DIY speakers for 300B suggestions?!

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#3
I've been searching for the best speaker match for my 300b for 5 months now. Here's the summary of what i found out...

First i thought Lowthers or Fostex full rangers, but then i've heard people say they are a very aquired taste. Seems easy enough to build...no crossover to worry about.

Then I was thinking about building a set of Ariels. People seem to rave about these almost as much as the lowthers or fostex. 93dB efficiency...and decent bass response too.

Then i was onto the Line Array kick....they looked cool, had good efficiency, seemed easy enough to build....but i heard some comments that wow they are cool at first, after a while you begin to notice that they seem blurry...not precise.

Then i heard great things about Horns....so i got the plans to the Klipsch La Scala..and was going to build one of these and find the Klipsch drivers to fit inside. This idea went sour when i found that the only way to still get the Klipsch drivers was on ebay, since they discontinued all but the 15".

So last thursday i was checking Ebay, and the local classified for stuff i might want, and there were a set of Klipsch Cornwalls for sale locally. The price was right, so i went and bought those....

I'm amazed with them. They should almost be illegal, as they've caused me to sit in my listening chair and play countless albums one after the next. I've never heard such clarity before, ...i really focus on upright bass parts; especially solos by Mingus or Ray Brown. During fast passages you can actually hear every note they play; my B&W's were muddy..boomy.. and would just cloud all the notes together. Can't beat the efficiency...which i've heard is anywhere from 98-106 depending on who you ask.

Anyways, my vote ( which doesnt count for much since i hadn't built the ones i mentioned above ) is to build a set of horns, or find a pair used. I've been hearing everyone talk about Klipschorns and Altecs, and never paid much attention.....but now my eyes are open.

-Maz
 
#4
There is a company around that is well known for their Klipsch crossover upgrades which are reputed to make a HUGE difference! Imagine how good that is!! The Pass Labs folks seem to like 'em a lot.
Maybe you can find them with a search of DIY audio on "klipsch"
 
#6
I had not seen them formerly, but their site looks good...the kits seem cheap enough. How can you lose?

Variac : the company you are referring to ( i think ) is ALKengineering. He sells built replacement crossover networks for all the Legacy line of Klipsch speakers...as well as has all the plans on his site with parts lists so you can build them yourself. I'm going over the plans right now, and perhaps i will upgrade to these Xovers in a few months. Luckily i purchased a pair of Cornwall 1's and not Cornwall 2's as i had previously thought...so mine are indeed mod-able with this upgrade. The only problem i can see is that it changes the impedance of the speaker from 8 to 4 ohms. Not a problem for my amp, but i suspect it will increase the noise floor as everything should get louder.

My amp and preamp are already sitting at 1/10 on the knobs...i'm going to have to put heavier attenuators.

-Maz
 
#7
Variac said:
There is a company around that is well known for their Klipsch crossover upgrades which are reputed to make a HUGE difference! Imagine how good that is!! The Pass Labs folks seem to like 'em a lot.
Maybe you can find them with a search of DIY audio on "klipsch"
Click to expand...

http://www.alkeng.com/klipsch.html

The jury seems to be out on these. I've heard just as many negatives as positives, but the design is free, and if you do a good job and build them well, and don't like the sound, they should be saleable.

Maz. Glad to hear your liking the Cornwalls. I have some mod suggestions, but can't seem to find where I've put the data. I'll email it on when I do.

Horns rule.
 
#9
at the very least i have to change the speaker posts on the back of them as they just have the single screw-terminals.... I just spent an entire weekend building cat5 cables with BANANA posts on them....i had to unscrew the terminal screw all the way out, then fit the banana post underneath the screw.

as shown
 

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#10
a pic of my livingroom with the B&W's out, and the Klispch Cornwalls installed.

Don't give me hell about having the CD player on top of the speaker...i'm getting a new glass stand to put all the components on, under the TV.
 

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#13
Horns are no moe of an acquired taste than 300B amps are

So that's where I'm putting my money <big grin>

Actually, I would think that 300B amp owners would be a prime group to consider horns.

I'm breaking in some Fostex FE206E's as I post this.
Using them with LeCleac'h _infinite_ method 1 meter Horns.

I do think they will need subs - but so will many other solutions.

Larry Moore and Dave Aukerman are planning to market a similar horn/kit.

These drivers aren't broken in yet but are sounding surprisingly good.

The other nice thing about this combo is it's cost effectiveness -

You didn't mention your budget, but this combination should give great sound for reasonable cost -

It really is all about trade-offs.

HTH

Ken L
 
#14
Bas : I'm not a huge classical listener..so i wouldn't have the frame of reference that someone whom its their main genre would....

I've NEVER heard a better speaker for jazz. That's my mainstay....


putting some Chris Cornell through them now to test the Rock abilities 🙂


-maz
 
#17
Just got an email back from the Al ...from ALK engineering, the crossover upgrades we've been discussing.

He no longer makes the "B" series crossovers ( for the Cornwall and Heresy ), but the plans are availble on the website.....and the cost of components is $200-250 a set.


-Maz
 
#18
Variac said:
Mr. Gruntybrett:

Yup, those are the crossover guys. I guess I should know by now that there is no "right " answer. People have recommended them though, so I do think they are worth a try.
Also gives you a DIY project- and we all need more of those!!😉
Click to expand...

Absolutely, give them a try if you want. My comment was to counter the extreme ALK worship on the Klipsch forum as that's where someone suggested to look for advice. On the KF, most of the posters are so one-eyed Klipsch, that it's hard to get an opposing view for balance.

After posting last night, I had all the Klipsh and ALK xover data out for another reveiw. If my Khorns weren't so modified, I'd be tempted to give them a go to see if the hype is justified too.
 
#19
Magnetmaz said:
at the very least i have to change the speaker posts on the back of them as they just have the single screw-terminals.... I just spent an entire weekend building cat5 cables with BANANA posts on them....i had to unscrew the terminal screw all the way out, then fit the banana post underneath the screw.

as shown
Click to expand...

My suggestion for first mod would be to get the xover out of the box, they can be very microphonic. Wire or solder you speaker cables to this, then run some single strands to th MF and HF driver, and maybe a quad to the LF. The plate that holds the screw terminals on could be removed and replaced with a small peice of Al or timber drilled for the wires, and sealed with silicon. No terminal is better than even the fanciest erminal.
 
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