[Get menu]
Horn and driver upgrades
Do your Klipsch speakers sound harsh or give you a
headache after listening for a while? It's a very common
reaction and the reason is the squawker horn. Not the K55
driver, the HORN! This is the fix.
Wood Tractrix horns without drivers are available from Dave Harris of Fastlane
Audio .
B&C drivers and complete tweeters to replace the K77 are available directly
from ALK.
All the Fastrac horns are compatible with the original Klipsch drivers and crossover networks, but
once you experience the improvement in sound quality these horns deliver you will find a new love
for your heritage Klipsch speakers and will want to move on to fix the other big shortcoming, the
networks!
The "stock" grill frame
assembly.
On
the
right
is a
grill
frame from a Belle Klipsch. It's the K500
squawker horn, K55V driver and "Z-bracket"
K77M tweeter. A frame out of a Klipschorn, on
the left, looks the same except everything is a
little bigger. It uses the K401 horn and K55M
driver instead. Both frames are held to the
sides by 4 long screws. The screw positions are marked by red arrows in the pictures. Remove those 4
screws and the entire thing slides out the front! They are very easy to remove and replace.
* For the Klipschorn *
The mounting holes are positioned to allow the 1-Inch and 2-Inch version of the Fastrac horns and
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 1 of 15
The mounting holes are positioned to allow the 1-Inch and 2-Inch version of the Fastrac horns and
the original Martinelli Trachorn to be interchangeable. Upgrading to a 2-Inch horn will be easy even
for owners of the original Trachorn 400.
The 1-Inch Bruce Edgar type Fastrac K:
Enlarge
More on the Fastrac K.
The 2-Inch Eliptrac 400:
Enlarge
The Eliptrac 400 is an elliptic Tractrix 2-Inch horn
for the Klipschorn. The design is pure wood tractrix
and will fit in the same grill frame as the Trachorn
400, 420 and the Fastrac K Bruce Edgar type horns.
It can aloso be fitted in the Belle Klipsch. More on
the Eliptrac 400
The
Eliptrac 400 is designed for a 2-Inch driver. It can be used
with the stock K55 driver by the use of an optional adaptor.
Contact Fastlane Audio for details.
If you are interested in the actual birth of the Eliptrac horn
and the early development of the computer software that was
used to design it, it happened right on the Klipsch forums. Here's the actual thread where the Eliptrac
was concieved: LOOK!
DIYers: Do you want to save some money? Do you know how to use a file and a sheet of
sandpaper? This horn is made form machine-cut layers of wood each held in position with pegs. It is
available in kit form. Just glue the layers together and sand them smooth! LOOK!
* For the Belle Klipsch and La Scala *
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 2 of 15
* For the La Scala *
A horn designed specifically for the La Scala has the same
mounting hole as the stock K400 horn. No cutting of the
woodwork is required. The Fastrac La Scala also features an
airtight front flange making it the ideal horn for use in
speakers like the CornScala that have the midrange horn
mounted within the woofer area. More on the Fastrac La Scala
* For the Belle Klipsch *
The Belle horn will be offered with a replacement grill
frame to replace the K500 horn in the Belle Klipsch without
the need for risers. It is very similar to the La Scala horn but
with a front flange suitable for mounting in a frame or a
simple cut-out. Fastrac Belle
The Fastrac La Scala horn does not go quite as low as the stock K400 but is safe to use with the
stock K55 squawker driver. Although drivers such as the JBL 2426h will fit this horn with no
modification to the horn, network change will be needed to use them. The crossover frequency of
Belle Klipsch or La Scala would need to be raised to 500 Hz. The AP12-500 or ES500 and ES5800
set is suggested.
* For the Cornwall *
Designed to reuse the existing K55 driver.
More on the Fastrac Cornwall
DRIVERS: 1-Inch, 2-Inch or keep the K55?
Modern trends are pushing manufacturers to make drivers with light metal diaphragms that go high
in frequency. Modern 1-Inch drivers will not tolerate any power at the lower 400 Hz limit of the
Klipschorn midrange. They will also generate distortion when reproducing these low frequencies. The
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 3 of 15
Klipschorn midrange. They will also generate distortion when reproducing these low frequencies. The
stock K55V or K55M drivers use a tough phenolic material for their diaphragms and a throat that is
sligtly less then 1-Inch in diameter. Better drivers with a true 1-Inch throat like this are nearly
impossible to find today.
The Belle Klipsch and La Scala can be crossed over at 500 Hz. 1-Inch drivers can still be found
that will operate cleanly at 500 Hz but they are expensive. One such driver is the JBL 2426. The
intermodulation plots shown below compare the stock K55V and the JBL driver on the K500 horn of
the Belle Klipsch and on a 1-Inch wood Bruce Edgar type Tractrix horn. The lowest of the two tones
is 550 Hz. The volume level is a respectable 100 dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level) 2 feet from the speaker.
