Bob Crites Interview

Bob Crites is a well known person in the Klipsch aftermarket.  A lot of Klipsch owners have purchased tweeters, Cabinets, or "Cornscala" type speakers from Bob.  The aftermarket for parts, upgrades, and modifications for Klipsch speakers is one of the things that makes you part of a large family when you buy Klipsch products.  We interviewed Bob Crites to find out what makes him tic, what his nominal impedance is, and if moonshine is still a cash crop in Arkansas.

KlipschCorner: Why Klipsch?

I like Klipsch products and have liked them from a long time back.  Just could not afford them until more recently.  Heard my first Klipschorns sometime in the early 70s and was immediately hooked.  Now I have a pair of Khorns, 3 pairs of LaScalas, A pair of Cornwalls, a pair of Heresys, a pair of Fortes and a pair of Chorus.

KlipschCorner: We keep search engine traffic statistics on our web site. Would it surprise you to know that we get a lot of hits from people searching for things like "Bob Crites", "BEC", "Crites tweeters"?

Guess I need to get a web site up and current.

KlipschCorner: What products and modifications do you offer, what speakers are they for, and why should I buy them?

We build  new crossovers for most of the Heritage and extended Heritage line of speakers.  We also rebuild the original crossovers for the same speakers.  We stock most of the repair parts for the Heritage line including tweeters, midrange drivers and some of the woofers.  Right now the woofers we stock replace the 15 inch K-33E.  We have a stamped frame version and a cast frame version.

We keep in stock repair parts (new diaphragms) for the K-77 and the K-76/K-79 and most other tweeters.  We have our own diaphragms which are manufactured for us.

Our tweeter, which replaces the K-77, has been on the market around 18 months now.  About 700 to 800 of those have been sold.

We try to make sure any product we sell is at least as good and in most cases better than the original it replaces.  We also ship to anywhere in the world.

KlipschCorner: In what type of environment, and with what equipment, do you test your products?

We have a fairly well equipped audio lab.  We use a Wavetek 5820B Specturm Analyzer driven by an HP 3325A Sweep/Function Generator and an HP 7750A pin plotter for testing frequency response of crossovers.  To test drivers, we add to that a calibrated mic and mixer.

KlipschCorner: What is your favorite and least favorite Klipsch product and why?

Well, I don't have them (yet) but think I would have to put the Jubilee on top.  As far as speakers I have now,  I would probably rank them:

1. Cornwall
2. Khorn
3. Chorus
4. Lascala
5. Heresy
6. Forte

KlipschCorner: What is "moonshine" and why is a certain Klipsch employee always talking to me about it?

Don't know much about that.  Ask Trey.

KlipschCorner: If I could fit a couple of project Jubilee speakers in my listening room, should I?

Yes

KlipschCorner: Tubes or solid state?

Solid State.  Thinking about changing that answer to digital.

I got my start in electronics as a tube guy.  I was really glad to shift completely over to solid state.

KlipschCorner: If you were having coffee with PWK today, what would you tell him or ask him?

Why does the Klipsch advertising for the LaScala II say that you made the LaScala for the Winthrop Rockefeller campaign for governor even after you said you did not in your interview with Bruce Edgar?

Why do so many of the Klipsch speaker owners insist that your products are meant to be used with tubes when you went to solid state in around 1971?

KlipschCorner: What speakers do you like other than Klipsch?

I am pretty fond of Cornscalas.  Those are what I listen to most.  Another speaker I like is the Dynaco A-25.  I am amazed how good those little speakers sound.

KlipschCorner: Green field, say anything else you like:

Here is where I mention my son Michael Crites.  He works with me on everything we do here.  In fact, in most cases the work is done by Michael and I just offer encouragement and advice.

Bob  Crites

 Thanks for your time Mr Crites, and thanks for being the first featured interviewee here on KlipschCorner.