Hello all:
New to the forum, I guess a bit of background is in order...
Live near Dallas, TX. Worked as an electronics engineer for 9 years at TI, now working as a manufacturing engineer for a small PCB manufacturer. Have had lots of exposure/experience in test engineering, particularly in the realm of PCB layout and test.
Have always been an audio nut, my current fascination is Klipsch (have a 7.1 HT set up with all Klipsch speakers). I manufacture and distribute replacement crossover networks for Klipsch speakers, called the "K-stack", and am an active member on the Klipsch forums.
Most of my free time is taken up by my primary hobby, pinball. I own some fifteen machines, most early solid state types from the 1980's. I am active in PCB repair for these games, and provide repair/restoration service for pinball enthusiasts.
Lately I am delving into and investigating audio amplifier design; I also used to be heavy into car stereo with several Rockford Fosgate amps, and have the hearing loss to prove it! I also build speaker cabinets on the side; I have access to a local cabinet shop and use of their CNC, so I can turn out some precision stuff. I recently built a set of Klipsch replacement Cornwall cabinets, and am working on others.
Hope to share a lot, learn a lot, and be of some assistance where I can. I hope that I qualify as a participant, if not I promise to try harder... 😀
Chris
New to the forum, I guess a bit of background is in order...
Live near Dallas, TX. Worked as an electronics engineer for 9 years at TI, now working as a manufacturing engineer for a small PCB manufacturer. Have had lots of exposure/experience in test engineering, particularly in the realm of PCB layout and test.
Have always been an audio nut, my current fascination is Klipsch (have a 7.1 HT set up with all Klipsch speakers). I manufacture and distribute replacement crossover networks for Klipsch speakers, called the "K-stack", and am an active member on the Klipsch forums.
Most of my free time is taken up by my primary hobby, pinball. I own some fifteen machines, most early solid state types from the 1980's. I am active in PCB repair for these games, and provide repair/restoration service for pinball enthusiasts.
Lately I am delving into and investigating audio amplifier design; I also used to be heavy into car stereo with several Rockford Fosgate amps, and have the hearing loss to prove it! I also build speaker cabinets on the side; I have access to a local cabinet shop and use of their CNC, so I can turn out some precision stuff. I recently built a set of Klipsch replacement Cornwall cabinets, and am working on others.
Hope to share a lot, learn a lot, and be of some assistance where I can. I hope that I qualify as a participant, if not I promise to try harder... 😀
Chris
Hi Chris, and welcome to diyAudio! 🙂
Sounds like you're just our type. Got any pics of your finished projects, (hifi or pinball! 🙂 )?
Sounds like you're just our type. Got any pics of your finished projects, (hifi or pinball! 🙂 )?
Hi Chris,
Welcome to the club! (too many Chris's here, grumble grumble)
I used to do Klipsch warranty in Canada. You may find too much that interests you here.
-Chris
Welcome to the club! (too many Chris's here, grumble grumble)
I used to do Klipsch warranty in Canada. You may find too much that interests you here.
-Chris
Thanks guys; since you asked 
I will be sure to post some pics here soon!
Chris
PS - pretty easy to get lost in here - there IS lots of good stuff!
I will be sure to post some pics here soon!Chris
PS - pretty easy to get lost in here - there IS lots of good stuff!
Thanks very much! In reference to the request asked above, I snapped some shots of two projects during lunch, but they are too big. DUMB QUESTION - how does one "downconvert" photos? The originals are 2 megapixel. If someone can guide me, I can post here, otherwise I will redirect to a web site at a future date.
Chris
Chris
Yow! I can't seem to diminish these photos enough - I tried several options, only got these as low as 782KB, stilll too big. Don't have any special tools, I'll see what I can get done, later all!
Chris
Chris
Hugo has kindly assisted me in shrinking my pics to an uploadable format, SO, here we go...
