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FH1 woofers

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Posted on March 28, 2020 at 01:26:25
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 So... I'm on the edge of buying some Eminence Kappa 15C to replace the K33E in my FH1 horns. The goal would be to have a smoother, more detailed mid bass; low end extension is secondary as I use subs.

But locally I also see a couple more "prestigious" drivers sold for the same price as a pair of brand new Kappa 15C:

JBL 2220H
Altec 3156

would anyone here be able to tell me, based on personal experience or hornrespons sims, if one of those could be even better in FH1 than the Kappa 15C?

(I'm using and active crossover).

Thanks in advance

 

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RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 06:17:54
Bill Fitzmaurice
Industry Professional

Posts: 5371
Location: New England
Joined: October 20, 2002
 The only way to know is via modeling in HornResp, which requires the specs of the enclosure, and those of the K33 as well. But as far as 'detail' is concerned, that tends not to be a midbass trait.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 16:32:13
claudej1@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 817
Location: Detroit
Joined: August 17, 2007
 I've been recommending the Kappa 15C woofer for LaScalas and the even better bin, the FH-1. It has 4 db more output at about 400 Hz. than the K33. Let me know if you are willing to trade for a new pair, since I need K33's for a pair of Cornwalls. You will not regret either one.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 22:14:15
Coner
Audiophile

Posts: 3703
Location: S.W. Washington state, USA
Joined: November 17, 2001
 Based on the user reviews in LaScala/FH-1 applications, I think that
the Kappa is a safe bet. The others are real risky, unless you can borrow one.

BTW, I don't see Crites listing K-33 replacements for sale
anymore, is this true?.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 23:30:27
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Thanks, yes we've been discussing this over at the Klipsch forum; I was just wondering if some JBL or Altec could be even better, but since the 15C models the best, that's what I will do.

I would happily consider swapping my K33 for your 15C if we would be living on the same continent but I'm in Europe, and I'm afraid the shipping costs would be nearly as much, not to mention the fact that I'm currently completely cutting myself from the rest of the world due to COVID-19, making a trip to the post office impossible at the moment... and staying two weeks or more without music even more...

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 23:34:12
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Yes, the Kappa 15C is a safe bet indeed; I've always fantasized on using JBL (or Altec) bass drivers but only of course if there is some actual improvement - I can't even say looks are important since the driver is buried inside the enclosure.
Kappa 15C it will be then.

I don't know about Crites replacement woofers, seems strange that he would stop selling them?

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on March 28, 2020 at 23:37:38
claudej1@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 817
Location: Detroit
Joined: August 17, 2007
 JBL or Altec would just be more expensive. The 15C is the best bang for the buck. So many Klipsch Fanatics took my advice about this and are quite happy with the results. The improvement in the midrange is far greater with even tighter bass than a K33. I also recommend all speakers use subwoofers and I have tried them all. Direct radiators, Tubas, and various Tapped horns. Frequencies below 80 Hz. should be handled by subs, Below 40 Hz. for Khorns or Jubilees.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on April 28, 2020 at 15:23:05
Gulliver
Audiophile

Posts: 171
Joined: October 24, 2005
 I loaded mine with Crites CW1526 a couple of years ago and they've been great. Mine are actually SP-1s with the stock, but re-capped, crossovers and RX22 HF drivers.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on May 1, 2020 at 00:37:09
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Well, the K33E works fine enough, to be honest.
But it is my understanding that its characteristics are a compromise to extract as much bass possible under the horn cut-off frequency.
As I'm using subs, I can use a driver that has better horn characteristics (higher BL, lower Qts) to have better response IN THE HORN BANDPASS, while losing just a little bit down low. That's the theory behind the swap at least.

I know that the Eminence Kappa 15C gives exactly that for a cheap price and it stays my number one choice with zero risk, but I keep seeing other drivers popping up on the used market... some of them having very interesting parameters; the only problem I have is I'm trying to install Windows on my MacBook - in order to install HornResp- but so far without success.

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on May 5, 2020 at 23:17:31
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Okay! Ordered the Kappa 15C last night.
they should be here by 48 hours.
Can't wait!

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on May 9, 2020 at 22:58:28
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 OK so I've received and installed the Kappa 15C yesterday.

I always forget what a pain in the ass it is to swap woofers in that kind of enclosure ^^ when I think some of you guys have actually compared two or three different ones... I could never! damn... took me half of the afternoon.

So far - I didn't have much listening time yet, so I expect sound will change as drivers break in- I can immediately hear the midrange improvement (very obvious on acoustic material, piano, voices, drums...) and it's great. Bass at the moment is a bit too subdued, even with the subs on; the K33 had a "whoomp" to them that the Kappa 15C fail to match so far. But again, it might just be because they are brand new. Hip-hop tracks fail to give the same impression of room filling power as they did before, but I suspect it's just temporary.

All in all, I'm very happy with the swap; midrange detail is what matters most!

 

RE: FH1 woofers, posted on May 13, 2020 at 21:49:38
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 FWIW a generic sim between those two woofers specs plus effects of reducing the back chamber size - which can:

flatten the passband, reduce excursion below cutoff, have a higher rate of rolloff


Karlson Evangelist

 

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