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General KLH Model 6 Questions


thr33p4c

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First of all. Thank you so much to JKent for helping me get in contact with Gene. I was having trouble registering for the forums and could not post. I finished restoring a pair of Model Fives this spring which went well. Details Here:

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=8225&hl=

I just picked up a pair of Model Sixes and have some very general questions. Caps are already ordered and on the way. One of my tweets is dead. I popped off the metal cover and tested continuity across the voice coil and nothing. It must be burned up inside. That being said. I am looking for a replacement tweet on eBay and need to know which models had the same or similar tweets. I am looking at a pair from some Model twenties. Will those work? They look exactly the same and I am sure the same tweet probably got used in multiple models.

Second question: I contacted Kent about his Laser Etched Reproduction Badges. I am assuming that my Sixes used the larger 2 1/4" x 1" stick on logos. Is this correct or do I need the smaller ones. There are no signs of screw holes in the grills. I am missing both badges so have no reference.

Third Question: Any help on dating these speakers would be great. The serial numbers are incomplete. The drivers are all srcew in.

Thank you,

Ben

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JKent,

Your link helps out a bit. I found this one too:

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=4171

I was mostly concerned that the ones I am looking at might be 8ohm the seller did not specify. I have a message out to him but I doubt he will have a meter handy. My working tweeter measures at 4. These posts pretty much clear up that the 20s were 4ohm. I think I will be fine. To avoid any issues I may just pop in both replacements so that they are matched and keep the original as a spare.

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In case anyone stumbles upon this thread in the future. I messaged an eBay seller with a similar set of Model Sixes. He measured the badge for me and came up with 2 1/4" x1" for the badge. I don't know if this carries over for all of the Model Six versions but at least for mine I am going with the large badges like the ones that I have on my 5's.

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  • 10 months later...

I've been a member of Classic Speakers for several years, but this is my first post. I hope I've followed the submission process correctly.

While a graduate student at Harvard in 1963, I purchased a pair of KLH 6 Speakers from their Cross Street facility in Cambridge (serial numbers 34648 and 34677. At the time of purchase, I actually checked their performance in the applied physics acoustic chamber, an unique worldwide facility at the time! Over the last 40 or so years, they have functioned flawlessly (I believe I had the grill cloth replaced on one of them). They have now been "retired" for about 10 years now, and, because of "scratch pillar" use by household cats, the grills are now in need of repair (actually, I think both could be "saved" and reused). More seriously, the tweeter in one unit now appears dysfunctional (the woofers sound great).

Could one of the topical members suggest/recommend a refurbishing/restoration/repair service, preferably in California, I could ship the speakers to? I have never attempted to disassemble the units myself.

Thanks Greatly, -Paul Grant (www.w2agz.com)

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Welcome Paul! I work very close to Cross St., I have wondered which building KLH was in.

Chances are good that you have a bad cap in the crossover, and that is why the tweeter appears to have failed. The older 6's are sealed and not easy to get into. If you post a photo of the back of the speaker, where the speaker terminals are located, someone here can confirm that.

I'm sure someone in CA can fix them for you, but I don't know who :-)

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Thanks to genek and alkermes for their respective replies (Genek, I'll set aside four hours manyana for followup to your suggestion!). Alkermes, my memory is that KLH was about halfway down Cross Street between Landsdowne and Albany streets on the Mass Ave block, perhaps a mile toward the river from that obscure former divinity school where I obtained my PhD in the last century. Question: does the "Classic Speaker" site support inclusion of pdf files in posting and/or replies (I'm trying right now)? Or at least embedded hyperlinks to specific website files? I have a pdf on my issue which contains the relevant user manual (circuit diagrams) plus pics of my speakers, which could be downloaded from my website. Alkermes, your comment on "old caps" possibly in my right speaker, especially the 8 microfarad series component (operative in all three "switch" settings) is "right on." However, oil electrolyte capacitors can last forever (I have a WWII army receiver which still works), but it now seems I had the tweeter in my left hand mod 6 six replaced some years ago, which I barely remember. Regarding KLH restoration companies, I just contacted one in the LA area, but their response was something like, "we don't have replacement parts for units old as yours."

Best, -Paul

KLH 6 Manual & Photos.pdf

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Usually your best bet for parts is that auction site. There's a pair of them up for $55 right now.

Or cross your fingers and hope that Mickey has one in the warehouse that he's cannibalizing.

