FR Speakers for Old KLH Clock/Radio?

[littlebear]

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.

So I hooked the satellite speaker to a Pioneer Elite SX-A9MK2-K Dual-Mono amp, and they sounded great! The dull mid-phattness was gone, and there was some upper sparkle.
Maybe I'll go for a $12. driver like BMWBillFitz linked to, or the Visaton I linked to, but that's about it.

Thanks all, Murf

[Steve Lee]

Littlebear,

I'm not trying to be an ass nor difficult but you decided that a better quality source/amp made your existing speakers sound better than they do driven by the clock/radio amp.
So, how is replacing the good sounding existing speakers connected to a better sound source/amp going to improve the sound delivered by the the existing clock/radio?

I'm just curious . . .

Best wishes, buddy.

Steve.

[LOUT]

If the radio has enough volume/headroom that it can currently crank up an easily noticeable bit louder than you need, you might try a passive parallel notch filter wired in series to each speaker using something like a parallel grouping of 8ohmR/1mHcoil/10uFcap to give the speakers a percieved ~6db lift below 200hz and above 8000hz to help it sound a little deeper and more crisp. It's more accurately a gentle mid-frequency scoop though, so you'll likely end up needing to turn the radio up roughly 6db louder than you normally would.

[Millstonemike]

If the radio has enough volume/headroom that it can currently crank up an easily noticeable bit louder than you need, you might try a passive parallel notch filter wired in series to each speaker using something like a parallel grouping of 8ohmR/1mHcoil/10uFcap to give the speakers a percieved ~6db lift below 200hz and above 8000hz to help it sound a little deeper and more crisp. It's more accurately a gentle mid-frequency scoop though, so you'll likely end up needing to turn the radio up roughly 6db louder than you normally would.

A "Loudness" filter?

[Steve Lee]

See post 16.1 guys, before the OP/Littlebear spends any money on ANY parts at all, please?

Thanks.

Best!

Steve.

[djg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQp9RC2sfT0

[Steve Lee]

@ djg

Read my LIPPS --> pick it up at 01:00 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqiZ_gryYUQ

[djg]

I always wondered what that group looked like.

[littlebear]

See post 16.1 guys, before the OP/Littlebear spends any money on ANY parts at all, please?
Thanks.
Best!
Steve.

Good Morning Steve,

I appreciate your input, & understand the logic of your position.
But the KLH is way better looking than my plastic Sangean, has two big speakers, I think a good rep, etc (it is also a 'gift' from an older friend, who is being downsized to living with relatives in NJ (!), so it has some Karma for me).
I now know it will never sound like a Blose, but hope springs eternal, especially when F'ing with our sound systems. The tone & volume knobs need to be soaked in CRC.

Now my Gnewbie, "Better Cables" argument: The Pioneer receiver I hooked up to is I think very good, & might give a signal that would make even a 'bad' driver sound good. But the KHL might need a better driver that can make 'lemonade' out of a 'lemon' signal.Anyone agree?

And this review from PE on $13. drivers:

"Very nice little drivers.
I bought a pair of these to try upgrading an old KLH 200 table radio, replacing the paper-cone-and-pleated-surround OEM drivers. They were a direct fit into the existing cabinets. Definitely improved the sound... clearer and cleaner, well balanced, bass is clean although limited in depth... the KLH is now a very musical-sounding little system.
It would be interesting to see how these might work in a quarter-wavelength transmission line cabinet... might make a very nice full-range system for a small room."

That is this radio, & the person sounds intelligent. I can afford that, & (my wife & I) probably wasted more on fancy food (& drink) yesterday without trying hard.

Murf

[tvrgeek]

You could go off the deep end and stick a small class D amp in there and drive something like a little Fostex A lot to be said for a good table radio!

Pioneer does usually do very well with cheap speakers. It is likely the amp in the radio does have some equalization for their chosen driver.

A 4 inch car coax might sound good, but will probably be 4 Ohms and that would not be good.

[Steve Lee]

Ever heard of a series 2 ohm resistor?

