Crossovers and Titanium Diaphragms

[DYohn]

Apr 16, 2012 15:38:28 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I actually asked Bob Crites about break-in, and for a lack of quoting him directly, his answers to these are in his FAQ section of his website. I thought that the titanium tweeter diaphragms may need an hour or so but apparently not.

www.critesspeakers.com/frequently-asked-questions.html

That is excellent.

[jamrock]

So, burn-in should be a dead issue for this forum you'd think. I hope not.

Let us know what you think of the old sound vs the new sound.

I can already feel my ESR level rising!

[DYohn]

Apr 16, 2012 16:59:39 GMT -5 jamrock said:

So, burn-in should be a dead issue for this forum you'd think. I hope not.

On forums? No, it'll never be a dead issue on forums as long as people believe they hear things that may or may not be there and love to argue about them. But in the real world, it's a dead issue. It was dead before it ever started on this (or any other) forum.

[LCSeminole]

Apr 16, 2012 16:59:39 GMT -5 jamrock said:

So, burn-in should be a dead issue for this forum you'd think. I hope not.

Let us know what you think of the old sound vs the new sound.

I can already feel my ESR level rising!

I will certainly let you know if I hear a difference between the stock caps in the stock crossovers that Klipsch used in the factory as opposed to the new Sonicaps that Bob uses in his new built crossovers for my speakers. ;D

[jerrin]

Apr 16, 2012 15:38:28 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I actually asked Bob Crites about break-in, and for a lack of quoting him directly, his answers to these are in his FAQ section of his website. I thought that the titanium tweeter diaphragms may need an hour or so but apparently not.


www.critesspeakers.com/frequently-asked-questions.html


Any how, my parts are due to be delivered tomorrow! ;D

How about that. That is interesting. I would have guessed that the tweeter could have benefited from break in. Huh. Well, he should know.

[xki]

Apr 16, 2012 19:12:18 GMT -5 jerrin said:

Apr 16, 2012 15:38:28 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I actually asked Bob Crites about break-in, and for a lack of quoting him directly, his answers to these are in his FAQ section of his website. I thought that the titanium tweeter diaphragms may need an hour or so but apparently not.


www.critesspeakers.com/frequently-asked-questions.html


Any how, my parts are due to be delivered tomorrow! ;D

How about that. That is interesting. I would have guessed that the tweeter could have benefited from break in. Huh. Well, he should know.

I will always trust the guys in the actual trenches. We do it once or twice but Bob has done this hundreds of times.

His is an opinion and he the uses the word 'probably'. That tells me that it's not something that has much importance either way.

I can't wait to hear the upgrade review by LC!

[LCSeminole]

Well I received the new titanium tweeter diaphragms and crossovers yesterday. I spent yesterday evening stripping down my KLF-20 towers, cleaning them out, taking out the old crossovers and re-wiring. Bob Crites was right, the old crossovers looked like they were an after thought and they were mounted directly to the back of the speaker terminals. Now I'm in the middle of doing the same for the KLF-C7 center. Bob told me that my KLF's potential been held back all this time by the stock crossovers, so I'm anxious to hear their potential. Now back to the center channel crossover.

[jamrock]

Just don't get those diaphrams mixed up! ;D

[LCSeminole]

While I enjoy reading reviews from other Lounge members and the so-called audio/video experts in magazines/journals, I don't particularly enjoy writing them myself. Now that I've actually had two full days and a morning to hear what differences Bob Crites crossovers and titanium tweeter diaphragms have had on my Klipsch Legends, I must say I am very much pleased with the sounds produced. Before Bob Crites, I honestly thought that a crossover made by the manufacturer would indeed last the life of the speakers but apparently in this case, Klipsch made the stock crossovers as an after thought and just wanted these speakers to wow the owner for five or so years, thus getting used to their sound, but before the inferior made caps degraded. I'm admittedly no expert in crossovers or the parts they are made with, but I do understand that capacitors degrade slowly over time thus to most of our ears it seems you get used to the sound and don't really hear that degradation over time if you will. I've had my KLF's since 1998 and when I bought them I didn't know then that their potential would be even more than what Klipsch would put in to them, it's a shame really because Klipsch probably could have sold them for a bit more if they had just invested more into the crossovers and tweeters, and maybe into the midrange(I'm probably going to invest another $70 for new mids from Bob as well, why not right? ;D).