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  • 5 months later...

Hello,

I picked up a pair of early Model 6's. These speakers have a grass cloth covering, and were very well done. Over on AudioKarma, there is a discussion going on, wondering if this covering could have been applied as some special order at the factory? Would seem not, but just checking before I go removing them. I would think this isn't a factory covering, but the work is done pretty carefully and I don't really see any paint or glue covering the grill cloth, which I would expect at least a little.

The seller told me the tweeters aren't working, I am hoping that is just a capacitor replacement.

Thanks in advance for any advice,

David

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Wow, thats kinda crazy. Doubt it was from KLH hat way but I will let others confirm. Seems like a good way to cover issues or just a very specific styling somone along the way thought would be fitting to whatever they thought they were doing.

As far as the tweeters, any sign of life when you toggle the adjustment on the back at all? Flip it around while listening to see if you hear anything pop in or out.

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I've had both, dead tweeters after recap, and dead tweeters come to life after a recap. Recap is the route I go first, then replacing the tweeters if necessary.

In my Free KLH model six restoration thread, there was a lengthy discussion & pics showing the differences in the tweeters and which models they can be used in.

These are relatively easy speakers to work on. It's mostly the difficulty of replacing the caps in the early six's with the epoxy tub under the back plate. The epoxy is pretty brittle and breaks up easily exposing the crossover. There's one cap attached to the front baffle which is more difficult to reach, but doable.

If your grills are already removed, then you can reseal the woofer surrounds, otherwise, the grills will most likely be destroyed removing them as they are glued to the front baffle. Not a big deal, removable model six grills show up un fleabay.

You may consider doing the restoration yourself. Lots of info and pics to guide you through it.

Glenn

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Although it is likely the caps need to be replaced, it is much easier to pull the tweeters and test them prior to commencing the task of removing the woofers and digging into the innards. If these 6's are the earlier version with epoxied-in woofers, the road will be not be an easy one.

Roy

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  • 2 weeks later...

David's serial numbers are earlier than mine which would lead me to believe the tweeters are most likely glued to the baffles as well as the woofers. 

So in this case, I would suggest cap replacement is the way to go, and easiest to do as opposed to prying out the tweeters to test. If still dead, then they will need to be replaced.

 

Glenn

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Hi Glenn.

If the OP has to hack a hole in the back of the cabinet, which is the only option with these old everything -glued KLH speakers, it would still be easier to access the tweeter leads just to make sure the tweeters are functional. He will need the tweeter leads to replace the caps anyway. The drivers are always the first items to test in any speaker restoration. There is no urgency to deal with the caps if the tweeters are shot. Capacitors are at least functional more often than not, and not as easy to check out. Of course, I agree that the caps will likely need to to be replaced along the way.

Roy

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Hi Roy,

I agree regarding the OP's Six's. Those tweeters are easy to remove and check. I was referring to David's sealed Six's. 

He will need to remove the epoxy tub to access the tweeter leads for testing, and might as well replace the caps anyway.

Glenn

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Oops, I was referring to David's sealed 6's as well...not the OP's. I forgot this was an old thread.

I still believe the drivers should be the first item on the list when not producing sound. Once in the cabinet, the leads are snipped before the glue ball and tweeter tested....simple. Otoh, David is obviously new to all of this, and hacking into the 6's for any reason may be a daunting prospect . Since he has not returned, I'm wondering if he has even tried to remove the grills yet. One way or the other, I suspect the least of his concerns will be the cabinet covering. :)

Roy

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  • 2 months later...

First post here. Happy I found you guys! I'm thinking about buying a pair of Model 6's from a neighbor. One tweeter has been replaced with a different brand, so I would like to replace that with an original off ebay, unless you guys have one for sale?? 

I don't have photos and I was told the serial number is  (model 6v spkr AVS608657).

Can someone tell me when these were made and which tweeter I need?

Thanks guys!

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Welcome, jseehausen, to the CSP forum. 

You'll really need to provide a little more specific info before getting a truly helpful response to your questions. Posting a few photos is really the best way to communicate your particular speakers. Seeing the "v" in your model number makes me think these speakers may be nothing like the earlier classic "Sixes"

View these links in order to better understand the confusion with various model numbers.  

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/klh-model-6v-virtuoso-worth-going-for.69503/

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/klh-model-6vs-why-no-info-on-these.177205/

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1970s-klh-model-six-6v-stereo-254472764

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