Ebay and klipsch

Construct · « **on:** 29 Jun 2010, 04:33 am »

I like finding vintage gear and restoring it. I have just gone through multiple sets of Klipsch. I have not just restored the cabinets to a better-than-new finish, but I have upgraded all the internals. Higher quality caps, better drivers etc. I really like how smooth and revealing they are. I also like the efficiency and price. All my klipsch put together don't cost as much as a single pair of new cornwall III's. It's good deals really.

Here are some formerly black KG4's:

Some refinished quartets:

Some refinished Forte II's:

I used minwax stains and poly clearcoat. All speakers have been modded.

JimJ · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Jul 2010, 01:31 pm »

I got every penny from the Forte IIs I had back when I sold them...amazing how they hold their value.

They were great college apartment speakers

Delacroix · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Jul 2010, 03:06 pm »

Nice projects -- can you tell us how you prep the cabinets prior to the waxing and clearcoat? Any further info on the internal mods would be welcome too. Thanks

Construct · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Jul 2010, 03:41 pm »

Quote from: Delacroix on 9 Jul 2010, 03:06 pm

Nice projects -- can you tell us how you prep the cabinets prior to the waxing and clearcoat? Any further info on the internal mods would be welcome too. Thanks

The FULL treatment: (Both pairs are tractrix equipped, not the metal horn throats)
Inside:- Replaced all the caps in the the crossover with sonicaps. I recommend any tight tolerance caps that have a low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) I don't do paper in oil (PIO) they have a high ESR, and roll off the response. The forte and quartet crossovers contain very cheap electrolytic caps from the factory. They may degrade in as little as 5 years. IMO, an electrolytic cap in the path of a driver (the tweeter) simply smears the sound. Used as blocking caps, they aren't very close in tolerance.
- Replaced resistors with Mills wirewound- Replaced wiring with audioquest awg 16 stranded ofc- Replaced poly tweeter diaphragm with titanium unit from www.critesspeakers.com (Bob Crites)(Midrange diaphragm in the works...I keep checking with Bob.)
Outside:-Applied "stripper" from home depot-Sanded scratches away with combination of 60 and 100 grit sanding blocks- Applied liquid "pre-stain" treatment. - Applied Minwax 'Red chestnut" stain (1 coat was all that was needed for forte's since the base stain was dark, 4 coats for light oak quartets)- Applied Minwax clearcoat- Sanded with 320 grit between coats
That's pretty much it.
Incidentally: here were the 1990 KG4's in the works. They *were* flat black.

Before:

Incidentally, in case you are wondering:

I did run the speakers with *just* the xover mod. The difference was startling. Much more open, much extended detail, and smoother. The titanium tweeters trounce the phenolic in every way. Better dynamic range, smoother, yet better detail in the treble. These mods are significantly different (and better) than factory. They are like wholly new and different speakers.