Initially I installed the crossovers without the tweeters, and yes their was an immediate difference in the sound to my ears, I attribute the difference to what I was used to over time as well as the new capacitors, as I'm pretty sure(no I haven't measured the old caps) the new crossovers & caps have at the least brought my speakers back into the manufacturers specs, if not improve on them. I believe I'm hearing a more distinct separation of the highs/mids/lows, they all seem more transparent and brighter(especially the highs) and the woofers seem to be more defined. After a day of just the crossovers, I replaced all the tweeter diaphragms. I have only been using blu-ray movies and cable tv movies as reference but the center channel is a night and day difference to the stock tweeters, voices are crisp and the highs are quite a bit clearer, much more revealing to these ears and this is with movies that I'm very well acquainted with, it makes me wonder why I haven't looked into these upgrades/modifications sooner.

I know Klipsch speakers aren't for everyone, but if you do happen to have any of the Klipsch lines of speakers that Bob Crites has upgrades for, then I personally recommend giving them a try. As a few of you have given caution to the titanium tweeters maybe being too "BRIGHT", they have so far proven to be quite pleasing, but I've always enjoyed the Klipsch horn sound as well. This coming week, I'll be listening to mainly music, so I'm sure I'll be getting a better handle on the overall thought of these upgrades.

[DYohn]

That's great! Congrats.

[jamrock]

Now, get a glass of wine, pull the loved one close up and enjoy the music.

[geebo]

Congrats on the successful and (by the sound of your enthusiasm) very worthwhile upgrade! Sounds like you have no choice now but to go for those mids. ;D

[LCSeminole]

Thanks guys, the new crossovers and tweeters were very much worth it! Yes George, I believe I'll be ordering those midrange(squawkers)diaphragms tomorrow when I get off work. It's amazing the improvement that these upgrades have produced. Just finished watching The Hunt for Red October, the sub scenes with the explosions and pings, as well less spectacular scenes like with Alec Baldwin shaving and hearing the small things like scrapes of the razor are making these tweeters worth way more than what I paid. I'm noticing the small things now, so I'm now hearing the things I wasn't clearly hearing before. ;D

[xki]

Apr 22, 2012 16:01:11 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I'm noticing the small things now, so I'm now hearing the things I wasn't clearly hearing before. ;D

Fantastic! I had a hunch that your experience would be positive. I really can't imagine what a similar upgrade would do to my La Scalas.

I've read that the upgrade for the squakers isn't as big of a change but, it's still a change for the better.

Can't wait to hear the next installment!

[jerrin]

Apr 22, 2012 16:01:11 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

Thanks guys, the new crossovers and tweeters were very much worth it! Yes George, I believe I'll be ordering those midrange(squawkers)diaphragms tomorrow when I get off work. It's amazing the improvement that these upgrades have produced. Just finished watching The Hunt for Red October, the sub scenes with the explosions and pings, as well less spectacular scenes like with Alec Baldwin shaving and hearing the small things like scrapes of the razor are making these tweeters worth way more than what I paid. I'm noticing the small things now, so I'm now hearing the things I wasn't clearly hearing before. ;D

Glad to hear you are enjoying your upgrade. Always nice to hear.

Now, if you ever want to go for an even higher level of performance, just replace the sonicaps with Clarity Cap MR and you'll be in business. They may be too big for your available space, but if not, you'll have even more clarity and transparency. Still, Sonicaps are great caps for the money.