The first of these is a picture of a pair of brand new Klipsch Cornwall cabinets that I recently built to replace my ailing originals. The dimensions of the cabs were measured from the originals, transferred to CAED, and then the materials were cut on a CNC machine. Walnut veneer was used as the finish. NOTE the "marks" on the side of the left cabinet - these are NOT marks in the wood, but actually reflections from the pinball backglasses beside it. Not the best picture, but you get the idea. They are also fitted internally with freash upgraded crossover networks built on custom PCB's - pics to follow. These speakers are NOT being currently used, I have them sitting to the side in hopes of selling them eventually.
Chris
The first of these is a picture of a pair of brand new Klipsch Cornwall cabinets that I recently built to replace my ailing originals. The dimensions of the cabs were measured from the originals, transferred to CAED, and then the materials were cut on a CNC machine. Walnut veneer was used as the finish. NOTE the "marks" on the side of the left cabinet - these are NOT marks in the wood, but actually reflections from the pinball backglasses beside it. Not the best picture, but you get the idea. They are also fitted internally with freash upgraded crossover networks built on custom PCB's - pics to follow. These speakers are NOT being currently used, I have them sitting to the side in hopes of selling them eventually.
Chris
Attachments
Hi Chris,
Nice work! You may get calls from members in your area for help in their projects! 😉
-Chris
Nice work! You may get calls from members in your area for help in their projects! 😉
-Chris
The second pic is of a custom speaker crossover network that I developed, affectionately called the "K-stack" for its use in Klipsch speakers. This network in particular is a wired, drop in replacement for the Klipsch FORTE II. The top and bottom PCB are identical, and were designed to be "universal" so that they can be configured for different component populations; I can adapt these boards to at least 9 different Klipsch speakers, just by changing components! The idea here is to mimic the original networks, but use superior components throughout, minimizing the performance shortcomings of the original networks. This has been a very successful venture, and I hope to apply it to other platforms as well.
Attachments
Hi Chris,
The only point I'll bring up is that the original crossover design compensated for the component types used. We have had speakers in that were upgraded where they didn't sound right. Given the original construction method (tag strips and hot glue), we had to replace with new in some cases. The larger Klipsch used AC motor run caps. Not easy to improve on.
I'm not saying there is a problem with your design, I'm just trying to point out some unintentional consequences that may arise.
-Chris
The only point I'll bring up is that the original crossover design compensated for the component types used. We have had speakers in that were upgraded where they didn't sound right. Given the original construction method (tag strips and hot glue), we had to replace with new in some cases. The larger Klipsch used AC motor run caps. Not easy to improve on.
I'm not saying there is a problem with your design, I'm just trying to point out some unintentional consequences that may arise.
-Chris
Anatech:
You are correct about the motor caps on the Klipsch "large format" units. I do know however that there are at least a few reputable folks (Bob Crites, Al Klappenberger, Dean Wescott) on the Klipsch forum who have for some time offered redesigned networks for these speakers - both with and without motor caps. Given that they have literally replaced hundreds of networks over the years, and have a substantial "client base" of satisfied customers, it is hard to question the quality of these designs. I guess we again face the argument of "originality vs. upgrade", which is a moot point at best; one man's coconut cake is another mans coconut cake with vanilla flavoring. We unfortunately are not all blessed with calibrated ears!
If I did not make it clear, my networks use the SAME values as the originals, just not the same components. This allows the speaker to perform "similarly" to the factory setup, given that there is no impedance change, not crossover point change; only the sound QUALITY is improved.
My networks are used primarily on the Chorus, Forte, Academy, Quartet, and Heresy series, so I do not run into the motor caps at all. Bob Crites DOES use these on his "Cornwall B" replacement networks, and sells them on EBAY. For my particular pair of Cornwalls, I installed one of my networks - based on a Dean Wescott design which does not employ motor caps. While I LIKE the improvement in sound quality, I nonetheless personally do NOT like (what I consider) an "overbearing midrange" on the Cornwalls, which is why they sit idle. I regularly listen to a setup with modified Fortes and Academy, and I enjoy it very much; the networks made a HUGE difference in the sound quality.
