Klipschorn AK-3 crossover updating or mods

[Doug Olitsky]

I know this has been discussed numerous times. The more I read the more confused the issue becomes.

I just acquired a set of 1990's vintage K-horns S/N's 310295924 & 310295925, w/ the AK-3 networks.

I have read about the KWACK, dean and ALK crossovers (offerd as DIY except for the ES5800 tweeter, asked Al and he is not letting the cat out of the bag). Some people like em others like the originals and even Al mentions that the AK-3 pretty good. I even read there's a AK-4 crossover out. It seems that they offer a different flavor, not necessarily better, just different.

Now that I have reached info overload I was thinking of just improving the exsisting AK-3's whith better parts. I'm thinking of pulling all the caps and inductors and install better quality air cores (using litz) and auricaps or maybe ASC or GE motor run caps.

Oh yeah I forgot...

I was also thinking of removing the fuse for the squawk and tweeter, but leave for the woofer. Cheaper to replace diaphgram then woofer. Or should I remove all fuses, My Heresy II's have noneandnever had a problem.

I was wondering if anybody has attempted this to good effect. I'm not looking to redesign them, just bring them to a "higher level".

They are used w/ DRD 300b monos (8w) or a Copland 505 (65w).

[BECtoo]

Building the AK-3 from scratch, I like to use the GE poly in oil motor run caps. I think you may find using them in a rebuild might be pretty difficult. That is, finding a place to put them on the original board. I do think replacing the caps is a good thing to do. Less sure on the inductors. The little square shaped caps in use by that time test from pretty good to downright terrible in ESR.

Bob Crites

[Doug Olitsky]

I figure that I will make a new board so space wont be a problem.

I was thinking to use the GE oils, Grainger by me sells the Dayton (made in China).

Where do you source your GE's?

I was going to use motor starts for the entire network.

[BECtoo]

I guess the GEs are out of production, at least, I can't find a source for them any more. I have a pretty good stock of them as I bought up the last of the stock (at least the values I use) at Granger when they told me they would no longer stock them. The Dayton replacements that Grainger has now are pretty good, but not as good as the GEs as far as the way they test.

Bob Crites

[Doug Olitsky]

I'll see if I can hunt down some ASC caps.