[tvrgeek]

All "full range" speakers will sound dull. If they seem to have any top end, it is just breakup or distortion. Physics. Even my tiny Fountek fe85 I finally added a tweeter for my desktops. You are going to be looking for very high efficiency. 90dB or so.

[Steve Lee]

I fully agree with this ^

At best a full range speaker will only make a good sounding mid-range speaker in a smallish box.
This is why a cheap IB designed coaxial car speaker will sound much better, IME/IMO

[littlebear]

This Visaton says 80-20k, is a coaxial, but has an SPL=86.
https://www.parts-express.com/visato...eaker--292-513

This GRS (Pioneer type?) says 100-10k, with an SPL=91
https://www.parts-express.com/full-r...8-ohm--292-434

This Dayton says 80-15k, SPL=86.3. This got the review I quoted above in post #20.
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton...river--295-160

This Dynavox says 55-20k, 6ohms, SPL=90
https://www.parts-express.com/dynavo...river--295-614

When I crank the volume knob on the KLH, it gets very loud, way too loud for me, but over 1/2 gets pretty painful with distortion.

Murf

[djg]

I can vouch for the Pioneer (GRS), made a pair of Suzy Changs with them that sounded nice with a straight signal. Glad to send you the Sony buyouts I mentioned.

[Steve Lee]

The distortion - does it follow the source amp (IOW - do the seakers sound distorted on the Pioneer amp?).

If so - the existing speakers need to be replaced, if not then replacing them won't fix anything.

A cheap coaxial car speaker - 4 ohms with a 2 ohm resistor in series and, Voila! a speaker that will sound infinitely better than the existing ones.

Carry-on and and may you make excellent choices, always.

[Millstonemike]

This Visaton says 80-20k, is a coaxial, but has an SPL=86.
https://www.parts-express.com/visato...eaker--292-513

This GRS (Pioneer type?) says 100-10k, with an SPL=91
https://www.parts-express.com/full-r...8-ohm--292-434

This Dayton says 80-15k, SPL=86.3. This got the review I quoted above in post #20.
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton...river--295-160

This Dynavox says 55-20k, 6ohms, SPL=90
https://www.parts-express.com/dynavo...river--295-614

When I crank the volume knob on the KLH, it gets very loud, way too loud for me, but over 1/2 gets pretty painful with distortion.

Murf

You can't rely on the frequency range in the marketing material. You need to look at the FR graph in the driver's specification link. For example, your first link to the Visaton (BTW: not really a coax, just a "whizzer" cone). If you look at the Visaton's FR graph, everything above 5K Hz is all over the place + 14 dB. Compare that to the Dynavox. The phase plug seems to really smooth out the high end of the whizzer cone. Be concious of height above the baffle. A call to PE will get you measurements if not listed in the spec. sheet..

[littlebear]

Thanks Folks,

I always wonder if the published FR graphs are any more accurate than the published performance spec #s ( ~ 25yrs in advertising...)?

Murf

[tvrgeek]

Usually good enough to make purchase decision, but not good enough for crossover design. My experience. As you know, the first rule of advertising is to take your worst attribute and advertise it.

[Millstonemike]

Thanks Folks,

I always wonder if the published FR graphs are any more accurate than the published performance spec #s ( ~ 25yrs in advertising...)?

Murf

The reputable vendors are publishing measured results.

[littlebear]

The reputable vendors are publishing measured results.

"Smoothed"?

(GRS doesn't have a graph).

[Millstonemike]

"Smoothed"?

(GRS doesn't have a graph).

Likely. Higher end drivers would publish the degree of smoothing. You're not going to get that with a $20 full range. But if you looking for detail, the Visaton leaves a lot to be desired.

If is a clock radio ...

[littlebear]

Likely. Higher end drivers would publish the degree of smoothing. You're not going to get that with a $20 full range. But if you looking for detail, the Visaton leaves a lot to be desired.

If is a clock radio ...

Thank you... but look at that Dynavox graph!