It's easy to see that the K55 isn't bad at all!
Enlarge
If you have a Klipschorn, the JBL 2426 just won't cut it! The next intermod plot compares the K55
and JBL drivers on 1-Inch horns trying to reproduce two tones. The lowest one is 450 Hz at 105 dB
SPL. The JBL is far worse than the K55. To make matters worse, the Klipschorn midrange must
operate even lower, down to 400 Hz! The plot at the far right is the 2-Inch B&C DCM50 driver on a
2-Inch Edgar Tractrix horn like the Trachorn 410. It is clearly the only way to improve on the stock
K55. The DCM50 was deigned for the 400 Hz crossover frequency required by the Klipschorn.
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 4 of 15
Enlarge
There are quite a few 2-Inch drivers that will operate cleanly down to 400 Hz even though they
were not designed to do so. The B&C DE85 and DE750 are to examples. These will also operate 2-
way because of their light diaphragms. The economic reality seems to be that you should either keep
the K55 and mate it to a 2-Inch horn with an adaptor, or go directly to a 2-Inch driver, even in a La
Scala!
3-way Klipschorn systems
The most appropriate 2-Inch mid-range driver, the B&C
DCM50
Enlarge
ALK suggests the B&C DCM50 2-Inch driver which is an
ideal driver for use in the Klipschorn. These are designed for the
400 Hz crossover required by the Klipschorn. Larger drivers
designed to go lower provide no advantage and simply cost more!
No known 1-Inch driver can replace the stock K55V without
distortion.
NOTE: If you do decide to replace the K55 with a better
driver you should realize that your "stock" Klipsch network will
no longer be usable. All of them depend on the natural roll off of the K55 at 6000 Hz to form the
crossover. Very few quality drivers do this. They usually operate far higher. This means the squawker
and tweeter will both be making a sound simultaneously. Better drivers will normally be louder too.
Only the networks from ALK Engineering will do.
[-Price-list-]
TIME ALIGNED mid-range and highs
A true 2-way system
Several drives have been found that
will provide a true 2-way system with
the 400 Hz crossover required by the
Klipschorn woofer. One is the B&C
DE85TN. It has low distortion and
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 5 of 15
DE85TN. It has low distortion and
frequency response to well beyond the
hearing range of most of us. Another
is the B&C DE750TN.
Woofer / squawker network: Either high frequency setup you choose must be crossed over from the
Klipschhorn woofer at about 400 Hz. The recommended low frequency network is the ES400
strapped for 2-way operation, but the AP12-400, AP12-AK3 or the high-frequency amplifier of a bi-
amp setup are options. The stock Klipsch crossover networks are NOT suitable.
For the stock Cornwall: 2-way or 3-way
Enlarge
The B&C DE85TN driver mounted to an
Eliptrac 400 horn will fit nicely into a stock
Cornwall. This combination is actually not
as deep as the Stock K600 Cornwall horn
and K55 driver!
You will need to upgrade the crossover
though. The stock crossovers are not
compatible with wide-range drivers like the
B&C. This would work nicely with the
AP12-400 or AP12-500 low frequency
crossovers in a 2-way system. Adding the
AP15-6000 or ES5800 will let you keep the
3-way configuration using the K77 tweeter.
True 2-way or conventional 3-way? You can
have it BOTH WAYS!
It's easy: Click the picture for details
All of the
crossover
network
combinations from ALK Engineering are compatible
with true 2-way or 3-way operation by removing a
single strap. A simple switch can even be used in
place of the strap to select between 2-way and 3-way
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 6 of 15
place of the strap to select between 2-way and 3-way
operation in seconds if you have a conventional
tweeter. The diagram at the left shows how the
orange 3-wire cable provided with the squawker /
tweeter (high frequency) networks (ES5800, AP15-
6000 etc.) can be connected to make the change on a
whim!
The transformer located on the woofer / squawker (low frequency) network will remain to set the
level of the wider range driver in the 2-way switch position! The tweeter will simply make no sound.
All you need to make this work is a driver like the DE85 or DE750 that is capable of operating all the
way up to tweeter frequencies.
[-Price-list-]
A direct comparison of popular 2-Inch driver choices for the
Klipschorn.
Compare Intermod distortion: DCM50 and DE85TN
B&C DCM50: Provides the best impedance load to
the network. Has only a small impedance peek that
is located below the 400 Hz crossover because it
was designed for the 400 Hz crossover required by
the Klipschorn. It also features a composit rather
then titanium diaphragm. It is usable only in a 3-
way system.
