FR Speakers for Old KLH Clock/Radio?

[littlebear]

Hello Audio Experts!

I now possess an old KLH200 clock radio. It is fully functional, and looks pretty cool.
But it sounds pretty dull. It has a 4" driver, and the same in a stereo box. The back of the driver says '6ohm 5watt', & has a number that doesn't google anything.
PE has only two 6ohm 4" drivers, & both look big & fancy, & handle 20 & 30 watts. They have some FR 8ohm Visaton drivers, but they are 20 - 30 watt, 86 - 90spl....

https://www.parts-express.com/cat/mi...%5D&PortalID=1

Do you think any of these drivers will work & sound good, pls?

TIA! Murf

[silverD]

While not an exact fit, the TC9FD18-08 is very popular for its smooth FR. More info about the mounting size of the current driver would help to find replacement with a better fit.

[billfitzmaurice]

These sound very good, although they're 8 ohms. For fit compare the 4.72" bolt hole circle diameter to the originals.

https://www.parts-express.com/full-range-4-1-2-speaker-pioneer-type-a11ec80-02f-8-ohm--292-434

[donradick]

The Faitalpro 4 inch ferrite is a pretty groovy full range driver ($26, maybe over your budget)

https://www.parts-express.com/faitalpro-4fe35-4-professional-full-range-woofer-4-ohm--294-1123

[littlebear]

Since I'm going from 6ohms to 8ohms, should I worry about sensitivity getting too low? The amp can't be pushing out too many horses....

This Visaton fits the hole well, needs a tiny box, has a low F3, SPL=86, and has a big x-max:

https://www.parts-express.com/visato...eaker--292-513

And it's pretty cheap. What am I overlooking, pls?

Murf

[LOUT]

Can you measure how much internal space the speaker cavity/box-section has, and also share if it's sealed or left to leak air into the rest of the box (and/or outside) or if it's ported?
Assuming it isn't already, would you be willing to seal the box up and add a port tube, or would that kind of ruin the radio which you'd prefer to leave as stock as possible?

Did the original speaker have any sort of crossover/BaffleStepComp parts, like an inductor+resistor?


Would you be willing to potentially trade away some maximum volume/SPL in order to get more dispersed highs by switching to a smaller 2.5" or 3" driver which will not be as efficient watt-per-watt but will likely provide nicer high-frequency response?
Or would you prefer to stick toward a 4" driver which should be more sensitive and easier to drop-in-place without a baffle modification to let it fit?


I like the Dayton PC105, but they probably want more room than those have (and ports) to make decent bass...and they're pretty directional with highs like most 4" drivers so they can either sound alright when facing you and dull off-center, or they sound nice off-center but sharp when facing you.



Would adding a simple crossover and tiny tweeter to the original speakers be an option?...nevermind, dumb question, no room.

[littlebear]

Hi Lout!

I get ~ 0.09cuft(160cuin), no xover parts in the separate speaker, & they are sealed.
I don't want to mess much. If I could get decent frequency response & music good enough to doze to, great!
Now they seem muddy & dull....

Murf

[Steve Lee]

You *could* install a 4 R coaxial in there or you could add a switching-external speaker-jack and place a speaker/cabinet remote from the radio.

Just some other options . . .

https://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=4%22%20coaxial&sitesearch=true

https://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=mono%20jack%20switched&sitesearch=true

[littlebear]

Hi Steve,

This radio has a speaker in the base unit, and a separate remote speaker already!
In my ignorance, I don't think this little thing could power coaxial speakers well. I can't find power specs for the radio, but the original speakers say 5w on the back.

Murf

[Steve Lee]

Why not?


If you believe that ^ Then you are already defeated.

[djg]

I think I would try connecting the remote speaker to a more or less "high fidelity" source. See how it sounds. Possible the dull sound is the radio not the speaker. That's what I would do before buying anything.

[littlebear]

You are a smart person, DJG. I can do that.
In the mean time, looks like a SS...:
https://www.parts-express.com/dynavo...river--295-614

Murf

[djg]

I have a bunch of old Sony 4" buyouts. They have a square sheetmetal frame and might fit. I can send you a pair for free. What are your mounting hole dimensions?

[Whitneyville1]

I remember the old analog tuned KLH table radio with 5 bands and the optional stereo extension speaker from the late 60's! The "other" hi-fi speaker company may still offer a very good (and very expensive) coaxial speaker that will fit (over $30 range) if you care to go that high. I bought some of the 4" Sony's and they weren't bad if you didn't push them too hard. I "robbed" some two-way 4-ish inch Sony speakers from a dead boom box that are amazing in a good ported enclosure (my Panasonic Toughbook laptop speakers) and the price was right (free!). I wish you good luck. I don't think you have the room for the Dayton RS-100 to do it's thing.

[Millstonemike]

Be aware of a speaker's height above the baffle. From you pic, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room between the speaker and the Velcro attached grill. That may preclude some drivers.