enjoy yours as well.

Best Regards,
TerryO

freddi · 20th February 2010, 03:22 AM

Gorgeous woodwork and styling ! - go back in R&TV News January 1954 and look at the Karlson

floyd carter · 20th February 2010, 10:24 PM

To all. Thanks for your good thoughts. These K-horns are actually "corner" enclosures. The LF sound comes out the back, and the corner walls act as the final part of the horn. Since the LF wavelength is so much longer than the corner (or the room, for that matter) phase differences are non-existent. The HF horns face straight out, toward the listener.

Should mention these speakers were made about 1975-- when I had more ambition for this sort of thing!

Floyd Carter

CLS · 21st February 2010, 12:19 AM

Is there 'another' version of K-horn? I've never seen an 'elevated' one like this. (and floor-standing by itself is so tall, already!)

The bass sound is supposed to exit from both sides of the cabinet in the original design, the cross section area of the path (in this part) is defined by the top plate, walls and floor. Now the whole cabinet is elevated, the 'terminus' would be larger - the floor is now further away... How does this affect the sound?

Oh, beautiful woodwork BTW

Inductor · 21st February 2010, 01:02 AM

There are some kits available with some similitude to the Klipsch corner horns like Pi6-12" and Pi7-15", here "p Speaker Kits".

floyd carter · 24th February 2010, 04:57 PM

To CLS. For many years, these Horns stood on the floor. When we moved to a new place in Oregon, the speaker locations happened to sit on a needed air vent on the floor. The "feet" were added so the air conditioning would work!

I should mention that the plans in Radio & Television News were called the "Georgian", by Electro Voice, and the author was Gene Souther, an employee of EV.

Floyd Carter

CLS · 25th February 2010, 12:19 AM

Thanks for the explanation. How do they compare? I mean floor-standing vs elevated.

I've had some very brief experiences with K horn (and I was very much impressed). I remember the bass sounds were quite different between [right at the corner] and [slightly pulled away from the corner]. The corner helps a lot.

So I'm curious how the feet works. Also, in the picture above, your horn seemed not been pushed into the corner. Is it because of the glass and curtain?

21st February 2010, 01:02 AM	#8
Inductor diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cascais	There are some kits available with some similitude to the Klipsch corner horns like Pi6-12" and Pi7-15", here "p Speaker Kits". __________________ What the Hell is this crap?! It's not crap, it's muzak.

24th February 2010, 04:57 PM	#9
floyd carter diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eugene, OR	K Horn To CLS. For many years, these Horns stood on the floor. When we moved to a new place in Oregon, the speaker locations happened to sit on a needed air vent on the floor. The "feet" were added so the air conditioning would work! I should mention that the plans in Radio & Television News were called the "Georgian", by Electro Voice, and the author was Gene Souther, an employee of EV. Floyd Carter

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20th February 2010, 02:28 AM	#2
head_unit diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles	The Klipschorns are classic...but are they truly a good horn to build anymore? I'm asking, I really don't know offhand. A lot more theory and art has been ascertained since those were designed...and the original horns, being rectangular, will have time-response problems...

20th February 2010, 02:56 AM	#3
mtj diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Minneapolis Minnesota	Wow!! Absolutley beautiful woodwork Floyd. You are a true craftsman. How do they sound?

20th February 2010, 03:22 AM	#5
freddi diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	Gorgeous woodwork and styling ! - go back in R&TV News January 1954 and look at the Karlson

20th February 2010, 10:24 PM	#6
floyd carter diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Eugene, OR	To all. Thanks for your good thoughts. These K-horns are actually "corner" enclosures. The LF sound comes out the back, and the corner walls act as the final part of the horn. Since the LF wavelength is so much longer than the corner (or the room, for that matter) phase differences are non-existent. The HF horns face straight out, toward the listener. Should mention these speakers were made about 1975-- when I had more ambition for this sort of thing! Floyd Carter

21st February 2010, 12:19 AM	#7
CLS diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Taiwan	Is there 'another' version of K-horn? I've never seen an 'elevated' one like this. (and floor-standing by itself is so tall, already!) The bass sound is supposed to exit from both sides of the cabinet in the original design, the cross section area of the path (in this part) is defined by the top plate, walls and floor. Now the whole cabinet is elevated, the 'terminus' would be larger - the floor is now further away... How does this affect the sound? Oh, beautiful woodwork BTW

25th February 2010, 12:19 AM	#10
CLS diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Taiwan	Thanks for the explanation. How do they compare? I mean floor-standing vs elevated. I've had some very brief experiences with K horn (and I was very much impressed). I remember the bass sounds were quite different between [right at the corner] and [slightly pulled away from the corner]. The corner helps a lot. So I'm curious how the feet works. Also, in the picture above, your horn seemed not been pushed into the corner. Is it because of the glass and curtain?

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