B&C DE85TN: Is the least expensive of the two and the only one capable of 2-way operation. It
was designed for a 1000Hz crossover but test show it functions will down to 400 Hz. Its power
handling capability below 1000 Hz is therefore unspecified by the manufacturer but easily
generated 105 dB SPL at 400 Hz 2 feet from the horn. It has a very diffuse impedance peek at
about 600 Hz which is easily controlled by any horn designed to operate below 600 Hz. This
includes any horn usable in the Klipschorn, La Scala or CornScala. This driver is the best choice
for a limited budget.
ALK Engineering is a authorized B&C dealer. B&C has an extensive line of horn
and driver products.
B&C Drivers
Tweeters
There remains a debate between a 2-way system or a 3-way system as to which sounds better. In
our experience, a 3-way system using extreme-slope crossover networks yields the best results. The
mid-range horn required in a 2-way system simply can't handle the highs as well as the smaller horn
of a tweeter designed specifically to be a tweeter. The choice of what tweeter driver and horn then
becomes the issue in a 3-way system.
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 7 of 15
becomes the issue in a 3-way system.
The stock K77 tweeter should be the last item on your upgrade list. It is not a bad tweeter but can
be easily damaged. There are better tweeters available. Here are several to consider.
A
new
tweeter to
directly replace
the K77 from
ALK and
Fastlane Audio
Introducing the Eliptrac
HF
The Eliptrac tweeters will
directly replace the K77 in the
stock top compartment of the Klipschhorn, Belle Klipsch or La Scala. It can fit neatly between the
squawker horn and the top providing a flush mount with the front baffle no matter if the old tweeter
was directly mounted or with "Z-brackets". Unlike other direct replacements using the APT50 driver
it will have high sensitivity and good transient response equal to the K77 and with good frequency
response on and off axis!
Transient response: One method of evaluating
transient response is to apply a short burst of
pure tone into a tweeter and look at what comes
out with an instrument microphone and
oscilloscope. Does the tone stop when the
applied burst stops or does it continue to ring
like a bell after its struck. The picture at the left
shows the tone burst of a stock K77 with the
details identified, Click the picture for tone burst
tests on six popular tweeters and drivers.
The APT50 rings like a
Christmas bell! Any tweeter
you may have that uses the
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 8 of 15
you may have that uses the
APT50 driver should be
replaced with either the stock K77 or a new tweeter using the B&C DE120 or
DE110!
The Eliptrac HF horn is designed to allow the driver to mount flush to the horn.
There is no air gap between the driver and the horn throat. There is no need for a
"kludge" screw-on adaptor. With the DE110 or DE120 driver the entire tweeter is
small enough to replace the K77 with no modifications to the speaker.
Enlarge
1 - The B&C DE10. The DE10 has the smoothest response in the critical
region between 6 and 17 KHz and still very good for use with a 4 KHz
crossover. It is the least expensive of the drivers. Its ferrite magnet makes
it too large to be a direct replacement for a K-77 in a stock Klipschorn,
Belle Klipsch or La Scala. It can be used in a Cornwall. It's the preferred
choice for a CornScalla or where the tweeter has been moved to the side
of the squawker horn.
2 - The B&C DE120. With its Neodymium magnet, the DE120 will fit
anywhere a K-77 was used. It has the nicest frequency response of the
two neodymium magnet drivers all the way to and beyond 20 KHz. This
has been the best driver for most applications. B&C Speakers will soon
discontinue the DE120. It will be replaced by the DE110.
3 - The B&C DE110. The DE110 is soon to replace the DE120. It has
equal performance, is slightly smaller and slightly less expensive. It also
uses a Neodymium magnet.
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 9 of 15
uses a Neodymium magnet.
Enlarge
=====================
Shipping box: US Postal medium flat rate box. $13.60
Shipping weight: 4 Lbs.
[-Price-list-]
Eliptrac HF horn polar directivity:
Horizontally is the way to mount it!
Enlarge
When mounted vertically:
Enlarge
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 10 of 15
Enlarge
Mounting dimensions:
Enlarge
Conrac + DE10
The
recommended
combination is the
B&C DE10 driver
on the Fastrac
Contrac hybrid
horn. The DE10
driver yields the
smoothest
response we have
seen between 6000
and 16000 Hz.
This is the critical
range between a
6000 Hz crossover
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 11 of 15
and the upper
limits of hearing
for most of us. The
Contrac horn is a marriage of conical and tractrix expansions. The
intermodulation distortion is extremely low even at very high levels. The DE10
driver is available from ALK Engineering.
Enlarge
The B&C DE10 tweeter with the B&C ME10 horn is also available
directly from ALK Engineering.
Measured performace with ES5800 crossover.
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 12 of 15
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 13 of 15
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 14 of 15
http://www.alkeng.com/ 2/27/17, 10726 PM
Page 15 of 15
