Klipsch KG4 + Sonos Bi-amp: Bob Crites titanium diaphragm + horn damping DIY upgrades
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- I improved the high frequencies of my Sonos b-amped Klipsch KG4's by adding mass to dampen the horn resonances and replaced the tweeter diaphragms with Bob Crites titanium upgrade:
critesspeakers...
(email him to order them)
I have some KG4's that I have made some mods to. First, I rebuilt both crossovers completely with poly caps, 18 AWG air coil inductors and a 1 ohm resister where the .7 ohm switch was. I dampened the inside top and bottom with felt and adhered the original foam to both sides. Replaced the tweeters with titanium and softened the tonal response of the horns by wrapping them with painters tape, no metal washers. Twisted the internal wiring and soldered all connections. After a couple of days of break in of the crossovers, they sounded (and still do) amazing! The base was tightened, midrange sound stage expanded and cymbals and such are crystal clear. Reminds me of the JBL 4311 monitors I listened to in the late 70s. Love these vintage speakers and the sound they are capable of producing vs the cheap crap available now a days. Just picked up some KG 4.5s and they will also undergo a transformation; I'll brace the interior, place the foam properly and completely rebuild the crossovers with higher quality parts. They may replace my 4's as front speakers. Cheers!
I'm not one for "modifying" speakers. I always thought the engineers get paid to design a speaker to sound the best they can. And I would experiment with different recievers. I've had the kg4's for a long time and have always liked them but felt the tweeters fell a little short. After a few years of kicking around the idea of replacing the diaphragms with Bobs diaphragms, I've decided to do it. Wow what a HUGE improvement! Super clean in the high frequencies without sounding to bright. Very smooth! I wish i would have done it sooner.
Just found a pair of KG 3.5's in mint condition at the local Salvation Army thrift store... $10 each!, definitely worth the investment into upgrades
Thanks for the walkthrough! Just discovered my dad's pair of KG4s and noticed how harsh the horn was at higher volumes. Hopping online to order these tweeters.
It does make them sound quite a bit smoother.
Todd, keep these videos coming. Love the nerding out on audio equipment I don’t have the money to do!
Maybe you too will find a pair of speakers on the curb! I have a few more videos in the works. Going to try and do more quick videos as I mess around with projects in case anyone is interested
Thank you I am picking up a pair of kg4’s tonight off Craigslist from original owner for 100 bucks. Will test and likely replace and dampen the tweeter. I appreciate your great videos 👍🏼🤓
I've just been gifted a pair and am planning on the same Crites upgrades. I found a spool of 12-AWG pure copper wire and will set them up today. I'll piss off my neighbors with the original spec'd speakers until I get the upgraded components.
Happy listening.
JB.
The tweeter diaphragms made a noticeable difference. Bi-amping then with the Sonos room correction is next level though. Have fun, they are great!
I sold a pair of MINT KG-4's that had been in reserve for some time and really regret it. 😔 Thank goodness I still have my Belles. ☺️👍
I found the KG4's to have a horrible shouting top end with my 300B SET amps. They already had the Crites upgrade. The solution was a 1" strip of cloth gaffer tape over the tweeter driver down the throat of the horn. Geez...
Nice one. Just got a pair of KG4's. They already sound great but always looking for that 10% extra :)
Why not alubutyl for the horns. From car sound damping
It's actually horrible instructions,
"if you find ferrofluid just leave it and replace the diaphragms"
That's a red flag straight up, those speakers are around 40 years old. That ferrofluid is no longer the viscosity it was. Well known about ferrofluid it turns "goopy"
It's ALWAYS wise to clean out the gap and replace (where applicable) the ferrofluid. I really dont care what crites said about that either
.
That's a well understood standard practice by now. So for anyone reading this, and doing this and you do run unto ferrofluid cooled tweeters ?
Just replace the fluid it's cheap and simple enough to do. And especially on older speakers , totally recommended
Thank you for this! I just ordered from Crites for my 4.2 last night and they already shipped this morning! This def looks easy enough and I have some dynamat left over from doing my trunk so ill try that on the horns while Im in there. Any other suggestions? I know there is the whole crossover rabbit hole to go down with these but going to start with the diaphragms and go from there. Was wondering if they would benefit rom better foam on the inside?
I am currently into the mids of an overhaul of one. I'd use dyna mat and one brace (simple wedge of wood will do) no need to screw or glue in the cabinets. They seem to benefit from that tremendously
Now that he's passed away the tweeters are 83 a pair now
What about the ferromagnetic fluid. Determining if enough still exists, replenishing, etc ..
I swapped the diaphragms but didn’t mess with the ferrofluid.
Great video thanks. I have just bought some KG 3.5 from ebay and they sound good but sound really harsh and bright to me. The seller bought them as new old stock and has had them 3 months. Do you think this upgrade could solve my problem? Thanks Glenn
The Crites tweeter upgrade definitely smooths things out
@@todd.parker thanks Todd I will give it a go. 👍
Could ypu please share the link where I can Get in touch with Bon Crites? I need a tweeter for my Klipsch Forte Speaker. Thanks!
critesspeakers.com/
Nice info
Glad it was helpful, it's a very specific video :)
Have you done or thought about doing a bob crites klipsch kg4 crossover upgrade? I'm kind of thinking about it.
If I was using the passive crossovers, I'd consider it. In my case, I'm bi-amping them via a Sonos Symfonisk and they sound worlds better than when I compared them to the original crossovers with a nice amp.
Also, do any of these upgrades change what is a 6 ohm rated speaker to, say, an 8 ohm one?
I think within that range it’s fine
Hello Todd. I was looking at the upgraded crossovers from Bob's and wanted to replace my existing crossovers in my kg4 speakers. The new crossovers have provision for tweeter woofer and input. But the KG4s have a tweeter, two mid range speakers and a woofer. Any idea where I would connect the two mid range speakers. Sorry I am not very technical hence the struggle. Thanks in advance.
The two 8” woofers have a wire that chains them together in parallel so you just hook the woofer output from the new crossover to either woofer and the jumper wire connects the other. The “woofer” on the back is a passive radiator that reinforces the bass but doesn’t need to be hooked up to anything. Hope this helps!
@@todd.parker thank you Sir. This helps me a lot. Never done stuff on my own but will start. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it.
Sure thing! My latest video shows the speakers taken apart completely if that helps. The tweeter diaphragm upgrade is highly recommended too
@@todd.parker yes Todd that's the video I was watching this morning. The Titanium upgrade. I will order that as well from Bob's. I have had these KG4 for years and years don't want to let them go.
mohan pillai I’ve been very impressed by mine. I hooked them up as a lark but they are now my daily drivers
Horns ring less when they're mounted.
Looks like this part is sadly sold out… any advice?
I heard Bob Crites passed away a while back so maybe things are still in flux? Not sure there are alternatives
I just talked to his son Michael, and he has Ti phragms in stock for the KG4.2 and Chorus ll, which may be the same unit.