Chris
You are correct about the motor caps on the Klipsch "large format" units. I do know however that there are at least a few reputable folks (Bob Crites, Al Klappenberger, Dean Wescott) on the Klipsch forum who have for some time offered redesigned networks for these speakers - both with and without motor caps. Given that they have literally replaced hundreds of networks over the years, and have a substantial "client base" of satisfied customers, it is hard to question the quality of these designs. I guess we again face the argument of "originality vs. upgrade", which is a moot point at best; one man's coconut cake is another mans coconut cake with vanilla flavoring. We unfortunately are not all blessed with calibrated ears!
If I did not make it clear, my networks use the SAME values as the originals, just not the same components. This allows the speaker to perform "similarly" to the factory setup, given that there is no impedance change, not crossover point change; only the sound QUALITY is improved.
My networks are used primarily on the Chorus, Forte, Academy, Quartet, and Heresy series, so I do not run into the motor caps at all. Bob Crites DOES use these on his "Cornwall B" replacement networks, and sells them on EBAY. For my particular pair of Cornwalls, I installed one of my networks - based on a Dean Wescott design which does not employ motor caps. While I LIKE the improvement in sound quality, I nonetheless personally do NOT like (what I consider) an "overbearing midrange" on the Cornwalls, which is why they sit idle. I regularly listen to a setup with modified Fortes and Academy, and I enjoy it very much; the networks made a HUGE difference in the sound quality.
Chris
Hi Chris,
I didn't mean to critique your crossovers, but rather to mention what I've run into over the years. This would encompass other brands as well.
Just something to bear in mind.
I'd also mention that listening tests can not always be trusted. You would really need to do a response test before and after is see if there were any differences in output vs. frequency. Listening to others in the field is not an accurate way to go about this.
Your networks may be great. I'm just keeping an open mind. 😉
BTW, not a fan of the earlier mid horns either. I personally don't care for the sound of Cornwalls, La Scala's or K-horns. We had some at the shop. The newer horns are much improved.
-Chris
I didn't mean to critique your crossovers, but rather to mention what I've run into over the years. This would encompass other brands as well.
Just something to bear in mind.
I'd also mention that listening tests can not always be trusted. You would really need to do a response test before and after is see if there were any differences in output vs. frequency. Listening to others in the field is not an accurate way to go about this.
Your networks may be great. I'm just keeping an open mind. 😉
BTW, not a fan of the earlier mid horns either. I personally don't care for the sound of Cornwalls, La Scala's or K-horns. We had some at the shop. The newer horns are much improved.
-Chris
Chris:
It is often obvious that messages translate "emotion" poorly - I did not take your message as a criticism at all, I was simply (and perhaps ineffectively) trying to justify my rationale.
Agreed on listening tests as well - hence my previous statement about "calibrated ears". I am unfortunately not one of those folks graced with the equipment and/or facilities to "properly" test speakers, so I am left with my own impressions, and feedback from those who have also listened. I'll leave it at that, before the word "psychoacoustics" shows up. Oops! Too late.....😱
What I think is BEST about a forum like this is the collective experience. We can all share and learn from one another. I am happy to enter lively discussion, and certainly I claim no expertise in any particular audio arena. I just, like others, hope to share what I have done and enjoy the exchanges.
Chris
It is often obvious that messages translate "emotion" poorly - I did not take your message as a criticism at all, I was simply (and perhaps ineffectively) trying to justify my rationale.
Agreed on listening tests as well - hence my previous statement about "calibrated ears". I am unfortunately not one of those folks graced with the equipment and/or facilities to "properly" test speakers, so I am left with my own impressions, and feedback from those who have also listened. I'll leave it at that, before the word "psychoacoustics" shows up. Oops! Too late.....😱
What I think is BEST about a forum like this is the collective experience. We can all share and learn from one another. I am happy to enter lively discussion, and certainly I claim no expertise in any particular audio arena. I just, like others, hope to share what I have done and enjoy the exchanges.
Chris
Hi Chris,
Open discusson and debate on topics is normal here. We just try to keep things from becoming personal. You will find that psychoacoustics will muddy the waters around a discussoin fairly quickly. The term does come up.
-Chris
That's why I posted. 😉 I'm glad you didn't take it as criticism.
Open discusson and debate on topics is normal here. We just try to keep things from becoming personal. You will find that psychoacoustics will muddy the waters around a discussoin fairly quickly. The term does come up.
-Chris
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