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Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18588]

Sun, 31 March 2013 20:27

Burt_Macklin
Messages: 2
Registered: October 2012
Location: Madison, WI

Junior Member

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r511/Mitch_Kramer/0707121202.jpg

I want to start using this system for parties in my house.

Bear in mind I don't know much about what I am getting into here, but I am wondering what it would take for me to swap out the old speakers with new ones. The current speakers sound cloudy and just not as crisp and clear as modern ones do, plus there is always a bit of white noise.

I LOVE the look of this thing, So i just want to open up the back and swap out the individual speakers (depending on price/ease i may only replace half and disconnect the other half... not like I'm trying to light up a concert venue. Just my living room).

Would it be as simple as replacing car speakers? Unscrew the old ones, find new ones that fit the cabinet and screw them in and connect 2 wires?

Or is it more complex than that?

Also, is there any specific website that you would recommend over others for buying parts?

Thank you

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18592 is a reply to message #18588]

Mon, 01 April 2013 09:29

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n499/C4ster/PC170021-1.jpg

I agree that these appear to be great in house system, but, the sealed column is really only good for midrange frequencies. The CTS speakers that are in the column are low power inefficient speakers. I did exactly what you are considering and replaced the speakers with JBL E120 speakers, one of the finest midrange speakers EVER made and it is still muddy. I am using them as midrange line arrays that are flanked by 8 15" speakers and 4 15" siren horns running a full 3-way system. The midrange is very clean but it needs the highs and lows to really work. I don't think you will be really happy with those as they are.
Conrad

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18597 is a reply to message #18588]

Mon, 01 April 2013 12:00

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

I have columns and they may get used for side blow monitors, but that is it as they really aren't designed for what you want them to do. I use one altec loaded 2 x 15 siren cab for my main and a peavey 18 for my sub on each side and run them in Stereo. That is all I need to play anywhere, but I am using modern equipment to drive them as well. I am also using a dbx driverack for EQ, Compression, etc. along with modern amps. that set-up rocks. The problem with the columns is they were only designed for vocals and didn''t sound bad, but mine are vented and are 2 x12 with three 8" too.

The e-120's may even be holding it back as well, try them with the back removed once and see how they sound.

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18598 is a reply to message #18597]

Mon, 01 April 2013 12:29

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

I have thought about the porting issue, but as midrange from 200 to 2500Hz, they work quite well. I am driving them with a QSC PLX1602 amp using only 1 channel @ 800 watts. The other channel is running the horns. The lows are running a QSC PLX3402 with each channel running 4 JBL E140's @1700 Watts each side. That can rock quite a few venues with power to spare.
Conrad

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18599 is a reply to message #18588]

Mon, 01 April 2013 13:06

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

I think if you let them breath that may be your answer, the backs off may be to much, but you will know in a big hurry what the result is...lol! I love the siren cabs as they sound as good or better than anything made today! I installed coaster type of things on the top of my subs for the castors to set in, so the mains cannot roll or vibrate off and they make a nice stack and it gets the horn up high enough so it isn't at ear level too. They are clean, clear, and do not distort. I have enough JBL's to put in them, but I have Altec 418's in them now and I have spares of those and I like the altec speakers just as much as the JBL's. Both are great speakers for sure. I have D140's and D130's both for JBL's.

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18600 is a reply to message #18599]

Mon, 01 April 2013 19:26

pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi

Senior Member

Burt, I'm not sure how much you have into the PA system as pictured, or how much more you want to spend, but it looks sweet. Getting to your original question, the Kustom heads do have hiss or white noise as you stated. Partsexpress.com has a inexpensive round 12" mid horn for 13.90 and a driver for the horn for 18.13. Pick up a couple of crossover caps for a couple of bucks and you could remove the top speaker and install the mid horn that would help your top end, but it will increase the hiss when the system is at idle. As the other posts, the columns were designed for the vocal range and not as a full range musical speaker. Each cabinet is 8 ohms total and each speaker is 8 ohms. It might be cheaper to use the columns as is, along with a pair of modern 8 ohm Stereo speakers. Most new receiver/power amps will run 4 ohms per channel so you could run the two kustom colums and two modern speakers with a stereo amp. You have the look of old school and more of a modern sound system.
pleat

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Re: Putting new speakers into a K200. Not sure where to start. [message #18938 is a reply to message #18600]

Sun, 30 June 2013 11:08

kustomoholic
Messages: 227
Registered: March 2009
Location: Tulsa,oklahoma

Senior Member

If you are using the non ported 4-12 columns then either a rear port in the back panel will help the lows or if you don't want to modify the cabinet visually then I would get a lot of speaker insulation material and put it inside the cabinet to "fool" the drivers into being in a larger cabinet which will give you better bass response. To boost the highs Pleats suggestion of a 12" diameter horn is a great one but Partsexpress doesn't carry them anymore ... the 10 inch conical horns are still available though and would require an adaptor plate to cover the 12" cutout. I had planned on ordering 4 for my 2 sets of Ross 4-12 bins in May but no luck... out of stock and no new 12 inchers coming in. I was going to swap out the 8 ohm CTS 12 inchers as well for 16 ohm 12"s and add lotsa insulation to improve bass from the columns. I performed a similar bass boost operation on a Blue non ported Frankie 2-15 cab with some spare 15 inch Eminence drivers. Bin sounds good with them and is a 4 ohm cabinet now matching the Frank head impedance.

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